- Unsplash alternatives at a glance
- Ten Unsplash alternatives to consider
- The licence rules most free photo sites share
- What to check before you use a free photo
- How to build a photo library for your brand
- Free photo mistakes to avoid
- Questions to ask before you use a free photo site
- My plain advice on Unsplash alternatives
- Frequently asked questions
Unsplash alternatives are other websites that offer free photos you can use in blog posts, social media and marketing. Some are broad libraries, others focus on a niche like food, diverse people or playful images. Free doesn't mean anything goes, so read each site's licence, especially before you print or sell anything.
Unsplash is brilliant, but everyone uses it, so the same photos turn up on a lot of websites. If you want images that look a little less familiar, it's worth having a few other free libraries bookmarked.
Here are ten Unsplash alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from niche photo sites to open image search. Each description comes from the site's own pages, re-checked today. If you post photos on Instagram, my answer to whether Instagram reduces photo quality will save you some frustration.
Think about the look you want. A consistent style across your site matters more than any single beautiful photo.
And search with specific words. Searching for an action or a mood usually finds better images than a generic noun.
Unsplash alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free version, free plan or open-source download, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free versions usually come with limits, so check what's included before you depend on one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burst | Free stock photo site | Business and ecommerce images | Yes |
| Foodiesfeed | Free food photo site | Food and restaurant images | Yes |
| Gratisography | Free quirky photo site | Playful, unusual images | Yes |
| Kaboompics | Free stock photo site | Styled lifestyle images | Yes |
| Life of Pix | Free photo library | High-resolution scenes | Yes |
| Nappy | Free stock photo site | Black and brown people | Yes |
| Negative Space | Free stock photo site | Clean images with space for text | Yes |
| Openverse | Open media search | Openly licensed images | Yes |
| Skitterphoto | Free photo site | Everyday free photos | Yes |
| StockSnap | Free stock photo site | Large free library | Yes |
Ten Unsplash alternatives to consider
Burst
Best for: Small business owners who want free photos aimed at online stores and marketing.
Foodiesfeed
Best for: Food bloggers and restaurants who want free, realistic food photography.
Gratisography
Best for: Brands who want free photos with humour and a quirky style.
Kaboompics
Best for: Bloggers who want styled lifestyle photos with colour palettes for each image.
Life of Pix
Best for: Creators who want free high-resolution photos of places, textures and scenes.
Nappy
Best for: Brands who want free, beautiful photos featuring Black and brown people.
Negative Space
Best for: Marketers who want clean photos with room for headlines and text overlays.
Openverse
Best for: Researchers and creators who want to search openly licensed images in one place.
Skitterphoto
Best for: Bloggers who want a small, free library of everyday photos.
StockSnap
Best for: Creators who want a large, searchable library of free photos added often.
The licence rules most free photo sites share
Here's what people get wrong with free photos. The Pexels licence, typical of these sites, says you shouldn't sell unaltered copies of a photo, for example as a poster or print, shouldn't imply that people or brands in an image endorse your product, and shouldn't redistribute the photos on other stock sites.
Pixabay's licence has a similar rule against selling content on a standalone basis. So free photos are fine for your blog and social posts, but check the specific licence before you put one on a product, and never make it look like the person pictured recommends you.
What to check before you use a free photo
- Licence: commercial use and any restrictions.
- People: how identifiable people may appear.
- Credit: whether attribution is needed or just appreciated.
- Resolution: big enough for your layout.
- Fit: a style that matches your other images.
How to build a photo library for your brand
- Pick three or four words that describe your visual style.
- Save images that match into one folder.
- Note the source and licence for each one.
- Edit them the same way, with similar colour and crop.
- Replace stock with your own photos as you build them up.
Free photo mistakes to avoid
- Using the most popular image. Everyone else has too.
- Ignoring the licence. Rules differ by site.
- Mixing styles. Pick a consistent look.
- Implying endorsement. Don't put words in a model's mouth.
For more free resources, my free marketing resources library collects templates and swipe files in one place.
Questions to ask before you use a free photo site
Free photo sites are generous, but each has its own rules. A minute with these questions keeps you on the right side of them.
- Is commercial use allowed?
- Are there rules about people in the photos?
- Is attribution needed or just appreciated?
- Can I use the image on products I sell?
- Has the photographer shared the image there themselves?
When in doubt, pick another photo. There are plenty of free options, so there's no need to take a risk.
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Do you make free photo libraries? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on Unsplash alternatives
Use free photos as a starting point, not your whole look. A few real photos of you, your team or your work will always connect better than stock.
And keep a simple record of where each image came from. If anyone ever asks, you'll have the source and licence in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free alternative to Unsplash?
Several free photo sites offer large or niche libraries, depending on your subject.
Can I use free stock photos commercially?
Usually, but read each site's licence for restrictions.
Can I sell prints of free stock photos?
Many licences say not to sell unaltered copies. Check first.
Do I need to credit the photographer?
Often it's not required, but it's appreciated.
Can I use photos of people in ads?
Be careful not to suggest the person endorses your product.
Where can I find diverse stock photos?
Some free sites focus on underrepresented communities.
Are free photos lower quality?
Not necessarily. Many are high resolution.
How do I make stock photos look less generic?
Crop and edit them consistently to fit your style.
Can I use free photos on Instagram?
Usually, as long as the licence allows it.
What's an openly licensed image?
An image shared under a licence that allows reuse, sometimes with conditions.
Should I keep records of image sources?
Yes. Note the site and licence for each image.
Can I edit free stock photos?
Most licences allow edits. Check the terms.
Can I use free photos in client work?
Usually yes, but check the licence and keep a note of the source.
Are AI images a good alternative to stock?
They can be, but check the tool's terms and avoid anything that looks like a real person.
How do I find photos that match my brand colours?
Some sites let you search or filter by colour, which saves time.
