The Ultimate List of Free Commercial Image Websites

Did you know that some of the world’s most iconic advertisements use stock images for commercial use? For example, AlamapBBDO, a Brazilian ad agency, used stock photos from Getty Images to create their Endless Possibilities campaign in 2016. The advertising campaign combined photos of random people’s faces to recreate portraits of famous people such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

Most creative agencies prefer altering stock images in most of their work. This is because it allows them to create campaigns for different companies much faster at affordable costs. Keep reading to find out how to get free images for commercial use in your next project.

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

Several sites offer free images for commercial use as part of their services. In addition, you do not need to register an account to download the images. The sites typically rely on user contributions and content teams to ensure their databases are fresh and maintain consistent quality. Furthermore, all creative assets they offer fall under the creative commons zero license or a variation of it. Here are some of the sites that offer you images for commercial use for free.

1. Pexels

Pexels.com is a free-to-use provider of high-resolution photos and videos for aspiring creators. The German-based website was started in 2014 by two brothers and has been under the Canva umbrella since 2018.

Currently, the website hosts over 3.2 million images and videos from over 250,000 active contributors. In addition, all the material you find in its library is under the Pexels license, which slightly varies from the creative commons zero license model. Some of the restrictions it enforces include:

You can only use pexels images for commercial use after making alterations to the original image. For example, you can use part of an image to create a collage for your commercial branding.
Furthermore, you cannot use any of the website’s content to promote political ideologies and explicit content, especially if the images contain identifiable subjects.

Pexels is available through the following channels:

Your web browser by typing the URL pexels.com.
The Android and iOS app.
A plugin for other content creation software such as Google Slides and MS Office.
An extension on your Chrome browser.
You can also access the database using the official Canva app.

2. Unsplash

Another website that offers free images for commercial use is Unsplash, a subsidiary of Getty Images since 2021. The website is a favorite among creators boasting over 16 billion photo impressions monthly. In addition, the database consists of over 3.48 million photos from more than 265,000 unique contributors, all under the Unsplash license.

The Unsplash license restricts the sale of its creative assets without incorporating new creative elements, including using them in print media and physical goods such as mugs and caps.

You can access Unsplash from your web browser or request API integration for your application from the site’s owners. In addition, the site also hosts photo walks across different cities, where Unsplash guides show you the best photo locations around the city and the best camera techniques for your work. Some cities to host the event include Boston, Montreal, Tokyo, and Toronto.

3. Freerange

Freerange Stock is an online resource for photos, illustrations, and textures you can download and use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Since 2007, the site has continued to provide high-quality images to its community of over 800,000 registered users.

Unlike the previous examples, all content on Freerange falls under the website’s Equalicense. It grants you broad commercial rights of its stock images while allowing the contributors to retain control of their copyright, image resale, and distribution. As such, you cannot use the images for bulk distribution or print-on-demand works.

Freerange Stock maintains its steady supply of images for commercial use via the following methods:

It has an in-house team of professional photographers who upload images across the different categories on the website.
Freerange Stock also purchases image rights or directly commissions photos from independent creators.
You can also contribute to the website’s library by voluntarily submitting your work to the platform. Kindly note that you will need a verified account to enable this function.
The website also works directly with photographers through a licensing and distribution model, providing them extra exposure on the site.
Finally, Freerange stock aggregates public domain images from other sources, including similar sites and government institutions. It does so by acknowledging the image owner and sometimes lists the image source when the owner is unknown.

Freerange Stock is accessible through your web browser or as an API integration on your app.

4. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is an extensive online library of free stock images for commercial use. Some of the site’s highlight features include the following:

A best-in-class search engine that incorporates multiple filters to ensure your results are extremely accurate. For example, you can sort images by color, style, number of people, and age of the subjects, something other free stock websites do not provide.
All images, videos, and vector illustrations are free for personal and commercial uses. It does so through a property sign and release model with its extensive network of contributors, which protects users from any legal liabilities.
Finally, it employs a content team that manually reviews each photo submission to ensure consistent quality standards for its offerings.

In addition, you can also purchase design resource bundles by subscribing to its Vecteezy pro for as little as $9 monthly. Some of the resources available include the Ultimate Text Effects Layer Styles Bundle for Photoshop, which costs $39 stand-alone or $4.50 when you subscribe to pro.

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

Another way to get images for commercial use is by buying them from stock providers. Some of the benefits of buying images from stock providers include:

You get a wide selection of unique photos from top-tier photographers. Stock providers always seek collaborations with the industry’s finest to edge out the competition.
You receive exemplary customer service with your purchase. Selecting the right image can be confusing for amateur creators. As such, stock image providers have customer support channels to help you throughout your creative process.
Stock images reduce your delivery times significantly. Buying images from a stock provider eliminates the need to invest in photography equipment and the time you need for post-production. As such, you can deliver projects in a fast and cost-effective way.

Despite the above positive, here are some challenges that buying stock images may present:

Not all stock image providers will have the creative assets you need.
Image overuse is likely since every creator will rush for the most popular contributor.

Below are some of the stock image providers you should consider.

1. iStock

iStockphoto.com is an online database of creative resources, including royalty-free photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and clip art you can use in your creations. The website is a Getty Images subsidiary based in Calgary, Canada. In addition, contributors earn royalties depending on how often users download their content.

2. Alamy.com

Alamy.com is a British-owned stock image provider with contributions from photographers and agencies in 173 countries. It compensates its contributors by offering higher than average payouts every time users download their creations. Some popular brands to use Alamy’s services include M&C Saatchi, Microsoft, and The Economist.

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

Alternatively, you can get images for commercial use by shooting them yourself or creating them with editing tools such as Figma and Wondershare’s Filmstock. Here are some benefits of using this method:

You get exactly what you want, provided you have the required skills and equipment. Sometimes, getting the right image for your commercial purpose can be challenging. As such, shooting an original photo may be the only option.
You have full ownership of the image.

Unlike obtaining images from stock photography websites, you are free to use the image in whatever capacity you please without any restrictions. For example, sites such as Unsplash do not allow you to use their images in political statements, a restriction you can bypass when using your own creations.

However, you should also consider the following factors when using this method.

It requires a substantial investment

Getting high-quality images for commercial purposes requires specialist equipment. For example, the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera, which has 4K resolution capability, costs $2,197 on Amazon. This makes it extremely expensive for amateur creators.

There is a steep learning curve

Becoming a professional photographer takes time and effort. Unless you are creating as a hobby, it will be a while before you can start generating income from your creations.

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

Not necessarily. Stock image sites like pexels.com allow you to download images from their website without creating an account. You will only need one if you want to showcase your work on the platform.

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Yes. Most stock image providers have device-specific apps that allow you to access their databases from your mobile device. For example, UnsplashPhotoPicker allows you access to the Unsplash library from your Android device.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

The Ultimate List: 8 Best Movie Creation Software for Mac Users

Many video editors will agree that Apple’s Mac computers are perfect for video editing and other creative media arts such as animation. Unlike, Chrome OS, Windows, or Linux, macOS comes with much-noted preferences. This operating system emphasizes on creativity and design and gives the best producing results with top movie maker software.

8 Stunning Movie Creator for Mac

Browsing through the internet, you will find a myriad of movie maker video editors. However, not every tool is compatible with Mac. If you are getting started with video editing on your Mac, the first step is to choose movie maker software that gives high-quality results. Below, you will find some of the best video editing tools to put out short films and movies professionally.

1. Wondershare Filmora - Best Overall

Filmora by Wondershare is a popular video movie maker for Mac with a wide array of transition, trimming, and overlay options. Notable benefits of using Filmora are modern and advanced features. Also, developers in Filmora consistently introduce new updates and features. For instance, they recently introduced a motion tracking feature. Motion tracking maps objects in a frame and enables the video editor to create texts and graphics that follow that motion. Filmora has a straightforward interface, which makes this tool suitable for beginners as well as professional video editors.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

The tool supports 4K videos and offers a plethora of options to add effects, styles, and enable editors to customize videos. Filmora is an affordable tool with many elements and animations. With this tool, editors can insert text and add audio to their videos. Here are some top features offered by Wondershare Filmora:

Layer multiple video clips
Video stabilization
Audio equalizer
Advanced text editing
Speed control
Mosaic (blurring)
Noise removal
Screen recording

2. Adobe Premiere Pro – Best for Professionals

Adobe Premiere is another popular platform suitable for video editing. Like Filmora, Adobe Premiere also offers a convenient and simple interface. With embedded layouts, you can use this movie video maker for different purposes. Furthermore, Adobe Premiere also offers complete customization. You can arrange and remove windows and tabs according to your preference.

With a great number of presets and codecs, you can easily export videos in different formats. While exporting, you can customize the settings according to your needs, although default settings also offer decent quality. Besides coding formats, Adobe Premiere boasts numerous templates, plug-ins, and scripts to simplify the working process and include professional elements to your video. Exciting features of Adobe Premiere includes:

Motion graphics templates
Simultaneous projects
Transitions
Effects
VR rotate sphere
VR audio editing
VR editing
Multiple formats support

3. Shotcut – Best Open Source Software

Shotcut is a simple tool with customized filters that enable you to create collage videos. This movie video maker enables you to adjust video and audio quality and change the volume. Furthermore, you can export videos in different folders such as MJpeg, and WebM.

With Shotcut, you can export videos in Lossless mode. This mode keeps the original quality of the videos after the export, which is suitable for professional tasks. This means that you can save time by downloading high-quality videos on default settings. Using this movie creator, you can add filters and effects to enhance the video quality and color grading. Shotcut movie maker offers the following features:

Multiple audio features
Video effects
Hardware support
Display and monitoring
Codec independent
Cross-platform

4. Adobe Premiere Elements – Best for Beginners

Adobe Premiere Elements is a beginners’ version of Premiere Pro. This doesn’t mean that it is less capable, but the tool offers simple features for high-quality tasks. That’s why this video movie makeris highly suitable for beginners. So, if you are just starting with video editing, you should consider trying Premiere elements.

Premiere elements offers a wide array of tools to compile multiple videos, audio, and images into a single video. There are few tools available to scale video quality. This movie video maker is compatible with Mac as well as PC. Premiere Elements also helps you add fun minor effects to maintain flow and spice up the video. The tool uses Sensei AI technology that automatically keeps the important video elements in the frame through re-framing.

If you edit videos for social media platforms, using Adobe Premiere elements would be ideal. It enables you to create a social-friendly square or vertical format of videos. Furthermore, you can include backgrounds, mattes, and motion titles in the videos. Abode Premiere Elements offers the following features:

Animated overlays
Auto reframe
New slideshow styles
Compress video output
Shadow and highlight guided edit
Ample video effects
Cross-platform support

5. Final Cut Pro – Best Tool for Timeline

Final Cut is a convenient and powerful movie creator tool produced by Apple Company. This platform gives a new approach to video editing and has a flexible Magnetic Timeline. The interface is quite uncommon with fixed windows. You can conveniently add new videos and organize clips with Final Cut Pro, and the video clips you no longer use will easily disappear.

The Clip Connections feature enables you to join basic clips with other elements. The downside of this tool is that you can’t use the keyboard to enter the parameters for color correction. Instead, you have to use a mouse for every modification. This can be overwhelming sometimes, especially for minimum correction. Some features of Final Cut Pro include:

Supports 360° VR content
Supports 4K XAVC-S format
3D editing
Motion tracking
Exports to video ()

6. Blender – Best for 3D

Blender is an open-source and free-to-use movie maker video editor. A notable feature of this tool is 3D rendering. It offers excellent functions to work with movable objects such as animation, opening UV, training, modeling, interface, and shading. The video movie maker offers a highly-technological interface, unlike other similar programs. Blender is perfect for 3D enthusiasts, designers, and artists, as it offers professional 3D quality. Some popular Blender features are:

Modeling
Sculpting
Rendering
VFX
Animation and rigging
Scripting

7. OpenShot – Best for Open-Source

OpenShot is another open-source movie video maker but the interface and features are quite different than Blender. It offers drag-and-drop options and a simple interface. This Mac video editing tool creates a perfect balance with simplicity and advanced features. With this tool, you can include wide-ranging transition effects and elements and create high-quality videos. OpenShot offers:

Desktop integration
Keyframe animation
Trim and slice
Slow-motion and time effect
Audio waveform

8. Lightworks – Best Tool for Fast Rendering

You can download Lightworks for free on your Mac and include unlimited videos and audio tracks in them. The post-promotion video processing feature performed in real-time saves a tremendous amount of time. With the auto-save feature, you don’t have to worry about losing your progress. Lightworks also offers screen capture features to create YouTube tutorial videos. Features of Lightworks movie maker tool are:

Unlimited sources
Live cut
Unique sync group feature.
Sync with edits.
Sync to time code or lock frame

Closing Word

Hopefully, now you can easily choose the best movie maker from the above list and scale your editing skills. Our top pick, Wondershare Filmora is budget-friendly movie maker software with an easy-to-use interface and creative features. There are wide-ranging transitions and effects such as speed blur, ripple and dissolve, making this software a unique option.

Versatile Video Editor - Wondershare Filmora

An easy yet powerful editor

Numerous effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

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Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Layer multiple video clips
Video stabilization
Audio equalizer
Advanced text editing
Speed control
Mosaic (blurring)
Noise removal
Screen recording