50 Free Stock Photos Sites for Commercial Use (2025)

Finding high-quality, legally safe stock media shouldn’t cost a fortune. The digital content landscape in 2025 offers an unprecedented wealth of free stock photos, videos, and music that creators, marketers, and content publishers can use commercially without licensing fees. From massive libraries like Unsplash with millions of images to niche platforms featuring diverse representation and public domain archives, this comprehensive guide covers 50 verified sources where you can download royalty-free content legally.

Understanding licensing requirements is critical—using copyrighted material incorrectly exposes you to infringement claims that can cost thousands in settlements. This guide includes detailed license explanations, attribution requirements, and a commercial use checklist for each platform to keep your projects legally protected while accessing premium-quality media at zero cost.

Table of Contents - Index

Tier 1: Massive Free Stock Libraries (10M+ Assets)

1. Unsplash – 6+ Million High-Resolution Photos

Unsplash leads the free stock photo market with over 6 million professional-quality images contributed by photographers worldwide. The platform operates under the Unsplash License, which grants irrevocable, worldwide rights to download, modify, and use images commercially without attribution.

License Type: Unsplash License (CC0-equivalent)
Attribution Required: No (but appreciated)
Commercial Use: ✅ Fully allowed
Restrictions: Cannot compile images to create competing stock photo service
Model Releases: User responsibility to verify for sensitive uses

Best For: Professional web design, marketing campaigns, social media content

2. Pexels – 5+ Million Free Photos & Videos

Pexels offers both stock photos and HD video footage under an extremely permissive Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license. Users can modify, distribute, and use content commercially without asking permission or providing attribution.

License Type: Pexels License (CC0-based)
Attribution Required: No (strongly encouraged)
Commercial Use: ✅ Unlimited
Video Library: Yes (HD and 4K options)
API Access: Available for developers

Commercial Use Checklist:

✅ Use in websites, apps, and products
✅ Modify and create derivatives
✅ Print on merchandise
❌ Sell unmodified photos as-is
❌ Portray people in offensive manner

3. Pixabay – 1+ Million Photos, Vectors & Videos

Pixabay provides copyright-free images, vectors, illustrations, and stock footage under the Pixabay License. With over 1 million assets, the platform supports commercial projects across industries without mandatory attribution.

License Type: Pixabay License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Yes
Content Types: Photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, music
Resolution Options: Multiple download sizes available

Legal Considerations:

Cannot redistribute images on other stock platforms
Identifiable people/brands require extra caution for commercial use
Cannot imply endorsement by depicted subjects

4. Freepik – Millions of Photos, Vectors & Templates

Freepik offers extensive free resources, though the free tier requires attribution. Premium subscriptions remove attribution requirements and unlock additional commercial rights.

License Type: Freepik Free License / Premium License
Attribution Required: Yes (Free) / No (Premium)
Commercial Use: ✅ With attribution (Free tier)
Content Types: Photos, vectors, PSD files, icons

Attribution Format (Required for Free Users):

text"Image by [Author Name] on Freepik" with link

5. Adobe Stock Free Collection – Curated Premium Assets

Adobe Stock’s free collection features thousands of professionally curated photos, vectors, and video clips licensed for commercial use. While the main library requires payment, the free collection provides legitimate commercial-use rights without attribution.

License Type: Adobe Stock Free License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Full rights
Quality Level: Professional-grade
Integration: Works directly with Creative Cloud apps

Tier 2: High-Quality Curated Collections

6. Burst by Shopify – eCommerce-Focused Free Photos

Burst specializes in business-friendly images perfect for eCommerce sites, particularly Shopify stores. The platform targets entrepreneurs and online retailers with product-focused photography.

License Type: Burst License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Optimized for business
Best For: Product pages, dropshipping stores, marketing materials
Categories: Business, fashion, fitness, food, technology

7. Mixkit – Free HD Video Clips & Music

Mixkit provides completely free HD and 4K stock video footage without sign-up requirements, watermarks, or attribution. The platform includes music tracks and video templates.

License Type: Mixkit License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Unlimited
Video Quality: HD and 4K
Additional Content: Royalty-free music, After Effects templates

Video Categories: Business, tech, nature, lifestyle, abstract backgrounds

8. Gratisography – Quirky Creative Commons Photos

Gratisography curates unique, high-resolution images with creative and quirky themes. The collection stands out from generic stock photo aesthetics with distinctive styling.

License Type: CC0 Public Domain
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Full rights
Style: Whimsical, unique, non-corporate
Update Frequency: New photos added weekly

9. Kaboompics – Editorial-Style Photography

Kaboompics focuses on lifestyle and editorial-quality photography with sophisticated color palettes and styling. The platform targets designers and creatives seeking professional aesthetics.

License Type: Kaboompics License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Allowed
Unique Feature: Color palette extraction for each photo
Specialties: Interior design, fashion, food photography

10. Reshot – Authentic Non-Stock Photography

Reshot differentiates itself by offering authentic-looking imagery that avoids traditional stock photo clichés. The platform emphasizes genuine moments over staged corporate photos.

License Type: Reshot License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Full commercial rights
Philosophy: “Non-stock” aesthetic—real people, real moments
Curation: Hand-picked by professional photographers

Tier 3: Diverse Representation & Inclusive Stock Media

11. Nappy – Black & Brown People Stock Photos

Nappy revolutionizes stock photography by exclusively featuring beautiful, high-resolution images of Black and Brown people. Since launching, Nappy photos have been viewed 220 million times and downloaded over 1 million times, appearing on major media outlets.

License Type: Creative Commons CC0
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Completely free
Mission: Improve representation of Black and Brown people in media
Content: Professional settings, lifestyle, families, natural hair, #WOCinTech collection

Why It Matters: Traditional stock photo sites severely lack diversity, making Nappy essential for authentic representation.

12. #WOCinTech Stock Photos – Women of Color in Technology

The #WOCinTech project provides free stock photos specifically featuring women of color working in technology fields. These images counter the default “white women in tech” stereotype prevalent in most stock libraries.

License Type: CC0 Public Domain
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Free to use
Subjects: Software engineers, entrepreneurs, IT professionals, marketers, tech workers
Purpose: Disrupt the visual narrative of who belongs in tech

Collection Available: wocintechchat.com

13. Pexels Diversity Collection – Inclusive Representation

Pexels curates dedicated diversity collections featuring underrepresented groups in non-stereotypical contexts. The platform actively promotes inclusive imagery across all demographics.

License Type: Pexels License (CC0)
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Unlimited
Focus Areas: LGBTQ+ representation, disabilities, age diversity, global cultures

14. The Gender Spectrum Collection – Non-Binary & Trans Representation

This specialized collection features photos of trans and non-binary individuals in everyday contexts, created by Vice and Broadly to address representation gaps in stock photography.

License Type: Creative Commons (various)
Attribution Required: Varies by image
Commercial Use: ✅ Allowed with proper attribution
Unique Value: First stock photo library centering trans/non-binary people

15. CreateHER Stock – Women & Lifestyle Photography

CreateHER Stock offers styled stock photos featuring diverse women in lifestyle, business, and creative settings with warm, feminine aesthetics.

License Type: CreateHER License
Attribution Required: No (free collection)
Commercial Use: ✅ Limited free collection; full library requires subscription
Style: Feminine, warm-toned, lifestyle-focused

Tier 4: Niche & Specialized Content Sources

16. NASA Image Library – Space & Science Photography

NASA’s extensive image and video library provides stunning space photography, satellite imagery, and scientific visuals—all in the public domain.

License Type: Public Domain (most content)
Attribution Required: No (but recommended)
Commercial Use: ✅ Unrestricted
Content Types: Space photos, mission footage, Earth imagery, historical archives
High-Resolution: Available up to original capture quality

Access: images.nasa.gov

17. Wikimedia Commons – 90+ Million Free Media Files

Wikimedia Commons hosts over 90 million freely usable media files including photos, videos, and audio under various Creative Commons licenses.

License Types: Multiple (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA, Public Domain)
Attribution Required: Depends on individual file license
Commercial Use: ✅ Most content (check individual licenses)
Search Features: Advanced filtering by license type

How to Use Safely:

Check individual file license on each image page
Look for CC0 or CC BY for easiest commercial use
Avoid “CC BY-NC” (non-commercial) and “CC BY-ND” (no derivatives) for business projects

18. Internet Archive Public Domain Collections

The Internet Archive maintains vast public domain collections including historical photos, vintage illustrations, and digitized book images.

License Type: Public Domain
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Unrestricted
Collections: Historical photos, vintage ads, book illustrations, film stills
Historical Value: Perfect for retro/vintage projects

19. Smithsonian Open Access – 3+ Million Museum Assets

The Smithsonian released 3 million high-resolution images from its museum collections under CC0, including artwork, historical photos, and scientific specimens.

License Type: CC0 Public Domain
Attribution Required: No (but encouraged)
Commercial Use: ✅ Full rights
Content: Art, history, culture, science, natural history
Quality: Museum-grade high-resolution scans

20. Metropolitan Museum of Art Open Access – 400K+ Artworks

The Met provides high-resolution images of over 400,000 artworks from its collection under a public domain designation.

License Type: Public Domain
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Unrestricted
Content: Fine art, sculptures, historical artifacts, decorative arts
Use Cases: Print-on-demand, educational content, design projects

Tier 5: Free Royalty-Free Music & Sound Effects

21. YouTube Audio Library – Free Music & Sound Effects

YouTube’s Audio Library offers thousands of royalty-free music tracks and sound effects specifically for video creators. The library includes two license types clearly marked.

License Types:

No Attribution Required: Use freely without crediting
Attribution Required: Must credit artist in video description

Commercial Use: ✅ Allowed for both types
Access: Through YouTube Studio
Formats: High-quality MP3 downloads
Categories: Genres from cinematic to electronic, plus sound effects library

How to Use:

Access via YouTube Studio > Audio Library
Check attribution requirements for each track
Download and add to projects
If attribution required, credit in description with provided text

22. Bensound – Royalty-Free Music for Creators

Bensound provides royalty-free music tracks safe for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and most platforms. The service offers both free (with attribution) and premium licensing.

License Type: Bensound License
Attribution Required: Yes (free tier)
Commercial Use: ✅ With proper attribution
Platforms Cleared: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Vimeo

Free Use Attribution Format:

text"Music by Bensound.com" or provided track-specific credit

23. Artlist – Unlimited Royalty-Free Music (Subscription)

While not free, Artlist deserves mention as a top recommendation for serious creators. One subscription provides unlimited music downloads with lifetime licenses—meaning tracks remain licensed even after subscription ends.

License Type: Perpetual license
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Full rights
Cost: Subscription-based ($9.99/month+)
Unique Benefit: Keep licenses forever, even after canceling

24. Freesound – Community Sound Effects Library

Freesound hosts a massive community-contributed library of sound effects and audio samples under various Creative Commons licenses.

License Types: CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA (check individual sounds)
Attribution Required: Depends on license
Commercial Use: ✅ For most content (verify individual licenses)
Content: Sound effects, ambient sounds, samples, field recordings
Search: Advanced filtering by license type

25. Zapsplat – 100K+ Free Sound Effects

Zapsplat offers over 100,000 free sound effects and music tracks with a simple attribution requirement for free users.

License Type: Zapsplat License
Attribution Required: Yes (free tier) / No (premium)
Commercial Use: ✅ Allowed
Library Size: 100,000+ sounds
Update Frequency: 700+ new sounds monthly

26. PremiumBeat by Shutterstock – High-Quality Licensed Music

PremiumBeat (part of Shutterstock) offers professional-grade music tracks with clear commercial licensing, though it’s a paid service worth mentioning for professional projects.

License Type: Commercial music license
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Full commercial rights
Quality: Professional production music
Use Cases: Commercial videos, films, advertising

27. Legis Music – Public Domain Music Library

Legis Music specializes in public domain music and offers a free plan with attribution. The platform provides lifetime licenses even with free downloads.

License Type: Lifetime license
Attribution Required: Yes (free plan, 10 tracks/month)
Commercial Use: ✅ Allowed
Pricing: Free plan or $9.99/month for unlimited downloads
Unique Features: Multiple track versions, YouTube whitelisting

28. Epidemic Sound – Creator-Focused Music Platform

Epidemic Sound offers subscription-based access to a vast music library with simplified licensing for YouTube, podcasts, and social media.

License Type: Platform-specific licenses
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Varies by subscription tier
Best For: YouTubers, podcasters, social media creators

29. Storyblocks Audio – Unlimited Royalty-Free Music

Storyblocks provides unlimited access to over 100,000 royalty-free music tracks with a subscription model and no download caps.

License Type: Storyblocks License
Attribution Required: No
Commercial Use: ✅ Full rights
Subscription: Unlimited downloads with membership
Additional: Also offers stock video and images

30. Incompetech – Kevin MacLeod’s Free Music Library

Incompetech, created by composer Kevin MacLeod, offers thousands of royalty-free music tracks under Creative Commons licensing—one of the internet’s most widely used free music sources.

License Type: CC BY 3.0
Attribution Required: Yes (free use) / No (license purchase option)
Commercial Use: ✅ With attribution
Library Size: 2,000+ tracks
Genres: Comprehensive variety

Attribution Format:

text"Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0"

Additional 20 Essential Free Stock Resources

Photos & Images (31-40)

31. Stock Footage for Free – HD video library requiring free subscription
32. Stockvault – 100K+ free photos with commercial use allowed
33. Negative Space – Minimalist high-resolution photography
34. ISO Republic – High-quality free stock photos and videos
35. Picjumbo – Premium-feeling free photos, daily updates
36. SplitShire – Free stock photos and videos by Italian photographer
37. Life of Pix – Free high-resolution photography from Montreal agency
38. StockSnap.io – Hundreds of high-res images added weekly
39. Foodiesfeed – Free food photography for restaurants and blogs
40. Barnimages – Non-stock aesthetic lifestyle photos

Videos (41-45)

41. Videvo – Free stock video footage and motion graphics
42. Coverr – Beautiful free homepage videos
43. Mazwai – Hand-picked HD video clips
44. Life of Vids – Free videos from Leeroy agency
45. Videezy – Community-driven free video platform

Music & Audio (46-50)

46. Free Music Archive – Curated free music for creative projects
47. ccMixter – Remixes and samples under CC licenses
48. Musopen – Free classical music recordings
49. SoundBible – Free sound effects library
50. AudioJungle Free Files – Monthly free audio tracks from Envato

Understanding Creative Commons Licenses: Commercial Use Guide

Creative Commons licenses determine how you can legally use free content. Understanding these licenses prevents costly copyright violations.

License Types Explained

CC0 (Public Domain)

✅ Use for any purpose including commercial
✅ Modify without restriction
✅ No attribution required
✅ Best option for hassle-free commercial use
Examples: Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay

CC BY (Attribution)

✅ Commercial use allowed
✅ Modifications allowed
⚠️ Must credit creator (TASL format)
✅ Good for commercial projects with proper credit

CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)

✅ Commercial use allowed
⚠️ Derivatives must use same license
⚠️ Attribution required
⚠️ Complicated for commercial products

CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial)

❌ NO commercial use
✅ Personal/educational use only
🚫 AVOID for business projects

CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivatives)

✅ Commercial use allowed
❌ Cannot modify or crop
⚠️ Must use exactly as-is
⚠️ Limited practical use

Recognizing Non-Commercial Restrictions

Look for these symbols when browsing:

🚫💲 (Dollar sign with slash) = NO commercial use
Always check individual file licenses on platforms like Wikimedia Commons
When in doubt, choose CC0 or “Public Domain” content

TASL Attribution Format: How to Credit Properly

When attribution is required, use the TASL format:

Title of work
Author/Creator name
Source (URL where found)
License type (with link to license)

Example Attribution:

text"Golden Hour Beach" by Jane Photographer 
Available at: unsplash.com/photos/abc123
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Where to Place Attribution

Best Practice: Directly below or beside image
Acceptable: End of article in “Image Credits” section
Required: Must be visible and clearly associated with content

Commercial Use Checklist: Stay Legally Protected

Before using any stock content commercially, verify:

✅ Licensing Verification

License explicitly allows commercial use
No “NC” (Non-Commercial) restriction present
Platform confirms commercial rights (read terms)

✅ Attribution Requirements

Check if attribution required
Note exact attribution text needed
Identify where to place credit

✅ Sensitive Content Checks

Identifiable people: Verify model releases for advertising
Recognizable brands/logos: May require clearance
Trademarked elements: Check usage restrictions
Sensitive contexts: Ensure appropriate use of diverse imagery

✅ Platform-Specific Rules

Review prohibited uses (most ban hate speech, defamation)
Check if reselling as-is is forbidden
Verify derivative work permissions
Confirm print-on-demand allowances

✅ Documentation

Save license terms with download date
Keep attribution information
Document source URLs
Maintain usage records for audits

Integrating Stock Media Into Your Content Workflow

Looking for more ways to optimize your content creation? These related resources can supercharge your productivity:

Automate repetitive tasks with AI: Check out our guide on 50 Best AI Agents That Do Your Work in 2025 (Free & Paid Tools Tested) to discover AI-powered automation tools that handle content scheduling, image optimization, and social media management—perfect for streamlining your stock media workflow.

Need background content for video projects? Our comprehensive list of 50 Best Free Movies Website to Watch Webseries & OTT Content in 2025 (Legal & Safe) includes legal streaming platforms where you can study professional video composition and cinematography techniques to improve your own stock video selection and usage.

Pro Tips for Finding Perfect Stock Content

Use Multiple Platforms: Different sites have unique aesthetics—Unsplash for modern/minimalist, Nappy for diverse representation, NASA for science content.

Search Strategically: Use specific keywords rather than generic terms; “woman coding laptop coffee shop” beats “business woman”.

Check Upload Dates: Newer content reflects current design trends and technology.

Download Highest Resolution: Always grab maximum quality—you can downsize but can’t upscale.

Build a Library: Create organized folders of licensed content you may use later to speed up production.

Verify Annually: Licensing terms occasionally change—review permissions for long-term projects.

The 2025 stock content landscape offers unprecedented access to professional-quality media without licensing fees. By understanding Creative Commons licenses, following attribution requirements, and using this comprehensive resource list, you can create compelling commercial content while staying legally protected. Whether you’re building marketing campaigns, designing websites, producing videos, or creating social media content, these 50 free platforms provide everything you need to elevate your visual storytelling without breaking the bank.

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