We all know how important images are to internet engagement. However, it can be challenging to find the ideal image. It must align precisely with your messaging. This can be frustrating, particularly if you’re pressed for time or have a limited budget.
The good news? There are numerous websites that provide free stock photos. These websites provide excellent images. They can help you save money and time.
Before we hired a graphic designer, we often used these sites. They were a lifesaver. Now, we’re sharing them with you.
These resources can be useful whether you are a small company owner, a blogger, or a marketer. They make it simple to find the ideal picture. No issues, no worries.
Let’s get started and explore the top WordPress websites for free stock photos.
Free Stock Photos: What Are They?
Free stock images are pictures, drawings, or other visuals that are available for free usage. They frequently have public domain or Creative Commons licenses. This implies that you might utilize them for both private and business endeavors. However, carefully review the conditions of the license. Some may need credit, while others can be subject to limitations. Typical licensing categories consist of:
Royalty-free: Generally speaking, royalty-free photos are not free. However, they are often available for free. You only have to pay once, and you are free to use the image however you wish without incurring royalties.
Attribution: Images with attribution licenses are often used as long as the original artist is given credit.
Commercial usage: Usually, you have to pay for the photographs you use on websites you make for your business or in your online store.
Public domain: You are free to use public domain photos whenever you choose because they are not subject to licensing restrictions.
Why Use Free Stock Images for WordPress?
Free stock images are a great choice for WordPress users. They offer many benefits. Let’s take a closer look at why they are so useful:
Cost-Effective
Bloggers and startups frequently operate on a limited budget. Purchasing high-quality photos might be expensive. You may create content that looks professional without spending any money by using free stock photos. These photos can be used for advertisements, blogs, and social media. They are, therefore, perfect for solitary artists and small enterprises.
Increases Engagement
A text-only website may seem boring. Including top-notch images enhances the interest of your material. Customers are more inclined to spend more time on your website. This lowers bounce rates. Additionally, it makes it more likely that consumers will explore additional pages.
Enhances SEO
Images are highly valued by search engines. It is possible to alter and optimize free stock photos for search engines. Include illustrative alt-text with your photos. Make use of appropriate file names. Reduce the size of photographs to speed up loading. By doing these actions, search engines are better able to understand your content. This may improve the rating of your website. The higher the ranking of your website, the more traffic you are likely to get.
Creating customized images usually requires more time since you need work, tools, and abilities. Free stock photos are immediately available for download and use. Thus, you can save hours of effort by doing this. Therefore, instead of developing images, you can focus more on producing content.
Adaptable
Free stock photos are adaptable as they are useful in a variety of ways. Add them in your blog posts, put them in postings on social media, or add them to newsletters sent by email if you want. Therefore, they are a useful tool for all of your marketing requirements because of their adaptability.
Our Recommended Best Sources for Free Stock Images
We’ve curated the following list of the best sources for free stock images for your convenience.
1. Unsplash
Unsplash is a top photography site, which ranks third after Instagram and Tumblr. It has millions of high-quality images. You can find pictures of almost anything, which come in many sizes. This makes them great for any project.
Photographers upload their work to Unsplash. A team checks the images for quality. All pictures are free to download, and you can use them for blogs, social media, ads, and websites. Giving credit is nice but not required.
Unsplash also has an API. This lets developers add its images to apps and websites. It’s a handy tool for easy image sourcing.
Why We Love It:
Unsplash has a huge library. You’ll find nature shots, cityscapes, and more. The quality and variety keep us coming back.
Visit Website: Unsplash
2. Pixabay
Pixabay is a fast-growing free image site. It has over 4.4 million images. It also offers vectors, illustrations, and HD videos. All are free to download and use.
The images cover many topics. You’ll find photos of people, nature, and tech. The site uses a license like Creative Commons. Moreover, you can use the images without asking or giving credit.
Why We Love It:
Pixabay is easy to use. Its search tool works well. The mix of images, vectors, and videos makes it a great choice.
Visit Website: Pixabay
3. Pexels
Pexels is a top-notch site for stock photos. It contains a big library with photos for every niche. All images are free to download. You can use them for personal or commercial projects. Giving credit is nice but not needed.
Pexels also has free stock videos. The video library is smaller than Pixabay’s but growing. You can edit the images after downloading them. However, you can’t sell them directly.
Why We Love It:
Pexels is easy to use. The images are stunning. Plus, the videos add extra value. It’s a favorite for many creators.
Visit Website: Pexels
4. Freepik
Freepik is a top-notch site for visuals, having a huge library of images, vectors, icons, and templates. These are free for personal and commercial use.
The site also has tools like an AI image generator anda mockup creator. These help you make unique designs fast. You need an account to use Freepik. You get 10 free downloads before paying.
Why We Love It:
Freepik’s mockup creator is a big help. It lets us test ideas quickly. The mix of resources makes it a one-stop shop.
Visit Website: Freepik
5. FreeStocks.org
FreeStocks.org started as a side project. It now has thousands of high-quality images. The site offers photos in categories like animals, nature, and tech.
The library is smaller than others. But it has unique images you won’t find elsewhere. All images are free and use Creative Commons licenses.
Why We Love It:
FreeStocks.org has unique visuals. If you want something different, this is the place.
Visit Website: FreeStocks.org
6. Burst (by Shopify)
Burst is a free image site by Shopify. Curated by a team of photographers, it’s made for e-commerce and business sites and has thousands of high-quality images.
All images are free for personal and commercial use. Giving credit is nice but not needed. The images are sorted by genre, which makes it easy to find what you need. Burst also has extra resources under “Business Ideas.”
Why We Love It:
Burst’s images are top quality. They need little editing. It’s a great resource for online stores.
Visit Website: Burst
7. PicJumbo
PicJumbo was created by Viktor Hanacek. He is a photographer and online entrepreneur. The site offers unique and high-quality images. Many photos are taken by Viktor himself, which ensures they are genuine and one-of-a-kind. Other photographers also contributed to the collection.
All images are free for personal and commercial use. You don’t need to give credit. PicJumbo also has a paid membership option. This gives access to premium images.
Why We Love It:
PicJumbo is a great source for unique images. We keep it bookmarked for its fresh and creative visuals.
Visit Website: PicJumbo
8. PikWizard
PikWizard is a fantastic site for free stock images and videos. It has a large collection of high-quality visuals. You can use these images for websites, social media, videos, and more.
The site also offers templates for flyers and posters. These are great for design projects. The quality is top-notch. It covers a wide range of business needs.
Why We Love It:
PikWizard is not just for images. Its templates are a big plus. They provide inspiration for unique designs.
Visit Website: PikWizard
9. ISO Republic
ISO Republic was created by Tom Eversley. He is a UK-based photographer. The site has thousands of free stock images and videos.
The library is smaller than some others. However, the quality is excellent. It’s worth visiting if you need something specific. The homepage often features new and trending images.
All images are free for personal and commercial use. No attribution is needed.
Why We Love It:
ISO Republic updates its library often. We check back regularly for fresh content.
Visit Website: ISO Republic
10. StockVault
StockVault has over 140,000 stock images. These are submitted by photographers and artists. The site is easy to search and sort.
All images are free for personal use. Commercial use is not allowed. Some images use Creative Commons licenses. Others need permission from the original creator.
Why We Love It:
StockVault is great for personal projects. It’s a handy resource for non-commercial needs.
Visit Website: StockVault
Read more: 5 Best WordPress Stock Image Plugins
How to Optimize Free Stock Images for WordPress
If you want to ensure fast speed and user-friendliness on your website, optimizing images is crucial. Here are some ways you can optimize images:
Resize and Compress: Large images slow down your site. Use tools like TinyPNG or plugins like Smush to reduce file size.
Learn more: 13+ Best Free WordPress Image Optimizers (Plugins and Applications)
Add Alt Text: Alt text helps search engines understand your images. It also improves accessibility for visually impaired users.
Convert to WebP: WebP is a modern image format. It offers better compression than JPEG or PNG. Use plugins like Imagify to convert images.
Ensure Responsiveness: Test images on mobile devices. Make sure they load quickly and display correctly.
Best Practices for Using Free Stock Images
Follow these tips to make the most of free stock images:
Avoid Overused Images: Free stock photos are widely used. This indicates that they may be found on several websites. Your website may appear generic if you use them.
Customize the photos to make them stand out. Use text overlays or filters. Crop them in different ways. They seem new and unique as a result.
Try using a strong phrase or a gradient, for instance, if you’re using a typical nature shot. Little adjustments can have a significant impact.
Give Credit When Required: Credit is required for certain free stock photos. This means you must credit the creator. Verify the licensing terms at all times.
Add credit clearly if it is required. Put it at the footer of your website or close to the image. This shows appreciation for the artist’s creations.
Remain Consistent: Your brand should be reflected in your photos. This results in a unified appearance. Use basic, clean visuals, for instance, if your brand is trendy and minimalist.
Keep your color scheme constant. Make use of comparable tones and styles. This gives your website a polished appearance.
A trip blog, for instance, may make use of vivid, colorful photos. A blog on technology may make use of slick, futuristic images.
Update Frequently: Your website may appear antiquated if it contains old photos. Add new images to keep things interesting. This maintains user interest.
Regularly update your site, social media accounts, and blog entries. Make use of popular or seasonal imagery. This indicates that your website is up to date and active.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Stock Images
Can I use free stock images for commercial purposes?
Yes, but check the license. Some free stock images are for personal use only. Others allow commercial use with or without attribution.
Do I need to credit the photographer?
It depends on the license. Some sites like Unsplash don’t require attribution. Others, like Pixabay, encourage it but don’t require it.
How do I optimize images for SEO?
Add descriptive alt text, use relevant file names, and compress images for faster loading.
What’s the best format for web images?
WebP is the best format for web images. It offers better compression and faster loading times.
Can I edit free stock images?
Yes, most free stock images can be edited. But always check the license terms to be sure.
To Wrap Up
Free stock images are a great resource for WordPress users. They save money and time. Besides, they help you create a visually stunning website. You can try the listed best sources for free stock images to find high-quality images. Optimize them for performance. And follow best practices to make your site stand out. Start exploring these free stock image websites today and take your WordPress site to the next level!
