Free Shutterstock alternatives
Shutterstock is a stock photo, video and illustration marketplace used by designers and marketers under paid licenses. License fees add up for small projects or frequent use. Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay offer free stock photos, with Unsplash a common first choice, though license terms should be checked before use.
Best free alternative to Shutterstock: Unsplash. High-resolution photos under the Unsplash License, free to use.
Side by side
| Option | What you get | What you miss |
|---|---|---|
| Unsplash | High-resolution photos under the Unsplash License, free to use. | Shutterstock's larger catalog of licensed video, vectors and editorial images. |
| Pexels | Free stock photos and videos with a simple license and search. | Shutterstock's larger catalog, vector art and licensed editorial content. |
| Pixabay | Free images, vectors, illustrations and music under a simple content license. | Shutterstock's curated premium collections and licensed editorial images. |
Questions people ask
What is the best free alternative to Shutterstock?
Unsplash. High-resolution photos under the Unsplash License, free to use.
Is there a free version of Shutterstock?
Not a full one, but Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay are free and cover most of what Shutterstock does.
What do you miss with a free Shutterstock alternative?
Shutterstock's larger catalog of licensed video, vectors and editorial images.