Your next project has to be a great one that is why you are going to need the best stock photos that don’t suck and get the job done fast and professionally. In this guide, I have outlined the best stock photo sites that can help you look professional for your next project or work.
Quick Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of these sites mentioned in this article so that means, I am truly honest about my findings and not paid for this article.
It is important to read the usage rights of images you download, and any licenses attached to them. Please always take time to do so to avoid any copyright issues later on…
I totally agree not all stock photo sites deliver the best quality and professional images. Without saying much here is a list of the best stock sites that you will probably find awesome.
1. Unsplash
Unsplash of course is one of the best high-resolution stock sites with the best variety so far. You can not only find stock images but also some awesome free high-resolution videos. You even don’t need an account to download these images and videos though it is recommended.
When you create an account with Unsplash you can get updates when your favorite creators share new pictures. You can also be able to contribute to the site if you are interested. Many people earn backlinks from the site that way.
Some people use Unsplash as a teaser to showcase their best work and hence encourage people to check out their sites for more images.
It is very clear to note that these photos from Unsplash don’t suck trust me they don’t at all.😉
2. KaboomPics
Kaboompics is one of my favorite sites with rare and uncommon stock photos. Kaboompics allows you to have 3 types of downloads, that are all free and these can save you some space on your devices.
They allow you to download the pictures in original, medium, and any custom sizes you choose. With this site as well you don’t even need an account.
Kaboompics allows you to have search for images in any niche be it abstract, fashion, food, architecture/city and so much more.
3. LifeofPix
Lifeofpix is another awesome site that allows you to download high-resolution pictures without limits in any category you are searching for. With this site you can get to search for photographers if you have any in mind.
You can also get a variety of free videos not common to other sites like Unsplash. With this site as well, you don’t need an account as well. If you wish to share your work as well, you can create an account and upload unlimited photos to the site.
4. New Old Stock
If you are into a historical project I have included this one for you as it has the best collections of vintage photos from public archives. You can check it out if you are interested in vintage photos.
5. Stocksnap.io
If you are looking for a collection/variety of images in various categories then you should try this one. This site allows you to get a variety of images from various stock sites all in one place.
And still all these images are copyright free and you get unlimited downloads.
You don’t need an account to download images or videos from this site. If you need to share your work, then you can also create an account and start sharing as well.
6. Picspree
Picspree is amazing because they have photos in a variety of categories some websites don’t offer. They have photos of travel destinations, education, jobs and careers, and so much more.
Picspree has amazing images if you are in search of niche specific images for your project. This site is also good if you think you want to share your work and it can help you reach new people via image sharing. All you need is to signup and start sharing your Images.
7. Pexels
We can’t talk about the best stock Image sites and forget Pexels. This is a really awesome site if you are looking for great high-resolution videos and photos.
If you need some good video blocks for your next project then am greatly recommending Pexels. They make it so easy to download any media from their site and you even don’t need an account so it saves you a lot of effort and time.
Pexels has active creators or photographers that are adding more to their collection to help people like you get your next project off the ground. Head on there and start browsing for some awesome videos and photos.
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8. Gratisography
As the name states, it is really a wonderful site for bloggers and video creators that are looking for a featured Image or catchy thumbnail Image. This site is your best friend as it has the best collection of professionally taken Images in any niche.
With this site you e=will need an account for you to be able to get the best out of it. You can also check in on Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays to get the cheapest deals for their awesome Images.
You can also set up an account and share your work with other people like you. This is by far one of the lesser utilized stock photo site in my opinion.
9. Storyblocks
This is a goldmine for awesome premium media content. They a unlimited variety of free and paid photos, videos and Audio. This is the best if you want to explore or get inspired for your next project.
With Storyblocks you can also become a contributor and share your best work for a profit. This is an amazing site if you have a no face Youtube channel and you need video, images, and royalty-free music to add to your videos.
Under the videos category you can get footage, backgrounds and after effects to make your work look extra professional.
9. Burst
Burst is a site owned by Shopify that offers you a wide range of royalty-free stock images in any niche. They have images in categories like fun, business, fashion, home decor, make money online, portraits, makeup and so much more.
Burst is good as well if you need images to showcase your brand through videos or images, illustrations video and so much more.
All these photo are good for commercial use and Burst have encouraged creators to always use them in any commercial projects. So there you have it Burst has totally bursted up your next project.😂
10. Getrefe
This is also another lesser talked about site that has some cool images you might find interesting. They have images in each of these categories Abstract, Business, Foodstuff, Free Home Lifestyle, Nature, Outdoor, Transport, Travel.
You can also start selling your work later on. All you need is a portfolio be it Instagram, your own taken photos, and start selling. You can also link back to your Squarespace site if you have one.
11. Shotstash
This site has a good variety to choose from but it is also important to read their commercial usage licenses as they are not held accountable for any image violations you may face. So it is always important to read the usage rights before download and use.
If you would like to read more about the CCo license, then read more about it here
Besides that you can go ahead ad find some free stock images there for your next project as well.
12. Picjumbo
This site has high resolution images free for personal and commercial uses. You can explore images in a bunch of categories and the site is navigation friendly overall.
They have a newsletter you can join if you want image upload updates, or discount coupons. They have an affiliate program as well which you can join and as I said at the start am not affiliated with any of these site.
The best thing about Picjumbo is that you get even to have HD wallpapers for your iPhone, they work for android as well.
This sites gets updates all the time and images according to trends are also available so feel free to explore that as well.
Picjumbo also offer creators like you a chance to advertise your products or work on their site be it via their email newsletter or banner ads. Hope that can help you get that project moving.
13. Free stocks.
If you are looking for rare images in any of these categories below then you should try this website too.
- Animals
- City & architecture
- Fashion
- Food & drinks
- Nature
- Objects & technology
- People.
The site images are free for personal and commercial use and you can download them even without setting up an account. You can also search for images by popular tags which makes your work even easy.
14. IM FREE
This a good site for sports and fitness images, business and icons. It has a few images but you can always give it a try and see if something catches your attention to inspire you.
They have images in other categories like education, cityscapes, art, object and items, food, fashion and beauty, nature and so much more.
This site also allows you to create an account and become a reseller. You can choose to create a website or an account as they specify on their site. This site is kind of hard to navigate. It also has a lot of ads which can tend to be annoying.
15. Picography.
This site is awesome because it has more photos to choose from and this is a good thing because you get to choose from a bunch of popular categories and other categories like scenery, wildlife and so much more the list is endless.
The site is easy to navigate and you it also recommends popular searches on the site below the search bar as soon as you land on the site. Picography is 100% worth it and deserves a try if you really need the best stock photos to stand out.
16. Foca Stock
This is another big huge one that is less talked about but has a huge impact with amazing videos, images and social templates imagine that.
Out of all those I have mentioned here comes the last one and it has a bunch of social templates as well. If you made it this far congratulations you got the best-kept secret.😉
Jokes aside this is one of my best stock photo sites with awesome templates that are not offered in other social editors like Canva. They offer you an editor to edit your images or projects while using their stock images as well.
Similar to Picography you can also search for images on this site and categories as well. They have images in categories like City, Animals, Clouds, Fall, Flowers, landscapes, holidays and so much more.
The best thing about this site as well is that the categories are specific and this makes your work even easier rather than scanning through a bunch of images.
Awesome right. This site is made available with its content By Jeffrey Betts and welcomes you to explore his collection for your next project so what are you waiting for head out and get some photo for that project you don’t want to keep your audience waiting.
Final Quote
By the end of this article you will have the ultimate resource to get access to the world best collection of free Stock Photos that don’t suck at all. Once you feel you need the inspiration you can always come back here and find more sites to explore.
Thank you for passing by if you think you need to take your next project to the next level then I would recommend you check out my resources page for the best tools you will need in any niche project.