Websites With Free Images: my license-first review (and why Pikwizard is on my shortlist)

When I’m building a landing page, writing a blog post, or putting together a client deck, I want visuals that look professional and won’t cause licensing headaches later. “Free” is everywhere—but “free to download” doesn’t always mean “free to use the way you intend.”

So for this review, I focused on the stuff that actually matters in real work:

• License clarity (can I use it commercially, do I need attribution, what’s forbidden?)
• Practical restrictions (editorial-only content, trademarks/logos, identifiable people)
• Asset variety (photos only vs photos + videos + templates/PNGs)
• Workflow speed (how quickly you can find something usable and move on)

Below is my comparison of the major players, with Pikwizard.com as the standout if you want a broad “do-it-all” free library.

Quick comparison table (what I’d use each site for)

Service	Best for	License vibe	Biggest strength	Main drawback
Pikwizard	Business-ready visuals + photos/videos/templates/PNGs	Free for commercial use; attribution not required (with restrictions)	Variety + “one stop shop” feel	You still need to watch for brands/logos + editorial limits
Unsplash	Beautiful hero images & backgrounds	Free use incl. commercial; can’t resell unmodified / clone service	High aesthetic quality	Popular shots can feel overused
Pexels	Photos + videos with very clear rules	Free commercial use; strong “not allowed” list	Clear guidance + broad content	Some images can look “stocky”
Pixabay	Mixed media (photos/illustrations/video)	Broad license, but stricter on “standalone” + trademarks on merch	Huge range of asset types	More edge-case restrictions to track
StockSnap	Simple CC0-style browsing	CC0: very permissive	Straightforward licensing	Smaller library vs giants
Burst (Shopify)	Ecommerce/product marketing vibes	Commercial use; no selling unaltered/licensing-like behavior	Great for store/brand content	Narrower creative variety
Kaboompics	Consistent style + lifestyle/editorial	Commercial use unless marked editorial	“Designed” look across sets	Editorial flags require care
Gratisography	Quirky, punchy, unusual shots	Broad permission; commercial ok	Unique personality	Smaller catalog
Wikimedia Commons	Historical/educational & niche topics	Licenses vary; attribution/share-alike common	Depth + niche coverage	More license homework
Freepik	Vectors, icons, design assets	Free use often requires attribution	Design-friendly assets	“Free” may mean “credit required”

 

Unsplash

Unsplash is where I go when I need something gorgeous and minimal—hero headers, mood shots, backgrounds. Their license allows free commercial use, but they explicitly restrict reselling without significant modification and compiling images to compete.

Pros

• Premium look, lots of “designer-friendly” photography
• License is easy to understand

Cons

• Some images are so popular they show up everywhere (you’ve probably seen the same “laptop + coffee” shot 200 times)

---

Pexels

Pexels has one of the clearest “allowed vs not allowed” breakdowns I’ve read. It’s free for commercial use, no attribution required, but it spells out common pitfalls like offensive portrayals, implying endorsement, reselling unaltered copies, or using as a trademark.

Pros

• Clear rules (great for teams and clients)
• Good mix of photos + videos

Cons

• You’ll still want to vet images for brand safety (logos, recognizable people, context)

---

Pixabay

Pixabay is huge and versatile, but it’s also where licensing nuance starts to matter more. Their terms get specific about “standalone” use (e.g., selling an unmodified image as a poster) and about content with trademarks/logos—especially on merchandise.

Pros

• Massive variety (including illustrations and other media)
• Strong documentation of restrictions

Cons

• More edge cases to track (especially for product/print use)

---

StockSnap (CC0)

StockSnap is my “keep it simple” pick. It uses CC0, which is about as permissive as it gets.

Pros

• Very simple licensing
• Easy to use commercially

Cons

• Smaller catalog than the biggest platforms

---

Burst by Shopify

Burst is great when the goal is clearly commercial—online stores, product pages, marketing banners. Their license allows broad use but restricts compiling to compete and selling photos as-is.

Pros

• Ecommerce-friendly visual style
• Clear license rules

Cons

• Less variety outside business/ecommerce themes

---

Kaboompics

Kaboompics is strong for cohesive lifestyle sets and a consistent aesthetic. They allow commercial use unless an image is marked Editorial Use Only.

Pros

• Consistent style, nice “set” photography
• Clear editorial flagging

Cons

• Editorial-only assets can trip up ad/brand usage if you’re not paying attention

---

Gratisography

This is the “fun one.” If you want something that doesn’t look like typical stock photography, Gratisography can deliver. They explicitly allow personal and commercial use and modification.

Pros

• Unique, memorable images
• Commercial use allowed

Cons

• Smaller selection; not ideal for niche business topics

---

Wikimedia Commons (powerful, but not “quick and easy”)

Wikimedia Commons is incredible for depth and niche topics, but it’s not a single license. Many files require attribution, and some require share-alike (meaning your derivative has to use the same license).

Pros

• Unmatched range for educational/historical content
• Great for specific subjects

Cons

• You must check each file’s license and attribution requirements

---

Freepik (the design asset powerhouse—with a catch)

Freepik is fantastic for vectors/icons/layout assets, but “free” typically comes with an attribution requirement unless you’re on a paid plan.

Pros

• Excellent for graphic design workflows
• Lots of non-photo assets

Cons

• Attribution rules can be annoying for client work (or impossible in some formats)

---

Why Pikwizard is the one I keep coming back to

If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this: Pikwizard feels like the most “ready for real projects” free images and videos website because it’s not just photos — it’s photos, videos, templates, and transparent PNGs in one place.

What stood out to me (practically)

• All-in-one asset mix. I like being able to grab a hero image, then a quick supporting video, then a couple of PNG elements without jumping sites.
• Commercial-friendly by default with no attribution required (though credit is encouraged).
• The license page actually explains the difference between CC0 vs their “Free Licensing” in plain English—rare and genuinely helpful.

The important fine print (don’t skip)

Pikwizard’s free licensing is generous, but it’s not “anything goes.” Two restrictions I pay attention to:

• Don’t use images to put identifiable people in a bad/offensive light.
• Be cautious with identifiable brands/logos/property for commercial advertising (editorial use is usually okay for newsworthy purposes).

Pikwizard pros and cons

Pros

• Huge library claim (over 1 million images/videos) and broad categories.
• Photos + videos + templates + PNGs = fewer tabs, faster workflow.
• Licensing is clearly stated, and attribution isn’t required.

Cons

• You still need the same real-world caution around trademarks/logos and model/property permissions (this is true of basically every “free” library).
• Some content may be editorial-only, so you can’t assume every result is suitable for ads/packaging.

Free Image By Pikwizard.com

My practical workflow for using “free” images safely

Even with the best sites, I treat “free” as a starting point, not a guarantee.

1. Decide the use case first
   • Blog header? Social post? Paid ad? Product packaging?
     The stricter the use (ads/merch), the more conservative I get.
2. Avoid logos/trademarks unless the license explicitly covers your use
   • Some sites restrict trademarked content in commercial contexts (Pixabay is explicit here).
3. Be careful with identifiable people
   • Many licenses prohibit using people in a negative/offensive light (Pikwizard and Pexels both call this out).
4. Keep a “license receipt”
   • I save the download page or a screenshot of the license terms at the time I used it. Licenses can evolve.

---

Free Image By Pikwizard.com

If you want one free site that covers the most real-world needs, Pikwizard earns the top spot for me because it combines:

• commercial-friendly licensing (with clear restrictions),
• multiple asset types (photos, videos, templates, PNGs),
• and a workflow that reduces tab-hopping.

Then I’d pair it with:

• Unsplash for ultra-polished hero images
• Pexels for clear rules + videos
• Pixabay when I need illustrations or unusual formats (and I’m willing to read the fine print)