Pexels

Pexels is a free library of photos and videos, with apps and creative tools for finding and saving visuals. It suits creators and publishers who need usable media without a stock subscription. Its no-attribution license is a clear advantage; developers must work within API quotas and usage restrictions.

Overview

Photos and videos are free for personal and commercial use without attribution, a practical fit for publishing and design workflows where budgets or crediting requirements are concerns. Pexels also offers vector, illustration and editorial assets, extending its usefulness beyond standard stock photography. It says hundreds of thousands of photographers and videographers contribute, with users ranging from startups to global brands.

Accounts add collections, download history, photographer follows, a personalized homepage, likes and uploading. These tools help organize repeat work, though they are not necessary to access the media. Contributors should also know that Pexels does not allow uploads created with generative AI.

Key features

Library and integrations

The library combines downloadable photos and video with vector, illustration and editorial assets. Official tools include Android and iOS apps, a Chrome extension, Google Slides add-on, and Figma and Sketch plugins; a community MS Office add-in is also available. Pexels identifies Canva, Typeform, Sketch and Airtable as API partners, which may suit teams already using those services.

API access

The free REST API returns JSON and gives programmatic access to the full photo and video library. Default keys allow 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month. That is useful for modest integrations, but developers should check whether their expected traffic fits both caps. The API cannot be used to replicate Pexels or to build wallpaper and image-gallery apps, so it is not a general-purpose feed for competing visual libraries.

Pricing

Pexels has one plan: Free — free. It includes free photo and video access, plus API allowances of 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month. There is no paid tier to increase those quotas; projects that outgrow the caps or need a permitted use outside the API restrictions should look elsewhere.

Platforms

Pexels is available on the web, Android and iOS, and through an API and browser extension. Its Google Slides add-on and Figma and Sketch plugins bring it into common creative workflows without requiring a separate library subscription.

Who it's for

Pexels is a strong choice for designers, bloggers, publishers and businesses that need photos or videos for personal or commercial projects without attribution fees. Its account tools suit people who want to save collections or follow photographers, while the API serves developers building allowed integrations within its limits. It is a poor fit for apps that reproduce Pexels or offer wallpaper and image galleries through its API.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free personal and commercial use without attribution avoids both media charges and crediting work.
• Pro: Photos, videos, vectors, illustrations and editorial assets cover more than one visual format.
• Pro: Apps, plugins and account tools support discovery and organization across several workflows.
• Con: API keys default to hourly and monthly request caps, which can constrain higher-volume integrations.
• Con: API restrictions rule out replication, wallpaper and image-gallery apps.
• Con: Generative-AI-created uploads are not permitted, limiting contributors who want to share that kind of work.

Alternatives

Pixabay is another free option for media downloads; full-resolution photo and video downloads require sign-up, so Pexels may be preferable when avoiding that step matters.

Vecteezy offers a free plan and distinct image-only, video-only and unlimited-access bundles, making it worth considering when those bundle choices suit the project.

Adobe Stock is a paid service with a free trial and plans that include standard assets and video, for buyers considering a trial-based paid library.

VectorStock has a free plan and a pay-per-image option with a single-vector purchase and Pro license, making it a more focused alternative when vectors are the priority.

Shutterstock is a paid alternative with image-download and unlimited-image plans for readers considering a paid library.

Depositphotos offers a free plan alongside monthly and annual unlimited-download plans, for readers comparing download models.

Yay Images has a free plan and options including a one-seat membership, a lifetime membership capped at five downloads per day, and a 50-credit purchase.

iStock is a paid alternative with annual plans starting at $29 a month for 10 downloads per month, for readers seeking a subscription with a stated download allowance.

Browse Stock Photo Websites or Stock Video Websites to compare more libraries by category.

Verdict

Choose Pexels if you want a broad selection of usable photos and videos at no cost, particularly for projects that benefit from a no-attribution license and supporting creative tools. Look elsewhere if your application needs to reproduce the library, serve wallpapers or galleries, or exceed the API's default quotas.