Overview

Pixabay is a free community library of photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music, sound effects and other media. It is best suited to people who need varied creative assets without a subscription; its main trade-offs are license restrictions and tighter controls on full-resolution downloads and API use.

The library spans more than 6.3 million media assets, and Pixabay reports 6 billion downloads and 400,000 creators. Browsing is open, but uploading requires an account. Pixabay is a Canva Germany GmbH brand founded in 2010 and based in Berlin.

Key features

Media and licensing

Photos are only part of the offering: illustrations, vector and editorial assets, videos, music and sound effects make Pixabay useful for projects that need multiple media types in one place. The Content License Summary permits free use without attribution and allows adaptation, but the restrictions matter: users may not sell or distribute content on a standalone basis, and recognizable trademarks cannot be used commercially in connection with goods or services.

Media pages let users choose a download size. Full-resolution photos and videos require sign-up, a modest hurdle for casual browsing that may be inconvenient when a project depends on original-size files.

API and integrations

The REST API returns JSON search results for royalty-free images and videos, making it relevant for developers building media search into an application. Its default allowance is 100 requests per 60 seconds, queries can return up to 500 image or video results, and requests must be cached for 24 hours. Systematic mass downloads are prohibited. API users are also asked to show the media's source whenever search results appear, so it is a poor fit for applications that cannot accommodate attribution at the results-display stage.

Canva integrates Pixabay audio tracks into its media library. The official Android and iOS apps support image search, browsing, sharing and downloads, extending access beyond the web. For support, Pixabay points users to its community forum or direct contact. It says automated tools and human moderators review reported or potentially violating media and user content.

Pricing

Pixabay's library and API each cost 0.00 USD per free. There is no free trial because access is free. The library plan includes free media downloads, with sign-up required for full-resolution photo and video downloads. The API plan includes the default 100 requests per 60 seconds and a maximum of 500 image or video results per query, alongside the 24-hour caching and mass-download restrictions. Neither plan offers a paid tier in these terms, so the choice is about whether the free service's limits suit the intended use.

Platforms

Pixabay is available on web, Android and iOS, and provides API access. Its mobile apps cover image search, browsing, sharing and downloads; the API is for image and video search rather than the full range of library media.

Who it's for

Pixabay suits individual creators and teams seeking free media across several formats, especially when attribution-free use and adaptation are useful. Developers can use the API for moderate search workloads if they can meet its caching, display-credit and download rules. Look elsewhere when a project requires unrestricted standalone redistribution, commercial use of recognizable trademarks, or high-volume automated collection.

Pros and cons

Pro: A broad mix of media formats and a reported collection of more than 6.3 million assets gives creators options beyond stock photos.
Pro: Free use without attribution and permission to adapt content suit many creative projects.
Pro: Web, mobile apps and a JSON API support both direct browsing and image- or video-search integration.
Con: Full-resolution photos and videos require an account, even though other free downloads are available.
Con: Standalone resale or distribution is prohibited, and recognizable trademarks cannot be used commercially in relation to goods or services.
Con: API caching, request and mass-download rules restrict how developers can retrieve and display content.

Alternatives

Pexels is another free option for photos and videos, with Android, iOS, web, extension and API access. Its API allows 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month, making it worth comparing for developers whose usage fits those caps.

Vecteezy is a freemium alternative with web and API access and separate image-only, video-only and unlimited-download plans; choose it if those plan categories better match the media you need. Depositphotos also offers free access alongside unlimited-download plans, including a monthly option and an annual term paid monthly.

iStock is a paid-first alternative with a free plan and annual-billed options from 29.00 USD per month for 10 monthly downloads; its higher-priced plans may suit readers comparing paid stock plans. Adobe Stock is a paid service with a free trial and asset-credit plans, so it is an alternative for readers willing to evaluate a paid subscription. Dreamstime offers a freemium model with image packs ranging from 5 to 25 images.

Unsplash has a free tier and paid Unsplash+ plans with unlimited downloads for one seat, making it relevant for an individual who prefers a single-seat unlimited-download plan. PIXTA offers a free tier as well as paid image subscriptions, including an annual-renewal plan for 3 images per month at 15.00 USD per month, billed annually.

For broader comparisons, browse stock photo websites, stock video websites or stock illustration websites.

Verdict

Choose Pixabay if you want a free, multi-format media library and can work within its license and download rules. Its breadth and no-attribution use are compelling for everyday creative needs; developers and commercial users should look elsewhere if the API limits or trademark restrictions conflict with their intended use.

	Pixabay	Science Photo Library
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Vector assets	Yes	—
Illustration assets	Yes	Yes
Editorial assets	Yes	Yes
API access	Yes	—

Pixabay vs Science Photo Library

Pixabay

Science Photo Library