Best Pexels alternatives in 2026
7 direct alternatives to Pexels, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Curated by Louis Corneloup · Updated Cite this list: Toolradar, best Pexels alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/pexels
Why people consider alternatives to Pexels
Pexels offers free stock photos and videos shared by talented creators worldwide. All content is free for commercial and personal use with no attribution required. Browse curated collections or search by topic, color, or orientation.
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- •A feature or quota ceiling that a paid specialist covers and this free tool does not.
- •Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- •Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- •A specific feature gap you have hit in stock assets.
The 7 alternatives below cover the same core job (stock assets) with different trade-offs. Ranked by real-signal score: G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review.
7 alternatives to Pexels
Ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review, plus how directly they replace Pexels.
- 1
Shutterstock
PaidBattle-tested at scaleStock images, photos, and videos
Direct alternative4.4(1,196)as of Mar 2026Compare Pexels vs Shutterstock → - 2
Adobe Stock
PaidAccess a vast library of royalty-free creative assets for all your projects.
Direct alternative4.3(194)as of Sep 2026Compare Pexels vs Adobe Stock → - 3
Pixabay
FreemiumDiscover and share stunning royalty-free images, videos, and music.
Direct alternative4.5(227)as of Sep 2026Compare Pexels vs Pixabay → - 4
Depositphotos
FreemiumAccess a vast library of royalty-free images, videos, vectors, illustrations, and music for your projects.
Direct alternative4.5(216)as of Mar 2026Compare Pexels vs Depositphotos → - 5
Freepik
FreemiumHigh-quality graphic resources for creative projects.
Direct alternative4.7(165)as of Mar 2026Compare Pexels vs Freepik → - 6
Unsplash
FreeHigher rated by usersFree, high-res photos from a global community of creators
Direct alternative4.8(107)as of Sep 2026Compare Pexels vs Unsplash → - 7
Getty Images
PaidAccess a vast library of high-quality stock photography, video, and music for creative projects.
Direct alternative3.5(112)as of Mar 2026Compare Pexels vs Getty Images →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Pexels?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to Pexels are Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Pixabay. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Pexels?
Pexels is already 100% free (no paid upgrade path). Unsplash is another fully free option listed here (Free, high-res photos from a global community of creators). Freemium tools on this list have a free tier plus paid plans — they are not the same as 100% free.
Why do people look for Pexels alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Pexels even though it is free: missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in stock assets. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with a different feature set.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Pexels versus each alternative.
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