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.
LCCurated by Louis Corneloup · UpdatedWhy 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:
- •Pricing at scale (rare for this tool, but feature limits push teams out)
- •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. No paid placement.
7 alternatives to Pexels
Ranked by real-signal composite (rankingScore + community + reviews) and direct relevance to Pexels.
- 1
Shutterstock
PaidBattle-tested at scaleStock images, photos, and videos
Direct alternative4.4(1,196)Compare Pexels vs Shutterstock → - 2
Adobe Stock
PaidAccess a vast library of royalty-free creative assets for all your projects.
Direct alternative4.3(185)Compare Pexels vs Adobe Stock → - 3
Pixabay
FreemiumDiscover and share stunning royalty-free images, videos, and music.
Direct alternative4.5(255)Compare 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)Compare Pexels vs Depositphotos → - 5
Freepik
FreemiumHigh-quality graphic resources for creative projects.
Direct alternative4.7(165)Compare Pexels vs Freepik → - 6
Unsplash
FreeHigher rated by usersFree, high-res photos from a global community of creators
Direct alternative4.8(107)Compare 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)Compare 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?
Yes. Pixabay is one of the freemium alternatives to Pexels listed here (Discover and share stunning royalty-free images, videos, and music). Other freemium options are flagged in the list below.
Why do people look for Pexels alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Pexels: pricing that scales aggressively, 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 different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Pexels versus each alternative.
Still considering Pexels?
See the full review, pricing breakdown, and community feedback before you decide.