How to Find Free Stock Photos and Videos (2025 Guide)
In today’s visually-driven world, high-quality images and videos are essential for bloggers, marketers, web designers, and content creators. Whether you’re working on a blog post, ad campaign, or YouTube video, compelling visuals boost engagement and professionalism. But not everyone has the budget to purchase premium assets. The good news? You can still access thousands of high-resolution stock photos and videos for free, legally and safely.
This guide breaks down the best free stock websites in 2025, the types of licenses to watch out for, and smart tips to stay compliant with copyright laws.
Why Use Free Stock Media?
- Cost-effective: Eliminate subscription or licensing fees.
- Time-saving: Instant downloads, no waiting for custom graphics.
- Legal peace of mind: Most platforms offer images under Creative Commons licenses.
- Professional quality: Many photos rival those of paid services.
Understand Licensing First
Before using any stock media, always check the license. Here are the most common types:
- Creative Commons Zero (CC0): Free to use for personal or commercial purposes. No attribution required.
- Attribution Required (CC BY): Free to use but requires you to credit the creator.
- Editorial Use Only: Can’t be used in advertisements or commercial work—only news or commentary.
Pro tip: When in doubt, check the licensing page of the platform or contact the uploader directly.
Best Free Stock Photo & Video Websites in 2025
Here’s a curated and updated list of the most reliable sources to download free stock assets in 2025:
1. Pexels
Website: pexels.com
Pexels offers a wide range of free stock photos and videos contributed by talented creators. It’s known for clean UI and collections based on trends (e.g., AI, remote work, diversity).
- License: CC0 (no attribution required)
- Categories: Nature, lifestyle, business, tech
- Video quality: Up to 4K
2. Pixabay
Website: pixabay.com
Pixabay provides over 2.5 million images, videos, illustrations, and even music files. It has one of the largest free media databases.
- License: Pixabay License (similar to CC0)
- Strengths: Search filters, AI-generated content
- Caution: Sponsored Shutterstock results at top
3. Unsplash
Website: unsplash.com
Owned by Getty Images, Unsplash is popular among designers for its aesthetic and editorial-style imagery. It’s especially great for landing pages and blogs.
- License: Unsplash License (free for commercial use, no attribution required)
- Great for: Backgrounds, minimalism, lifestyle brands
4. Coverr
Website: coverr.co
Focused solely on free stock videos, Coverr offers cinematic and tech-focused clips perfect for social media, website headers, or YouTube intros.
- License: Free for commercial use, no attribution
- Resolution: Mostly HD, some 4K
- Bonus: Free customizable video templates
5. Mixkit
Website: mixkit.co
Mixkit offers a curated library of high-quality free stock videos for both personal and commercial use. Created by Envato, it’s a trusted source with beautifully shot clips.
- License: Free for commercial use (no attribution required)
- Best for: Lifestyle footage, business clips, cinematic B-roll
- Bonus: Also offers free music and sound effects
6. Reshot
Website: reshot.com
Reshot focuses on authentic photography from emerging photographers, making it ideal for startups and indie creators.
- License: Free for commercial use
- Advantage: Less “stocky” and more natural-looking content
7. Videezy
Website: videezy.com
Features both free and premium stock videos. You’ll need to filter for “free” content.
- License: Mix of CC BY and commercial licenses
- Watch out: Some videos require attribution
- Extras: Aerial drone footage, animations
How to Use Stock Media Wisely
- Optimize for performance: Always compress images before uploading to your site to improve loading time.
- Check for branding conflicts: Avoid using trademarked logos or identifiable people in commercial projects unless model-released.
- Keep attribution clean: If credit is required, place it in the image caption or footer.
- Edit for uniqueness: Slightly crop, add filters, or combine with text overlays to stand out from others using the same image.
Smart Tips for Finding the Right Assets
- Use advanced search filters (orientation, color, size)
- Try keyword variations (e.g., “laptop work” vs. “remote work”)
- Bookmark or create folders for your favorite collections
- Use AI-based search tools (Pexels and Unsplash have intelligent recommendations now)
What’s New in 2025?
In 2025, many platforms are integrating AI-generated visuals, allowing users to generate or customize images directly from prompts. Some stock platforms even offer API access for automated content loading.
Also, look out for augmented reality (AR) stock content, which is slowly making its way into platforms like Pixabay and Videvo.
Conclusion
Finding quality stock media no longer requires a big budget. With websites like Pexels, Unsplash, and Coverr, creators at any level can find exactly what they need—legally and free of charge. Just remember to double-check licenses, optimize for SEO, and always aim for originality in your visuals.
