The Ultimate Guide to Free Stock Images for Businesses & Creators

At Delivered Social, we are constantly asked about stock images, so we thought we’d create a guide to take you through this process. High-quality visuals are essential for businesses and content creators, but not everyone has the budget for professional photography. That’s where free stock images come in, they provide high-quality, royalty-free photos that can be used for social media, websites, blogs, and marketing materials without breaking the bank. Finding the right photos isn’t just about downloading the first one you see. Not all pictures are created equal, some are overused, low resolution, or come with restrictive licensing. Knowing where to find high-quality free photographs and how to use them correctly is key to maintaining a professional and visually appealing online presence.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about stock images, from understanding different licensing types to choosing the best stock photo websites. Whether you’re a small business owner, a social media manager, you’ll discover how to find, customise, and legally use stock photos without any hassle.

What Are Free Stock Photos & How Do They Work?

Free stock photos are high-quality photographs that can be downloaded and used without paying licensing fees. These photos are commonly used for social media, websites, blogs, and marketing materials to enhance content without needing original photography.

Not all images are completely unrestricted. There are different types of licensing that determine how and where you can use them.

1. Public Domain (CC0 License): These pictures are completely free to use without attribution. You can modify, distribute, and use them for commercial and personal projects.
2. Royalty-Free: You can use these photos without paying per-use fees, but some may require attribution or have usage restrictions.
3. Creative Commons (CC Licenses): Some stock images require credit to the photographer or have restrictions like “non-commercial use only.”

Using the right free photo websites ensures that you’re accessing high-quality, legally safe pictures. While stock photos for social media are widely available, always check the licensing terms to avoid copyright issues. Many businesses rely on free stock pictures to enhance their branding, marketing campaigns, and blog content without investing in professional photography. Whether you need an eye-catching Instagram post or a a website banner,  stock images help maintain a consistent and professional aesthetic.

 

Best Websites for Free Stock Images 

Finding high-quality stock images is easier than ever, but not all sources are equal. Some sites offer a better variety or higher resolution than others,  Here are some of the best free photo websites to help businesses and creators find the right photos for social media and websites.

1. Unsplash

One of the most well-known stock photo sites, Unsplash offers a massive library of high-resolution images contributed by photographers worldwide. All images are free for commercial and personal use, making it ideal for marketing campaigns, blog posts, and social media content.

2. Pexels

Pexels provides stunning, high-quality photos and videos that can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. It’s a great choice for social media content creators looking for aesthetic and professional visuals.

3. Pixabay

With over 2.7 million stock images, videos, and music tracks, Pixabay is an excellent resource for businesses looking for a variety of free stock images for websites and advertising.

4. Burst by Shopify

Designed for entrepreneurs and online businesses, Burst offers high-quality business and marketing-focused images. This is perfect for brands needing eCommerce-friendly stock photos.

5. Reshot

Reshot is ideal for brands that want unique, non-generic stock images. Their handpicked collection ensures that images aren’t overused like those found on larger stock platforms.

6. Kaboompics

Kaboompics offers a mix of lifestyle, business, and travel images with a built-in color palette tool that helps users match visuals to their brand aesthetics.

Using Free Stock Photos for Social Media & Websites 

Free stock images play a crucial role in enhancing the visual appeal of social media and websites. High-quality visuals help businesses attract attention, boost engagement, and create a professional online presence. However, using stock images effectively requires careful selection and strategic placement to maintain authenticity.

How to Use Free Stock Images for Social Media

Social media is a highly visual space, and the right stock photos can make your posts stand out. When using stock photos for social media, consider the following:

• Choose photos that fit your brand’s style – Ensure the pictures match your brand’s aesthetic and tone.
• Overlay text or graphics – Customising stock images with brand elements, captions, or call-to-actions makes them more engaging.
• Avoid overused images – Popular stock photos can look generic, so opt for lesser-known visuals or customise them to stand out.
• Use platform-specific photo sizes – Crop and resize photos for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to ensure they display correctly.

How to Use Free Stock Images for Websites

A well-designed website relies on visually appealing imagery to keep visitors engaged. Stock photos for websites can be used in:

• Hero banners – Large, high-quality pictures on the homepage create a strong first impression.
• Blog posts – Eye-catching visuals break up text and make articles more engaging.
• Product pages & testimonials – Professional imagery builds trust and enhances user experience.
• Backgrounds & headers – High-resolution stock photos add depth and professionalism to a website’s layout.

Optimising Stock Images for Performance

Large image files can slow down website loading times, which negatively impacts user experience and SEO. To ensure smooth performance:

• Compress photos using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh.
• Choose the right file format – Use JPEG for photos, PNG for transparent images, and WebP for smaller file sizes.
• Name photo files with keywords to improve SEO rankings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Free Stock Photos

While free stock images can enhance a brand’s online presence, using them incorrectly can harm credibility, engagement, and even legal standing. Avoid these common mistakes to ensure your visuals look professional and authentic.

Using Overused or Generic Images

Stock images appear on thousands of websites and social media accounts, and overused visuals can make your brand look unoriginal. Instead of selecting the first image you find, take time to browse lesser-used stock photo websites or customise images to fit your brand identity.

Ignoring Licensing & Copyright Rules

Not all free stock images can be used without restrictions. Some require attribution, while others may have non-commercial use limitations. Always check the license type before using a photo, especially for marketing or advertising.

Failing to Customise Images

Simply downloading and posting stock photos without any branding elements or adjustments can make content look generic. Enhance stock images by adding text overlays, filters, or logos to make them unique to your brand.

Using Low-Quality or Un-optimised Images

High-resolution images improve credibility, but large files can slow down website performance. Always compress images before uploading them to ensure fast load times without sacrificing quality.

Choosing Irrelevant Images

Stock photos should align with the message and tone of your brand. A mismatch between image and content can confuse audiences or make your brand seem disconnected from its messaging.

Worried about copyright issues with stock images? Learn how to stay compliant here.

Optimising Free Stock Pictures for Better Performance 

Using free stock images is a great way to enhance your website and social media, but if they’re not optimised properly, they can slow down your site, affect SEO, and look inconsistent with your brand. Here’s how to get the most out of them:

Resize & Compress for Faster Load Times

Large photo files can slow down your website, leading to poor user experience and lower search rankings. Use free tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to compress images without sacrificing quality. For website use, aim for images no larger than 200KB whenever possible.

Choose the Right File Format

Selecting the best picture format ensures better quality and performance:

• JPEG – Ideal for photos and complex images, offering good quality at smaller file sizes.
• PNG – Best for transparent backgrounds but larger in size.
• WebP – A modern format that balances quality and compression, recommended for websites.

Edit Images to Fit Your Brand

Even free stock photos should look cohesive with your brand’s style. Use free tools like Canva or GIMP to adjust brightness, contrast, or add filters. Overlay your brand colours or logo to make them feel more unique.

Ensure Mobile Compatibility

Your images should display correctly on mobile devices. Check that they scale properly by using responsive design techniques or plugins like WP Smush for WordPress.

Need to translate text from stock images for Instagram? Here’s how to do it effortlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. Are free stock images really free to use?

Yes, but it depends on the license type. Some free stock photos fall under the public domain (CC0) and can be used without restrictions, while others require attribution or have non-commercial use limitations. Always check the licensing details before using an image.

2. Can I use free stock images for business marketing?

Yes, many stock pictures for websites and social media are free for commercial use. Websites like Unsplash or Pexels quality images that businesses can use for marketing, branding, and advertising.

3. How do I make stock images look more unique?

To make stock photos stand out, try:

• Adding text overlays, filters, or branding elements.
• Cropping or resizing to fit different platforms.
• Using a mix of stock and original images for authenticity.

4. Do stock images affect SEO?

Yes! Optimising photo file names, alt text, and sizes can improve search rankings and website load speed, which helps SEO.

5. Where is the best place to find high-quality free stock images?

Top free photo websites include Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, Burst, and Reshot.