5 Best Stock Photo Sites in 2025: Free & Paid

Every startup needs a professional touch in its content, whether for blogs, websites, presentations, or video marketing. However, hiring a professional photographer can be prohibitively expensive when you have just started your online business.

Fortunately, there are dozens of high-quality stock photo providers with massive communities of freelance photographers and editors. Choosing the right platform can give you access to millions of assets while saving you thousands of dollars.

Below, we recommend the top 5 websites for stock photos in 2025, covering both free and premium options.

1. Freepik

Best For: Affordable vectors, PSDs, and AI-generated assets.

Freepik has grown into a massive design marketplace, offering far more than just photos. In 2025, their library boasts over 200 million assets, including vectors, PSD templates, icons, and AI-generated images. It is incredibly easy to filter images by color, orientation, and style, making it a favorite for designers.

• Free Plan: You can access thousands of free assets, but you must attribute the author and Freepik (e.g., “Designed by Freepik”).
• Premium Plan: Starting at roughly $12–$17/month (depending on billing), the Premium plan unlocks the full library, removes the attribution requirement, and gives you unlimited downloads.
• Why Choose It: If you need editable vector files or mockups alongside your photos, Freepik is the best hybrid option.

2. Shutterstock

Best For: Corporate businesses needing legal safety and massive variety.

Shutterstock remains the industry giant with a library of over 400 million images, adding hundreds of thousands of new assets daily. If you are looking for specific, high-quality editorial images or 4K footage for a commercial project, Shutterstock is the gold standard.

• Pricing: There is no free plan. Subscriptions start around $29/month for 10 images. For heavy users, plans go up to $199+ for 750 images/month.
• Features: It includes a powerful online editor (Shutterstock Editor) and AI generation tools.
• Verdict: Choose Shutterstock if you have a budget and need strict legal indemnification for your brand. It pairs well with professional video editing if you also use stock footage (see our Mixkit review for a free video alternative).

3. Unsplash

Best For: Artistic, high-resolution photography.

Unsplash is widely loved for its “authentic” look. Unlike the staged, corporate feel of some stock sites, Unsplash photos often look like they were taken by a professional lifestyle photographer. It hosts over 3 million high-quality curated images contributed by a community of over 300,000 photographers.

• License: It is free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes under the Unsplash License. Attribution is appreciated but not required.
• Unsplash+: They recently launched a “Plus” tier for exclusive, members-only content, though the core library remains free.
• Use Case: Perfect for blog headers, social media backgrounds, and hero sections where you need an artistic vibe.

Pro Tip: Looking for unique visuals? Consider creating your own using AI image generation tools if you can’t find the perfect stock photo.

4. Pexels

Best For: completely free stock photos and videos with no strings attached.

Often confused with “Pixels,” Pexels is a top-tier free stock site that aggregates images from its community and other free sources. A standout feature is its inclusivity and the availability of vertical videos, which are perfect for TikTok or Instagram Reels.

• Cost: Completely Free. Pexels does not have a subscription plan for its own content. It makes money by showing sponsored images from paid sites like iStock.
• License: Licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), meaning you can modify and use photos commercially without attribution.
• UI Mockups: While Pexels focuses on photos, if you are looking for the UI mockups mentioned in older guides, we recommend checking out Envato Elements or Placeit.

5. Depositphotos

Best For: Flexible, affordable plans for casual buyers.

Depositphotos strikes a balance between quality and cost. With a library of over 280 million files, it supports multiple languages and offers excellent advanced search filters. It is often cited as the most “budget-friendly” premium option.

• Pricing: Their popular “Flex Plan” often allows for ~10–25 images for roughly $10–$30/month, with unused downloads rolling over to the next month.
• Free Collection: They do offer a selection of free files, though the best content is behind the paywall.
• Verdict: If Shutterstock is too expensive but you need more variety than Unsplash, Depositphotos is the perfect middle ground.

Summary Comparison

Bottom Line

Making your content attractive and professional is crucial for your brand’s image.

• For Zero Budget: Start with Pexels or Unsplash. They offer incredible quality that rivals paid sites.
• For Designers: Freepik is unbeatable for getting photos plus the vector files needed to edit them.
• For Business: If you can afford it, Shutterstock or Depositphotos ensures you won’t use the same generic image as your competitors.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your daily volume needs and budget. If you are building a website, don’t forget to pair these images with one of the fastest WordPress themes to ensure your high-quality photos don’t slow down your site.