Top 9 Free Stock Image Websites

How do you make your website really pack a punch? Well, it’s simple: make it a feast for the eyes!

In the early days of the internet, a website was  so unusual and exotic that practically any content would impress visitors. Today, our increasingly sophisticated palates expect more dynamic content than the colourful text and thumbnail images of 1990s’ websites.

Effective use of photos can give any site real presence and character. Unfortunately, few of us are aspiring David Baileys, and stock photography sites like Getty Images and Shutterstock typically charge significant premiums for a single image. Fortunately, a small army of amateurs, enthusiasts and philanthropists have created royalty-free photography resources.

Here are our top nine favourite sites for acquiring free stock images in the UK:

1. FreeImages. This search engine favourite features photos often only loosely related to search terms – a search for “car” reveals cable cars and abandoned trucks on the first page. However, it’s hard to argue with a site that lets you refine by everything from popularity and upload date through to camera manufacturer and image orientation.

2. Pixabay. Pixabay operates on the principles of quid pro quo, encouraging people to register and submit their own images before downloading others. Be warned: the selection process is tough, and most of your uploads will probably be rejected by moderators. A modest photo archive is bolstered by excellent illustrations and CGIs.

3. Wikimedia Commons. Operating on similar principles to Wikipedia, this community resource features numerous images that can be freely reused – subject to certain restrictions. It may be necessary to credit the image’s creator, but this is clearly explained in the text that accompanies each high-res image in Wikimedia’s archive.

4. Stockvault. Founded in 2004, photographers and artists from around the world have assembled Stockvault’s database of 90,000 free stock images in the UK. It relies on donations of money and images, with a decent portfolio of high-res photos above footer adverts for the (paid) photos Shutterstock has in relation to your search term.

5. Openphoto. This is even older than Stockvault, tracing its origins right back to 1998. The intervening two decades have seen Openphoto build an impressive portfolio of images, though it does struggle with newer products and topics. Enthusiasts will often upload entire swathes of images in one go, making regular visits highly worthwhile.

6. Press Loft. This is a left-field suggestion, since it’s aimed more at journalists than the general public. Nonetheless, it’s worth registering if you regularly need product images. A 170,000-strong image database extends from flooring to fashion, and each professionally staged photo is supplied by product manufacturers and PR agencies.

7. StockFreeImages. Its homepage promises over 1.58 million images, royalty-free stock photos and illustrations, but bear in mind that ‘free’ and ‘royalty-free’ aren’t the same thing. Nevertheless, this is a useful resource for acquiring free stock images in the UK, and there are plenty of high-res images available at no charge alongside paid content.

8. Google. If all else fails, the daddy of image databases is worth a look – providing you’re willing to dabble with the advanced settings on Google Images. Only search for images that are ‘Labeled for reuse’ if you’re republishing them commercially, but Google can still yield a good crop of stylish high-res photos from around the world.

9. Bing. This is the other search engine giant, and another valuable source of copyright-free images. It’s possible to specify either ‘Public domain’ or ‘Free to use commercially’ under the ‘License’ tab of Bing Images searches, with strips of suggested search refinements appearing every few rows. Some search results even outperform Google.

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