Top 8 Free Stock Photo Websites for Designers, Biz Owners and Creators
More than ever, it’s crucial to have on-brand, crisp, professional-looking images on your website. One of the worst things you can do for your business is to use low-quality, fuzzy, copyrighted, or even screenshotted images. However, finding the perfect stock photos can feel impossible, especially if your budget is tight. We get it!
The good news? There are plenty of high-quality, royalty-free image sites that will help you stand out online. Here are my go-to favourites for Squarespace designers, brand builders, and content creators.
1. Unsplash — The classic crowd-pleaser
Still one of the best all-rounders. Gorgeous, authentic photography across every niche imaginable. Especially great for lifestyle and travel shots. Unsplash is partnered with and directly linked in Squarespace. Navigate to any image block on your Squarespace site and when prompted to add an image, choose browse stock images. Then you can use the search bar to look for free images that fit your brand!
2. Pexels — Creative and inclusive
Owned by Canva, Pexels offers both photos and videos. It’s particularly strong for modern, diverse imagery and social-media-ready visuals.
3. KaboomPics — Editorial vibes for days
Perfect for brand mockups, flat lays, and lifestyle imagery that feels pulled from a magazine. Each photo comes with a colour palette — handy for matching brand tones. This is one of my favourite free sites.
4. Freepik — More than photos
Freepik includes illustrations, icons, vectors, and mockups, which are ideal if you’re designing brand presentations or downloadable resources.
5. Dupe Photos — Real-world authenticity
Created to challenge the “perfect stock photo” aesthetic. Think relatable, slightly messy, human moments — perfect for lifestyle brands that want realism.
6. Pixabay — Big library, big variety
Photos, videos, music, even sound effects. Great for bulk searching and when you need filler content for mockups or quick builds.
7. Life of Pix — Artistic and high-res
Run by a Montreal ad agency, Life of Pix is beautifully curated with a fine-art sensibility. Every photo feels intentional, not generic.
8. Canva — Surprisingly robust free tier
Even without a Pro subscription, Canva’s free photo library has grown substantially. Bonus: images integrate seamlessly with your designs.
Quick licensing reminder
Always double-check usage terms. Most of these sites offer Creative Commons Zero (CC0) or similar licences, meaning you can use images freely for personal and commercial projects — but avoid reselling or redistributing them as your own.
Whether you’re designing a client site or building your own brand visuals, these eight sites are goldmines of high-quality imagery. Save a few to your bookmarks bar, and you’ll never settle for “generic business meeting” photo again.
