Alex Belsey
Images help a website come alive.
They illustrate things that words can't, and capture a reader's attention far more than a block of text ever could. They are also good for seo purposes, as 'content with at least one image significantly outperform(s) content without any images.'
So, now that we understand why images are so important for a website, the question is, 'how can we find great images to use, for free?'
Don't worry, because we have the solution. Below, you'll find a list of 19 websites where you can get high quality stock photos absolutely free, usually without being required to link back to the source.
Websites where you can get free stock images from:
Pixabay (our favourite)
If you're looking for high quality stock photos for your website or blog, then you'll most likely be able to find just what you're looking for, absolutely free, by searching through a few of the above websites. Perfect if you're a startup company or small business, or if you're just looking to get great results without having to splash the cash.
In fact, many of the images featured on the free stock photo sites we've highlighted actually work better than the paid images we've found on sites like Shutterstock, simply because they look more real.
People have got used to seeing the same, carefully posed, immaculately rehearsed images being recycled again and again across the web, so when you offer people something that is fresher and more organic as an alternative, they tend to take note of it.
So even if you do have a budget big enough that you can afford to spend a fair chunk of cash on buying lots of stock photos, why not try using a free one from a website we've listed above?
The results may surprise and delight you.
