Using relevant images with the content on your website is important if you want to increase your website’s user engagement.
According to a study, websites and other online media with relevant images get 94% more overall views than ones without them.
If you are unaware of where to find the most suitable pictures, then you have landed at the right place!
In this article, we will inform you about the best websites for stock images that you can access for free or for minimal charges. So if you are on a tight budget and aren’t in the mood to accommodate high expenses related to the media for your website, keep reading!
From high-resolution images to the best quality audio and HD/4K video clips, the stock image sites on our list offer everything a website owner could ask for.
But first, let’s discuss the importance of incorporating suitable images with your website content.
Why should you add photos to your website?
Photos on any website are like eye candy for the audience. Relevant images that are scattered throughout content have the ability to attract peoples’ attention. They keep the readers hooked until the end, which increases user engagement and the overall time spent on your website.
Here is an example of a bland website that has no images:
Hubspot, on the other hand, has made great use of imagery to keep the readers engaged and enhance their overall reading experience:
6 Best Stock Image Sites
Now that you know the importance of adding photos to your content, let’s move on to find out some of the best websites for stock images available on the internet.
1. Vecteezy (Free)
If you are looking for a stock photo site that is a level above all others, then Vecteezy is the one for you. This site features a powerful search engine with a substantial library of beautiful free stock images.
You can narrow your query according to the number of people in the photo, different image styles, colors in the picture, orientation, and much more! Moreover, the team at Vecteezy reviews each and every photo to maintain its quality standards.
Here’s why you should choose Vecteezy:
- Robust search engine.
- Dedicated team to filter out the best stock images.
- Clean and uncluttered user interface.
- It gives access to millions of graphics, vectors, photos, audio, and videos.
2. Adobe Stock (Paid)
If you are a content producer who wants to access premium quality content and tools such as Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator in one place, then you should consider Adobe Stock for stock images.
You can get your hands on millions of realistic images, wallpapers, illustrations, vectors, and many more types of stock images on their site. If you are looking for customized photos, you can take advantage of the image editor included in your membership. The amazing media offered on this website would help you create eye-catching content easily.
Here’s why you should choose Adobe Stock:
- Seamless functionality with Adobe app integration and plugins.
- Features trending images, videos, and audio from around the world.
- It gives an option for editing videos and even integrating audio taken from the website.
- Subscribers can contribute to the library.
3. Shutterstock (Paid)
Shutterstock is a favorite for content creators around the world. If you have a web design and development agency, consider subscribing to this stock photo site. It contains high-quality images, videos, vectors, and even sounds. Shutterstock is known for its versatile collection and constantly updating media. With this platform, editing and changing media is also not a problem.
You get access to a free image editor with different features such as resizing, scaling, and color adjustment to customize images according to your requirements.
Here’s why you should choose Shutterstock:
- Offers multiple types of media for each search term.
- It offers more than just images.
- Comes with a variety of subscription plans for individuals.
- Offers team/enterprise accounts.
4. Stock Photos (Paid)
Stock Photos is a growing platform for images that have become very popular over time. Users have shown a massive interest in this website because of its high-quality media that covers almost every topic.
Alongside that, this site features a fantastic image upscaler you can use to resize images according to your requirements. The media is constantly updated with new and improved pictures. Its new website design is quite attractive and surely catches the eye. Plus, the site is linked with Canva, one of the best image editors on the internet.
Here’s why you should consider acquiring images from stockphotos.com:
- Offers various deals at competitive prices.
- Attractive website for easy navigation.
- Offer access to free stock photos from many other popular websites.
5. Alamy (Paid)
Alamy is one of the most consistently growing stock image platforms. It features over 150 million photos related to various topics.
From vectors to videos and generic pictures, it contains everything. It has a simple subscription plan with no complications, so all users, from professional agencies to freelancers, can benefit from it. You can also get different deals and discounts occasionally.
Also, the live chat feature encourages users to discuss their complaints. It integrates a lightbox where you can submit your creations and become a part of the Alamy family.
Here’s why you should choose Alamy:
- Alamy offers complete customer support for its users.
- It has a simple subscription plan.
- Users can select media from over 150 million stock images, videos, and vectors.
- The collection is always up to date, with 100,000 fresh images added daily.
6. Unsplash (Free)
When we think of free images, Unsplash comes to mind. It is one of the most popular sites to provide an assortment of stock images without charging anything.
It offers over 3 million high-resolution images contributed by professionals, hobbyists, startup brands, and many other sources. Unsplash has a collection of images, designs, wallpapers, and textures to cover your basic content needs. This amazing website features a regularly updated blog with tips and tricks related to stock photos. Unsplash is also available on the App Store for iPhone. You can choose pictures based on the theme by using keywords.
Here’s why you should choose Unsplash:
- Dedicated to providing up-to-date content.
- App integration for convenient searching.
- Offers over 300k images on trending topics for users to choose from.
- Supported in many different languages for users across the world.
Final Takeaway
If you are looking to make your online content look polished and professional, it is necessary to enhance it with visual elements. Content that includes photos, videos, audio, and illustrations improves the look of your website. It also makes it engaging and exciting for the visitors, keeping them hooked til the end.
Stock photos are a great alternative to customized/original pictures when you are short on time. The best thing is that they can be accessed either for free or for a very minimal cost from many websites on the internet.
In our article, we have mentioned the most popular websites for stock images that deliver in terms of price and quality. We hope you will find valuable assets in these resources to craft a unique, eye catchy website. Good luck!