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Pexels
Free stock photos and videos with no attribution required — the creator's default B-roll library.
High-quality free stock photos and videos, no attribution required, safe for monetized content.
- Pricing
- 100% free, no attribution required
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Category
- Stock Media & Assets
- Last reviewed
- September 21, 2026
What is Pexels?
Pexels is where most creators start for stock media, and it earns that default status: a huge library of genuinely good photos and a video section that covers B-roll better than almost anything else free — aerials, cityscapes, hands-at-keyboard, nature, slow-motion. Everything is free for commercial use, including monetized videos, and attribution is not required (though the license appreciates it).
The Pexels License is permissive but has the sensible limits every stock license shares: you can't redistribute the raw files as your own stock library, and you can't use photos of identifiable people in ways that imply their endorsement or paint them in a bad light. For normal creator work — B-roll, thumbnail backgrounds, blog images, social posts — you will never hit those walls.
Search quality is strong and the community keeps the library fresh daily. There are native apps for phone editing workflows and a free API if you ever want to build something on top of it. Pair it with Pixabay (music and vectors) and Mixkit (templates) and your production has zero media budget yet looks funded.
Key features
- Large curated library of high-quality photos
- HD and 4K stock video — the best free B-roll source
- No attribution required, commercial use allowed
- Mobile apps and a free API
- New uploads daily from a global photographer community
- Simple license that covers monetized content
Free plan & limits
Everything is free under the Pexels License. No account needed to download. You cannot resell unmodified files as stock or imply endorsement by identifiable people — otherwise, use freely including monetized videos.
Who is it best for?
B-roll for videos, thumbnail backgrounds, blog and social imagery — any creator who needs professional-looking media without a budget.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to credit Pexels photographers?
No — attribution is not required by the license, though it is appreciated and costs you one line in your description.
Can I use Pexels videos in monetized YouTube videos?
Yes. The Pexels License allows commercial use, which includes monetized content, as long as you're not just redistributing the raw clips as your own stock.
Pexels or Pixabay?
Pexels generally has the stronger photo/video aesthetic; Pixabay adds vectors, illustrations, music and sound effects. Most creators keep both bookmarked.