Pexels
Stock footage software
Stock photos websites
Stock media software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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Completely free
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
Small
Medium
Large
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
- Media and communications
- Education and training
What is Pexels
Pexels is a stock media website that provides access to a library of free-to-use photos and videos contributed by creators and curated from multiple sources. It is used by marketers, designers, publishers, and small businesses to source visuals for websites, social media, presentations, and lightweight video projects. The service emphasizes no-cost licensing for many assets and offers search, collections, and basic discovery features via web and API access.
Large free media library
Pexels offers a sizable catalog of photos and videos that can be downloaded without a paid subscription for many common use cases. This makes it practical for teams with limited budgets or high-volume content needs. Compared with many paid libraries in the category, the barrier to entry is low because users can start downloading immediately.
Simple search and discovery
The web interface supports keyword search, filtering, and browsing by topics and collections. Results pages are designed for quick evaluation with previews and related content suggestions. This reduces time spent sourcing assets for routine marketing and editorial workflows.
API and integrations support
Pexels provides an API that developers can use to embed search and retrieval into internal tools, CMS workflows, or creative utilities. This can help standardize asset sourcing across teams and automate repetitive tasks. Availability of programmatic access is a differentiator versus stock sites that restrict API usage to higher-tier plans.
Licensing nuances require review
Although assets are generally offered under a permissive license, users still need to confirm restrictions for sensitive use cases (for example, identifiable people, trademarks, or implied endorsements). Some projects require model/property releases or additional clearance that may not be fully verifiable from the listing alone. Legal review may be necessary for regulated industries or high-risk campaigns.
Less depth for niche needs
Free libraries often have less coverage for highly specific industries, locations, or rare concepts compared with paid, rights-managed catalogs. Users may need to search multiple sources when they require very particular subjects or consistent series. This can affect brand consistency for larger campaigns.
Limited enterprise governance features
Pexels focuses on discovery and download rather than enterprise asset governance. Capabilities such as advanced rights tracking, approval workflows, team-level permissioning, and audit trails are not the primary emphasis. Organizations with strict compliance or brand governance may need additional tooling around it.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Completely free (no paid subscription listed on official site).
Paid offerings: None found on official Pexels site (photos and videos are provided free of charge).
API: Official documentation states the Image & Video API is free of charge and rate limits can be lifted for eligible apps at no cost.
Notes: Pexels may display sponsored images that link to partners where purchases can occur, but Pexels states downloads from their site/app are free.
Seller details
Pexels GmbH (a Canva company)
Berlin, Germany
2014
Subsidiary
https://www.pexels.com
https://x.com/pexels
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pexels/
