Free Image Resources
Photos, Illustrations, Icons & Tools

Free Image Resources for Websites and Creative Projects

Free image resources help website owners, bloggers, designers, marketers, and educators find useful visuals without creating every asset from scratch. This guide compares visual resources for stock photography, illustrations, icons, vectors, video, fonts, mockups, editing, compression, color selection, graphic design, and WordPress image management.

Best Free Image Resources by Use

Start with the asset you need, then compare the license and export options. These editorial picks cover common website projects without treating every service as interchangeable. Free plans, file limits, and licenses can change, so confirm the current terms on the individual download page.

The best free image resource depends on what you need to create.

Choose a stock-photo library when you need editorial or marketing photography, and look to illustration or icon collections for scalable artwork. An image editor can handle custom adjustments, while an optimizer prepares the finished file for the web. Before using any download, read its individual license: “free,” “royalty-free,” “public domain,” and “Creative Commons” do not grant the same permissions.

Before downloading an asset, verify its attribution rules, commercial-use and modification rights, and any limits involving logos, identifiable people, private property, sensitive subjects, or resale. Save a record of the license in effect on the date you obtained the file.

Strong visuals reinforce a website's message and brand while supporting readability and usability. Library size alone does not make a resource useful; clear licensing, effective search filters, appropriate file formats, sufficient resolution, and a straightforward download process matter just as much. Before publishing, crop the image to its display dimensions, compress it, choose a modern format when appropriate, and add descriptive alternative text if the visual communicates information.

Also see our Image Hosting Services for scripts that can power a public or private photo and image gallery.

Use the categories below to compare image resources and build a practical visual-content workflow. If you know of a useful resource that belongs in this guide, please send us a note.
Thank you, RSH Web Services

Node.js Resources

Related Posts

Complete CSS Resources

How to Choose and Use Free Image Resources

Match the image source to the project, its permitted use, and the way you plan to edit the asset. A blog header might call for a wide photograph with open space for copy, whereas a logo, interface element, or infographic often benefits from an editable vector or scalable SVG. For a broader view of the process, this guide to making a professional website shows where visuals belong in a complete site build.

Check the License for Every Asset

Rely on the license displayed on the individual download page rather than the site's general promotional wording. Check commercial-use permission, attribution, editing rights, redistribution limits, and restrictions related to trademarks, recognizable people, private property, or sensitive subjects. Store the original file with a copy of the license or receipt so you can document the terms that applied at download.

Select the Right File Format

• JPEG: A practical choice for photographs and other detailed images without transparency.
• PNG: Useful for transparency, screenshots, and graphics that need sharp edges, though files may be larger.
• WebP or AVIF: Modern web formats that can deliver smaller files while retaining good visual quality.
• SVG: Best for scalable icons, logos, and simple vector artwork when the source is trusted and the file is safely handled.

For more help preparing graphics for online use, review the AI image and graphic tools guide and the collection of WordPress image optimization plugins.

Prepare Images for Performance and Accessibility

Resize images to the largest dimensions they will actually display, compress them, and test the result on desktop and mobile screens. Give informative images concise alt text that communicates their purpose, and use empty alt text for decorative images when appropriate. The guide to designing accessible websites covers alt text, color contrast, readable typography, and other inclusive design practices.

Keep the Visual Style Consistent

Use a consistent approach to color, lighting, illustration style, icon weight, cropping, and typography. A smaller coordinated set often creates a more professional result than a large collection of unrelated assets. For a full visual identity or custom layout, compare these resources with professional website design services and content creation services.

Image Optimizer Tools

Image optimization tools reduce file size while aiming to preserve acceptable visual quality. Their compression and metadata-removal features can shorten page-loading time, reduce bandwidth use, and improve the visitor experience. Efficient images also support page performance, one of many considerations associated with better SEO rankings. These tools are especially useful for developers, publishers, and teams that manage large image libraries.

Image Recycle

ImageRecycle compresses JPEG, PNG, GIF, and PDF files through a drag-and-drop interface. It also offers a free website analysis that identifies images that may benefit from optimization.

ImageOptim

ImageOptim is an image optimization application for macOS. It removes unnecessary metadata and applies compression to reduce image file sizes while preserving visual quality. Its drag-and-drop workflow makes it practical for preparing website images before upload.

Jpeg Compress

JPEG Compressor is an online tool for reducing the file size of JPEG and WebP images. Batch processing can save time when preparing multiple website images, but each result should still be reviewed for visible compression artifacts before publication.

Tiny PNG

TinyPNG provides browser-based compression and conversion for AVIF, JXL, WebP, PNG, and JPEG files. The free web tool accepts limited file sizes and batches, while paid products add higher limits, an API, and image-delivery services. Inspect compressed files before publishing, particularly when text or sharp graphic edges are present.

Compressor.io

Compressor.io is a browser-based option for compressing common web-image formats. Review its current format support and upload limits before choosing it for a large batch, and compare the downloaded file with the original for artifacts rather than assuming every setting is lossless.

EWWW Image Optimizer

EWWW Image Optimizer offers WordPress image compression and tools for optimizing existing media-library files. Compare its local-processing and paid cloud options, supported formats, backup controls, and conversion settings before applying bulk changes.

Kraken

Kraken.io uses a freemium model for image optimization. Paid plans provide advanced optimization options and allow larger files and higher upload volumes.

Trimage

Trimage is an open-source desktop utility for losslessly optimizing PNG and JPEG files. Its simple workflow suits local processing, but users should check operating-system compatibility and recent project activity before making it part of a production workflow.

Flexclip Video Compressor

FlexClip's online video compressor reduces file sizes to make videos easier to upload and share. A free option is available.

WP Smush

Smush can compress WordPress images during upload and process existing media-library files. Its free and paid tiers differ, so compare bulk-optimization limits, resizing, format conversion, backups, and delivery features before choosing a configuration.

Image Editors

Image editors let you crop, resize, retouch, correct color, apply effects, and otherwise refine digital pictures. Options range from simple browser tools for quick changes to advanced desktop software with layers, masks, batch processing, and RAW workflows. The right editor depends on the source file, the complexity of the work, and whether the finished visual is intended for personal, professional, or commercial use.

darktable

darktable is an open-source photography workflow application and RAW developer. It helps photographers organize digital negatives, review images on a zoomable light table, and make nondestructive adjustments during RAW processing.

AI Image Extender

FlexClip's AI Image Extender generates new material beyond an image's original edges. It can help adapt a composition to a wider banner or different aspect ratio, but generated areas should be checked closely for distorted objects, text, faces, logos, or inconsistent details.

Canva

Canva's browser-based photo editor provides straightforward tools for cropping, resizing, filtering, adjusting, and adding design elements. Its drag-and-drop interface is approachable for users who want to prepare social media images, presentations, and web graphics without advanced desktop software.

Fast Stone

FastStone Image Viewer is a free program for browsing, converting, and editing images. Its tools cover resizing, cropping, red-eye removal, and color correction, with support for formats including JPEG, JPEG 2000, BMP, GIF, PNG, PCX, PSD, TIFF, WMF, ICO, and TGA. It can also create musical slideshows with more than 150 transition effects.

Paint.Net

Paint.NET is a free image editor with tools for cropping, resizing, applying effects, and other photo or graphic-design work. It supports layers and plug-ins while keeping the interface approachable for both new and experienced users.

Easel.ly

Easel.ly is a browser-based tool for creating and sharing infographics, posters, and other visual content. It is designed for people who don't have formal design experience.

GIMP

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free image editing software. It can do various simple to complex tasks easily. It has image format converter and has batch process also. You can export to other image formats. It has complex features like layers, filters, and effects. It has many plugins and extensions to do the various tasks.

Social Image Resizer Tool

The Favicon Generator and Crop Images tool from Internet Marketing Ninjas creates website favicons from uploaded images. It also includes basic cropping controls for preparing graphics for online use.

Photo Pos

Photo Pos Pro, is a totally free, digital photo, and image editing software. Allowing you to easily create, edit, enhance, print, and manipulate your digital photos and computer graphics. Easily create eye-catching graphics, beautiful collages, greeting cards, business cards, website designs, buttons, and more.

iPiccy

iPiccy is a versatile online photo editor that provides a range of tools for editing and enhancing images. Users can easily crop, resize, apply filters, and adjust various image parameters through its user-friendly interface. With features like retouching and adding text, iPiccy is ideal for both casual and more advanced photo editing needs, offering powerful options without requiring complex software.

Img2Go's

Img2Go handles common photo edits directly in a browser. Users can crop or resize an image, adjust brightness and contrast, and apply filters and effects without installing specialized software.

Color Picker Tools

Color pickers identify colors in images and on-screen interfaces, then provide values such as HEX or RGB for reuse. Some also build palettes, generate lighter and darker variations, or suggest complementary combinations. Designers and developers can use these utilities to maintain consistent colors across web pages, graphics, presentations, and other branded materials.

microsoft.com Color Picker

Microsoft PowerToys Color Picker lets Windows users sample a color from anywhere on the screen and copy its value in a chosen format. It can be activated with a keyboard shortcut and used with colors shown in applications or image files.

Flat UI Colors

Flat UI Colors 2 brings together 280 colors in palettes created with 13 designers from around the world. Color values can be copied for a design, presentation, or other project.

Couleurs

Couleurs is a simple app for grabbing and tweaking the colors you see on your screen. Couleurs takes Apple's color panel, complete with magnifying glass, and combines it with an easy way to copy common formats of color values to the clipboard, including CSS formats like rrggbb and even UIColor values in Swift.

Material UI Colors

Material-UI provides all colors from the Material Design guidelines. This color palette has been designed with colors that work harmoniously with each other. Hue" and "Shade. Material Design Color Palette will help you quickly decide which color to choose for your project.

Brand Colors

BrandColors is a curated collection of color codes associated with well-known brands. It provides a quick reference when a project needs an established brand color.

0 to 255

0to255 generates lighter and darker variations of a selected color. Web designers can use those shades for hover states, borders, gradients, and related interface details.

Bootflat

Bootflat provides a flat-design color picker with ready-made colors that can be copied into interface and graphic-design projects.

Color Picker by WebFX

WebFX's free HTML color selector can generate complementary, triadic, tetradic, and analogous color schemes. It also includes an RGB picker for building a custom palette from scratch.

Stock Photography

Stock-photo libraries offer ready-made photographs covering subjects such as business, lifestyle, nature, and technology. They can help designers, marketers, and publishers add professional imagery when a custom photo shoot is impractical. Availability at no cost does not automatically permit every use, so confirm the license, releases, attribution rules, and download resolution for each image.

New Old Stock

New Old Stock collects vintage photographs from public archives. The images suit historical articles, period-inspired designs, and creative projects, but users should still check the rights information attached to a specific photograph.

Pexels

Pexels offers free stock photos and videos that can be downloaded, modified, and used without required attribution under its license. The license restricts unaltered resale, redistribution on competing stock platforms, implied endorsement, trademark use, and certain portrayals of identifiable people, so review the rules before commercial publication.

All The Free Stock

All The Free Stock gathers links to free stock photos, video, and audio from multiple sources. Because it acts as an aggregator, check the license on the original provider's page before downloading or publishing an asset.

Unsplash

Unsplash provides free images under a license that permits commercial and noncommercial use without required attribution. The site also offers Unsplash+ content under separate terms. Free images cannot be sold without significant modification or compiled to reproduce a competing service.

Foodies Feed

Foodiesfeed focuses on food photography, with categories that help bloggers find specific subjects such as fruit, vegetables, and salads. Designers can also look for colorful overhead compositions that leave room for text or other graphic elements.

Mazwai

Mazwai offers hand-selected, cinematic-style stock footage for creative projects. Review the license shown with each clip before deciding how it can be used.

Jeshoots

Jeshoots offers a curated selection of high-quality, free stock photos for personal and commercial use. Featuring a variety of themes and subjects, the platform provides visually appealing images contributed by photographer Jesper Åström. Its straightforward interface allows users to easily browse and download images, making it a useful resource for designers, marketers, and creatives seeking professional visuals.

Picography

Picography offers a diverse collection of high-resolution, royalty-free stock photos available for free download. The platform features a wide range of visually striking images, ideal for enhancing personal and commercial projects. With its user-friendly interface and curated selection of high-quality visuals, Picography serves as a valuable resource for designers, marketers, and content creators looking for professional and engaging imagery.

Pixabay

Pixabay brings photos, illustrations, vectors, video, audio, GIFs, and other media into one searchable collection. Its content license allows free use, modification, and use without required attribution, subject to prohibited uses. Check every asset for recognizable trademarks, people, property, or other third-party rights, and do not resell content on a standalone basis.

Magdeleine

Magdeleine offers a curated selection of high-quality, free stock photos contributed by photographers worldwide. The platform features a diverse array of images, categorized for easy browsing, and all available for personal and commercial use. With its clean interface and emphasis on visually appealing content, Magdeleine provides designers and creatives with a valuable resource for professional and engaging visuals.

Splitshire

SplitShire provides free stock photos and videos without a general attribution requirement. Its license still includes limitations, so read the license page before using a download.

Picjumbo

Designer and photographer Viktor Hanacek created picjumbo in 2013 after other stock-photo sites rejected his work. Within two years, users had downloaded more than 2,500,000 images from the site.

Life of Pix

Life of Pix provides a collection of high-resolution, royalty-free photos available for free download. Featuring diverse and striking imagery contributed by photographers, the platform offers visuals suitable for both personal and commercial projects. With its easy-to-navigate interface and emphasis on quality, Life of Pix is a valuable resource for designers, marketers, and content creators seeking professional-grade photos.

Public Domain Archive

Public Domain Archive offers a collection of vintage and modern images presented as public-domain resources. Because rights can vary by image and jurisdiction, review the information attached to the specific file before using it in a personal or commercial project.

ISO Republic

ISO Republic offers a wide selection of free, high-resolution stock photos and videos for personal and commercial use. The platform features diverse imagery, including nature, technology, and lifestyle, all contributed by talented photographers. With its user-friendly interface and extensive library, ISO Republic is a valuable resource for designers, marketers, and content creators seeking high-quality, royalty-free visual assets.

Illustrations

Illustrations use drawn, painted, or digitally created artwork to explain ideas, establish a mood, or tell a story. Their style can range from realistic to highly abstract, giving creators more flexibility than photography for certain subjects. They work well in websites, advertising, books, presentations, and brand systems, especially when a concept is difficult to photograph.

Freepik

Freepik's Illustrations section provides a vast array of high-quality, royalty-free vector illustrations for various design needs. Users can browse and download diverse graphics, including icons, patterns, and detailed illustrations, suitable for both personal and commercial projects. With its extensive library and easy-to-use interface, Freepik is an invaluable resource for designers and creatives seeking versatile, professional visual assets.

Free Illustrations

Free Illustrations collects artwork and vectors for websites, blogs, social posts, newsletters, and other projects. Listings include customizable illustration kits and hand-drawn resources in formats such as PNG and SVG.

unDraw

unDraw supplies customizable illustrations in SVG and PNG formats. Its license allows personal and commercial use without required attribution, but prohibits uses such as redistributing illustration packs, replicating the service, automated collection without consent, and using the assets to train or develop AI systems.

Icons 8.com

Icons8's Ouch collection gives people who don't draw access to illustrations from established artists. Downloads are available in PNG and SVG formats, with licensing terms that should be checked for the intended use.

Dreamstime.com

Dreamstime offers an extensive collection of stock illustrations and clipart, available for licensing and use in various projects. The platform features high-quality, diverse graphics including vector illustrations, icons, and detailed artwork. With its user-friendly search and categorization, Dreamstime provides designers and creatives with a valuable resource for finding professional, royalty-free visuals to enhance their projects.

Storyblocks

Storyblocks licenses stock illustrations through its subscription service. Downloaded illustrations remain licensed for covered uses after download, without project-by-project royalty payments.

FreeVector.com

FreeVector.com is a place to download free vectors, icons, wallpapers, and brand Logos. It is a creative source for design news, inspiration, graphic resources and interviews.

Storyset

Storyset offers customizable illustrations for landing pages, apps, and presentations. Users can change colors and backgrounds, select among styles such as Rafiki, Bro, Amico, Pana, and Cuate, then download or animate the result.

Vecteezy.com

Vecteezy provides a wide range of free and premium vector graphics, including illustrations, icons, and design elements. The platform offers high-quality, downloadable content suitable for both personal and commercial use. With its intuitive search functionality and diverse collection, Vecteezy is a valuable resource for designers and creatives looking to access and utilize professional vector assets efficiently.

Image Databases

Image databases organize digital visuals with searchable metadata, categories, dates, creators, subjects, and other identifying details. These collections can support research, education, publishing, advertising, and design, but access does not necessarily include permission to republish. Check the rights information associated with the individual record before using an image.

Alamy Image Database

Alamy is a searchable marketplace for stock photography, illustrations, vectors, and video. Its broad subject coverage serves publishing, marketing, and design work, with licenses available for purchase according to the intended use.

The Alinari Archives

The Alinari Archives documents Italian culture and history through historical and contemporary photography, from major landmarks to scenes of everyday life. The collection describes itself as the world's oldest photographic archive and provides images and catalog details for researchers and art enthusiasts.

University of California, Berkeley's Art Image Guide

UC Berkeley's Art History Image Guide points researchers toward collections covering artworks from different periods and styles. It is organized for academic study and can help students, scholars, and other readers locate suitable visual sources.

Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Libraries maintains a guide to scientific image databases and digital collections. Its links cover fields such as biology, chemistry, and astronomy, giving students, educators, and researchers a practical starting point for finding subject-specific visuals.

Science Photo Library

Science Photo Library licenses scientific images and video covering medicine, biology, astronomy, technology, and related fields. The collection is intended for uses that include education, research, publishing, and media production.

University of Tennessee Digital Image Collection

The University of Tennessee Libraries Digital Image Collections page provides a rich resource for accessing a diverse array of high-quality images across various disciplines. Featuring detailed visual content from the library's extensive collections, this platform supports academic research and learning by offering easy access to historical, cultural, and artistic images. Ideal for students, researchers, and educators, the page enhances the exploration of visual materials and facilitates a deeper understanding of the subjects represented in the library's digital archive.

UC Berkeley Image Databases

UC Berkeley Library's Image Databases guide collects links to visual resources across several disciplines. It includes sources for art, historical photography, scientific imagery, and other materials used in research and creative work.

The Smithsonian Institution's Image Collection

The Smithsonian Collections portal lets the public search artworks, artifacts, specimens, and other objects held across the institution. Records may include images and descriptive details spanning many cultures, historical periods, and scientific subjects.

University of North Dakota Image Database

The University of North Dakota Libraries Image Databases page offers a valuable resource for accessing a wide array of high-quality visual materials across various subjects. Featuring curated links to image databases, this platform supports academic research and creative projects by providing easy access to historical, artistic, and scientific images. Ideal for students, researchers, and educators, the page facilitates in-depth exploration and enhances the understanding of diverse topics through a comprehensive collection of digital imagery.

Museum Image Collections

Online museum collections contain photographs and scans of artworks, artifacts, archival material, and other objects held by cultural institutions. Detailed records can aid research, teaching, creative work, and public exploration, often providing information about the maker, date, medium, and provenance. Reuse terms vary by institution and object, even when the collection is freely searchable.

These collections make art, artifacts, and historical objects easier to examine through detailed images and catalog information.
Some museum images remain protected by copyright or carry separate terms for reproductions, trademarks, cultural material, or commercial use. Review the rights statement attached to each object before downloading or publishing.

California College of the Arts Image Database

The California College of the Arts Image Databases page provides a curated selection of high-quality visual resources tailored for art and design research. Featuring links to various image databases, the platform supports students, faculty, and researchers by offering access to a diverse range of artworks, historical images, and design resources. This digital guide facilitates deeper exploration and creative inspiration, enhancing academic and artistic projects with a wealth of detailed and visually rich content.

The Getty Open Content Program

The Getty Open Content Program provides free access to thousands of high-resolution images from the Getty's vast collection, offering an invaluable resource for researchers, educators, and art lovers. This initiative allows users to download, use, and share high-quality images of artworks, historical objects, and archival materials, promoting greater engagement with the Getty’s rich cultural heritage. By making these images openly available, the program supports academic research, creative projects, and global appreciation of art and history.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art Image Database

The LACMA Collections page offers a comprehensive view into the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s extensive art holdings. Featuring thousands of works spanning ancient to contemporary periods, the online collection provides detailed images and descriptions of pieces from around the world. This digital resource allows art enthusiasts, researchers, and the general public to explore and engage with LACMA's diverse range of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, all from the convenience of their own devices.

The National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art website covers works from the Renaissance through contemporary art. Visitors can view collection images, take virtual tours, and find information about exhibitions and educational programs.

The Walters Art Museum

The Walters Art Museum’s online collection offers an extensive and accessible view into its diverse range of art and artifacts. From ancient treasures to modern masterpieces, the site provides high-resolution images and detailed descriptions of artworks from across cultures and time periods. This digital platform allows users to explore and appreciate the richness of the Walters’ collection, enhancing their understanding of art history and cultural heritage from anywhere in the world.

The Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum’s Open Collection provides a dynamic and accessible way to explore its extensive art holdings. Featuring thousands of high-resolution images and detailed descriptions, this digital platform allows users to browse and engage with a wide range of artworks, from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces. The Open Collection enhances public access to the museum’s diverse and globally significant collection, supporting research, education, and a deeper appreciation of art and cultural history.

The Frick Collection

The Frick Collection’s Explore page offers an immersive gateway to its distinguished collection of fine art. Featuring detailed images and descriptions of artworks ranging from Old Master paintings to exquisite decorative arts, this platform allows users to virtually explore the museum's holdings. With resources that include virtual tours, thematic displays, and insightful articles, the Explore page provides art enthusiasts and researchers with a rich, interactive experience of the Frick’s exceptional collection from anywhere.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Collections page offers a comprehensive look into its vast array of artworks spanning various periods, styles, and cultures. Visitors can explore high-resolution images and detailed descriptions of thousands of pieces, from ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces. This digital resource allows art enthusiasts, scholars, and the general public to engage with the museum’s diverse collection, facilitating a deeper understanding and appreciation of art and its history.

The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery collections focus on Asian art and culture from ancient through modern times. Online records include images and descriptions of works from East Asia, South Asia, and the Islamic world.

The Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum's Artwork page offers a captivating digital journey through its renowned collection of modern and contemporary art. Featuring high-resolution images and detailed descriptions of iconic works, the platform allows users to explore a diverse array of pieces from influential artists spanning various movements and periods. This online resource enhances access to the Guggenheim’s distinguished collection, providing art enthusiasts and researchers with a deeper understanding of the museum’s holdings and its impact on the art world.

Boston's Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's Collections page offers a comprehensive view of its extensive and diverse art holdings. Users can explore thousands of high-resolution images and detailed descriptions of artworks ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces. This digital platform provides an in-depth look at the MFA’s vast collection, enhancing accessibility for researchers, educators, and art enthusiasts, and offering a deeper appreciation of the museum’s rich cultural and artistic heritage.

The Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art's collection page presents modern and contemporary works across different movements and media. Images and catalog descriptions help scholars, art enthusiasts, and the public study individual pieces and the artists who made them.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum

The Smithsonian American Art Museum's online collection covers American art from early portraiture to contemporary work. Visitors can browse images and detailed records to study the works and their cultural context.

The British Museum

The British Museum's Collections page offers an expansive and detailed view into its world-renowned holdings. With high-resolution images and thorough descriptions, visitors can explore a vast array of artifacts and artworks spanning thousands of years and diverse cultures. This digital resource provides an immersive experience, allowing users to engage with historical treasures and masterpieces from across the globe, deepening their understanding of the rich and varied narratives represented in the British Museum’s collection.

The Rijksmuseum’s Rijks studio

Rijksstudio provides online access to the Rijksmuseum's collection of Dutch art and historical objects, including works by Rembrandt. Users can browse high-resolution images and assemble their own collections or creative projects.

The Statens Museum for Kunst - Denmark

The Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) website provides a comprehensive digital gateway to Denmark's national gallery, showcasing its extensive collection of Danish and international art. Visitors can explore high-resolution images and detailed descriptions of artworks ranging from classical to contemporary pieces. The site also features information on current exhibitions, museum events, and educational resources, making it a valuable resource for art enthusiasts, researchers, and anyone interested in the rich cultural heritage housed at SMK.

The Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage Museum's Artworks page presents collection images and descriptions spanning many centuries and cultures. Its online records include works by artists such as Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci.

The Museo del Prado’s Art Works

The Museo del Prado’s Art Works page provides a detailed and immersive view into its prestigious collection of European art. Featuring high-resolution images and extensive descriptions, the platform allows users to explore masterpieces from renowned artists such as Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. This digital resource offers art enthusiasts and researchers an opportunity to engage deeply with the Prado’s significant holdings, enriching their understanding of the museum’s extensive and influential collection.

New Zealand’s National Museum

Te Papa’s Collections page offers an insightful digital gateway to New Zealand’s national museum treasures. With high-resolution images and detailed descriptions, visitors can explore a diverse array of artworks, historical artifacts, and cultural items that span the country’s rich heritage. This online resource provides a comprehensive look at Te Papa’s extensive collection, allowing art lovers, researchers, and the public to engage with and appreciate New Zealand's unique cultural and artistic legacy.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum's Collections page offers a detailed exploration of its exceptional array of decorative arts and design. Featuring high-resolution images and in-depth descriptions, the platform highlights a curated selection of featured works from the museum's vast collection, including textiles, ceramics, and fashion. This digital resource provides art enthusiasts, researchers, and the public with an engaging way to discover and appreciate the V&A's rich heritage and innovative design, showcasing the museum’s global significance in the arts.

Fonts

Fonts determine the shape, weight, spacing, and overall appearance of written characters. Serif, sans-serif, display, and script families each serve different design needs, influencing readability, tone, and brand identity across websites, graphics, and print. When choosing a font, review its license, available weights, language support, web-loading options, and legibility at the sizes you plan to use.

Font Space

Founded in 2006, FontSpace is a designer-centered font website that has quick customizable previews and hassle. Every font is added and categorized by a real person. Each font is reviewed by a FontSpace moderator, checked for font quality issues, and licenses are verified.

Google Fonts

Google Fonts provides open-source font families that can be downloaded or embedded on websites. Its interface lets you compare styles, weights, language support, and variable-font options. Check the selected family's license and load only the styles you need to limit unnecessary page weight.

Hassle WordPress Fonts plugin

The Hassle-Free Fonts plugin for WordPress allows users to easily integrate and manage custom fonts on their website without coding. With its user-friendly interface, the plugin lets you upload and apply fonts to various site elements, enhancing design flexibility. Ideal for non-technical users and designers, Hassle-Free Fonts simplifies font customization, helping you achieve a unique and professional look for your WordPress site.

Colorlib

Free WordPress Font Plugins, The WordPress plugin repository has a number of free font plugins that help you to add Google fonts to your website. Many of them allow you to add custom fonts as well, and allow you to work from a user-friendly interface.

Font Zone

FontZone.net offers thousands of free fonts to enhance your own websites, documents, greeting cards, and more. You can browse popular fonts by themes, name, or style. FontZone.net helps millions of designers across the globe expressing their creativity with much more diversity.

1001 Fonts

1001 Fonts offers a vast collection of free and downloadable fonts for personal and commercial use. Featuring a diverse range of typefaces, including serif, sans-serif, script, and decorative styles, the platform provides an easy-to-navigate interface for browsing and selecting fonts. Ideal for designers and creatives, 1001 Fonts simplifies the process of finding and using high-quality fonts for various design projects.

Font Squirrel

Free fonts have met their match. We know how hard it is to find quality freeware that is licensed for commercial work. We have done the hard work, hand selecting these typefaces and presenting them in an easy-to-use format.

Fontsly

Fontsly is a comprehensive resource for discovering and downloading a wide variety of free and premium fonts. The platform features an extensive collection of typefaces, ranging from classic to contemporary styles, suitable for various design projects. With its user-friendly interface and easy navigation, Fontsly helps designers and creatives find and use high-quality fonts to enhance their work effectively.

Simply the Best

Simply the Best Fonts. Archived, where you can find a lot of wonderful fonts. Most of them are free, while some require a small donation, and some can be purchased in the Marketplace. No spyware, malware or adware, and no popup windows.

Font Space

These free fonts range in style from bold and rebellious to elegant and artistic, so there is always one to match the project you are working on. Check out Easy November and GreyHood Seven for some inspiration. Free Unusual Fonts. Some free fonts are so unique that they need a category all their own.

Font Bundles

Free fonts are here. FontBundles.net are well known for saving customers bundles of cash, but we have gone one step further with our free fonts section, which includes a brand new free font every week. All of our free fonts are available to download instantly as soon as you have signed up for an account.

Fancy Text Fonts

You can use the generator and font changer from our tools. It easily converts a normal simple text to different free type cool fonts styles with symbols also. Fancy Text Generator is a wonderful font changer which easily changes the simple text into unique and stylish font.

Icons

Icons are compact visual symbols that represent actions, objects, features, or ideas. Used thoughtfully, they make websites, software, and mobile interfaces easier to scan and navigate. Select a coordinated set with consistent line weight and proportions, pair unfamiliar symbols with text labels, and verify the license and available formats before including them in a project.

Freepik.com

Freepik's Popular Icons section offers a wide range of high-quality, downloadable icons for various design needs. Featuring popular and trending icons, the platform provides a diverse selection in different styles and formats. Ideal for designers and creatives, this resource simplifies the process of finding and using professional icons to enhance websites, apps, and other visual projects. Download in .PNG, .EPS and .SVG format.

Flaticon

WordPress Icons, Free vector icons in SVG, PSD, PNG, EPS and ICON, Download over 102 icons of WordPress in SVG, PSD, PNG, EPS format or as web fonts. Flat icon, the largest database of free vector icons.

RealFaviconGenerator

Generate and setup a favicon for desktop browsers, iPhone/iPad, Android devices, Windows 8 tablets and more. In a matter of seconds, design an icon that looks great on all major platforms.

Flaticon.com

Flaticon provides a large collection of free and premium icons in formats such as SVG and PNG. Search filters and coordinated icon packs help designers maintain a consistent visual style. Licensing and attribution requirements depend on the asset and account level, so review the terms displayed with each download.

Icons8.com

165,600 Free Icons. Get free icons for graphic design, UI, social media, and mobile. Search for static and animated icons with consistent quality. PNG, SVG, GIF, AE formats.

Icon finder

Download 24,178 free icons. Available in PNG and SVG formats. Ready to be used in web design, mobile apps and presentations.

Icon Archive

Search through more than 735,000 free icons.IconArchive offers a vast library of high-quality icons available for free download and use. The platform features a diverse range of icons in various styles and formats, ideal for enhancing web and app design projects. With its easy-to-navigate interface and extensive collection, IconArchive is a valuable resource for designers and developers seeking professional and versatile icons to elevate their visual content.

Icon-Icons.com

Find free icons for your web projects, apps, magazines, posters, advertising designs or in any other way. You can download them in PNG format, ICO, ICNS or vector files, SVG.

Iconscout

141,693 icons to choose from, in such a consumer culture, free icons, just like any other free product or service, is an instrument signifying freedom. The association between words and their meaning to a representation in the form of a logo or anicon, or even an illustration.

Iconshock

FreeIcons. Here you will find a wide selection of icons in a variety of different styles, sizes, formats, and themes. From iOS Line icon set to Food Themed icons motif, there is a bit of everything included in this gallery. All of these icon sets are completely free for personal use under our Icon shock license.

Free icon

Freeicon is a free platform to download vector icons in SVG, PNG, EPS, AI and PSD format. A variety of different styles, sizes, formats, and themes. All of these icon sets are completely free for personal and commercial use, under our icon shock license.

CSS Author

Core UI Icons is a set of more than 2000 icons available in the most popular formats like SVG, PSD, Web front and PNG. But the best is yet to come, more than 522 of these icons are available completely for free.

Stock Videos

Stock-video libraries provide pre-recorded clips on subjects ranging from business and technology to travel, nature, and everyday life. The footage can supplement websites, presentations, advertising, and larger video productions when filming original material is not practical. Compare resolution, frame rate, file format, release information, and licensing terms before downloading.

Adobe Stock video

Using free Adobe Stock videos, you can use our free stock footage with confidence in any commercial project. Our free assets meet the same licensing standards as our paid assets. Curated collections of free stock video.

FreeStock

FreeStock offers a curated collection of high-quality, royalty-free videos available for free download and use. The platform features a variety of video content suitable for personal and commercial projects, including nature, business, and lifestyle themes. With its straightforward interface and diverse selection, FreeStock simplifies the process of finding and incorporating professional video footage into design and marketing projects.

Pexels Videos

Pexels provides a diverse range of high-quality, royalty-free videos available for free download and use. The platform features an extensive collection of video clips across various categories, including nature, business, and lifestyle. With its intuitive search and user-friendly interface, Pexels makes it easy to find and integrate professional video content into personal and commercial projects, enhancing visual storytelling and design.

Videvo.net

Free Stock HD 4K. Our extensive library of stock media. This content includes over 15,000 free stock footage, and motion graphics clips. We carefully curate all of our content in house, so you can be sure you are getting the best quality content, that is safe to use in your project.

Videezy

Free HD Stock Video Footage. 4k, After Effects, Templates. Videezy is a community of Video people who download and share free HD stock video.

Envato.com

Royalty free Stock Videos. 4K Video, and clips. Bring your projects to life with stunning high definition stock videos. From B roll footage to background, business, or nature videos.

Mixkit

Download the best free stock video footage. Need a stunning video clip but don't have the time or resources to shoot it yourself? Discover free video clips for website backgrounds, music videos, promo videos, ads and more. No attribution required. Combine your content with high-quality, free video clips from our growing library.

Darefu

Dareful provides completely free 4K stock video footage. Expand your creative collection by downloading high-quality 4K clips. Sign up and get stock footage for free.

Pixabay

Pixabay offers images, videos, illustrations, and other media under its content license. Many assets can be used without attribution, including in commercial projects, but prohibited uses and third-party rights may still apply. Review the current Pixabay license and the individual asset before publishing.

Coverr

Coverr video is a completely free stock footage website that allows you to download and use high-quality stock videos anywhere. And there is no catch. No sign-up needed, no attribution required or hidden tricks anywhere, when we say free, we mean it.

Videvo

B Roll, 4K, HD Clips. Videvo offers free stock videos, and motion graphics for use in any project. You may use these video clips free of charge, in both personal and commercial productions. Video clips that carry the Creative Commons 3.0 license must be attributed to the original author.

Shutterstock.com

Royalty free stock footage you can use anytime, anywhere. Inspiring selection. Millions of stock videos available in 4K, HD, and SD. Find music to match your footage. Power your creativity with exclusive royalty free music, from atmospheric to acoustic and everything in between. Plus, you can now download shorts and loops.

Mockup Tools

Mockup tools place a design into a realistic context, such as a device screen, package, sign, garment, or printed page. These previews help clients and project teams evaluate a concept before development or production begins. Look for editable templates, suitable export resolution, realistic perspectives, and licensing that covers the intended presentation or commercial use.

Renderforest

Free Online Mockup Generator. Display your brand in the most creative way. Use high-resolution branding mockups to wrap up your brand identity with a design that stands out. Create logo mock-ups, business cards, and branding assets in a few minutes right from your browser. Give a photo realistic look to your products. Your products deserve the best demonstration.

Placeit

Mockup Generator. Mockup of an art print frame placed in a modern living room. Present your unique art print designs in these realistic mockups from Place it. This powerful online tool lets you create dazzling mockups in a matter of seconds using just your browser.

Justinmind.com

Use our free mockup tool to simulate your designs on mobile and tablet screens, spot potential problems before any coding starts. Free UI kits. Get access to a wide range of free UI kits with our mockup tool. Our UI kits are full of pre-designed, interactive and static elements and components.

Framer

A free mockup tool for website and app design. Framer is a free mockup tool where you can create interactive designs for any type of app and website mockups and then turn them into working prototypes.

Smartmockups

Smart mockups enable you to create stunning high resolution mockups right inside your browser within one interface across multiple devices. The fastest web based mockup tool No experience or skills needed, super easy-to-use Ever-growing library of professional mockups.

Media Modifier

Create Beautiful Mockups Online. As a free mockup generating software, includes thousands of mockups in various categories. You can choose to create a mockup for your website, logo, social media post, T-shirt, print files, mug, or book cover. Create a free watermark mockup preview in seconds.

ls.graphics

Free mockups and design tools. Latest freebies. Classic opened magazine mockups. Business card sticker, opened envelope and business card mockup. A4 paper and business card mockup. Free label tag mockup. Free eco package mockup.

MockFlow

MockFlow. Wireframe tools, prototyping tools, UIMockups, UI Planning. Features UI wire framing rapidly draw and iterate UI layouts for your websites and apps. Design systems document and maintain design assets across teams. UI collaboration discuss, conduct design meetings and make remote presentations.

FreeMockups

Download 4500 free mockups templates for your next project. Packaging craft product box free mockup. Gift slide box packaging. Camera with smartphone.

Graphic Design Tools

Graphic design software combines tools for drawing, typography, image editing, and page layout. Depending on the platform, you can create logos, social graphics, presentations, advertisements, illustrations, and print-ready materials from templates or a blank canvas. Choose according to the file formats you need, collaboration requirements, export controls, and the level of precision the project demands.

Canva

Create beautiful designs with your team. Use Canvas drag and drop feature and layouts to design, share and print business cards, logos, presentations and more.

BeFunky

Free yourself from the constraints of complicated software and create beautiful online graphic designs with drag-and-drop simplicity. Take advantage of a huge selection of pre-designed templates, or if you feel like truly embracing your newfound freedom, create a project from scratch with our easy-to-use graphic design tools.

Microsoft Store

This free app includes some trial features that are available to try for a limited time in the free version. At the end of the trial, the features must be purchased in order to continue to use within the app. Graphic Design Software Features Pencil and brush tools for drawing and painting.

Snappa

Schedule and share your graphics instantly. Share your graphics to Facebook, Twitter, and other popular social media platforms without leaving Snappa. Save even more time when you connect your "Buffer" account and pre-schedule your posts. Snappa is the best tool I've used to create images for blog posts and Facebook ads.

Vectr

Free Online Vector Graphics Editor. Vectr is a free graphics software used to create vector graphics easily and intuitively. It is a simple yet powerful web and desktop cross-platform tool to bring your designs into reality.

Crello

Design it your way, free graphic design tool to help you create impressive content in minutes. Browse thousands of professional templates and edit them right away. Design your story for View All Instagram Post. Square Video Post.

Figma

Figma supports graphic and interface design within a collaborative digital-product workflow. Its drawing tools include a pen for custom shapes and a detailed grid system for precise layouts.

Designer.io

Gravit Designer is a free, full-featured vector graphic design app that works on ALL platforms. Unlock the full power of your creativity with fast and flexible tools tailored to professional designers.

Inkscape

A powerful free design tool. Whether you are an illustrator, designer, web designer or just someone who needs to create some vector imagery, Inkscape is for you. Flexible drawing tools.

WordPress Image Plugins

Image plugins add optimization, automatic resizing, modern-format conversion, gallery tools, and other media features to WordPress websites. The right plugin can simplify media management and reduce image weight, but overlapping features may create unnecessary processing or compatibility issues. Compare functionality carefully, back up the site, and test performance and image quality before applying bulk changes.

Smush Image Optimization

Smush compresses WordPress images as they are uploaded and can process files already stored in the Media Library. Bulk optimization and other limits vary between its free and paid versions, so compare the available settings before applying them across a site.

WP-Optimize

WP-Optimize combines image compression with database cleanup and caching features. It can remove data such as old post revisions and spam comments while reducing image weight, giving site owners several performance tools within one plugin.

Imagify

Imagify can compress new WordPress uploads automatically and optimize existing images in bulk. Its different compression settings let users balance file size against visual quality according to the needs of the site.

EWWW Image Optimizer

EWWW Image Optimizer reduces the size of new WordPress uploads and can bulk-optimize files already in the Media Library. It supports multiple image formats and offers a choice of local processing and cloud-based options.

Slider, Gallery, and Carousel

MetaSlider creates responsive sliders, galleries, and carousels for WordPress. Its layout and transition controls can be used to present images, video, promotional banners, and other content without building the display from scratch.

Converter for Media

Converter for Media creates WebP versions of WordPress images and can process both new uploads and existing files. It then serves the converted files to compatible browsers, helping reduce the amount of image data a page must transfer.

Image Optimization by Optimole

Optimole compresses, resizes, and delivers WordPress images according to the visitor's device and browser. The service also includes lazy loading and CDN delivery, shifting much of the optimization work away from the local Media Library.

Perfect Images

Perfect Images, formerly WP Retina 2x, can generate and serve higher-resolution versions of WordPress images for compatible screens. It works with the site's existing media and theme so these variants don't have to be prepared manually.

Featured Image from URL

Featured Image from URL lets a WordPress post or page use an externally hosted image as its featured image. Entering the image URL avoids adding a copy to the local Media Library, though the external source must remain available.

Auto Image Attributes From Filename

Auto Image Attributes From Filename can generate alt text and title fields from image filenames, including through a bulk updater for existing media. Generated text still needs human review because a filename may not describe an image's purpose in its page context.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are free image resources?

Free image resources are websites, archives, applications, and plugins that provide stock photos, illustrations, icons, vectors, videos, fonts, mockups, editing tools, or compression services at no initial cost. Some resources are entirely free, while others offer limited free downloads or freemium plans. The AI image and graphic tools guide covers additional options for creating and editing original visuals.

Can I use free images on a commercial website?

You can use an image commercially only when its specific license permits it. Check the asset page for attribution requirements, modification rights, redistribution limits, and restrictions involving trademarks, recognizable people, private property, or sensitive subjects. If you are building a business site, this guide to making a professional website explains how visual content fits into the wider publishing process.

Does royalty-free mean an image is free?

No. Royalty-free usually means you do not pay continuing royalties for uses permitted by the license, but the image may still require a one-time purchase or subscription. “Free,” “royalty-free,” “public domain,” and “Creative Commons” are different terms, so always review the license attached to the individual asset.

Which image format is best for a website?

JPEG is practical for photographs, PNG is useful for transparency and sharp-edged graphics, and WebP or AVIF can provide smaller files when supported by your workflow. SVG is well suited to scalable icons, logos, and simple vector artwork. For branding-specific resources, compare the tools in this guide to the available logo makers for businesses.

How should I optimize images before uploading them?

Resize each image to the largest dimensions it will actually display, select an appropriate format, compress the file, and inspect the result for visible artifacts. Keep an original copy and test important pages on desktop and mobile. These website page-speed tips explain how image optimization supports faster loading.

Do website images need alt text?

Informative images need concise alt text that communicates their purpose in context. Decorative images should generally use empty alt attributes so assistive technology can ignore them. Avoid keyword stuffing and unnecessary visual details. Review these accessible website design tips for additional guidance.

Which image tools are best for WordPress?

The best WordPress image tool depends on whether you need compression, resizing, modern-format conversion, lazy loading, galleries, sliders, or external-image management. Compare features carefully and test changes on a backup or staging site. The WordPress image plugin guide provides a focused list of available options.

Can optimized images improve SEO?

Properly sized and compressed images can support faster pages and a better visitor experience. Descriptive filenames, useful alt text, suitable formats, and stable page layouts also help search engines understand and display visual content. Image performance is one part of the broader website SEO ranking factors that influence search visibility.

Summary

The best free image resource is the one that fits the asset type, intended use, editing process, resolution requirements, and license. Begin with the appropriate category, read the terms attached to the specific file, choose a suitable format, and prepare the visual for accessibility and performance before publishing. A focused set of coordinated images usually creates a stronger website than a much larger collection with no consistent style.

Author Bio: James Vance

A writer and composer hailing from SouthShire, England. With a love for crafting compelling content...

Tweet  Share  Pin  Email