Free Images for Commercial Purposes: The Ultimate List

Did you know that some of the world’s most iconic advertisements use stock images for commercial use? For example, AlamapBBDO, a Brazilian ad agency, used stock photos from Getty Images to create their Endless Possibilities campaign in 2016. The advertising campaign combined photos of random people’s faces to recreate portraits of famous people such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

Most creative agencies prefer altering stock images in most of their work. This is because it allows them to create campaigns for different companies much faster at affordable costs. Keep reading to find out how to get free images for commercial use in your next project.

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

Several sites offer free images for commercial use as part of their services. In addition, you do not need to register an account to download the images. The sites typically rely on user contributions and content teams to ensure their databases are fresh and maintain consistent quality. Furthermore, all creative assets they offer fall under the creative commons zero license or a variation of it. Here are some of the sites that offer you images for commercial use for free.

1. Pexels

Pexels.com is a free-to-use provider of high-resolution photos and videos for aspiring creators. The German-based website was started in 2014 by two brothers and has been under the Canva umbrella since 2018.

Currently, the website hosts over 3.2 million images and videos from over 250,000 active contributors. In addition, all the material you find in its library is under the Pexels license, which slightly varies from the creative commons zero license model. Some of the restrictions it enforces include:

You can only use pexels images for commercial use after making alterations to the original image. For example, you can use part of an image to create a collage for your commercial branding.
Furthermore, you cannot use any of the website’s content to promote political ideologies and explicit content, especially if the images contain identifiable subjects.

Pexels is available through the following channels:

Your web browser by typing the URL pexels.com.
The Android and iOS app.
A plugin for other content creation software such as Google Slides and MS Office.
An extension on your Chrome browser.
You can also access the database using the official Canva app.

2. Unsplash

Another website that offers free images for commercial use is Unsplash, a subsidiary of Getty Images since 2021. The website is a favorite among creators boasting over 16 billion photo impressions monthly. In addition, the database consists of over 3.48 million photos from more than 265,000 unique contributors, all under the Unsplash license.

The Unsplash license restricts the sale of its creative assets without incorporating new creative elements, including using them in print media and physical goods such as mugs and caps.

You can access Unsplash from your web browser or request API integration for your application from the site’s owners. In addition, the site also hosts photo walks across different cities, where Unsplash guides show you the best photo locations around the city and the best camera techniques for your work. Some cities to host the event include Boston, Montreal, Tokyo, and Toronto.

3. Freerange

Freerange Stock is an online resource for photos, illustrations, and textures you can download and use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Since 2007, the site has continued to provide high-quality images to its community of over 800,000 registered users.

Unlike the previous examples, all content on Freerange falls under the website’s Equalicense. It grants you broad commercial rights of its stock images while allowing the contributors to retain control of their copyright, image resale, and distribution. As such, you cannot use the images for bulk distribution or print-on-demand works.

Freerange Stock maintains its steady supply of images for commercial use via the following methods:

It has an in-house team of professional photographers who upload images across the different categories on the website.
Freerange Stock also purchases image rights or directly commissions photos from independent creators.
You can also contribute to the website’s library by voluntarily submitting your work to the platform. Kindly note that you will need a verified account to enable this function.
The website also works directly with photographers through a licensing and distribution model, providing them extra exposure on the site.
Finally, Freerange stock aggregates public domain images from other sources, including similar sites and government institutions. It does so by acknowledging the image owner and sometimes lists the image source when the owner is unknown.

Freerange Stock is accessible through your web browser or as an API integration on your app.

4. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is an extensive online library of free stock images for commercial use. Some of the site’s highlight features include the following:

A best-in-class search engine that incorporates multiple filters to ensure your results are extremely accurate. For example, you can sort images by color, style, number of people, and age of the subjects, something other free stock websites do not provide.
All images, videos, and vector illustrations are free for personal and commercial uses. It does so through a property sign and release model with its extensive network of contributors, which protects users from any legal liabilities.
Finally, it employs a content team that manually reviews each photo submission to ensure consistent quality standards for its offerings.

In addition, you can also purchase design resource bundles by subscribing to its Vecteezy pro for as little as $9 monthly. Some of the resources available include the Ultimate Text Effects Layer Styles Bundle for Photoshop, which costs $39 stand-alone or $4.50 when you subscribe to pro.

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

Another way to get images for commercial use is by buying them from stock providers. Some of the benefits of buying images from stock providers include:

You get a wide selection of unique photos from top-tier photographers. Stock providers always seek collaborations with the industry’s finest to edge out the competition.
You receive exemplary customer service with your purchase. Selecting the right image can be confusing for amateur creators. As such, stock image providers have customer support channels to help you throughout your creative process.
Stock images reduce your delivery times significantly. Buying images from a stock provider eliminates the need to invest in photography equipment and the time you need for post-production. As such, you can deliver projects in a fast and cost-effective way.

Despite the above positive, here are some challenges that buying stock images may present:

Not all stock image providers will have the creative assets you need.
Image overuse is likely since every creator will rush for the most popular contributor.

Below are some of the stock image providers you should consider.

1. iStock

iStockphoto.com is an online database of creative resources, including royalty-free photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and clip art you can use in your creations. The website is a Getty Images subsidiary based in Calgary, Canada. In addition, contributors earn royalties depending on how often users download their content.

2. Alamy.com

Alamy.com is a British-owned stock image provider with contributions from photographers and agencies in 173 countries. It compensates its contributors by offering higher than average payouts every time users download their creations. Some popular brands to use Alamy’s services include M&C Saatchi, Microsoft, and The Economist.

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

Alternatively, you can get images for commercial use by shooting them yourself or creating them with editing tools such as Figma and Wondershare’s Filmstock. Here are some benefits of using this method:

You get exactly what you want, provided you have the required skills and equipment. Sometimes, getting the right image for your commercial purpose can be challenging. As such, shooting an original photo may be the only option.
You have full ownership of the image.

Unlike obtaining images from stock photography websites, you are free to use the image in whatever capacity you please without any restrictions. For example, sites such as Unsplash do not allow you to use their images in political statements, a restriction you can bypass when using your own creations.

However, you should also consider the following factors when using this method.

It requires a substantial investment

Getting high-quality images for commercial purposes requires specialist equipment. For example, the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera, which has 4K resolution capability, costs $2,197 on Amazon. This makes it extremely expensive for amateur creators.

There is a steep learning curve

Becoming a professional photographer takes time and effort. Unless you are creating as a hobby, it will be a while before you can start generating income from your creations.

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

Not necessarily. Stock image sites like pexels.com allow you to download images from their website without creating an account. You will only need one if you want to showcase your work on the platform.

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Yes. Most stock image providers have device-specific apps that allow you to access their databases from your mobile device. For example, UnsplashPhotoPicker allows you access to the Unsplash library from your Android device.

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Top 15 Free Video Editing Software for Beginners [Very Easy to Use]

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

If you are not a video-making expert, own a video studio, or have a video specialist to trim and shoot video features, then don’t worry!

We are here to take you on the tour of the easiest video editing software that would promise a professional-looking end-product despite being absolutely inexperienced!

In my opinion, an ideal video editing software should be easy for everyone to get started. It could be simple video editing software, but it at least contains all the basic features you want. My recommendation is Wondershare Filmora, which compromises usability and capability to the best. It not only comes with all common video editing tools at your fingertips but also features you may need to bring your videos to the next level.

15 Best Easy Video Editing Software
Basic Features You Need in an Easy Video Editing Software
Why Video Editing Matters Nowadays?
Basic Video Editing Terms You Should Know

Watch Video to Take a Quick View of the 18 Best Video Editors

Filmora Video Editor is an expert in creating and editing videos with outstanding functions and features. The easy-to-use interface will help you much! It offers versions for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS! Worth to have a try!

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15 Best Easy Video Editing Software

Below are the brief detail of easy video editors for PC, giving you more editing scalability than mobile-based editing apps. So if you are seeking easy video editing software for YouTube or website then look no further!

1 - Wondershare Filmora	2 - Blender	3 - Lightworks
4 - Shotcut	5 - VSDC	6 - Machete Lite
7 - Avidemux	8 - Hitfilm Express	9 - iMovie
10 - Openshot	11 - Movie Maker	12 - Lumen5
13 - Adobe Spark	14 - Videopad	15 - Freemake

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad.

Wondershare Filmora paves the way to share videos instantly with family and friends, whatever it’s on YouTube, computer, mobile devices, or TV, you’ll choose your way.

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You can directly upload the video to YouTube, as well as an optional message sending to Facebook and Twitter.

Preset profiles are included in output videos for playing on mobile devices like iPhone, iPad, iPod, PSP, etc. No further conversion required. A build-in DVD tool allows you to burn video to a high-quality DVD for watching on TV with your home DVD player.

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2. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

This is free and open-source software, originally designed as a 3D animation suite but also has a use video editor. This editor lets you carry out basic actions like video cutting and video splicing. Hence, it is an easy video cutter and easy video joiner. It can also perform more advanced tasks such as video masking.

3. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Lightworks is a free easy to use video editing software that comes with High precision video trimming, 720p video export for YouTube, Multicam support, and support of a large range of video formats. Its free version has ample features enough for most of the users. Although the paid pro version costs $25 a month.

4. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is a free, open-source video editing software, packed with ample features with wide range video formats support, timeline editing, 4K HD resolution support, and have several tutorials video.

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5. VSDC

Compatibility: Windows

VSDC, an easy video editing software for windows, is a free video editing software, having an easy-to-learn powerful suite of features including audio editing and color correction. Although a paid version, pro, costs $19.99, having visual waveform, image stabilization and voice over support.

6. Machete Lite

Compatibility: Windows

Machete Lite is a free yet the simplest video editing software perfect for simple editing tasks. Only AVI and WMV files are supported in its free version. Its full version costs $19.95 having audio editing and more file type support, unlike the free version.

7. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Avoided is the simplest video editing software, perfect for beginners. It allows performing simple editing features like Encoding, simple cutting, and filtering with an easy-to-use interface.

8. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

HitFilm Express is a free video editing software with features ranging from basic editing features like trimming, audio editing, and slicing to advance tools and features. Its free version supports over 180 special effects. There’s a built-in YouTube uploading.

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Filmora Video Editor brings you all the convenience of editing videos with handy functions. You can make your creative ideas into realize! More importantly, your edited video can export without a watermark!

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9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

If you are a beginner and searching for a good video editing software to get your hands clean on editing then iMovie editor is perfect for you. It is an easy video editing software for mac having an easy drag and drop interface. Features like Video trimming, split-screen, audio editing, pre-made transitions library, and 4K resolution support.

10. Openshot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux

It is a free open source video editing software with an easy-to-use interface. Features like unlimited layers and tracks, time-mapping, real-time previews, trimming, snapping, clip resizing, curve-based keyframe animations etc. It offers more than enough features for free software.

11. Movie Maker

Compatibility: Windows

It is an easy video maker and editing software for beginners which can be downloaded from any third-party and use it to make and share high-quality movies.

12. Lumen5

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

It’s a perfect web-based video editing tool, best for Social Media promotion Campaigns with an easy drag-and-drop interface.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

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13. Adobe Spark

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Adobe Sparks is also a web-based easy video editor, similar to Lumen5. It offers an easy user interface but is a little restricted when it comes to offering a bank of images and footage to use.

14. Videopad

Compatibility: Windows

VideoPad is a simple video editing software for beginners, maybe not suitable for professional use. It has features like 3D Video Editing, Sound Effects and pre-made transitions Library, Reduce Camera Shakes and Multiple Resolutions export support.

15. Freemake

Compatibility: Windows

Freemake is a free video converter that is used to convert and alter videos that can modify and convert videos, embed videos to websites, and extract audio from video clips simply and fast. It supports above 500 video file formats and is compatible with multiple audio and image file formats for slideshows and video clip creation.

Basic Features You Need in an Easy Video Editing Software

A software having:

Easy montage maker
Easy video cutter
Easy video joiner
Compositing multiple elements together
Color grading
Motion tracking
Stabilization
Titles
Background replacement
Basic color correction
Cross dissolves and fade-to-black transitions
Audio crossfades
Audio level adjustment using keyframes
Auto synchronization of additional audio tracks
Image position adjustment using keyframes
Footage speed adjustments
Basic color correction
Footage bins for roughly organizing imported footage

Why Video Editing Matters Nowadays?

If videos aren’t a primary focus of your content marketing plan, the probability is it’s soon going to be certain! Every next production is turning into video-based content, be it content marketers or SEOs.

Around 50% of the content marketers are using Facebook and YouTube channels for the sake of video distribution since online activity spent on watching videos is 50%.

Moreover, by 2021, video is going to be projected to account for more than 80% out of all internet traffic.

Therefore, it has become a need to focus on video content if you are looking to grow the organic traffic of your publications.

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Basic Video Editing Terms You Should Know

Below are some of the important yet basic terms that you should know related to videography in general and video editing in specific as well, whether you are a beginner or professional.

Aspect ratio:

The aspect ratio is the ratio of width and height of a video. Examples of the most used aspect ratios are: 4:3, 16:9, 1.85:1.

Refer to the image given below for a better understanding.

B-roll:

B-roll facilities one with the flexibility, when editing, to the video editing rules as it is an add-on picture that makes a previously incoherent scene seamless.

As shown in the image below, B-roll is used to insert which can make the transition easy to look on the eyes.

Bit rate:

Bit rate, also known as data rate, refers to the amount of data used for every second within the video. It is most commonly expressed in kilobits per second (kbps).

Close up:

Close-up refers to the shots that frame to subject tightly.

For instance, if it is a person, then the close-up covers solely his face.

Color temperature:

Color temperature refers to the light visibility in a shot. Color temperature is expressed in Kelvin. The scale of color temperature ranges from cool to warm.

Composition:

Composition entails the process of combining multiple footages using video editing software.

Compression:

Compression is the process of minimizing the quantity of data utilized in a video file. It helps make in the process of uploading and downloading quite faster. This also leaves you with ample space for more of your publications.

Crop factor:

Crop factor refers to a number that expresses the ratio of the imaging area of a sensor to a full-frame sensor. It typically ranges from 1.3 to 2.0.

Cut-in

Cut-in refers to showing a specific part of a subject in order to emphasize a certain aspect or emotion. For instance, hand gestures may show nervousness, enthusiasm, agitation, etc.

Foley:

Often times the original sound of the scene captured in the video is not captured as naturally as they were supposed to sound like in reality. Hence, Foley is when you reproduce those sounds for that video.

Frame rate:

Frame rate refers to the video capturing by a shutter in a second or shutter cycling rate through opening and closing. Some of the common frame rates are 24, 25, 29.97, 30, etc. The frame rate is expressed in frames per second (fps).

High definition media interface:

HDMI is the connectors that digitally transfer audio and HD video to a television. This is helpful if you intend to work on a bigger screen or wish to share some of your productions.

Resolution:

Resolution refers to the horizontal and vertical pixels of your video. For instance 640×480 for SD and 1280×720 for HD. Sometimes resolution refers only to the number of pixels that paper vertically. For example 480p, 720p, and 1080p respectively.

J-Cut:

J-cut refers to the editing technique in which the audio from a next scene is overlapped with the image from the previous scene, such that the audio segment of the next scene begins playing prior to its picture.

Jumpcut:

Jumpcut editing techniques refer to an abrupt transition between the two consecutive frames. The entity in the video containing jump cuts appears to jump along with the scene from one place to another. This looks disruptive to the audience.

L-Cut:

L-cut is exactly opposite to J-cut where the audio from the next scene overlays the image from the next scene to play the audio after an image has been displayed in the video.

Lower third:

As the name suggests, the lower third is derived from the rule of third which refers to the type of title, mostly used by vloggers, broadcasters, interviewers, and you tubers.

Memory bank:

You can understand the term by thinking of a memory box where we keep certain things as a memory of the events in someone’s life. Memory bank serves the same purpose through the use of video. It often uses natural sounds, document travel or merely store moments in routine life.

Press kit:

Press kit is used to provide information regarding your productions to the press for promotional purposes. Such information is often background including synopsis, crew, cast’s bios Q&A with the director, production stills and its reviews.

Shot list:

The shot list refers to the checklist related to the shots that a videographer plans to include in his/her content. This may help you save time and gear with efficient planning and handling. This gives a sense of direction to your production.

Storyboard:

A storyboard is a drawing to illustrate the scenes in the video. This gives a direct and organized way to visualize the needs for the shots or animation.

Sync:

Synchronization, aka sync, refers to the alignment of audio with video imaging.

Rule of thirds:

The rule of third is a grid that helps you to compose interesting and balanced shots to make your productions aesthetically pleasing. The grid is similar to a tic-tac-toe board since it segregates the picture into 9 segments. It helps bring points of interest to be aligned with the lines or intersection given in the grid.

Three-point lighting:

This helps one to diminish the shadows for image balancing and provides an appealing contrast. These three lights are commonly known as fill, key, and backlight.

Tilts:

Tilts refer to the vertical transitions that your camera. This is the opposite of pans.

Pans:

Pans refer to the horizontal movements of your camera. This is exactly contrary to tilts.

White balance:

White balance refers to the process where the unrealistic color casts are removed in order to render a white object to be actually white in your photo, and not have other tints.

Wide-angle:

A wide-angel lens refers to a short focal length of a lens. This brings more of a subject rather than a subject being captured by a normal lens at equal distances.

Non-linear editing:

NLEs is a non-destructive editing technique that allows one to access any frame in a video clip regardless of the sequence in the clip. It gives you the freedom to easily include effects, transitions, fades, etc. which cannot be achieved with linear editing

Pixel aspect ratio:

Pixels are several tiny squares that build up an image in a video. Whereas, aspect ratio refers to the ratio of width to height of a video. Hence, the pixel aspect ratio (PAR) is the ratio of width to height of the pixels.

Conclusion

Be it Instagram stories, YouTube product testimonials, or Facebook ads, using these easy-to-use video editing software will elevate your content into a professional and slick look.

So, I hope you are now ready to get started.

Lights, camera, action!

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Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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