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Pexels vs PixaBay Comparison

Last updated:

Pexels

4.1(55 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Pexels is your go-to source for high quality stock imagery and videography from a dynamic worldwide community of talented individuals. With the help of our innovating network of creators, users can now bring their ideas…

PixaBay

4.4(114 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Small Business

Introducing PixaBay, a revolutionary platform offering a vast collection of high-quality, royalty-free images for unlimited use. With the tagline "Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere," PixaBay stands as a valuable resou…

PixaBay leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 114 reviews.

Pexels vs PixaBay — at a glance

FeaturePexelsPixaBay
Rating4.1 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews55114
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business
CategoryStock Photos Websites Stock Photos Websites
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSBrowser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPRGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Pexels and PixaBay

  • Target audience: Pexels is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while PixaBay targets Large Enterprises and Small Business.
  • User satisfaction: PixaBay scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
  • Deployment: Pexels supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; PixaBay supports Browser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Pexels vs PixaBay — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Stock Photos Websites tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Pexels - New SaaS Software
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PixaBay
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Pexels

Best free, high-quality stock photos and videos for small teams and creators.

Choose if
  • You need cost-free access to a wide variety of quality visuals.
  • You are a freelancer or small marketing team seeking simple, streamlined usage.
  • You want community-sourced, diverse imagery without subscription commitments.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires exclusive or licensed stock content for commercial use.
  • You need advanced search, filtering, or integration with digital asset management systems.

PixaBay

Best free source for high-quality, royalty-free images with easy access.

Choose if
  • You need a large library of free, royalty-free images for marketing or content creation.
  • Your team values simple, streamlined workflows without complex setup or licensing.
  • You want to avoid copyright concerns with easily searchable and downloadable visuals.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires exclusive, premium, or custom images for branding differentiation.
  • You need advanced search filters or extensive editorial/licensed content for specialized projects.

Pexels: Best free, high-quality stock photos and videos for small teams and creators. PixaBay: Best free source for high-quality, royalty-free images with easy access.

Description

Pexels is your go-to source for high quality stock imagery and videography from a dynamic worldwide community of talented individuals. With the help of our innovating network of creators, ... Read More about Pexels

Introducing PixaBay, a revolutionary platform offering a vast collection of high-quality, royalty-free images for unlimited use. With the tagline "Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere," ... Read More about PixaBay

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.1

(55)

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-200 employees
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

PixaBay has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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How do Pexels and PixaBay Compare on Features?

Total Features

3 Features

0 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No features

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Get Quote

Compare Pexels and PixaBay on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Medium Business
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Medium Business
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers

      Platforms Supported

      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      Pexels User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      4.4

      (based on 114 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      100

      16

      6

      4

      4

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users appreciate the free, high-quality stock images and videos but note limitations in search functionality and lack of premium content.

      What buyers like

      • Free access
      • Quality of visuals
      • Ease of use

      Common complaints

      • Limited search features
      • Lack of premium/exclusive content

      Buyer sentiment

      Users appreciate PixaBay for its vast free image library and ease of use, though some note limitations in exclusivity and advanced search features.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Image variety
      • Free access

      Common complaints

      • Overused images
      • Limited advanced search

      Pros and Cons

      • Free access to high-quality photos and videos

      • Wide variety of visuals contributed by a global community

      • Ease of use with no cost barrier

      • Limited advanced search and filtering options

      • No exclusive or premium content tiers

      • Extensive library of high-quality, royalty-free images

      • Free access to a wide range of visuals under Creative Commons license

      • Easy to search and download images without copyright concerns

      • Limited advanced search filters compared to paid stock photo services

      • Some images may be overused due to free availability

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to Pexels and PixaBay in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Pexels or PixaBay?
      PixaBay edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Pexels and PixaBay offer a free trial?
      Neither Pexels nor PixaBay currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Pexels vs PixaBay?
      Pexels starts at Contact for pricing. PixaBay starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Pexels?
      Top alternatives to Pexels include Qualified, StockAI, Workvivo, Artgrid, Death to Stock.
      What are the top alternatives to PixaBay?
      Top alternatives to PixaBay include Depositphotos, iStock, Pexels, ImgDownloader, Ingimage.

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