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Pexels Alternatives: 6 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

Explore 6 alternatives to Pexels, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Our 6 top free Pexels alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

Here's the lineup of Pexels alternatives: Death to Stock, Shutterstock and JumpStory. Death to Stock leads the list with a 4.67★ rating from real users. Compare all 6 on rating and pricing below.

When Pexels no longer matches how your team works, the right swap makes a big difference. These 6 stock photos websites free alternatives are the strongest candidates, ranked by SpotScore (real-user satisfaction plus market presence), ratings, and pricing. Each is editor-vetted. Use the table to compare at a glance, then read the breakdowns.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
Death to StockUnleash your creativity with endless stock resources.—★★★★★ 4.67(6)Freefrom $12/moteams of all sizes
ShutterstockUnlock your creative potential with Shutterstock.—★★★★★ 5(2)Freefrom $29/moteams of all sizes
JumpStoryUnleash your creativity with endless stock images.—★★★★☆ 4.2(98)Freefrom $14.50/moteams of all sizes
DepositphotosUnleash your creativity with limitless visual assets.—★★★★☆ 4.3FreeFree Trial · One-time license · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
Adobe StockLimitless creativity at your fingertips.—★★★★☆ 3.77(233)Freefrom $29.99teams of all sizes
UnlimPhotosUnleash your creativity with limitless stock photos.—Not yet ratedFreefrom $8.25 per monthteams of all sizes
Death to Stock - New SaaS Software

Death to Stock

Unleash your creativity with endless stock resources.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

6 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Death to Stock?

Death to Stock is a subscription platform like no other. With unlimited downloads of the latest and greatest stock images and videos alongside exclusive resources from top talents in the industry, it's the perfect way to stay ahead of the creative curve. Get instant access to tens of thousands ...

Read more about Death to Stock
Free Trial·

Death to Stock offers custom pricing plan

Shutterstock - Stock Photos Websites

Shutterstock

Unlock your creative potential with Shutterstock.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

2 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Shutterstock?

Introducing Shutterstock: a cutting-edge SaaS platform that empowers your creativity. With a global reach, we offer a plethora of premium assets and innovative editing and collaboration tools for individuals, teams, and enterprises. Our passionate community of independent thinkers, ...

Read more about Shutterstock
Free Trial·

Shutterstock offers custom pricing plan

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JumpStory - New SaaS Software

JumpStory

Unleash your creativity with endless stock images.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.2

98 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is JumpStory?

Discover the power of JumpStory, a comprehensive platform that offers a vast collection of authentic stock images for businesses and professionals. With millions of images in various categories like lifestyle, emotions, travel, and more, users have an endless supply of creative resources at ...

Read more about JumpStory
Free TrialTry Free →
Depositphotos

Depositphotos

Unleash your creativity with limitless visual assets.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

Add to compare

What is Depositphotos?

Depositphotos is a leading platform offering a vast array of royalty-free vector images, illustrations, and graphics to enhance your creative projects. With a diverse and thematic collection of stock photography, as well as access to a library of stock videos and music, Depositphotos is your ...

Read more about Depositphotos
Free Trial
Adobe Stock - New SaaS Software

Adobe Stock

Limitless creativity at your fingertips.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.8

233 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Adobe Stock?

Adobe Stock is a powerful creative Cloud platform with incredible quality content. With this service, users can access an immense library of 4K, HD stock videos, as well as motion graphic templates and loops ideal for any type of project. Easily test and adjust the watermarked images inside ...

Read more about Adobe Stock
Free TrialTry Free →·

Adobe Stock offers custom pricing plan

UnlimPhotos

UnlimPhotos

Unleash your creativity with limitless stock photos.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is UnlimPhotos?

Introducing UnlimPhotos, your ultimate destination for high-quality free stock photos. With a vast collection sourced directly from 18,000 photographers across 145+ countries, UnlimPhotos provides a diverse range of royalty-free images at your fingertips. This comprehensive platform offers ...

Read more about UnlimPhotos
Free Trial

Pexels competitors, compared

Buyers comparing Pexels usually weigh it against these 6 stock photos websites competitors, starting with Death to Stock, Shutterstock and JumpStory. Each is compared against Pexels on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like Pexels?

Searches for "sites like Pexels" and "apps like Pexels" land on the same set of options as "Pexels alternatives" — the 6 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

What each Pexels alternative is good at

Death to StockBest for teams of all sizes

Unlimited downloads

Watch for: Subscription model may be costly

ShutterstockBest for teams of all sizes
JumpStoryBest for teams of all sizes

Reviewers praise the large, varied library of original, high-quality images, videos, and graphics.

Watch for: One reviewer notes the free trial can't be cancelled within the first 48 hours and must be cancelled within 7 days.

DepositphotosBest for teams of all sizes
Adobe StockBest for teams of all sizes

Extensive multimedia library

Watch for: Subscription costs can add up

UnlimPhotosBest for teams of all sizes

Why teams look for a Pexels alternative

Most people weighing a Pexels alternative are reacting to the same handful of pain points:

  • Limited premium content
  • Quality varies by contributor
  • Search functionality can be improved
  • Not all content is free

How to choose among Pexels alternatives

A quick data read across all 6 stock photos websites free alternatives: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $8.25–$29.99, with UnlimPhotos the cheapest entry point; and Shutterstock is the highest rated at 5★ across 2 reviews.

How positions are set.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Pexels are Shutterstock (5.0★), Death to Stock (4.7★), Depositphotos (4.3★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Pexels, prioritize: Image Management, Search, Free Stock Photos, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Pexels is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to settle on the best Pexels alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Death to Stock, Shutterstock and JumpStory let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Shutterstock has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.

How to cut over from Pexels

Before switching off Pexels, run the checks that prevent headaches later. Export your data, verify the import, and confirm feature parity for your must-have workflows. Pilot the new tool free, then migrate, leaving Pexels active until you're done.

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