123RF vs Pixabay

123RF is a stock-content service for photos, vectors, videos, audio, fonts, and AI creative tools. The site advertises more than 302 million stock assets, including vector, illustration, and editorial content. Its AI Suite includes image and video generation, upscaling, generative fill, background blur and remix, background removal, and image extension. Stock images are described as royalty-free for marketing, advertising, and business use. The Standard License permits up to 500,000 print-runs but excludes merchandise for sale; the Extended License permits unlimited print-runs and merchandise for sale. Buyers can use credits or PLUS subscriptions. Credits start at $7.95, paid once, with credits valid for one year. PLUS starts at $24.50 a month for one user and has a daily download limit; PLUS Team costs $16.10 a month per seat for up to five users. The service runs on the web and offers an API for integrating image search, viewing, and downloads. Compatible AI clients can use its MCP connection to search and license photos and vectors with an active plan. 123RF was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Pixabay is a community library of royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music, sound effects, and other media. Its About page reports more than 6.3 million assets. Users can browse on the website or Android and iOS apps, choose a download size, and download media; full-resolution photos and videos require sign-up. The content license permits free use without attribution and allows adaptations, subject to limits: media cannot be sold or distributed on its own, and recognizable trademarks cannot be used commercially in relation to goods or services. Pixabay also offers a REST API for searching and retrieving images and videos as JSON. By default, it allows up to 100 requests per 60 seconds, requires 24-hour caching, and prohibits systematic mass downloads. API users are asked to identify Pixabay as the media source when showing search results. Uploading media requires a registered account. Pixabay is a Canva Germany GmbH brand based in Berlin, and says it reviews reported or potentially violating content using automated tools and human moderators.