Overview

Pexels offers downloadable photos and videos, along with vector, illustration and editorial assets. The breadth makes it useful when a project needs more than photography, while free commercial use without attribution removes both a licensing charge and a crediting step. Pexels says its contributors number in the hundreds of thousands and its users range from startups to global brands.

An account adds collections, download history, photographer follows, a personalized homepage, likes and uploading. These tools can help organize ongoing visual work, but the library’s free offer does not depend on them. Contributors should note that Pexels does not allow uploads created with generative AI.

Key features

Apps and integrations

Official tools include iOS and Android apps, a Chrome extension, a Google Slides add-on, and Figma and Sketch plugins. A community MS Office add-in is also available. These options bring Pexels into common browsing, presentation and design workflows; the community add-in is distinct from Pexels’ official tools.

API access

The free RESTful JSON API provides programmatic access to Pexels’ photo and video library. Keys default to 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month, enough to support moderate integration work but a constraint for high-volume services. The API cannot be used to replicate Pexels or build wallpaper and image-gallery apps. Pexels identifies Canva, Typeform, Sketch and Airtable as API partners, and directs API users to its Help Center for troubleshooting.

Privacy and security

Pexels says it uses commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data. Its privacy policy describes rights to access, rectify, delete, restrict and port personal data, and to object to processing.

Pricing

Pexels has one plan: Free — free. It includes free photos and videos, with API limits of 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month. There are no paid tiers described here, so the trade-off is not a choice between free and premium quotas: developers whose usage exceeds the defaults need to account for those limits, while anyone seeking a stock-media subscription plan should compare other services.

Platforms

Pexels supports web, Android and iOS, plus API access and an extension. Its broader set of official plugins and add-ons includes Google Slides, Figma and Sketch, giving users several routes to find visuals in their existing workflows.

Who it's for

Pexels is a sensible first stop for designers, bloggers and other creators who need downloadable visuals for personal or commercial work and want to avoid both fees and attribution. Teams can use account collections and likes to organize visual choices. Developers can use the free API for integrations that fit its default quotas and permitted uses. It is a poor fit for an app whose purpose is to reproduce Pexels or provide wallpaper and image-gallery functionality, and it is not a source for contributors seeking to upload generative-AI-created content.

Pros and cons

Pros: Photos and videos can be used commercially without payment or attribution, which suits budget-conscious publishing and design work.
Pros: The collection spans photos, videos, vectors, illustrations and editorial assets, covering more than one kind of visual need.
Pros: Account tools and official apps, add-ons and plugins support saving and using media across several workflows.
Cons: API keys default to 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month, limiting fit for high-volume services.
Cons: API use is barred for replicas of Pexels and for wallpaper or image-gallery apps.
Cons: Pexels does not accept generative-AI-created uploads, ruling it out for those contributors.

Alternatives

Adobe Stock is the alternative to consider if a paid service with a free trial better suits your buying decision; its listed plans include standard assets and rollover credits. Pixabay is another free library and API option; full-resolution photo and video downloads require sign-up. Vecteezy is a freemium option with image-only, video-only and all-access plans for readers comparing asset-specific downloads. VectorStock is worth considering for vector purchases: its pay-per-image plan includes a pro license and no ongoing commitment.

Bigstock offers paid daily image-download plans for readers who prefer a defined monthly download allowance. IMAGO is a paid alternative with rights-managed and royalty-free image options, including editorial use. Shutterstock is another paid service to compare for image downloads or an unlimited-images plan. Depositphotos offers freemium access and unlimited-download plans for readers seeking that model. Browse Stock Photo Websites or Stock Video Websites to compare more options.

Verdict

Choose Pexels if you need a broad source of free photos and video for personal or commercial use and value the ability to skip attribution. Its accounts and integrations add practical ways to save and use media, but the API’s default quotas and prohibited app uses make it the wrong choice for some developer projects. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on those uses or requires higher-volume API access.

	PeopleImages	Pexels
Free plan	No	Yes
Paid from		Free
Platforms	Web	Android, api, extension, iOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Vector assets	Yes	Yes
Illustration assets	Yes	Yes
Monthly downloads	10 /mo
Editorial assets		Yes
API access		Yes

PeopleImages vs Pexels

PeopleImages

Pexels