Pixabay vs Stockvault

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.

Stockvault is a community where photographers, designers, and students share photographs, graphics, and vector files. Its catalog includes free photos, textures, and illustrations, with new images added every day. Visitors can search by keyword, photographer, category, shape, date, license, and color, or browse curated collections covering subjects and formats such as nature, people, vectors, and textures. Downloads are available without signing up, and membership is free. Members can comment, message other members, and save photos to favorites. Photographs are JPG files; graphics are PSD, EPS, or AI files supplied in ZIP archives. Stockvault lists Non-Commercial, Commercial, and Public Domain (CC0) licenses, and the applicable image license governs use. The site describes the collection as intended for personal and non-commercial design projects. Non-Commercial and Commercial images may not be distributed as standalone images without alteration. Stockvault moderates submitted photos and checks accepted images for quality. Members may upload any number of files if they comply with submission guidelines, but images smaller than 3 MP (2048×1536 pixels) will not upload.