Unlock Free Images for Your Business: Top Resources

Did you know that some of the world’s most iconic advertisements use stock images for commercial use? For example, AlamapBBDO, a Brazilian ad agency, used stock photos from Getty Images to create their Endless Possibilities campaign in 2016. The advertising campaign combined photos of random people’s faces to recreate portraits of famous people such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

Most creative agencies prefer altering stock images in most of their work. This is because it allows them to create campaigns for different companies much faster at affordable costs. Keep reading to find out how to get free images for commercial use in your next project.

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

Several sites offer free images for commercial use as part of their services. In addition, you do not need to register an account to download the images. The sites typically rely on user contributions and content teams to ensure their databases are fresh and maintain consistent quality. Furthermore, all creative assets they offer fall under the creative commons zero license or a variation of it. Here are some of the sites that offer you images for commercial use for free.

1. Pexels

Pexels.com is a free-to-use provider of high-resolution photos and videos for aspiring creators. The German-based website was started in 2014 by two brothers and has been under the Canva umbrella since 2018.

Currently, the website hosts over 3.2 million images and videos from over 250,000 active contributors. In addition, all the material you find in its library is under the Pexels license, which slightly varies from the creative commons zero license model. Some of the restrictions it enforces include:

You can only use pexels images for commercial use after making alterations to the original image. For example, you can use part of an image to create a collage for your commercial branding.
Furthermore, you cannot use any of the website’s content to promote political ideologies and explicit content, especially if the images contain identifiable subjects.

Pexels is available through the following channels:

Your web browser by typing the URL pexels.com.
The Android and iOS app.
A plugin for other content creation software such as Google Slides and MS Office.
An extension on your Chrome browser.
You can also access the database using the official Canva app.

2. Unsplash

Another website that offers free images for commercial use is Unsplash, a subsidiary of Getty Images since 2021. The website is a favorite among creators boasting over 16 billion photo impressions monthly. In addition, the database consists of over 3.48 million photos from more than 265,000 unique contributors, all under the Unsplash license.

The Unsplash license restricts the sale of its creative assets without incorporating new creative elements, including using them in print media and physical goods such as mugs and caps.

You can access Unsplash from your web browser or request API integration for your application from the site’s owners. In addition, the site also hosts photo walks across different cities, where Unsplash guides show you the best photo locations around the city and the best camera techniques for your work. Some cities to host the event include Boston, Montreal, Tokyo, and Toronto.

3. Freerange

Freerange Stock is an online resource for photos, illustrations, and textures you can download and use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Since 2007, the site has continued to provide high-quality images to its community of over 800,000 registered users.

Unlike the previous examples, all content on Freerange falls under the website’s Equalicense. It grants you broad commercial rights of its stock images while allowing the contributors to retain control of their copyright, image resale, and distribution. As such, you cannot use the images for bulk distribution or print-on-demand works.

Freerange Stock maintains its steady supply of images for commercial use via the following methods:

It has an in-house team of professional photographers who upload images across the different categories on the website.
Freerange Stock also purchases image rights or directly commissions photos from independent creators.
You can also contribute to the website’s library by voluntarily submitting your work to the platform. Kindly note that you will need a verified account to enable this function.
The website also works directly with photographers through a licensing and distribution model, providing them extra exposure on the site.
Finally, Freerange stock aggregates public domain images from other sources, including similar sites and government institutions. It does so by acknowledging the image owner and sometimes lists the image source when the owner is unknown.

Freerange Stock is accessible through your web browser or as an API integration on your app.

4. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is an extensive online library of free stock images for commercial use. Some of the site’s highlight features include the following:

A best-in-class search engine that incorporates multiple filters to ensure your results are extremely accurate. For example, you can sort images by color, style, number of people, and age of the subjects, something other free stock websites do not provide.
All images, videos, and vector illustrations are free for personal and commercial uses. It does so through a property sign and release model with its extensive network of contributors, which protects users from any legal liabilities.
Finally, it employs a content team that manually reviews each photo submission to ensure consistent quality standards for its offerings.

In addition, you can also purchase design resource bundles by subscribing to its Vecteezy pro for as little as $9 monthly. Some of the resources available include the Ultimate Text Effects Layer Styles Bundle for Photoshop, which costs $39 stand-alone or $4.50 when you subscribe to pro.

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

Another way to get images for commercial use is by buying them from stock providers. Some of the benefits of buying images from stock providers include:

You get a wide selection of unique photos from top-tier photographers. Stock providers always seek collaborations with the industry’s finest to edge out the competition.
You receive exemplary customer service with your purchase. Selecting the right image can be confusing for amateur creators. As such, stock image providers have customer support channels to help you throughout your creative process.
Stock images reduce your delivery times significantly. Buying images from a stock provider eliminates the need to invest in photography equipment and the time you need for post-production. As such, you can deliver projects in a fast and cost-effective way.

Despite the above positive, here are some challenges that buying stock images may present:

Not all stock image providers will have the creative assets you need.
Image overuse is likely since every creator will rush for the most popular contributor.

Below are some of the stock image providers you should consider.

1. iStock

iStockphoto.com is an online database of creative resources, including royalty-free photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and clip art you can use in your creations. The website is a Getty Images subsidiary based in Calgary, Canada. In addition, contributors earn royalties depending on how often users download their content.

2. Alamy.com

Alamy.com is a British-owned stock image provider with contributions from photographers and agencies in 173 countries. It compensates its contributors by offering higher than average payouts every time users download their creations. Some popular brands to use Alamy’s services include M&C Saatchi, Microsoft, and The Economist.

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

Alternatively, you can get images for commercial use by shooting them yourself or creating them with editing tools such as Figma and Wondershare’s Filmstock. Here are some benefits of using this method:

You get exactly what you want, provided you have the required skills and equipment. Sometimes, getting the right image for your commercial purpose can be challenging. As such, shooting an original photo may be the only option.
You have full ownership of the image.

Unlike obtaining images from stock photography websites, you are free to use the image in whatever capacity you please without any restrictions. For example, sites such as Unsplash do not allow you to use their images in political statements, a restriction you can bypass when using your own creations.

However, you should also consider the following factors when using this method.

It requires a substantial investment

Getting high-quality images for commercial purposes requires specialist equipment. For example, the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera, which has 4K resolution capability, costs $2,197 on Amazon. This makes it extremely expensive for amateur creators.

There is a steep learning curve

Becoming a professional photographer takes time and effort. Unless you are creating as a hobby, it will be a while before you can start generating income from your creations.

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

Not necessarily. Stock image sites like pexels.com allow you to download images from their website without creating an account. You will only need one if you want to showcase your work on the platform.

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Yes. Most stock image providers have device-specific apps that allow you to access their databases from your mobile device. For example, UnsplashPhotoPicker allows you access to the Unsplash library from your Android device.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

10 Best Movie Maker Apps for Android in 2021

These video editing tools are convenient and incredible for beginners as well as professional video editors. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 10 best movie maker Android apps:

1. Filmora

Filmora is an Android movie maker that enables video editors to merge and trim videos. With more than 5000 templates and stickers, you can make your video engaging and interesting. Filmora offers a wide array of text animation and font options. You can adjust the video saturation, brightness, temp, and clarity. If you are a YouTuber, you can include a custom watermark such as your logo or name. This movie maker android app is suitable for both, beginners and professionals. Here are some best features of Filmora:

Easy to use interface
Wide range of music library
Advanced editing features
Speed control
Text animation
PIP options

2. Stop Motion Studio Pro

Stop Motion Studio Pro is different than traditional video editing tools in every way. Developers designed this tool specifically for cut stop-motion animation. This versatile Samsung movie maker enables you to shoot videos with a built-in camera and convert still objects into motion. You can tweak each frame and add multiple audios to bring desk-bound objects to life. Stop Motion Studio Pro is a powerful application with the following tools:

Easy-to-use interface
Overlay mode
Interactive timeline
Animation guides
Insert, copy, paste, and cut frames

3. GoPro Quik

Sometimes, you don’t want to go deep with video editing. You need a movie maker app that performs all the hard work for you and gives you automated results. That’s how GoPro Quik helps video editors. Perfect for newbies, this android movie editor highlights music, points, and formatting.

You can choose video, images, and audio from your mobile storage and instantly create reels and stories. Furthermore, you can trim videos and choose a theme for instant edits. The latest version of GoPro Quik gives you cloud backup, powerful slow-down, and a wide range of filters. Here are some features you get with GoPro Quik:

Control frame speed
Easily combine clips
Unlimited cloud backup
Slideshow and movie maker

4. PowerDirector

PowerDirector is a bit expensive than other movie maker android apps. But, this tool is worth purchasing as it offers a friendly and easy-to-understand interface. With this movie maker, you can import clips and align them on a timeline. This is a responsive app with a lack of clutter and a simple interface. PowerDirector offers wide-ranging tools to create engaging videos for YouTube shorts, stories, and highlights. If you are new to video editing, using this tool would be a good start. PowerDirector offers:

Supports 4K videos
Speed adjustments
Video stabilizer
Voice changer
Slow-motion and fast forward options

5. KineMaster

KineMaster is a powerful movie maker app that offers to splice, cutting, and cropping features. Furthermore, it enables you to add voiceovers, sound effects, and music to your video. Animation tools help you add motion to different layers and allow you to control the speed and movement of objects. You can make your video engaging by including stickers, images, and special effects. As first-time users, you may find this app to be too cluttered, but when you will start using it, the interface becomes simpler. Although this application is paid, you can enjoy the bulk of the toolset with the free version as well. Here are some KineMaster features:

Crop videos
Slice and cut clips
Add music, images, and stickers
Animation tools

6. Adobe Premiere Clip

Adobe Premiere Clip is one of the finest movie editor android apps on the Play Store. The tool enables you to edit videos from mobile storage and use multiple editing functions such as adding transitions, trimming, cutting. Furthermore, you can also include effects, filters, and music to make your video more attractive. This tool doesn’t irritate the users with advertisements. If you want an app to simplify the editing process, Adobe Premiere Clip can be the best option. Some features are:

Multi-camera sequence
Free and multi-platform
Edit in Premiere Pro
Creative Cloud account syncs
Easy to use

7. Magisto

Magisto movie editor android app is perfect for beginners who want simple editing features. The tool offers simple and basic features to combine video effects, text, audio, and clips, Furthermore, you can create outstanding videos without much effort. Once you import video clips, audio, and pictures on this platform, it automatically aligns the content in a few minutes. Whenever you edit a video, the edited file will get saved. This means that you can continue editing where you left off. Magisto offers:

Multiple themes
Unique business styles
Commercially licensed music
Premium editing styles
Insights
Unlimited HD movie downloads

9. Splice

Splice is a split video editor that helps create a moving collage. You can have a lot of fun with this movie editor android app as it enables you to customize transitions lengths and cut and edit video clips. Splice has a library for music tracks so you can add songs in the background. This is a user-friendly tool with filters, switches, and text. You can include a wide array of effects on your video and enhance video quality. For instance, if you want to create a documentary on your smartphone, you can add documentary-style effects to the clips. Here are some features of Splice:

Speed control
Audio and video sync
Music library
Cut and crop video features

10. Action Director

Action Director include basic and advanced video editing tool to create interesting videos. This tool enables you to import and edit video clips. Furthermore, you can include music, use slow motion, add text, and trim videos. The application supports 4K videos, giving you high-definition results. Many lecturers use this movie maker app to create Webinar tutorials. If you want to create high-impact and crystal clear videos, you should choose Action Director. Some popular features of this software are:

Stop motion
Preset themes
Video stabilizer
Lens and color corrections

Closing Word

Now that you are aware of these top movie maker apps for Android, you can evaluate the options and choose a mobile app that offers top features. Among all these options, Filmora video editing tool is the best software with impressive features. This app is perfect for creating video content for YouTube, Facebook, and other social media platforms.