We’ve found some great sources for free, open source illustrations and vectors that are fully customizable and royalty free. With these tools, you’ll be able to easily communicate your brand online without breaking the bank.
The power and importance of imagery is captured in the statement that a picture paints a thousand words. Imagery is powerful and your brand’s imagery impacts customers perceptions and determine if they want to buy what you’re selling. So finding a good source for free illustrations is important.
As people spend more time looking at images than text alone (a recent study found that 48% of readers spent three minutes max on a blog), including some visually appealing visuals will make them easier reading while also improving conversion rates.
However communicating your brand online can be difficult, expensive, and time consuming. It’s hard to find quality, royalty-free images that you can use without worrying about copyright infringement. And if you do find them, they’re often too expensive for small business to afford.
But top-notch imagery doesn’t have to come at a price tag. There are plenty of free stock photo websites you can use to source stunning visuals for your site.
Best Website for Free Images
There are a few sites that offer free images without copyright restrictions. The selection of free photos on these sites is more limited than what you’d find on paid stock photo sites. But if you take the time to look, you can find some amazing free pictures for your website.
1. unDraw – Best for Free Illustrations
In 2017, Katerina Limpitsouni created undraw with the goal of contributing to open-source design and providing beautiful images for everyone. They have constantly updated their site full of SVG illustrations you can use free without attributes or credit!
unDraw is a platform that provides free SVG illustrations for any idea you can imagine so that you can create and design better designed websites, products and applications.
Browse through the imagery on the site, find the right one that fits your message and add to your website. Undraw even allows you to customize the color to match your brand and use it as a normal image, embedded code or directly in your design workflow.
With unDraw you can use the illustrations in any project, commercial or personal without attribution or any costs. Just don’t try to replicate unDraw, re-distribute the illustrations or create integrations for it.
The gist is that you can use the illustrations in any project, commercial or personal without attribution or any costs. Just don’t try to replicate unDraw, redistribute in packs the illustrations or create integrations for it.
unDraw license
unDraw has grown unexpectedly to be used by organizations like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Harvard Business School, started something cool with Adobe and has been adopted by a truly open community that includes designers, developers and content creators, using it everyday in unique and unexpected products, projects and ways.
If you’re looking for some free, beautiful designs to spice up your next project then look no further than unDraw! They have an extensive collection of high quality vector illustrations that are available without any attribution so they can be used completely freely.
Benefits
- Get free vector illustrations for your website, product or application.
- Customize colors and use them however you want.
- Beautify your work with stunning visuals that stand out from the competition.
- Download illustrations in either PNG or SVG file
2. Drawkit – Best for Latest Illustration and Imagery
Drawkit is an online platform that provides many beautiful high quality vector illustrations for free. They are fully customizable so you can bring your designs to life and use them with any project.
With Drawkits extensive library you can find everything from design inspiration to best practices and freelancing tips to tools. Imagery is available in 3 formats; SVG, PNG, JPG and 4 style variations; Color, flat, outline and glyphs.
With its open source license, you can use all the free images on the site without attribution, for both commercial and noncommercial purposes. The license allows you to use the images as-is or modify them, but you can not redistribute them, sublicense them, sell them, upload them to free stock websites, or sell them on merchandise.
The Drawkit license is in plain English and states:
Drawkit grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free, worldwide license to download, copy, modify, and use icons and illustrations for your own commercial and non-commercial purposes, subject to the terms of this agreement.
Drawkit license
Drawkit License
The license has limitations such as you may not sell, distribute, lease, license, sub-license or offer icon and illustration files to any third party. Make sure to familiarize yourself with their full license details here: https://drawkit.com/license.
Benefits
- Thousands of high quality vector illustrations
- Fully customizable
- 3 formats and 4 style variations
- Open source license
3. Pexel – Best Overall Image Source
Pexel is a great resource for designers looking to use high-quality stock photos without the hassle of paying license fees. With new pictures being added every day and easy discovery features, it’s never been easier than now!.
Pexel provides free high quality stock photos to help designers, bloggers, and anyone who needs visuals and great photos. If you see a photo or video you like, simply download it for free – you don’t even need an account, its that simple.
Pexel have hundreds of free stock photos and every day new high resolution photos are added. All photos are nicely tagged, searchable and also easy to discover through our discover pages.
All photos and videos on Pexels are free for commercial use. You can use them on your commercial website, blog, product, or anywhere else. Attribution is not required when using images from Pexels for commercial purposes, but is appreciated.
Benefits
- Download free high quality stock photos.
- Photos are licensed under the Pexels license.
- Attribution is not required when using images from Pexels for commercial purposes, but is appreciated.
- Get beautiful visuals for your website, blog, or product without breaking the bank.
Pixabay – Best for Free Images
Pixabay is one of the best sources for free high-quality illustrations and photos. The site offers a wide range of free images, including vector illustrations, graphic design elements, nature photos, and more. All of the images on Pixabay are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license, which means they can be used for any purpose, commercial or otherwise.
Pixabay is a vibrant community of creatives, sharing copyright free images and videos. All contents are released under the Pixabay License, which makes them safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to the artist – even for commercial purposes. Learn more…
Pixabay offers over 1.9 million free stock photos, illustrations, and videos. With such a large selection of free media, it’s easy to find what you need without spending hours searching.
Benefits
- Over 1.9 million free stock photos, illustrations, and videos
- Released under the Creative Commons CC0 license (free for commercial use)
- No attribution required
Vecteezy – Best of Royalty Free Images
Vecteezy is a massive free vector art library with over 1 million+ freebie vectors, illustrations, and more. You can find anything here from icons to patterns to complete illustrations all under one roof and all free! They also have a marketplace where you can buy premium design assets if you’re looking for something specific.
Vecteezy is the largest free vector art site in the world with over 1 million+ free vector illustrations, icons, patterns, and photos. You can find anything from animals to patterns to complete illustrations all under one roof and all free!
Benefits
- Over 1 million free vector illustrations, icons, patterns, and photos
- Search for anything you need or browse popular categories
- Download free vectors in 3 different file formats (EPS, SVG, and PNG)
Freepik – Best for Illustrations
Freepik is another go-to source for free vectors, illustrations, logos, and photos. With Freepik, simply attribute the author whenever you use their work and you’re good to go! With millions of free resources available, you ’re sure to find what you need on Freepik.
Freepik is one of the biggest free resources sites with over 8 million free vector illustrations, photos, and more. With such a large selection of freebie vectors, it’s easy to find what you need without spending hours searching. All of the resources on Freepik are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license, which means they can be used for any purpose, commercial or otherwise. Simply attribute the author whenever you use their work and you’re good to go!
Benefits
- Over 8 million free vector illustrations, photos, and more
- Released under the Creative Commons CC0 license (free for commercial use)
- Simply attribute.
How to Choose the Right Images for Your Website
The right images can make your website more inviting, trustworthy, and memorable–but the wrong images can do just the opposite. So how do you choose the right images for your website? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Use High-Quality Images
The first rule of thumb is to use high-quality images. This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many website owners try to get by with low-resolution, blurry photos. In today’s age of HD screens and retina displays, there’s simply no excuse for using subpar images. Not only will poor-quality images make your site look unprofessional, but they’ll also turn potential customers away.
Fortunately, there are plenty of websites where you can find high-quality, professional photos that you can use on your site. Some of our favorites include Unsplash and Pexels.
2. Use Unique Images
Another important tip is to use unique images. With so many websites out there competing for attention, it’s important to set yours apart from the rest. One way to do this is by using original photos that you’ve taken yourself. If you don’t have the time or resources to take your own photos, though, don’t worry—there are still plenty of ways to find unique images for your website.
For example, you could purchase stock photos from a site like iStockPhoto or Shutterstock. Or, if you want something truly one-of-a-kind, you could commission a custom illustration from an artist on Fiverr or 99designs. No matter what route you decide to go, just make sure your images are unique—you don’t want your website to blend in with the rest of the internet!
3. Add Meaning
In addition to being high-quality and unique, your website’s images should also add meaning to your content. For example, if you have a blog post about tips for traveling abroad, an image of someone packing their suitcase would be highly relevant and add value to the article.
On the other hand, an image of a sunset would be nice to look at but wouldn’t really add anything of substance to the blog post. So when choosing images for your website content, ask yourself whether they add meaning or if they’re just filler. You should always aim to add value with every image you include on your site.
4. Use Images With Faces
One final tip we have for choosing great website images is to use ones that feature faces whenever possible. Studies have shown that people are naturally drawn to faces, even when they don’t realize it themselves. So including images with faces on your website is a great way to grabbed visitors’ attention and keep them engaged with your content.
Of course, this tip isn’t always applicable—sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to use a photo with a person in it. However, if you have the option, we definitely recommend going with an image that includes a human face!
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Free Images
Where can I find free illustrations and images?
There are a number of websites that offer free illustrations and images. A few popular options include:
Wikimedia Commons: This website is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, and offers a wide range of illustrations and images that are free to use for both personal and commercial purposes.
Pixabay: This website offers a library of high-quality, royalty-free images that can be used for any purpose.
Unsplash: This website offers high-resolution, copyright-free photos that can be used for any purpose.
What are some of the best places to find free illustrations and images?
Some of the best places to find free illustrations and images are Google Images, Morguefile, and Flickr. You can also find illustrations and images for free on websites like Creative Commons and Open Clip Art Library. Just make sure you read the license agreement before using any images to ensure that you are allowed to use them commercially or non-commercially.
How can I use free illustrations and images?
There are a few ways to get free illustrations and images.
One way is to search for images that are in the public domain. This means that the copyright has expired and the image is free to use. A good place to start is Wikimedia Commons, which has a large collection of public domain images.
Another way to get free illustrations and images is to create them yourself. There are many online tools and resources that can help you do this, such as Canva or Pixlr.
Finally, you can also find free illustrations and images through websites like Unsplash and Gratisography. These websites have collections of high-quality, copyright-free images that you can use for free.
How can I be sure that the illustrations and images I find are actually free?
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine whether an image is actually free to use or not. Sometimes images that appear to be free for commercial reuse may have certain restrictions attached to them, such as a requirement to credit the photographer or artist who created the image.
One way to check the copyright status of an image is to perform a reverse image search using a website like Google Images or TinEye. This will help you determine whether the image has been published elsewhere on the internet and whether any restrictions have been placed on its use.
How can I tell if an illustration or image is high quality?
First, consider the resolution of the image. A high-resolution image will have more detail and appear sharper than a low-resolution image. Second, consider the file size of the image. A high-quality image will be larger in file size than a low-quality image. Finally, consider how well the colors are reproduced in the image. A high-quality image should have accurate colors with no pixelation or distortion.
How can I use free illustrations and images legally?
There are a few things to consider when using public domain or royalty-free illustrations and images for your work.
Always read the license agreement associated with the image or illustration. This will tell you what you can and can’t do with the image.
If the image is in the public domain, there are no restrictions on how you can use it.
If the image is royalty-free, you may use it in commercial and non-commercial projects, but be sure to follow the license agreement restrictions. For example, many royalty-free licenses state that you cannot modify the image in any way or use it in a logo or trademark.
What are some common pitfalls to avoid when using free illustrations and images?
There are a few things to watch out for when using free illustrations and images:
1. Make sure you have the rights to use the image. Some sites, like Creative Commons, allow you to use images for free as long as you give credit to the creator. Others may require that you purchase a license to use the image.
2. Check the quality of the image. Sometimes the quality of a free image is not very good. It’s important to make sure that the image will look good when used in your project.
3. Be careful of copyright infringement. Just because an image is available for free doesn’t mean you can use it without permission from the creator. Infringing on someone’s copyright can have reprecussions.
What are some benefits of using free illustrations and images?
There are several benefits of using free illustrations and images. First, free illustrations and images are often high quality and can help you create a professional-looking document or website. Additionally, using free illustrations and images can save you money – particularly if you’re on a tight budget. Finally, free illustrations and images are a great way to support the open source movement and contribute to the community.
In Summary
There are a growing number of open source options out there for royalty free illustrations, but my personal favorite is unDraw. I love how easy it is to download and customize the illustrations, and then publish them directly onto my website. Pexel is another great option, with a wider variety of illustrations and categories.
But I would recommend taking advantage of all the free and open source options so you can try them all out, get a feel for them, and then decide which ones are best for you. Whichever route you choose, make sure to find an option that offers high-quality illustrations that you can use without worry.
When it comes to open source illustration, there are a few different platforms available. Whether you are a small business owner, blogger, influencer, or creative artist, there are free open source options with varying license agreements that can meet your needs. It is important to remember that the exact open source license can vary from one site to another, so always check the license or terms of use first.
With so many options available, there is sure to be an open source platform that is perfect for you and your needs.
Bottom Line
Your brand is your business, so why not make it look and feel like a million bucks? You can boost the visual appeal of all aspects by utilizing free open source illustrations. With a little time and effort, you can find the perfect visuals to help your business stand out from the rest.
There are plenty of image sources out there, so take your pick! Whether you want hand-drawn or digital illustrations, there is an option for you. When it comes to choosing the best free open source illustration platforms, it really depends on what you need and want. If you’re looking for a wide range of options with no attribution required, then unDraw is a great choice. For a more traditional approach with millions of free options available, try Freepik.
Do some research and test out a few free open source illustration sites until you find visuals are more engaging than text for readers – they’re also better at converting visitors into customers!
