What is Pixabay?
Pixabay is one of the largest free stock media libraries on the web. It holds more than 6 million assets shared by a community of over 400,000 creators, covering photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music, sound effects and GIFs. Pixabay is a brand of Canva Germany GmbH.
Everything on the site is released under the Pixabay Content License. You can use, adapt and include the media in your own projects for free, and crediting the creator is optional. The main limits are that you cannot resell the files on their own, use recognisable brands or logos commercially, or use images of people in misleading or harmful ways.
Main Features
- Millions of free photos, illustrations and vectors
- Free stock video, music and sound effects
- No attribution required under the Pixabay Content License
- Search by keyword, orientation, colour and media type
- Free API for developers with rate limits
- Upload your own work and build a creator profile
How to Get Started with Pixabay
- Go to pixabay.com and type what you need into the search bar.
- Filter the results by media type, such as photos, vectors, videos or music.
- Open an item, pick a size and click Download (a free account unlocks the largest sizes).
- Use it in your project, and add a credit to the creator if you like.
Pixabay Pricing
Pixabay is free. All media is downloadable at no cost under the Pixabay Content License, and the site does not list any paid plan.
Who Should Use It?
- Bloggers and content writers
- Designers and marketers
- Video editors and YouTubers
- Students and teachers
- Developers who need placeholder media
Pixabay Alternatives
- Icons8: Icons, illustrations and photos for designers, with free and paid options.
- Photopea: Free browser photo editor for adjusting the images you download.
- Google Fonts: Free, open source fonts to pair with your stock images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pixabay free?
Yes. Every photo, video, sound and illustration on Pixabay can be downloaded for free, and the site does not offer a paid plan.
Do I need to credit Pixabay images?
No. Attribution is optional under the Pixabay Content License, although creators appreciate a credit.
Can I use Pixabay images commercially?
Generally yes, but you cannot sell the files unchanged, use recognisable brands or logos commercially, or use images of people in misleading ways.