Free Images for Websites: Legal Sources

Yes, you can find free images for websites from several reputable sources, but “free” comes with conditions you need to understand. This guide explains where to get images without paying, what licenses allow, and how to avoid legal trouble.

Formula

This calculator works out your average pace and speed for a run, walk, or cycle. Enter the time it took (in minutes) and the distance covered (in kilometers), and you get your average pace in minutes per kilometer and your average speed in kilometers per hour.

Pace is the time per unit distance: Pace = Time / Distance. Speed is distance per unit time: Speed = Distance / (Time / 60).

• t = total time in minutes (e.g., 50 min)
• d = distance in kilometers (e.g., 10 km)
• Pace = minutes per kilometer (min/km)
• Speed = kilometers per hour (km/h)

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: you run 10 km in 50 minutes.

1. Pace = 50 min / 10 km = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 km / (50 min / 60) = 10 / 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

The calculator shows the same results: a pace of 5.00 min/km and a speed of 12.00 km/h.

What Does “Free” Mean for Images?

When a website offers free images, it usually means you can download and use them without paying a fee. However, the license dictates what you can do with them. The most common free licenses are:

• Public Domain (CC0): No copyright restrictions. You can use, modify, and sell the image without attribution.
• Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY): You can use the image, but you must credit the creator in a specific way.
• Creative Commons Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC): You can use the image only for non-commercial purposes, and you must credit the creator.

Many free image sites use a mix of these licenses. Always check the license on each image before downloading.

Where to Find Free Images

Several websites aggregate images from photographers who waive most rights. The most popular ones include:

• Unsplash – Large library, all images under the Unsplash License (similar to CC0).
• Pexels – Free stock photos and videos, all under the Pexels License (CC0-like).
• Pixabay – Over 2 million free images, illustrations, and vectors under the Pixabay Content License.
• Wikimedia Commons – Millions of freely usable media files, but licenses vary (check each file).
• Burst (by Shopify) – Free images for commercial use, no attribution required.

These sites are a good starting point, but they are not the only ones. Government agencies, museums, and libraries also offer public domain images.

How to Choose the Right Image

Picking the right image is more than just finding something that looks nice. Consider the following:

• Relevance: Does the image support your content or distract from it?
• File format: JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparent backgrounds, SVG for logos.
• Resolution: Use images that are at least 1200px wide for hero images to avoid blurriness on large screens.
• File size: Large images slow down your page. Compress them to under 200KB if possible.

Always test how an image looks on mobile and desktop before publishing.

Common Problems and Mistakes

Even with free images, people run into issues. The most common are:

• Using images without checking the license: Some sites have images from different licenses mixed together. Always verify.
• Not giving attribution when required: If the license requires it, you must credit the creator. Usually a small text link near the image is enough.
• Using images of people without model releases: Even if the photo is free, the person in it may have rights. Most stock sites ensure model releases for their images, but not all do.
• Hotlinking: Linking directly to an image URL on another server is often blocked and can break your site.

To avoid these, download the image to your own server and keep a record of the license.

Free vs. Paid Images: Which Is Better?

Free images are great for blogs, small business websites, and personal projects. They are often high quality and cost nothing. However, paid stock photo sites (like Shutterstock or Getty Images) offer more exclusive, curated content and clearer licensing for commercial use. If you need a very specific image or want to avoid seeing the same photo on dozens of other sites, paid may be worth it. For most general web use, free is sufficient.

Safety and Legal Considerations

Using images illegally can result in fines or legal action. To stay safe:

• Always read the license terms for each image.
• Keep a screenshot of the license and the image URL for your records.
• If you use a Creative Commons image, follow the attribution instructions exactly (name, title, source, license).
• Do not use images that contain trademarks or logos unless you have permission.
• If you are unsure about an image’s license, do not use it. Find another one.

Remember that “free” does not mean “no rules.” The creator still holds copyright unless they explicitly waive it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use free images for commercial purposes?
Yes, but only if the license allows it. CC0 and most Unsplash/Pexels/Pixabay images allow commercial use. Always check the specific image’s license.

Do I need to give credit for free images?
Only if the license requires it. CC0 and similar licenses do not require attribution, but CC BY does. Read the license.

Can I edit free images?
In most cases, yes. CC0 and similar licenses allow modification. Some CC BY licenses also allow it, but you must credit the original creator. Check the license.

Are free images really free forever?
Once you download an image under a license, that license applies. The site may change its terms later, but your existing download is still covered by the license at the time of download.

What is the difference between CC0 and Public Domain?
Public Domain means the copyright has expired or been waived. CC0 is a legal tool that creators use to dedicate their work to the public domain. Both allow free use without attribution.

Can I use images from Google Images?
Only if you filter by usage rights. Google Images is a search engine, not a source. Always check the original site’s license before using.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2