Choosing Between Unsplash and Pexels for Web Design
TL;DR:
- Both Unsplash and Pexels offer high-quality, free stock photos for web projects
- Unsplash tends to have more artistic, curated imagery
- Pexels offers a broader mix including practical, commercial-style photos
- Neither requires attribution, but both allow commercial use
- You don't need an account to download, but signing up helps with organisation
- Always check individual image licences before using in sensitive projects
When you're building websites, you need good images that won't land you in legal trouble. Unsplash and Pexels are two of the most reliable free stock photo sites, but they each have their own personality and strengths.
What Makes Each Platform Different
Unsplash
Unsplash built its reputation on high-end, artistic photography. The images tend to be more curated and stylised. You'll find lots of moody landscapes, creative lifestyle shots, and images that work well for brands wanting a premium feel.
The photographers on Unsplash often treat it as a portfolio platform, so the quality bar is generally quite high. This means you're more likely to find unique, eye-catching images, but you might struggle to find basic product shots or straightforward business imagery.
Pexels
Pexels takes a broader approach. Their library includes everything from artistic shots to more practical, commercial-style images. You'll find better coverage of everyday business scenarios, diverse people in work settings, and products that actually look usable rather than overly stylised.
They also pull content from multiple sources and have partnerships with other stock photo providers, so their library is larger and more varied.
Image Quality and Style
Both platforms maintain high standards, but their aesthetics differ. Unsplash images often have that Instagram-worthy, carefully composed look. Pexels offers more variety in style, from professional commercial shots to casual, candid photography.
For web design, this means Unsplash works well when you want images that make a statement or create a specific mood. Pexels is better when you need something that looks natural and fits seamlessly into your design without drawing too much attention.
Licensing and Usage Rights
Both platforms offer images under generous free licences. You can use them commercially without paying royalties or providing attribution. This covers client websites, marketing materials, and any other business use.
However, there are some limits. You can't sell the images as-is, use them for other stock photo sites, or create products where the image is the main value (like posters or calendars). Both platforms also restrict using images for sensitive or harmful content.
The key thing to remember is that while the platforms give you usage rights, they can't grant rights they don't have. If someone's face is clearly visible in a photo, that person hasn't necessarily agreed to be in your marketing campaign. For anything beyond standard web design use, check the specific image details.
Search and Discovery
Unsplash has cleaner search functionality and better tagging, making it easier to find exactly what you're looking for. Their collections feature, where photographers group related images, is particularly useful for maintaining visual consistency across a project.
Pexels has improved their search considerably and now includes AI-powered suggestions. They also offer more filtering options and recently added video content to their platform.
Which Should You Choose?
For most web design projects, you'll probably end up using both. Here's when each works best:
Choose Unsplash when:
- You're working on creative or artistic projects
- The client wants a premium, polished look
- You need hero images that grab attention
- Brand imagery is more important than literal representation
Choose Pexels when:
- You need practical, everyday imagery
- The project requires diverse representation
- You want images that blend into the design rather than dominate it
- You're looking for specific business or product photography
Tips for Using Either Platform
Start your search broad, then narrow down. Both platforms work better when you begin with general terms and then add specifics.
Download images at the highest resolution available, even if you plan to use them smaller. You never know when you'll need to resize or crop differently.
Keep track of where images come from. While attribution isn't required, it's good practice for your own records and shows respect for the photographers' work.
Consider the people in your images. Both platforms have improved diversity, but make sure your image choices reflect your audience and values.
FAQs
Do I need to credit the photographer when using these images?
No, neither platform requires attribution, though photographers always appreciate it when possible.
Can I modify these images for my designs?
Yes, you can crop, resize, adjust colours, and make other modifications as needed for your project.
Are there any restrictions on commercial use?
You can use the images for commercial projects, but you can't sell the images themselves or use them for harmful content. Check each platform's terms for specific details.
What happens if an image gets removed from the platform after I've used it?
Once you've legally downloaded an image, you can continue using it even if it's later removed from the platform.
Jargon Buster
Royalty-free: You pay once (or nothing, in this case) and can use the image multiple times without additional fees. Different from copyright-free.
Commercial use: Using an image in any business context, including websites, marketing materials, or client projects.
Model release: Legal permission from people pictured in photos allowing their image to be used commercially.
Editorial use: Images that can only be used for news, educational, or commentary purposes, not commercial promotion.
Wrap-up
Both Unsplash and Pexels solve the same basic problem but they do it differently. Unsplash gives you carefully curated, artistic images that make strong visual statements. Pexels offers broader coverage with more practical, everyday imagery.
Most web designers end up bookmarking both and choosing based on the specific project needs. The important thing is understanding what each platform does best so you can find the right images faster and create better designs for your clients.
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