Image Licenses
Pexafy is a search engine, not an image marketplace. We index photos from third-party platforms and surface them via our API. Each image is governed by the license of its source platform. Always check the original source before using an image commercially.
All sources in our index offer free licenses allowing broad commercial use without mandatory attribution. Here is a detailed breakdown of what each license permits and prohibits.
Unsplash License
The Unsplash License is a permissive, irrevocable, worldwide license granted by photographers who upload to the platform.
What you can do
- Download and use all photos for free, including for commercial purposes
- Modify, crop, edit, composite, or otherwise adapt images in any way
- Use images in websites, apps, marketing materials, presentations, print, social media, and more
- Use images in paid products (templates, design assets, books, etc.)
- Distribute or republish images as part of a broader creative work
- No need to ask for permission or notify the photographer
What you cannot do
- Sell unmodified copies of Unsplash photos as a standalone product — e.g. as print-on-demand posters, wallpaper packs, or downloadable stock photo bundles
- Build a competing service by aggregating or bulk-downloading the Unsplash catalogue to seed a platform that replicates what Unsplash does
Attribution
Attribution is not required. Crediting the photographer (e.g. "Photo by Jane Doe on Unsplash") is appreciated and good practice, but carries no legal obligation.
Key points
- License is irrevocable — once granted, it cannot be withdrawn by the photographer
- No model or property release guarantees — you are responsible for assessing use cases involving identifiable people or private property
Pexels License
The Pexels License covers both photos and videos on the platform and is designed for maximum flexibility in commercial and non-commercial contexts.
What you can do
- Download and use all photos and videos for free, including for commercial use
- Use in websites, blogs, apps, e-commerce, newsletters, e-books, and presentations
- Use in marketing and advertising — ads, banners, campaigns
- Use in print materials — flyers, postcards, books, magazines, album covers
- Use on social media platforms
- Modify and edit photos and videos freely
- Include in paid products such as website themes or design templates (where the image is not the primary thing being sold)
What you cannot do
- Sell unaltered copies as standalone products — e.g. prints, posters, wallpaper packs, or downloadable media files
- Redistribute or resell on competing stock photo, video, or wallpaper platforms
- Use a photo or video as part of a trademark, brand logo, or trade name
- Portray identifiable people in an offensive, defamatory, or false context
- Imply false endorsement by any person or brand depicted in the content
Attribution
Attribution is not required. Crediting the photographer and linking back to Pexels is appreciated but entirely optional.
Key points
- The license covers both photos and videos
- Pexels reserves the right to update the license terms at any time
- No model or property releases are guaranteed — verify before use in sensitive commercial contexts
Pixabay Content License
The Pixabay Content License applies to all content on the platform — photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music, and sound effects. It replaced the CC0 license in 2019 with a more explicit set of permissions and restrictions.
What you can do
- Download and use all content for free, including for commercial and non-commercial purposes
- Modify, adapt, and create derivative works
- Use in digital and print media: websites, apps, books, presentations, advertising, films, social media
- Incorporate into paid products such as design templates, where the content is not the primary item being sold
What you cannot do
- Sell or redistribute unmodified content as a standalone product — e.g. stock photo packs, print-on-demand products (mugs, t-shirts, posters) without meaningful creative addition
- Use content in a product where third parties could extract and reuse the file as a standalone download
- Redistribute the raw content catalogue on competing platforms or as part of a bulk content offering
- Use depictions of identifiable people in a defamatory, pornographic, or misleading context
Attribution
Attribution is not required. Credit is appreciated but carries no legal obligation.
Key points
- Covers all content types: photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, music, and sound effects
- The license was updated in 2019 — pre-2019 content was under CC0, but new uploads are under the proprietary Pixabay Content License
- For sensitive commercial use involving recognizable faces or private property, obtain appropriate model or property releases separately
StockSnap License
StockSnap.io publishes all its photos under the CC0 Public Domain dedication, meaning photographers have waived all copyright and related rights to the extent permitted by law.
What you can do
- Download, copy, modify, distribute, and use images for any purpose — personal or commercial — without asking permission
- Adapt, remix, and build upon the images
- Use in websites, apps, advertising, print, social media, and products
- No attribution required whatsoever
What you cannot do
- CC0 does not cover trademarks or patents that may appear in photos — use of third-party logos or products depicted remains subject to those rights
- Identifiable persons may still have privacy or publicity rights — verify before sensitive commercial use
Attribution
Attribution is not required under CC0.
Key points
- One of the most permissive licenses available — effectively places images in the public domain
- Suitable for use in any context without legal complexity
Picjumbo License
Picjumbo offers free high-quality photos under its own free license, permitting broad personal and commercial use.
What you can do
- Use all photos for free for personal and commercial projects
- Use in websites, blogs, apps, marketing, advertising, and print
- Modify, crop, and adapt images freely
- Include in digital products and templates
What you cannot do
- Resell or redistribute photos as stock images or as part of a competing photo collection
- Use photos in a way that harms or defames identifiable individuals
- Claim exclusive ownership of the original image
Attribution
Attribution is not required but appreciated. A credit to Picjumbo and the photographer is encouraged.
Key points
- Free for both personal and commercial use without registration
- Always verify the official terms for the most up-to-date conditions
Kaboompics License
Kaboompics publishes its curated lifestyle and interior photography under a permissive free license for personal and commercial use.
What you can do
- Download and use photos for free in personal and commercial projects
- Use in websites, social media, editorial content, advertising, and marketing materials
- Edit and adapt images as needed
What you cannot do
- Resell or redistribute photos on other stock image platforms or as packaged photo collections
- Use as part of a trademark, logo, or brand identity
- Use images to portray people in a defamatory or misleading context
Attribution
Attribution is not required, though a link back to Kaboompics is appreciated.
Key points
- Known for its consistent, high-quality lifestyle aesthetic
- All photos are created by Kaboompics' own team — no third-party contributor rights to navigate
NegativeSpace License
NegativeSpace releases all its photos under the CC0 Public Domain dedication — free to use for any purpose with no restrictions.
What you can do
- Use, copy, modify, distribute, and exploit images for any personal or commercial purpose, without restriction
- No permission, attribution, or payment required
- Use in advertising, editorial, digital products, print, or social media
What you cannot do
- CC0 does not override privacy or publicity rights of identifiable persons depicted
- Trademarks or patents visible in photos are not covered by CC0
Attribution
Attribution is not required under CC0.
Skitterphoto License
All photos on Skitterphoto are released under the CC0 Public Domain dedication and are free to use for any purpose.
What you can do
- Use, modify, distribute, and exploit photos for any purpose — personal or commercial — at no cost
- No registration, attribution, or payment required
- Use in websites, apps, advertising, print, and products
What you cannot do
- CC0 does not override privacy or publicity rights of identifiable persons
- Trademarks visible in images are not covered by the CC0 waiver
Attribution
Attribution is not required under CC0.
Burst (by Shopify) License
Burst was a free stock photography platform by Shopify. Its photos are available under the Burst Free License, which mirrors the permissiveness of CC0 for most use cases.
What you can do
- Use, download, and modify photos for free in personal and commercial projects
- Use in websites, apps, marketing materials, advertising, and print
- No attribution required
- Use in paid products such as website themes or design templates
What you cannot do
- Resell unmodified photos as standalone products or in stock photo collections
- Use images in a context that defames or misrepresents identifiable individuals
Attribution
Attribution is not required.
Key points
- Burst was created by Shopify to provide free imagery for entrepreneurs and e-commerce stores
- The platform has been deprecated — existing photos remain available under the original license terms
Quick Comparison — Main Sources
| Unsplash | Pexels | Pixabay | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free commercial use | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Modification allowed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Attribution required | No | No | No |
| Sell unmodified copies | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Use in paid templates/products | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Redistribute on competing platforms | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Use as trademark / logo | — | ✗ | — |
| Covers videos | No | ✓ | ✓ |
| Covers vectors / audio | No | No | ✓ |
Quick Comparison — Additional Sources
| StockSnap | Picjumbo | Kaboompics | NegativeSpace | Skitterphoto | Burst | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| License type | CC0 | Free | Free | CC0 | CC0 | Free |
| Free commercial use | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Modification allowed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Attribution required | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Sell unmodified copies | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Redistribute on competing platforms | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Your Responsibility
You are solely responsible for verifying the license of any image before use. Always check the license_type field in the API response and review the original source URL for the definitive license terms.
Pexafy disclaims any liability for your use of images in violation of their respective licenses.
Contact
If you believe an image in our index is incorrectly licensed or should be removed, contact us at [email protected].