How to Get Free Stock Images, Videos and Music for Your Designs

Not every design needs a photoshoot or a custom soundtrack. Most creators — even professional ones — lean on free stock resources for a huge chunk of their visual and audio content. The trick isn’t knowing that these sites exist; it’s knowing which ones are actually free, which require attribution, and how to use them without running into copyright issues later.

This guide walks through where to find each type of resource and exactly how to check you’re allowed to use what you download.

What You Need

• Internet access and a browser
• A free account on whichever platform you choose (most require sign-up, some don’t)
• A clear idea of where the asset will be used (personal project, client work, or commercial/monetized content) — this affects which license you need

Where to Get Free Stock Images

Unsplash

One of the most popular sources for high-resolution, professional-quality photos. Everything on Unsplash is free to use, including for commercial projects, and attribution isn’t required (though it’s appreciated).

Pexels

Similar in quality and licensing to Unsplash, with a slightly different content library. Pexels also offers free stock photos and videos in one place, which makes it convenient if you need both.

Pixabay

A large library covering photos, illustrations, vectors, and videos. Pixabay’s content is free for commercial use without attribution, though always double-check the license on individual items, since some contributors set their own terms.

Where to Get Free Stock Video Footage

Pexels Videos

Free HD and 4K video clips covering everything from nature to lifestyle to business footage — a solid first stop for B-roll.

Mixkit

Offers free video clips, templates, and sound effects, with a smaller but well-curated library, useful when you need something polished quickly.

Pixabay Videos

Same licensing approach as their photo library — free for most uses, with individual license terms worth a quick check for commercial projects.

Where to Get Free Music and Sound Effects

Pixabay Music

A solid, growing library of royalty-free music and sound effects that’s genuinely free to use, including in monetized content on most platforms.

YouTube Audio Library

Free for use in YouTube content specifically, and many tracks are cleared for other platforms too — just check each track’s individual license before using it elsewhere.

Mixkit Music

Free background music and sound effects organized by mood and genre, handy when you need something that fits a specific tone quickly.

How to Check a License Before Using Anything

Before downloading, look for these details on the resource’s page:

• Commercial use allowed? Confirm this if the content will be monetized (ads, sponsored posts, paid products).
• Attribution required? Some free resources require you to credit the creator — check the specific terms rather than assuming.
• Modification allowed? Most stock platforms allow edits, but it’s worth a quick check if you’re planning heavy modifications.

When in doubt, the platform’s license or terms page (usually linked in the footer) will spell this out clearly — it only takes a minute to check and saves potential headaches later.

Once you’ve got a go-to set of these sites bookmarked, sourcing visuals and audio for your designs becomes second nature. If you’re building out a full design workflow, our Graphics, Design & Creativity section has more tutorials to help you put these assets to use.

How to Fix Common Problems

Downloaded file looks low resolution: Some platforms cap free downloads at a certain size — check for a resolution selector before downloading, or try a different source for higher-res options.

Unsure if attribution is required: When unclear, crediting the creator anyway is a safe default and takes seconds to add.

Music gets flagged/muted on a platform after uploading: Some platforms’ content ID systems are overly cautious — check the specific track’s license terms for that platform, and keep a copy of the license/download confirmation as proof if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these resources really free for commercial use?

Most are, but licenses vary by platform and sometimes by individual item — always check before using content in monetized or client work.

Do I need to credit the creator?

It depends on the platform and license. Unsplash and Pixabay generally don’t require it; others may. Check the specific terms each time.

Can I use these assets in videos I plan to monetize on YouTube or TikTok?

In most cases yes, but music licensing is where creators run into the most issues — double-check the license explicitly allows monetized use on the platform you’re posting to.

Can I edit or modify the images and footage?

Generally yes — cropping, color grading, and combining with other elements is typically allowed. Reselling the raw, unedited asset as your own is usually not.

Is there a single site that has images, video, and music all in one place?

Pexels and Pixabay both offer a mix of photos and video, and Pixabay also includes music, making them convenient one-stop options.

Conclusion

Free stock resources can cover a huge amount of your design and content needs, as long as you take the extra minute to confirm licensing before use. Reading through the list of sites gets you started, but actually browsing a couple of them and getting familiar with their search and licensing pages is what makes this genuinely useful going forward.

To help you keep track of where to look and what to check, we’ve put together a free quick-reference sheet listing all the sites above plus a simple licensing checklist — a practical companion for whenever you’re sourcing assets, rather than something you read once and forget.

Have a question, or run into a licensing issue with a resource? Drop it in the comment box below — we read every one — or reach the DCL Admin directly through our Contact Us page.