Designers, marketers, and content creators rely on high-quality creative assets in their work. However, budget constraints often make finding affordable resources a challenge. Fortunately, platforms like Vecteezy and Unsplash offer free images, but how do you decide which one is the best fit for your needs?
If you’re weighing your options, this side-by-side comparison will help you decide which platform is right for you.
Platform Overviews
Unsplash
Unsplash, founded in 2013, has become one of the most popular websites for free photos. It’s known for having an excellent selection, especially of artistic and lifestyle photos. This community-oriented platform allows anyone to create an account and upload photos for use under the Unsplash license.
In 2021, Getty Images acquired Unsplash. A year later, Unsplash+ launched, providing additional images for a low monthly subscription.
Vecteezy
Launched in 2007, Vecteezy has grown into a comprehensive creative marketplace. In addition to millions of free and premium stock photos, Vecteezy offers stock videos, vector graphics, templates, and other resources for creatives of all kinds. The platform stands out for its robust licensing and user protections, which are especially critical for commercial projects.
Although Vecteezy offers an extensive collection of free creative assets, additional resources are available with a Pro subscription. Pro users get unlimited downloads of all content types for as little as $9/month, making Vecteezy one of the best values in the industry.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Vecteezy | Unsplash |
| Asset types | Photos, videos, vectors, SVGs, PNGs, PSDs, templates, bundles | Photos, illustrations |
| Total library size | 60 million | 6 million |
| Contributors vetted | Yes | No |
| Signed model & property releases for free photos | Yes | No |
| Photos with logos licensed for editorial use only | Yes | No |
| Downloadable license for free photos | Yes | No |
| Download without a user account | Yes | Yes |
| Search filters | Extensive | Limited |
| Use free photos without attribution | Only for Pro users | Yes |
| Pro/Plus subscription for unlimited downloads | $9/month | $7/month |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
Licensing and User Protection
A key distinction between Vecteezy and Unsplash lies in their approach to licensing and user protection. Licensing is a crucial aspect often overlooked by users, particularly when dealing with free photos. However, neglecting proper licensing can result in substantial legal risks, especially for those using the images in commercial projects.
Get millions of stock images and videos at the best price
Unlimited access. No attribution required. Starts at just $9/month.
Unsplash
Unsplash allows visitors to download and use photos under its proprietary license, and attribution is not required. However, Unsplash does not provide additional protections for users. For example, contributors are not required to have signed model or property releases for free photos. The requirement for signed releases only applies to photos available under the Unsplash+ license, which could leave users of free photos vulnerable to potential legal issues.
Additionally, many photos on Unsplash include brand logos or trademarks. While these images are accessible under the standard Unsplash license, using them for commercial purposes could lead to legal complications.
Vecteezy
Vecteezy’s Free license permits both personal and commercial use with proper attribution (the requirement for attribution is waived for Pro users). To ensure user protection, Vecteezy employs a thorough process behind the scenes, adding an extra layer of security for users.
- Contributor review and approval: Contributors must apply before submitting any resources. Vecteezy team members review each application to prevent fraud.
- Model and property releases: Vecteezy collects signed model and property releases for Free and Pro resources, ensuring that individuals and property owners have given consent for their image or likeness to be used.
- Editorial use clarity: Photos containing brand logos or trademarks are explicitly labeled for editorial use only, helping to minimize legal risks.
- Accessible licensing documents: Users with a free Vecteezy account can easily download a copy of the licensing agreement for any photo or resource they use, offering reassurance and clear documentation for compliance purposes.
Photo Library and Search Experience
Now, let’s look at how these two platforms compare based on the photos offered and user experience.
Unsplash
Unsplash’s collection is known for its artistic and contemporary feel. You’ll find plenty of moody portraits, minimalist compositions, and trendy travel and lifestyle shots. Unsplash’s collection isn’t as strong for business or commercial themes.
The platform’s simple and clean design provides a positive user experience, although visitors without an Unsplash+ subscription will see ads. Users can search by keyword or browse curated collections of photos based on specific themes, topics, or categories.
When searching for photos, the platform provides a limited selection of filters. You can narrow your search results by adjusting options for license type, image orientation, or relevance.
Downloading a photo you like is simple and does not require logging in. While creating a free account is optional, having one allows you to track your download history directly from the dashboard. This feature lets you view a list of previously downloaded photos, along with their download dates.
It’s important to note that Unsplash does not offer the ability to download a specific license for individual free photos.
Vecteezy
Vecteezy provides an extensive collection of free photos across various styles and themes. Compared to Unsplash, Vecteezy’s library is particularly strong for business and commercial photography.
The platform also ensures a user-friendly experience. Free account users and visitors who are not logged in will see ads, while Pro account users enjoy an ad-free browsing experience.
Finding the right content is quick and easy. Users can search with keywords or explore content through clearly organized categories.
One of Vecteezy’s standout features is its robust search filters. These filters help users quickly refine search results. For instance, searches can be filtered by criteria like the number of people in the image, their age, or even the style of the image, making it easier to find the perfect visual.
Vecteezy allows you to download free photos without logging in, similar to Unsplash. However, setting up a free account offers valuable benefits. With an account, you can access your download history through the dashboard and easily download a license for any photo or resource, including free downloads. This is especially useful for maintaining proper records, providing you with proof of licensing in case of any copyright claims or disputes.
Content Variety
This article focuses on free photos, so we won’t cover other content types in detail. However, it’s worth considering what each platform offers in case you need other creative assets.
Unsplash
Unsplash specializes in photos. While most of the photos are free, some require an Unsplash+ subscription. A small collection of illustrations is available as well, though the selection is quite limited at this time.
Vecteezy
Vecteezy provides access to millions of creative resources, including photos, videos, vectors, templates, PSDs, and more. Each content type includes a mix of Free and Pro resources, and you can easily filter your search to display only Free content if needed. Pro subscribers also get access to bundles, which are collections of resources like fonts, brushes, presets, and other creative assets.
Pricing
Both platforms offer a combination of free and premium resources.
Unsplash
Unsplash+ costs $16/month, or $7/month if billed yearly, providing the following benefits:
- Unlimited downloads of members-only content
- Ad-free experience
- Enhanced legal protection
Photos under the Unsplash+ license have signed model and property releases, while the free photos on Unsplash do not.
Vecteezy
Vecteezy Pro costs $14/month, or $9/month if billed annually, offering the following benefits:
- Unlimited downloads of Pro resources in all content types (photos, videos, vectors, bundles, etc.)
- No attribution required
- Ad-free experience
- Workflow tools (background remover, Pro templates)
- Enhanced legal protection
The Unlimited plan provides up to $10,000 in legal protection per claim.
Vecteezy also offers a few other plans. The Starter plan is $12/month, or $7/month if billed annually. It provides 5 downloads per month and up to $2,500 in legal protection per claim.
Business plans with custom pricing are available for teams with multiple users.
And for those who don’t want or need a subscription, download credit packs can be purchased.
Why Choose Vecteezy?
- Enhanced User Protection: Vecteezy’s robust licensing, model/property releases, and downloadable license certificates offer unmatched peace of mind when using free photos for commercial projects.
- Broader Resource Library: In addition to photos, Vecteezy’s vectors, videos, and bundles provide more creative options for every type of project
- User-Friendly Experience: Advanced search tools, curated collections, and related asset suggestions make finding the right photo or resource fast and easy.
Both Vecteezy and Unsplash offer a large collection of free stock photos, but Vecteezy stands out for its licensing clarity, user protections, and wider range of creative resources. Create your free Vecteezy account today and start downloading.
Featured image by DC Studio.
