Pexels (founded in 2014) has emerged as a leading platform for high-quality, royalty-free stock photos and videos. With over 3.2 million free assets and 120,000+ contributing creators, it serves 50M+ monthly users globally. Its core mission—democratizing visual content through open licensing—has redefined creative workflows for marketers, designers, and developers.

Pexels official Website‌: https://www.pexels.com

Core Features

Extensive Free Media Library
Photos & Videos: Curates 500K+ HD/4K assets across 30+ categories (e.g., business, nature, technology).
AI-Powered Search: Semantic search filters by color, orientation, and trending tags (e.g., "remote work 2025").
Weekly Updates: Adds 5,000+ new files weekly via community submissions and in-house productions.

Creator-Centric Ecosystem
Submission Program: Photographers/videographers earn exposure and revenue shares (via Pexels Premium).
Attribution Flexibility: Offers CC0 (no attribution required) and custom licensing options.

Integration & Tools

API Access: Used by Canva, Adobe Express, and 10K+ apps for seamless media embedding.
Editing Suite: Built-in tools for cropping, background removal, and palette generation.
Model/Property Releases: 100% verified legal compliance for commercial use.
Diversity Focus: 40%+ content represents underrepresented demographics (2025 audit data).

Competitive Advantages

Zero-Cost Model: Unlike Shutterstock/Adobe Stock, all base content remains perpetually free.
Community-Driven Curation: "Pexels Select" highlights exceptional works with algorithmic fairness.
Sustainability: Partners with EcoPxls to offset carbon emissions from server operations.

Use Cases

Startups: Cost-effective branding materials.
Educators: Copyright-safe resources for digital learning.
Developers: API-fed dynamic visuals for apps/websites.