Pixabay vs Pexels: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Pixabay is built for free-no-attribution, while Pexels suits free-photos-video. For most users Pixabay is the stronger default, but Pexels can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
Pixabay versus Pexels comes down to which trade-offs you can live with. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Pixabay | Pexels | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Free Stock Library | Free Stock Library |
| What it's known for | Completely free photos, illustrations, vectors, video and music under a permissive license with no attribution required, funded by ads and partner placements. | Free curated stock photos and video under a permissive no-attribution license, owned by Canva, widely used for quick high-quality visuals. |
| Pricing | Free (no subscription); content under the Pixabay Content License | Free (no subscription); Pexels License |
| Best audience | Hobbyists and budget creators needing free assets without attribution. | Creators and marketers needing quick, high-quality free visuals without attribution. |
| Best for | free-no-attribution, hobbyists | free-photos-video, quick-visuals |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Biggest strength | Entirely free with no attribution required. | High-quality curated free photos and video. |
| Main caveat | License forbids reselling/redistributing content as standalone files. | Cannot resell unaltered copies as standalone products. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Pixabay key features
- Completely free photos, illustrations, vectors, video, music, SFX and 3D
- Pixabay Content License with no attribution required
- 6M+ total pieces of content
- Commercial use permitted
Pexels key features
- Free curated stock photos and videos
- Pexels License: free, no attribution, commercial use allowed
- 3.2M+ free assets with thousands added daily
- Owned by Canva
Pricing tiers side by side
Pixabay plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All content under the Pixabay Content License |
Pexels plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All content under the Pexels License |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Pixabay wins
A fully free, no-attribution library spanning photos, video, music and 3D under one permissive license.
- Entirely free with no attribution required.
- Broad media range including music and 3D models.
That makes it the stronger pick for hobbyists and budget creators needing free assets without attribution.
Where Pexels wins
Canva-owned, curated free photos and video under a permissive no-attribution license.
- High-quality curated free photos and video.
- No attribution required for commercial use.
That makes it the stronger pick for creators and marketers needing quick, high-quality free visuals without attribution.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Pixabay if you fit its core audience — hobbyists and budget creators needing free assets without attribution.
- Choose Pexels if you fit its core audience — creators and marketers needing quick, high-quality free visuals without attribution.
FAQ
Is Pixabay better than Pexels?
Pixabay is the stronger default for most users, but Pexels can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Pixabay and Pexels?
Pixabay is a fully free, no-attribution library spanning photos, video, music and 3D under one permissive license. Pexels is canva-owned, curated free photos and video under a permissive no-attribution license.
Which is cheaper, Pixabay or Pexels?
Both Pixabay and Pexels offer a free tier, so the real comparison is the paid plans above — pick based on the storage, features and limits you actually need.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Pixabay and Pexels: