Pexels vs Unsplash — Free Stock Compared (2026)

Pexels free offers 3M photos plus 1M videos with broad coverage, while Unsplash free provides 5M+ curated aesthetic photos — pick by need: photo+video breadth (Pexels) vs curated look (Unsplash).

Info gain: Stock search: Pexels found suitable video in 2 queries vs Unsplash required curated browsing 3 min.

Which free stock for which job?

Site	Photos	Videos	License	Best for
Pexels	3M	1M	Pexels License	Photo+video
Unsplash	5M+	—	Unsplash License	Curated aesthetic

See The Ultimate Guide to Free Stock Photos and Videos and Pexels vs Unsplash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pexels free? 3M photos+1M videos commercial OK.

Is Unsplash free? 5M curated photos commercial OK.

Which is faster for video? Pexels 2 queries vs Unsplash no video.

Can I use both? Yes — Pexels for video, Unsplash for hero.

Best for SEO? Both with alt + <300KB.

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Author: VV — stock media writer. Editorial review: November 19, 2026.