Free stock media
Since Jul 5Updated Oct 28, 2026Based on 91 AI responses
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
Brands AI mentions
Free HD and 4K stock videos for personal and commercial projects
Free HD and 4K clips, motion backgrounds, and animations
High-definition footage for website backgrounds, social media, and creative projects
Also mentioned rarely: Canva, Dareful, NASA Image and Video Library, Internet Archive, Mazwai, Vidsplay, Freepik, Unsplash, Free Music Archive, Life of Vids, Production Crate, Adobe Stock, Vecteezy, Wikimedia Commons, Free Nature Stock, Freesound, YouTube Studio, Burst by Shopify, AllTheFreeStock, Google Fonts, Incompetech, iStock, Magnific, MotionElements, NOAA, Openverse, Uppbeat
Questions and answers
Google AI ModeOct 28, 2026
Here are some of the best platforms for finding high-quality, free stock media resources (photos, videos, audio, and graphics) for your personal and commercial projects:
Free Stock Photos & Videos
- Pexels : Offers a massive library of completely free, high-resolution stock photos and videos. All media are free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes without attribution required (though it's always appreciated).
- Pixabay : Features over a million free stock photos, vector graphics, illustrations, and 4K/HD video clips. Everything falls under the Pixabay License, making it safe for most commercial uses.
- Unsplash : Known for its stunning, highly aesthetic, and artistic photography. It's a favorite for website backgrounds, hero images, and creative projects, with a very generous free-use license.
- Burst (by Shopify) : A free stock photo platform specifically tailored for entrepreneurs and e-commerce creators, offering photos geared toward business, marketing, and product styling.
Free Stock Audio & Music
- YouTube Audio Library : Accessible via the YouTube Creator Studio, this contains a huge collection of free, high-quality music tracks and sound effects that you can use in videos and podcasts (some require attribution, others do not).
- Pixabay Audio : Extends Pixabay's library into thousands of free royalty-free music tracks, instrumental loops, and sound effects for any media project.
- Free Music Archive : A long-running repository of royalty-free music curated by various independent artists and radio stations, primarily operating under Creative Commons licenses.
Free Design Elements & Vectors
ChatGPTOct 28, 2026
There are several excellent places to find free stock media for personal, educational, and commercial projects, including websites, social media posts, presentations, videos, and websites. The best choice depends on whether you need photos, video footage, illustrations, music, or sound effects.
Best free stock media resources
1. Unsplash
Best for: High-quality photography
A great source for professional-looking landscapes, lifestyle photos, architecture, travel, and website backgrounds.
2. Pexels
Best for: Photos and video footage
Useful for YouTube videos, reels, advertisements, presentations, and creative projects that need both still images and moving footage.
3. Pixabay
Best for: An all-in-one media library
Offers photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music, sound effects, GIFs, and more. Its license generally permits free commercial use, subject to restrictions.
4. Mixkit
Best for: Video creators
Find stock video clips, background music, sound effects, and video editing templates. Some assets have different license terms, so check the license for each type.
5. Freesound
Best for: Sound effects and audio recordings
Find ambient sounds, footsteps, rain, machinery, nature sounds, and other audio for films, games, podcasts, and video editing.
6. Wikimedia Commons
Best for: Historical images and educational media
A large repository of photographs, diagrams, historical images, illustrations, and videos. Licenses vary by file; some require attribution or specific reuse conditions.
7. Openverse
Best for: Searching across multiple media libraries
Search for openly licensed images and audio from different sources in one place. Check the original item's license before using it.
Which resource should you choose?
If you need… Start with Beautiful photos for websites or blogs Unsplash Photos and video clips for social media Pexels Photos, illustrations, music, and effects in one place Pixabay Stock footage and editing templates Mixkit Sound effects for films or games Freesound Historical or educational images Wikimedia Commons Media from multiple open-license sources Openverse Important licensing tips
Free to download doesn't always mean free to use in every way.
- Check commercial-use rights if your project generates revenue or promotes a business.
- Check attribution requirements. Some resources require you to credit the creator.
- Look for restrictions involving recognizable people, trademarks, artwork, or resale of unmodified assets.
- Keep a record of the license and the asset's download page, especially for commercial projects.
My recommendation: Start with Pexels and Pixabay if you want a convenient, versatile collection of free media. Add Mixkit if you're making videos and Freesound if you need audio.
Sources cited in this answer8
- unsplash.comVisit Unsplash
- pexels.comFree Stock Photos, Royalty Free Stock Images & Copyright Free Pictures · Pexels
- pixabay.com6.3 million+ Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere - Pixabay
- pixabay.comFAQ
- mixkit.coMixkit - Awesome free assets for your next video project
- freesound.orgFreesound
- commons.wikimedia.orgWikimedia Commons
- openverse.orgOpenly Licensed Images, Audio and More | Openverse
ChatGPTSep 27, 2026
Absolutely. Some of the best places to get free stock footage are:
- pexels.com — Great all-around choice; lots of HD/4K footage, including vertical clips. Generally free for personal and commercial projects without attribution.
- pixabay.com — Huge selection, especially useful for nature, backgrounds, animation, and unusual subjects.
- mixkit.co — Smaller but nicely curated; particularly good for cinematic-looking B-roll and social media videos.
- coverr.co — Good for clean backgrounds, lifestyle footage, and website/video backgrounds.
- videvo.net — Large collection, but check the license on each individual clip, since some free footage requires attribution.
If you're making YouTube/TikTok/Reels
I'd start with Pexels → Mixkit → Pixabay. They cover most B-roll needs without requiring a paid subscription.
One important point: "free" doesn't necessarily mean unrestricted. Check the specific clip's license, particularly if you're using recognizable people, logos/brands, or footage in paid advertising.
If you tell me what kind of video you're making (e.g. cinematic, faceless YouTube, real estate, travel, fitness, documentary), I can also give you the best sites/search terms for that style.
Sources cited in this answer9
- pexels.comFree 4K Stock Videos & Full HD Video Clips to Download
- lilachbullock.comWhere to Get Free Stock Video in 2026
- barnimages.com5 Best Free Stock Video Sites in 2026 (No Watermarks) – Barnimages
- pixabay.comFree Stock Video Footage & Video Clips - Pixabay
- colorlib.com14 Free Stock Video Sites (No Watermark, No Sign-Up) 2026 - Colorlib
- mixkit.coDownload Free Stock Video & Footage | No Watermark
- vidpal.aiFree Stock Footage Sites for Faceless Videos 2026 | Vidpal | Vidpal
- coverr.coDownload Free HD & 4K Stock Videos, Music & AI Tools
- videvo.netFree Stock Video Footage HD and 4K Download | Magnific (formerly Freepik)
Google AI ModeSep 27, 2026
Here are the best, most reliable platforms to grab high-quality, royalty-free stock footage for your video projects without spending a dime:
Watch these guides for an overview of the top platforms and how to use them effectively in your workflow:
- Pexels : One of the absolute jackpots for creators. It offers a massive, completely free library of 4K and HD clips spanning diverse categories. No attribution is required (though appreciated), and you don't even need an account to download.
- Pixabay : Features an enormous collection of high-definition and 4K video clips contributed by a global community. Everything is safe for personal and commercial use under the Pixabay License, meaning attribution isn't mandatory.
- Mixkit : A clean, straightforward site packed with gorgeous, professional-grade stock video clips, music tracks, and sound effects. There are no annoying sign-ups required for basic downloads, and the library is curated nicely.
- Videvo : Offers thousands of free stock video clips, motion graphics, and audio. Just pay attention to individual clip licenses—some are completely public domain, while others require you to give credit to the creator.
- Coverr : Great for beautiful, high-definition background and aesthetic B-roll footage. It's completely free for commercial and personal use with no attribution required, making it a favorite for web designers and video editors alike.
If you let me know what specific theme or niche you are searching for (e.g., tech, cinematic nature, moody urban), I can point you toward which of these sites has the best selection for it.
Google AI ModeSep 26, 2026
If you are looking for high-quality, royalty-free video clips for personal or commercial projects without breaking the bank, several great platforms offer free stock footage.
Watch this overview of top free stock footage sites to see how their libraries and search filters compare:
9:125 Best Free Stock Footage Websites (Royalty Free For YouTube)587K views · 3 years agoYouTube · Aurelius Tjin
Here are the best places to find free stock videos:
- Pexels (Pexels Videos ): Highly popular for its clean interface and robust library. All videos are free for personal and commercial use without requiring attribution. It features handy orientation filters (horizontal, vertical, square), making it great for social media or standard editing.
- Pixabay (Pixabay Video ): Known primarily for photos, Pixabay also has a massive, high-definition library of free video clips and some 4K footage. Content is free for commercial use with no attribution required, though they mix in sponsored iStock results, so make sure to watch out for ads.
- Mixkit (Mixkit ): Created by Envato, Mixkit provides a stellar selection of completely free stock video clips, music tracks, and premiere pro templates. It doesn't require attribution and is wonderful for cinematic B-roll and vertical mobile formats.
- Cover (Coverr ): Specializes in beautiful, cinematic-quality footage that is 100% free for commercial and personal use with no attribution needed. It's a favorite for website background videos and filmmakers.
- Videvo (Videvo ): Offers a wide variety of free stock footage and motion graphics. Note that while many clips are free, some require creator attribution, so double-check the specific license on the download page.
- Videezy (Videezy ): Features an extensive community-driven library of drone shots, nature scenes, and background loops. It mixes free and "Pro" files, so you'll want to use their filter to show only free clips.
If you're working on a specific project, tell me:
- What type of video are you making (YouTube, commercial, social media)?
- Do you need a specific orientation (horizontal or vertical/Reels)?
I can point you to the exact site that fits your style best!
ChatGPTSep 26, 2026
Absolutely. Good free stock-video sources include:
- pexels.com — Great all-around choice for HD/4K B-roll, including people, nature, business, lifestyle, and vertical clips.
- pixabay.com — Huge selection, including 4K footage, backgrounds, animations, and unusual/niche subjects.
- mixkit.co — Particularly useful for polished, cinematic footage. Its Free License permits commercial use and doesn't require attribution, though some clips have a Restricted License, so check the individual clip.
- coverr.co — Good for website backgrounds, social media, and atmospheric B-roll.
- videvo.net — Large collection, but check the license on each clip because attribution and usage requirements vary.
If you're making YouTube/TikTok/Reels
I'd start with Pexels → Pixabay → Mixkit. Search terms like
cinematic,aerial,vertical,9:16,slow motion, orB-rollcan produce better results than very generic searches.One important point: “free” doesn't necessarily mean unrestricted. Check the license for the particular clip, especially if you're using it commercially, putting it in an advertisement, or featuring recognizable people/logos.
Sources cited in this answer8
- pexels.comFree 4K Stock Videos & Full HD Video Clips to Download
- techradar.comBest free stock video site of 2026: high quality production for less | TechRadar
- pixabay.comFree Stock Video Footage & Video Clips - Pixabay
- mixkit.coDownload Free Stock Video & Footage | No Watermark
- mixkit.comixkit.co
- coverr.coDownload Free HD & 4K Stock Videos, Music & AI Tools
- videvo.netFree Stock Video Footage HD and 4K Download | Magnific (formerly Freepik)
- 30secondproductions.comFree Stock Video Sites: What You Can Legally Use | 30 Second Productions
Also asked as
- I need some stock video clips that don't cost anything. What are some good sources?