Stock image websites are so useful. You can find a photo to fit any event, or topic you’re discussing. They’re particularly useful for those who write blogs, like myself. I’ve tried many, and in this article I’ll compare two websites I often use.
Getty Images
Getty Images is one of the largest and most well-known stock photo agencies in the world. The platform offers a vast library of high-quality images, videos, and music tracks for use in various media projects. Founded in 1995 by Mark Getty and Jonathan Klein, the company revolutionised the way people access and purchase visual content.
What does Getty Images offer?
- Stock photos: Getty Images provides millions of professionally-shot images covering a wide range of subjects. Including; business, lifestyle, sports, entertainment, and news. These images are licensed for commercial, editorial, and personal use.
- Video footage: In addition to photos, Getty offers high-quality video clips. They can be used in documentaries, commercials, and online content. Their video library includes both traditional and drone footage.
- Music: Getty also offers licensed music tracks for use in various media projects. Allowing users to find suitable background music for videos, ads, or other creative projects.
- Editorial content: Getty Images is known for its vast collection of editorial images, which include news, sports, and celebrity photography. These images are often used by media outlets and publications worldwide.
How does licensing work?
Getty Images operates under a licensing model. Meaning, you pay to use the images or videos under specific conditions. There are two main types of licences:
- Royalty-free (RF): You pay once for the image or video, and you can use it multiple times without paying additional fees. Though, there are restrictions on usage.
- Rights-managed (RM): This licence is more specific, requiring you to pay based on how, where, and for how long the content will be used. It offers more exclusivity compared to royalty-free content.
For businesses, media outlets, and creators, Getty Images offers a reliable, legal way to access high-quality visual content. Their strict licensing agreements ensure that creators get compensated for their work, while users can avoid legal issues associated with copyright infringement. Getty Images has become a go-to source for high-quality, professional content.
Pexels
Pexels is a popular online platform that provides a vast library of free, high-quality stock photos and videos for personal and commercial use. Founded in 2014 by Bruno Joseph, Ingo Joseph, and Daniel Frese, Pexels has grown into one of the most widely-used resources for creators looking for royalty-free visual content.
What does Pexels offer?
- Free stock photos: Pexels offers a large collection of high-resolution images across various categories like nature, business, technology, lifestyle, and more. All images are contributed by a community of photographers and are carefully curated for quality.
- Free videos: In addition to photos, Pexels also has a growing library of free stock videos. These are perfect for creators who need background footage for social media, websites, or video projects.
- Diverse categories: The platform features a broad range of categories, making it easy for users to find visuals related to specific themes like travel, architecture, fashion, and food.
- Search and discovery: Pexels’ search function allows users to find specific images or videos by keyword. The platform also features collections and recommended visuals based on trends, making it easier to discover new content.
How does licensing work?
One of the main advantages of Pexels is its simple and user-friendly licensing model:
- All images and videos on Pexels are free to use for both personal and commercial projects.
- There’s no need to provide attribution to the photographers, though it’s appreciated.
- Users can modify, edit, and distribute the content as needed.
However, users cannot sell unaltered copies of the images or videos or imply endorsement from the models or creators without consent. Pexels is an excellent resource for small creators, businesses, bloggers, marketers, and designers who need professional-grade visuals without the cost. Since it offers content for free, it provides a legal and hassle-free way to find images.
Getty Images vs Pexels
So after breaking down both platforms and what they offer, which one is the better option? That is a personal opinion, as they both have good qualities. I’d say, the way Pexels stands out is by being free with no catch. You can use the images you find without fear of copyright charges or legal battles. These images can be edited and shared publicly.
Of course, this is a huge perk for anyone looking for stock content online because competitors make you pay for content. Just like Getty Images. You can use the images you find through Getty Images, but only in a personal sense, and these can’t be altered or used for financial profit. It makes sense. Creators have worked hard on the images.
Stock sites all offer different qualities
However, quite often, those looking for stock images don’t want that to be the focus of their work. So, they aren’t using the images for a financial gain. Instead, they want an image or video that can compliment their written work or piece of music. If we get into the habit of crediting creators, where’s the harm? Especially if they’ve given rights to stock sites.
In my opinion, Pexels is better for being accessible. Not everyone has the money to pay for a simple photo they need within an article. However, Getty Images has better content online. It could be that their library is bigger and, therefore, more option. But, from looking through both countless times, Getty Images has better quality photographs.
So, I guess I’ll stay on the fence here. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a solid answer. If you want to get a wide variety and have access to music and video, my choice would be Getty Images. But, of course, Pexels has its positives, as I’ve mentioned. I’d say overall they’re both worth using. They offer different pieces of work and different licencing models.
