Are Free Stock Images Really Free?
Yes — many stock platforms offer completely free images for commercial use, but it’s essential to confirm the license before publishing.
Free stock image platforms like Unsplash, Burst, and Pexels are truly free to use, even for business purposes. However, “free” doesn’t mean you can do anything you want. You still need to respect license terms, especially when using photos in client work, printed materials, or paid ads.
In most cases, images on these platforms fall under commercial-use licenses — meaning you can use them without paying or crediting the creator. That said, always double-check individual photo licenses in case exceptions apply (e.g. model or brand usage rights).
Gleam helps ensure your campaigns remain compliant by offering image upload fields in contests and sweepstakes, where you can require users to confirm they own the rights to their submissions.
Platform License & Terms of Use Links
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Unsplash License Free for commercial and non-commercial use. No permission needed. Redistribution or selling unaltered images is not allowed.
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Burst (by Shopify) License Free for commercial use with no attribution required. Images can be modified and used in marketing, products, or blogs.
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Pexels License Free for commercial and personal use. No attribution required. Cannot sell unaltered images or imply endorsement.
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Pixabay License Free for commercial use. No attribution required. Some images may have recognizable brands or people that require additional rights for certain commercial uses.
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StockSnap.io License All photos are free to use under the CC0 license. You can copy, modify, distribute, and use the photos without permission.