What is Unsplash?
Unsplash is a bank of free, royalty-free photos in high resolution for all needs on the internet for free.
It stands out for the quality and variety of the images it offers and has built a solid reputation among designers, bloggers, and content creators.
The story of Unsplash dates back to 2013 when Mikael Cho, the co-founder, couldn't find quality images for a project and decided to create a platform where artists could share their work with the world.
Unsplash started as a Tumblr blog with ten images.
Today, it's a thriving community with millions of images uploaded by over 200,000 contributing photographers from around the world.
The mission of Unsplash is to allow everyone to share and access quality images, to facilitate the creation and distribution of beautiful things.
Unsplash allows professionals to find images for their projects without worrying about the restrictive licenses that come with quality images.
Unsplash features
Unsplash isn't just a free library where you can find free, royalty-free photos.
It is a complete platform that goes beyond a bank of free images, by offering a range of functionalities.
1. Exploring the Photo Gallery
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Photo gallery powered by over 200,000 contributing photographers
Photo gallery powered by over 200,000 contributing photographers
Unsplash's copyright-free photo gallery is an Alibaba cave for photography lovers and content creators.
- High Resolution Photos: Get access to free high resolution photos.
- Easy Search: Use keywords, collections, or photographer names to find the perfect image.
The gallery is the heart of Unsplash, offering a rich and varied collection of images that cover a wide range of topics and styles.
2. Contribution and Community
Unsplash offers a platform for photographers to share their work and interact with the community.
- Become a Contributor: Registering and uploading images is easy with clear instructions.
- Community Interaction: Get likes, comments, and discover thematic collections for free
- If you're a photographer and want to join the Unsplash community, here's how to do it:
- Create an Account: Create an account on Unsplash if you don't already have one. Once you have an account, you can start adding your photos.
- Add Photos: Click on the “Submit a Photo” button to add your photos. You can add as many photos as you want. The more photos you add, the more visibility you will have on the website.
- Engagement: Engage with the community by liking and commenting on others' photos, and by joining discussions. This can help you gain followers and get more exposure for your photos.
Unsplash is not just a free image bank, it's a community of creators and passionate photographers.
3. Download and Use of Images
Unsplash makes it easy to download and use images.
- Easy download: Upload photos in one click without the need to create an account.
- Permissive license: Free use of images, including for commercial projects under a flexible license.
Flexible license terms and hassle-free downloading make Unsplash a valuable resource.
4. Official Applications and Technical Integrations
Official applications and integrations broaden Unsplash's horizons, making it extremely flexible.
- Diverse applications: Unsplash for iOS, Wallpapers, Instant for Chrome, and for Apple TV.
- Practical Integrations: Integrate Unsplash with WordPress, Figma, and Google Chrome to directly access images.
These integrations make Unsplash a versatile tool that extends beyond a simple free photo platform.
5. Unsplash Dataset and Advertising
Advanced options for researchers and advertisers looking to maximize visibility and engagement.
- Unsplash Dataset: Access a large data library for research and analysis.
- Advertising Opportunities: Choose direct or native advertising to reach a diverse audience.
Unsplash offers unique opportunities for advertising, it allows authentic interaction with a creative audience.
The Unsplash website is more than just a bank of free images.
It's a comprehensive platform that offers free features to meet the needs of content creators, developers, and photographers. With Unsplash, discovering, downloading, and sharing quality photos has never been easier or more rewarding.
Unsplash prices
The Unsplash website offers pricing options through Unsplash+ for those who want access to exclusive photos and enhanced legal protections.
Here are the options available:
- Monthly subscription: $20 CAD per month
- Yearly subscription: $84 CAD per year
Royalty free and licensed photo bank
The benefits of choosing Unsplash+:
- Exclusive content
- Unlimited downloads
- Strengthened legal protections
- Ad-free
- Priority Support
- Automatic renewal
Choosing Unsplash+ is a great way to access an ever-expanding photo library with strengthened legal protections while supporting Unsplash's mission to provide quality free images to the community.
Unsplash Customer Support
Unsplash is known for its ease of use, but there are times when you might need help or support.
While Unsplash doesn't offer live customer support, it does have a very comprehensive FAQ section and an active community that could help you resolve your issues.
- FAQ: An FAQ section for everything.
- Community: The Unsplash community is often ready to help on forums and social networks.
- Documentation: Guides and documents for resolving technical issues and understanding features.
- Contact Form: A contact form for specific questions that are not covered in the FAQ.
The customer support on the Unsplash site is self-sufficient, but the resources provided should be sufficient to answer most user questions.
Other Unsplash alternatives
1. Pexels
The Pexels website is another popular platform that offers a wide variety of free photos.
Pexels: Free Royalty Free Image Bank
Features
- Large Image Library: Thousands of new images added every day and royalty-free photos to download
- Free Videos: A collection of free videos also available.
- Simple License: Free to use even for commercial purposes.
- Developer API: Integrate Pexels into your application or website.
Pricing
- Free: Access to the free and comprehensive library of images and videos.
- Pexels Pro ($10/month): High resolution downloads, no ads and access to statistics.
Pexels is a good choice for anyone looking for a free Unsplash alternative with a Pro option to get more.
Visit Pexels
2. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a well-known platform for royalty-free stock images and photos. It offers a huge library of free or licensed images, videos, and even premium music.
Shutterstock: Free stock of royalty-free images
Features
- Extensive Library: Over 300 million images and videos to download
- Editorial Images: Special collections for news and events.
- Creation Tools: Image editor and free music creator.
- API for Developers: Easy integration into various platforms and web applications.
Pricing
- Basic ($29/month): 10 images per month.
- Professional ($99/month): 50 images per month.
- Team ($199/month): 350 images per month.
Shutterstock is a premium option for those looking for a comprehensive library and advanced features.
Visit Shutterstock
3. Pixabay
The Pixabay website is a reliable site for finding free photos, vectors, and illustrations. It has a simple interface and a wide variety of free content.
Pixabay: Free Royalty Free Image Bank
Features
- Extensive Free Collection: Over 1.7 million free images and videos to download
- Various Categories: Easy to navigate through various categories.
- Active Communities: Over 200,000 Contributing Photographers and Active Users of Royally Photographed Photos
- Mobile application: Access to resources on the go.
Pricing
- Free service: Access to all images and videos, limited downloads in standard resolution.
- Pixabay Premium ($20/month): Unlimited downloads in high resolution.
Pixabay is a good choice for anyone looking for a free alternative to Unsplash with a premium option for high resolution downloads.
Visit Pixabay
How do I use Unsplash images on a site?
Here's how it works:
- Simple License: The images on Unsplash are royally, which means you can have them for free without the need for a special license. But it's always a good idea to check the license details to make sure it's right for your specific use.
- Download: Find the image you want and click the download button. You can download as many images as you want and use them on your website, brochures, ads, social media, and more.
- Credit the Photographer: Although not required, it is recommended that you credit the photographer when possible. This can be done by mentioning the photographer's name and adding a link to their Unsplash profile.
Conclusion
Unsplash is a treasure for those who need quality images without restrictive licenses.
Unsplash stands out for its simplicity, the quality of the images and the very flexible license for content creators.
If you are a content creator, designer, or simply someone who loves photography, visit and use the Unsplash site.
