Where to Find Graphic Designs (Including 1,000s of Free Graphics).
Graphic designs resource list, including a ton of free graphics.
When I first started making printables, I struggled to figure out where everyone was getting images and graphic designs. Especially free graphics (or cheap graphics). I kept thinking to myself “not everyone can be making their own art!?” Turns out I was right. In fact, few people making printables were making their own art. There are graphics (yes, some free) all over the internet.
Graphic designs and clip-art are also needed in designing websites (like my header), media kits, and more. So if you’ve been wondering where to find fabulous graphics and photographcs…look no more. I’ve rounded up my common stops on the internet.
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A note about licensing: Always check the current license and terms of use before using any graphic, photo, font, or other design resource. Licensing terms vary by site and may change over time, so refer directly to the resource provider for the most current information. I also recommend saving a copy or screenshot of the applicable license when you download an asset.
You might find this article: “Ultimate Guide to Rules for Using Stock Photos“. It has a lot of information on licensing, permissions, and other considerations for using stock photos. While it applies to stock photos in particular, the general warnings and guidelines should be useful across the board.
I learned to take licensing seriously after a blogger I knew faced a copyright claim for an image she believed she had permission to use. The site where she’d obtained the image had changed its licensing terms, and she hadn’t saved a copy of the original license. She ultimately paid more than $2,000 to settle the claim rather than risk a lawsuit. That’s why I recommend keeping a copy or screenshot of the license that applies when you download an asset.
And a download button doesn’t necessarily mean you have permission to use the file however you want. Even if you paid for it.
Creative Fabrica
My absolute favorite is Creative Fabrica. They have a ton of free designs. But I went ahead and paid for membership because they have SO MANY fabulous graphics. And I’m always looking for new ones for many printables i make.
There is now over 100,000 freebies. Yep, a HUNDRED THOUSAND. Most of them you won’t use. And a ton are fonts. But there are some great graphics buried in there.
Design Bundles
Design Bundles has a TON of freebies (and the freebies are of fabulous quality) and their licenses are great.
They’re currently undergoing a re-design and are moving to a subscription model for paid designs instead of buying them individually. But the freebies are still there and don’t require a subscription- not even a trial one- to access.
Deal Jumbo
Deal Jumbo is one of my new favorites!
1. The ton of freebies impressed me. Seriously…there are A LOT. They have fonts, graphics, mock-ups, and photos/textures available for free.
Pixabay
Another popular stop when I’m looking for free graphics is Pixabay. They’ve expanded considerably since I started using them years and years and years ago. They now have photos, gifs, and even videos, music, etc. (They’re licensing has changed over the years: the most current should be here Pixabay Content License Summary.)
Other Sources
• Burst. One of my favorites for free photos. These photos are meant to be used for commercial purposes, but- as always- check the licensing. The quality is amazing and there are a lot of them.
• Etsy.com has graphics, not just hand-made physical products. Just search for what you’re looking for. License varies by seller, so read carefully.
• PikWizard. despite the dated look (at least of my last visit), the site is very much alive and being maintained. The premium (cost money) and free results are mixed together, but the photos are labeled in the search results whether they are premium or not. There are over 750K free images as of last report.
• PicJumbo. A ton of photos. Site claims free for commercial use, but check the details on their licensing and FAQ page.
• PublicDomainPictures.net. A very wide selection of free photos and illustrations. Currently reporting over 750,000 available for free.
• SnappyGoat– one of my first stops for general searches. Over 13 MILLION photos, clipart, etc. When you click on photo, it tells you where it came from, so you can click through to double-check license on that particular photo.
• MorgueFile. Generally free for commercial use, but as always check licensing. They have a ton of options and are often more “realistic” than other stock photo sites. As of my last checking, downloading does require having an account, but it’s free to create an account.
• Reusable Art. This site focuses on vintage artwork that isn’t under copyright anymore (at least in US), but that also means you’ll find unique graphics here that you probably won’t see on the larger design-resource sites.
• Stockup– this is an aggregate site, indexing its stuff from other sites. They refer you to the original source/publisher for the photo and license which is good. This is probably a good place to search if you’re looking for a specific photo topic- for example, coffee beans.
• Magnific (formerly Freepik). While they have an enormous library, it’s not one of my go-to resources. It’s a wide variety of resources- but not necessarily ones I use (I use a lot of clip art and some fonts, not a lot of vector stuff, video, or audio.). And recently, they’re really pushing the AI angle. Which isn’t bad per se, just not something I’m doing with my projects. Also check their current licensing: Magnific license before using any asset.
• Shutterstock. Expensive (at least on some tiers and uses), but good quality and wide variety. I do want to make a note to check the current licensing terms for the specific asset and intended use. It is NOT a site-wide license. It is by asset and use.
• Wikimedia Commons. Absolutely huge collection of photos, illustrations, historical images, and other media (over 147 million at last count!). Check the license listed on the individual file before using it. But if you’re looking for something unique- a flag, historical photo, landmark, artwork, obscure object, etc., this would be a great place to check.
• Free Design Resources. Free, but mostly fonts. Though I did find a great spooky Halloween font I downloaded immediately on my last visit! There are some graphics in addition. One warning: This site has quite a few ads that look like download buttons. Be sure you’re clicking the actual download button for the resource you want.
• Unsplash. They have a ton of photos. But check their licensing here: Unsplash License, NOT the more broad one that basically says you can use everything. In particular, note the photos you use for copyrighted material within the photo- say a Nike logo on a shirt someone is wearing even if its not the focus of the picture.
• Pexels. Photos by the creators themselves. A decent variety. License <there.
• RGBStock. Over 100,000 images. Their license is very specific on what is allowed and what is not. Make sure you read before using the site (License page).
• Libreshot. Site maintained (though not updated in years) by original photographer and he is clear about use. Not the widest selection, but some unique shots you might not find elsewhere.
• FreeNatureStock. All CC0 and photos are taken by the photographer who runs the site. Great place to find unique nature photos you might not find elsewhere. (License page.)
• ISORepublic. Photos.
Do you have any suggestions?
I hope you found this list of graphic designs (especially the free graphic designs) helpful! Do you have a source I should include? Feel free to comment below letting me know.
Could you do me a quick favor? If you found this useful, could you share it with your friends? Share buttons are at the top.
Hey, thanks !! Just chanced upon your post on Pinterest. Thanks for some wonderful resources that I wasn’t aware of
Glad you found this useful! I haven’t updated it in awhile, so hope nothing was out of date.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and doing the leg work. I really appreciate you.
Rosanne
Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to research and share this. Really useful and appreciated.