Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Stock Illustration Websites

Pixabay vs Alamy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Pixabay #6 in Stock Illustration Websites 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Pixabay
Alamy #7 in Stock Illustration Websites 8.2/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Alamy

Pixabay leads on 1 check, Alamy on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePixabay · 8.3/10
  • Free planonly Pixabay

Pixabay scores higher on our rubric for stock illustration websites: 8.3 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Pixabay offers free plan; Alamy doesn't.

Pixabay is the better fit for free users needing broad stock media access. Alamy is the better fit for teams needing editorial and illustration licensing.

  • Pixabay fits best

    Free users needing broad stock media access

  • Alamy fits best

    Teams needing editorial and illustration licensing

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Pixabay 8.3/10 Visit ↗ Alamy 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.3 8.2
Ranking #6 in Stock Illustration Websites #7 in Stock Illustration Websites
Best for Free users needing broad stock media access Teams needing editorial and illustration licensing
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan $139/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Email, Community, Docs Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Pixabay 0/3 · Alamy 0/3
Commercial use Not checked yet Not checked yet
Editorial license Not checked yet Not checked yet
Extended license Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Download model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Maximum resolution Not checked yet Not checked yet
Raster file formats Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free access to photos, illustrations, vectors, editorial images and video
  • Includes music, sound effects, GIFs and 3D models
  • Offers mobile apps and a REST API for images and videos
  • Includes vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video and panoramas
  • Unlimited seats and team sharing through lightboxes
  • REST API supports search, metadata retrieval and licensed downloads
Cons
  • Content use is subject to prohibited uses and third-party rights
  • The API covers images and videos rather than the full media catalog
  • Uploading requires users to be registered creators
  • Plans cap monthly downloads at 15, 25 or 50 images
  • Subscriptions start at $139 per month
  • Projects beyond standard subscriptions may need custom licensing
Our verdict

Pixabay is a free stock-media platform for creators, publishers, marketers and other users who need access to visual and audio assets. Its catalog includes photos, illustrations, vector graphics, editorial images, videos, music, sound…

Read the review →

Alamy is a web-based stock content licensing platform for creative professionals, publishers, businesses and media organizations. Its catalog covers stock photographs, vectors, illustrations, videos, 360-degree panoramic images and…

Read the review →
  1. PixabayStock Illustration Websites 8.3Free plan
  2. AlamyStock Illustration Websites 8.2Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Pixabay — where it wins

    • Free access to photos, illustrations, vectors, editorial images and video
    • Includes music, sound effects, GIFs and 3D models
    • Offers mobile apps and a REST API for images and videos

    Where it doesn't

    • Content use is subject to prohibited uses and third-party rights
    • The API covers images and videos rather than the full media catalog
    • Uploading requires users to be registered creators

  • Alamy — where it wins

    • Includes vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video and panoramas
    • Unlimited seats and team sharing through lightboxes
    • REST API supports search, metadata retrieval and licensed downloads

    Where it doesn't

    • Plans cap monthly downloads at 15, 25 or 50 images
    • Subscriptions start at $139 per month
    • Projects beyond standard subscriptions may need custom licensing

More comparisons

All stock illustration websites comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update