500px review
A focused web home for photographers who need portfolios, galleries, metadata, and licensing.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
500px is a web-based photography community for uploading, organizing, publishing, and sharing images. It suits photographers who want public profiles, private galleries, portfolio presentation, and opportunities to submit eligible work for licensing. The service also supports photo discovery, making it more focused on photography portfolios and communities than on general-purpose image storage or delivery.
The free Basic account includes 21 uploads within a rolling 7-day period and private galleries. A 14-day free trial is also listed, while paid memberships add options beyond the free account. Publishing tools are detailed: photographers can use an HTML5 browser uploader, add titles, descriptions, locations, categories, and keywords, and publish images publicly or keep galleries private. Watermarking, multiple color profiles, and generated image sizes support more controlled presentation of uploaded work.
500px is available on the web, with no API access according to its API support information; API access was shut down in 2018. Custom domains are available for portfolios, helping photographers present work under a branded web address, while licensing submissions connect portfolio publishing with commercial opportunities. Choose 500px if your priority is photography-focused presentation, metadata-rich publishing, private sharing, and licensing. Consider a broader image-hosting option if you need native mobile or desktop platforms, developer access, or a wider delivery ecosystem.
500px pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Metadata fields cover titles, descriptions, locations, categories, and keywords.
- Public and private galleries support both discovery and controlled sharing.
- Custom portfolio domains, watermarking, and licensing submissions add professional value.
- Where it doesn't
- Web-only access limits use across platforms and devices.
- The free Basic account allows 21 uploads within a rolling 7-day period.
- API access was shut down in 2018, limiting developer integrations.
500px fact sheet, pricing and score →
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