Pexels review
A free stock media library with useful integrations, mobile apps, and API access.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Pexels is a free stock media website for individuals, businesses, creators, and developers. Its library combines searchable photos and videos contributed by a global creator community, with downloads for personal and commercial projects under the Pexels license. The service also includes curated content feeds, collections for organizing media, creator uploads and profiles, mobile apps for iOS and Android, a Chrome extension, design-tool plugins, and a RESTful JSON API.
Its strongest advantage is ecosystem fit. Pexels connects with Canva, Google Slides, Figma, Sketch, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint, bringing stock media closer to common presentation, design, and document workflows. The web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, and API options also support different working styles. Developers can use the RESTful JSON API to embed Pexels media into websites and applications, while nontechnical users can browse, organize, and download content through the library and its integrations.
Pexels is a good choice when the priority is accessible stock photography and video with straightforward discovery and broad workflow connectivity. Collections and curated feeds help organize and surface media, while creator profiles add context around uploaded work. The product is narrower than a full asset-production suite: its core value is finding and accessing stock photos and videos, not editing or producing finished creative assets. Teams that need a focused source of free media should consider Pexels; those looking for a broader production environment should look for a tool built around editing, design, or asset creation.
Pexels pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free downloads for personal and commercial projects under the Pexels license
- Searchable photo and video libraries with curated feeds and collections
- Integrations across Canva, Figma, Google Slides, Office, and developer workflows
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on stock photos and video rather than broader asset-production workflows
- API access is aimed at developers embedding media into websites and applications
- Desktop workflows depend on web access, browser extensions, and integrations
Pexels fact sheet, pricing and score →
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