This post was significantly updated in June 2025 to reflect new information. An archived version from 2008 is available for reference here.
Every blogger has been there. You’re trying to wrap a post with the perfect image, illustration, or audio clip—and you find exactly what you need through a Google search.
But then you pause. Is it legal to use? Will you get flagged? Do you need to pay? The creative abundance of the internet masks a legal minefield beneath it.
Using unlicensed content, even unknowingly, can lead to takedown requests, demonetization, or worse.
Copyright enforcement bots don’t care that you’re a solo creator. And while high-profile lawsuits make headlines, it’s often smaller creators who unintentionally get caught up in enforcement actions—especially when automated copyright detection tools are involved.
These tools don’t distinguish between a major media outlet and an independent blogger when issuing takedown notices or flagging monetized content.
But here’s the good news: there are incredible resources for bloggers who want to stay compliant, ethical, and creative. Below are 15 trusted sites offering free, legal content—images, music, video, and even data—that you can use without second-guessing.
1. Unsplash
Unsplash offers a massive collection of high-quality, royalty-free images submitted by photographers from around the world.
It’s ideal for bloggers who need eye-catching hero images, article headers, or background visuals. The library is particularly strong in lifestyle, travel, and nature themes.
While attribution isn’t required, it’s appreciated—especially when using work from emerging photographers.
2. Pexels
Pexels provides a curated library of free stock photos and videos under a generous license.
The content leans toward a modern aesthetic with strong representation of tech, wellness, business, and diverse workplace scenarios.
You can use visuals without attribution, but crediting creators helps support the community and adds credibility to your post.
3. Pixabay
Pixabay’s all-in-one approach includes illustrations, vector graphics, stock photos, and video clips.
It’s especially useful if your content needs visual metaphors or infographics. Just watch for occasional sponsored (paid) content mixed into results.
Photos, illustrations, vector graphics, and videos all under the Pixabay License. Great for more abstract or icon-based imagery.
4. Flickr: Creative Commons
This platform is great for historical images, niche photography, or real-life events. However, licenses vary—some require attribution, others limit commercial use. Always double-check the specific Creative Commons license (e.g., CC BY 2.0 vs. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) before downloading.
Not all content is free to use, but you can filter by Creative Commons license type. Just make sure to double-check terms and provide attribution where required.
5. The Noun Project
The Noun Project specializes in icons and minimalist visuals perfect for infographics, UI design, and tutorial illustrations. Icons are downloadable in PNG and SVG formats.
Free use requires attribution, or you can subscribe for full access without attribution requirements.
It’s best for icons and simple visuals and offers free downloads with attribution or a paid subscription to skip crediting.
6. Coverr
Coverr is ideal if you’re building a modern homepage with subtle motion. Their videos work well for looping headers and landing pages, and are great for both commercial and non-commercial use.
Content is completely free with no attribution required, making it a no-stress solution for site builders and videographers alike.
7. Mixkit
Mixkit offers free video clips, music tracks, and sound effects that can be used for both personal and commercial projects.
The collection is curated, which means the quality is consistently high, and no attribution is required. It’s ideal for bloggers working with video-based content or podcast intros. It’s free to use, even commercially, without attribution.
8. Videezy
Videezy is a video-specific content library offering both free and premium footage, including drone shots, animations, and stylized B-roll.
Clips marked as “Free” typically require attribution, so be sure to read the license terms on each download page.
9. Free Music Archive
Free Music Archive is a nonprofit resource offering music tracks from independent artists under various Creative Commons licenses.
It’s a great choice for podcasters or bloggers who need background tracks. Always check the licensing conditions for each individual artist or song.
10. Incompetech
One of the most widely used libraries for royalty-free tracks, Incompetech is especially popular with YouTubers and online course creators.
Kevin MacLeod’s extensive catalog covers everything from suspenseful soundtracks to upbeat corporate tunes. This is free to use with attribution under CC BY 4.0.
11. Jamendo
With a focus on indie and emerging musicians, Jamendo offers soundtracks for bloggers seeking a fresh auditory aesthetic, with licenses for each use case. It’s great for mood setting and branded content.
It’s especially valuable for creators in education, wellness, or documentary-style content. Commercial licenses are available with clear terms.
12. LibreStock
LibreStock functions as an aggregator, letting you search across multiple free image platforms in one go. It’s helpful when you need fast image inspiration and want to browse different aesthetics without visiting every site individually.
Because it’s a meta-search engine that scans multiple free image sources, this is one of the fastest ways to compare image options across platforms.
13. Life of Pix
If you want high-resolution editorial-style photos, Life of Pix is a great option. Unlike generic stock libraries, these images often feel more artistic and grounded. It’s a good fit for minimalist blogs or lifestyle content with a personal tone.
No copyright restrictions, but photographers appreciate attribution.
14. Openverse (formerly CC Search)
Part of WordPress’s content discovery ecosystem, Openverse indexes audio, images, and more from across Creative Commons and public domain sources.
It’s especially helpful for academic blogs or educational resources that need to source high-quality, attributable media without legal ambiguity.
15. Data.gov
While not visual, this platform is invaluable for bloggers who rely on credible data. You can access thousands of datasets across topics like climate, health, business, and public safety.
Use these stats to strengthen your research-driven posts, visual reports, or advocacy content.
Not visual content—but still powerful. Access to open datasets from the U.S. government. Useful for adding credibility or statistics to blog posts.
Why responsible sourcing is more than a legal issue
In the era of AI-generated content, originality can be manufactured—and, increasingly, detected. Search engines are getting better at understanding whether media supports and enhances content or if it’s just filler.
Google’s helpful content system is designed to reward work that demonstrates authenticity, relevance, and effort. That includes where your visuals, music, and supporting materials come from—not just what you write.
But this isn’t only about search rankings or takedown threats. It’s about respecting the work of other creators.
When you use content from legitimate sources, you participate in an ecosystem of shared creativity. That builds trust with your audience, strengthens your ethical standards, and protects you from being dependent on AI or scraped assets that could someday harm your brand.
Start by curating your own media library with go-to assets from trusted platforms. Keep a short list of licensing terms for your most-used sources. When you respect digital rights, you don’t just avoid risk—you model the kind of online culture that values creators over shortcuts.
