Item: Pexels
Rating: 10
Author: Josh Bender

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Clients supply content for publication on my website. While from time to time, the client supplies images, I usually have to source photography to match the content. This is where Pexels comes in, as one of the leading free stock photo libraries on the Internet. Pexels allows me to search the library quickly and easily to find the most suitable photos, and download them. Each photo contains additional metadata (such as keywords, camera make & model) which helps to better identify the context of the image. Once downloaded, Pexels' images can be safely published on my website.

Pros and Cons

One-click downloading from search results
High resolution photo quality
Peace of mind with image licensing

Allow multiple image downloads at the same time (multiple selections).
Provide downloads in several preset dimensions.
Additional filtering tools to narrow down the search for the right image.

Most Important Features

Easy to use interface
High resolution photo quality
No-fuss image licensing

Return on Investment

Significantly reduced time to source new images for publication.
Reduced article publication turnaround time.
Reduced risk of image copyright issues.

Alternatives Considered

Pixabay and Unsplash for Brands

Pexels has a few unique features that stand out, the most important being a 1-click download from the search results. No need to navigate to another page to find a "download" button. This reduces the time required to find and download an appropriate image. The search results load fast, with lazy loading, so there's no annoying pagination at the bottom. I often travel as I work, and at times my internet connection can be slow or unstable. This kind of feature may seem minor to some users, but when on a slower connection, it makes a big difference. If a search term is too broad, it can recommend related keywords to search for - this helps to find the right image faster.

Key Insights

Do you think Pexels delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Pexels's feature set?

Yes

Did Pexels live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Pexels go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Pexels again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Pixabay, Unsplash for Brands

Likelihood to Recommend

I source royalty-free images from several libraries, and Pexels is one of my key sources. There's no one library that has everything, so if I can't find what I'm looking for in one library, I'll try another one. I may find the right image on Pexels if I didn't find it on Pixabay or Unsplash. If you need a highly specific image, then a paid stock library might be the only option, but it's worth giving a free library a shot first. The other scenario where it won't be as useful is if you're looking for a unique image that isn't used elsewhere.

One of the most reliable free stock photo libraries

Overall Satisfaction with Pexels