13 Websites for Finding Copyright/Royalty-Free Images and Music
Updated August 2026 to include current tools and resources.
Creating a great World of 8 Billion video is about more than just a strong message. Including strong photos, graphics, video clips, and background music can capture your audience’s attention and make your story even more impactful.
If you’re adding media to your project beyond the footage you’ve recorded yourself, it’s important to use content that is legal to share.
The websites below offer copyright free and royalty-free content, images, and music.
Images
| Site | Description | Attribution Required? | Account Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pexels | Free, high-quality photos and videos | No | No |
| Pixabay | Free library of photos, illustrations, and vectors | No | No |
| Picjumbo | Free stock photos with new images added regularly | No | No |
| Unsplash | Free stock photo library | No | No |
| BURST (By Shopify) | Free, high-resolution photo library | No | No |
| Flickr (Creative Commons search) | Large photo archive, but students must use the Creative Commons-specific search and check each photo’s license, since not all images are free to use | Varies by license (check each photo) | No |
| Vecteezy | Some free photos and vector images (graphics that can be resized without becoming blurry) | Yes, if using the free plan | Yes, to download |
Music and Audio
| Site | Description | Attribution Required? | Account Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixabay Music | A separate free music library from Pixabay for personal and commercial projects | No | No |
| Icons8 Music | A free music library for personal and commercial projects | No | No |
| mobygratis | Free instrumental music library with basic usage guidelines | No | No |
| Purple Planet | Free music library with credit given to the artists | Yes | No |
| Free-Stock-Music.com | A large catalog of Creative Commons* tracks, free to download with attribution noted on each song’s page | Yes | No |
| Bensound | Free music tracks with attribution required | Yes (unless paid license) | No |
* A Creative Commons license is a permission slip from the creator. It tells you exactly how you can use their work and whether you need to give credit.
Before using any image, video or audio track, always check the license before using it. Some resources require attribution, while others do not. Even when credit isn’t required, it’s good practice to acknowledge the creators.
While you’re working on your project, keep a running list of the images, videos, and music sources you use so you can include them in your project’s citations.
Have fun creating and good luck with your World of 8 Billion video!
