Review Summary
The Bottom Line
Gratisography is a great option for designers and marketers looking for unique and creative images. While the selection of images is not as extensive as other sites, the site’s images are distinctive and can add a playful or whimsical element to any project. However, if users need a wider selection of images or require images in different file formats, they may also want to explore other free stock image sites.
Pros
- High-quality, unique, and creative images
- Free to use for personal or commercial purposes without attribution
- User-friendly design
- Diverse range of categories
- Regularly updated
Cons
- Limited selection compared to other sites
- Images only available in JPG format
- Search function could be more refined
- Some images may be too quirky for general use
- Interface could show more images at once
| Website | gratisography.com |
| Images | 800 |
| Pricing | Free |
| Licenses | Creative Commons 0 (CC0) |
2-minute Gratisography review
Gratisography was launched in 2013 by Ryan McGuire, a visual artist and designer who wanted to offer a more unique and creative alternative to the often generic and uninspiring stock photos on other sites. McGuire’s mission was to provide a platform for photographers and designers to showcase their work while also providing free, high-quality images for anyone to use without any copyright restrictions. The site quickly gained a following for its playful and whimsical style and has since become a popular source of free images for designers, marketers, and creatives worldwide.
Gratisography offers a diverse collection of high-resolution photos in various categories such as animals, nature, objects, people, and urban. The site is updated regularly with new images, and all of the photos are free to use without attribution. In addition to photos, the site also offers a selection of free HD video clips for commercial use, which are exclusive to Gratisography. The site is user-friendly, with a simple layout and easy navigation, making it easy to find and download the images you need.
One of the main advantages of using Gratisography is the unique and creative style of the photos. The images are playful, whimsical, and often quite quirky, making them perfect for adding a touch of personality to marketing materials, blog posts, or creative projects. Another advantage is that all of the photos are free to use without attribution, which makes it an ideal source for anyone on a tight budget. The site is also updated regularly with new images, ensuring a fresh and diverse selection for users. Additionally, Gratisography offers a selection of free HD video clips, which are exclusive to the site and can add a dynamic element to any project.
Quality of images
While Gratisography’s selection of images is not as extensive as other stock image sites, the site offers a diverse range of categories, including animals, nature, objects, people, and urban. The images are unique, creative, and often quite playful, with a style that sets them apart from other stock photos. The site is updated regularly with new images, and while the selection is not huge, the site offers a refreshing alternative for designers looking for something outside the box.
Gratisography offers high-quality images with a resolution of up to 5184 x 3456 pixels. The images are in JPG format, which may not be ideal for all uses, but the quality is still excellent. The images are sharp, well-lit, and well-composed, with a consistent style that makes them easily recognizable as Gratisography images.
One of the standout features of Gratisography is the unique and creative style of the images. From a bunny smoking a cigar with a wad of cash to a kid spray-painting “MOM” on a wall, the photos are playful, quirky, and full of personality. The images are ideal for marketers or designers looking to add a touch of whimsy to their projects or to stand out in a crowded market. The images are also versatile, with a range of categories that can be used for various purposes. Overall, the unique and creative style of Gratisography’s images is one of the main reasons why the site has become so popular among designers and marketers.
User experience
One of the advantages of using Gratisography is the site’s user-friendly design, which makes it easy to find and download images. The site has a simple layout with large thumbnails, making it easy to browse through the images quickly. The search bar is prominently displayed, and users can search for images by category or keyword. The site also features a “new” section, which showcases the latest additions to the collection.
Gratisography’s navigation and search functions are straightforward and intuitive. Users can navigate the site using the menu bar, which features categories such as animals, nature, people, and urban. The search function is also easy to use, with suggested keywords and category filters that help narrow down the search results. However, some users have reported that the search results don’t always reflect what they were searching for, which can make it difficult to find the right image.
Downloading images from Gratisography is quick and easy. Simply click on the thumbnail of the image you want to download, and the image will open in a new tab. From there, right-click on the image and select “save image as” to download it to your computer. The images are available in high-resolution JPG format, which may not be ideal for all uses, but the quality is still excellent. Gratisography does not require users to create an account or provide attribution for the images, which makes the downloading process hassle-free.
Licensing and usage
All of the images on Gratisography are free to use for personal or commercial purposes without attribution. The images are released under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they are in the public domain and can be used for any purpose without restriction. This makes Gratisography an ideal source for designers, marketers, and creatives on a tight budget.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Use the images for personal or commercial purposes | Sell or redistribute the images |
| Modify or edit the images to fit your needs | Claim ownership of the images |
| Credit the site or the photographer if possible | Use the images in a way that suggests endorsement or affiliation with the people or objects depicted in the images |
| Provide attribution to help promote the site and the photographers | Use the images in a way that is defamatory or promotes illegal activities |
| Use the images in a way that is not defamatory or promotes illegal activities |
While Gratisography’s images are free to use without attribution, there are some usage guidelines that users should be aware of. Users are not allowed to sell, redistribute, or claim ownership of the images. The images should not be used in a way that is defamatory or that promotes illegal activities. Additionally, users should not use the images in a way that suggests endorsement or affiliation with the people or objects depicted in the images.
Gratisography does not require users to provide attribution for the images, but it is always appreciated if users can credit the site or the photographer when possible. Providing attribution helps to promote the site and the work of the photographers, which in turn helps to ensure that Gratisography can continue to offer free images to users. If users do choose to provide attribution, they can credit the site as “Gratisography” or the photographer by name if available.
Comparison to other free stock image sites
When compared to other free stock image sites, Gratisography has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. One of the main advantages of using Gratisography is the unique and creative style of the images, which are ideal for standing out in a crowded market. Additionally, the site offers high-quality images that are free to use without attribution, making it a popular choice for designers on a tight budget.
However, one of the main drawbacks of using Gratisography is the limited selection of images compared to other sites. Additionally, the site’s search function could be more refined, and the images are only available in JPG format, which may not be ideal for all uses.
When compared to other free stock image sites such as Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay, Gratisography stands out for its unique and creative style. While other sites offer a wider selection of images, Gratisography’s images are distinctive and can add a playful or whimsical element to any project. Additionally, Gratisography’s images are only available in JPG format, while other sites offer a variety of file formats. However, like other free stock image sites, Gratisography offers high-quality images that are free to use without attribution.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free to use images from Gratisography?
Yes, all of the images on Gratisography are free to use for personal or commercial purposes without attribution. The images are released under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they are in the public domain and can be used for any purpose without restriction.
Can I modify the images from Gratisography?
Yes, you can modify, crop, or edit the images from Gratisography to fit your needs. However, you are not allowed to sell, redistribute, or claim ownership of the images.
What file formats are available for the images on Gratisography?
All of the images on Gratisography are available in high-resolution JPG format.
How often are new images added to Gratisography?
The site is updated regularly with new images, though the frequency of updates may vary.
Do I need to create an account to download images from Gratisography?
No, you do not need to create an account or provide attribution for the images from Gratisography. Simply browse the site and download the images you need.
How can I credit the photographer or Gratisography for using their images?
While attribution is not required, it is always appreciated if users can credit the site or the photographer when possible. Providing attribution helps to promote the site and the work of the photographers, which in turn helps to ensure that Gratisography can continue to offer free images to users. If users do choose to provide attribution, they can credit the site as “Gratisography” or the photographer by name if available.
Conclusion
In summary, Gratisography is a unique and quirky free stock image site that offers a refreshing alternative to the often generic and overused stock photos found on other sites. Founded in 2013, the site has quickly gained a reputation for providing high-quality images that are both creative and free of copyright restrictions. While the selection of images is not as extensive as other sites, the site offers a diverse range of categories and is updated regularly with new images. The site is user-friendly, with a simple layout and easy navigation, making it easy to find and download the images you need. Additionally, all of the photos are free to use without attribution, making it an ideal source for anyone on a tight budget.
Overall, Gratisography offers a unique and creative collection of free images that can add a playful or whimsical element to any project. While the selection of images is not as extensive as other sites, the site’s images are distinctive and can help marketers and designers to stand out in a crowded market. Additionally, the site is easy to use and offers high-quality images that are free to use without attribution.
If you’re looking for unique and creative images to enhance your marketing materials, blog posts, or creative projects, Gratisography is definitely worth checking out. The site’s images are distinctive and can add a playful or whimsical element to any project. While the selection of images is not as extensive as other sites, the site is updated regularly with new images, and all of the photos are free to use without attribution. If you need a wider selection of images or require images in different file formats, you may want to explore other free stock image sites as well.
About your guide
Matic Broz is a multifaceted creative professional, with experience as a photographer, graphic designer, and business owner. He has a decade of experience in helping other creatives improve their craft and start their own businesses. His writing and research have been featured in notable publications such as The Guardian, PetaPixel, and USA Today. Additionally, his scientific research has been recognized with a cover feature in the prestigious MDPI-owned journal. In his leisure time, he enjoys photography, hiking, and spending time with dogs. Read more
Information provided on Photutorial is for educational purposes only. Your situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, nor do we recommend or advise individuals to buy or sell particular stocks or services. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Photutorial adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.