Where to Find Free Vector Images for Commercial Use?
Here are 13 sources for free vector images for commercial use + what's allowed and what's prohibited for each.
Many websites claim to offer free vector images for commercial use which is pretty enticing for everyone who intends to make a profit out of vector artwork. However, most websites do have limitations when it comes to using their assets for free. Contradictory? Yes, it is. This is why we’ve decided to make a research and shed light on the dilemma whether free vector images for commercial use are free, indeed. It turned out
- Some websites allow you to use their graphics for free in commercial projects for promotions, and not for merchandising. This means you can use the vector assets in advertisings, banners, campaigns, flyers but not on products for sale, such as T-shirts, hats, cups, phone cases, etc. Well, not unless you buy such license which makes the vector images… not so free for commercial use.
- Other websites allow you to use their content in all kinds of commercial projects but you have to give attribution to the author.
- There are websites that allow you to use their asset for whatever and whenever.
In other words, rules are different for different websites and we really hope we will be helpful with the classification we’ve made below. Here we go!
Websites with free vector images for commercial use:
| Website | Promotional Use (banners, flyers, adverts, etc.) | Merchandising | Do you have to ask the author for permission? | Do you have to give attribution to the author? | |
| Physical products (T-shirts, cups, cases, etc.) | Digital products (collages, scrapbooks, etc.) | ||||
| Vector Characters.net | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Vector Portal.com | Yes for all vector resources by Vectorportal and for most vector graphics uploaded by users as a part of larger designs – ads, posters, etc. | Yes as long as you are not selling the resources as they are on stock image sites. | Yes, it’s obligatory if you want to use images that depict celebrities and brands and advisable for all other images. | No for commercial use. Yes for editorial use, such as newspapers, magazines, websites, etc. | |
| Vexels.com | Yes | No | No | No | Yes, you must give attribution with the line “Designed by Vexels.com“. |
| Vecteezy.com | Yes, except for resources with a license “Editorial Use Only” | Yes, except for resources with “Editorial Use Only” and “Vecteezy Community Licensing” which don’t allow merchandising. but you must make a material change to create value | No | Yes for vector graphics with a Standard license and Creative Commons licenses No for vector graphics with a Premium license | |
| FreePik.com | Yes | Yes but not as main elements of your design. Use them as backgrounds or secondary elements. Have in mind that if you are downloading third-party content, you need to abide by the author’s licenses for use. | No | Yes, you must give credit to the author by using the line “Designed by Freepik” or the author’s name. Not if you are a premium user. | |
| Pixabay.com | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Uploaders have waived all copyright to their vector images on this site. You are free to edit, distribute and use the images for unlimited commercial purposes. | |||||
| PublicDomain Vectors.com | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Uploaders have waived all copyright to their vector images on this site. You are free to edit, distribute and use the images for unlimited commercial purposes. | |||||
| PngTree.com | Yes but only for resources marked with label “Commercial Use” | No, unless you are a paid user and the artwork is used as a secondary element in the design | No | Yes, you must give attribution with the line “from Pngtree“. | |
| 123freevectors .com | Yes if the author of the vector resource is 123freevectors.com | No if the author is 123freevectors.com | |||
| In all other cases, you need to ask the author for permission or check the license they have provided on each individual product page. | |||||
| Vector4Free .com | Yes for most images on the website. Check individual licenses for each uploaded vector graphic resource. | Yes or no depending on the license of each individual graphic asset. | |||
| SuperAwesome Vectors.com | Yes unless stated otherwise on the product page. | No for resources with a Standard license. Yes for resources with an Extended license. | No | Not stated | |
| FreeVectors.net | Yes for most images on the website. Check individual licenses for each uploaded vector graphic resource. | Yes, it is recommended. | It depends on the license type. | ||
| ScalableGFX .com | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, unless you want to upload the asset to another vector database. | Yes, you have to give attribution to the author. |
Do you want to learn more about What Are Photos and Why You Should Use Them?
Have we been helpful? We truly hope so!
A person can easily get lost into what’s allowed and what’s prohibited when there are so many websites with free vector images for commercial use but still different terms of use. Our best advice is – when in doubt, get in touch with either the author or the platform and ask. Happy designing!
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Iveta Pavlova
Iveta is a passionate writer at GraphicMama who has been writing for the brand ever since the blog was launched. She keeps her focus on inspiring people and giving insight on topics like graphic design, illustrations, education, business, marketing, and more.
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