Stock Photos
Pexels
Free stock photos and videos with no attribution required. Good for sermon backgrounds, social posts and b-roll when the budget is zero.
Also inStock Videos
- Price
- Free
- Free option
- Yes
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Learning curve
- Easy
The short answer: is Pexels right for your church?
Pexels is a free library of stock photos and videos shared by creators, with no attribution required. It's best for churches on a tight budget that need backgrounds, b-roll and social images every week. The catch: the most popular shots show up everywhere, and you can't sell unedited copies or build a logo from them.
Who Pexels is for
Great for
- Volunteers who need a background image for Sunday's slides tonight
- Churches with no stock budget that still post on social every week
- Video editors looking for free b-roll for announcement videos
Skip it if
- Churches that need faith-specific images like communion or baptism. A Christian stock library has more of those.
- Teams designing merchandise to sell. Use original artwork or a paid license that covers merch.
How churches use Pexels
Sermon slide backgrounds
Search for a mood like "light" or "mountain" and drop the photo behind the sermon title or scripture slide.
Announcement video b-roll
Download a few free video clips of people, coffee or city streets to cover the voiceover in this week's announcements.
Social posts on a deadline
Grab a photo for the small groups launch post and add your text in your design app. No credit line needed.
Getting started with Pexels
- 1
Search by mood or color, not just subject, to find less obvious shots.
- 2
Save favorites to a collection for each sermon series.
- 3
Read the short Pexels License page once so you know the few things that aren't allowed.
Pros and watch-outs
What we like
- Photos and videos are free, with no credit required
- Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
- You can edit, crop and add text
- Video clips cover b-roll needs without a subscription
Watch out for
- Popular images appear on many other churches' graphics
- Few faith-specific shots compared with Christian stock sites
- Unaltered copies can't be sold as prints or products
Found the photo. Need the whole series?
A free photo is where most series graphics start, not where they finish. Remix sermon series packs come with title slides, notes and social graphics designed to match, with lower thirds in most, so Sunday's set is ready without starting from a blank canvas.
Browse sermon series ↗Made by Church Media Squad, who also run Pro Church Media.
Pexels FAQ
Is Pexels free for churches?
Yes. Every photo and video on Pexels is free to use, including for church and commercial projects, and credit is optional.
Do we have to credit the photographer?
No. Attribution isn't required, though Pexels says it's appreciated.
Can we use Pexels photos on church merchandise?
Not as unaltered copies for sale. The license bars selling prints or products with an unmodified photo, so add real design work or use your own photos.
Can we use Pexels videos in our livestream or sermon bumper?
Yes. Pexels videos are free to use and modify, so you can cut them into bumpers, countdowns or livestream graphics.
