Stock Photos
Pixabay
Free photos, illustrations, vectors, video, music and sound effects in one place. Handy for slides, social posts and video projects.
- Price
- Free
- Free option
- Yes
- Works on
- Web
- Learning curve
- Easy
The short answer: is Pixabay right for your church?
Pixabay is a free library of photos, illustrations, vectors, video, music and sound effects, with no attribution required. It's best for churches that want one free source for slides, social posts and video projects. The catch: with millions of uploads you'll sift to find the good ones, and you can't sell unedited copies or use content in a logo.
Who Pixabay is for
Great for
- Volunteers who need a photo, an icon-style vector and a music bed in one sitting
- Churches making announcement videos with no music budget
- Kids ministry leaders looking for free illustrations for take-home sheets
Skip it if
- Churches that want a curated, consistent look. A curated photo site or paid stock library takes less sifting.
- Teams designing a church logo. Pixabay content can't be part of a trademark, so start from original art.
How churches use Pixabay
Announcement video music
Find a royalty-free music track and a few video clips for the weekly announcements without a separate music subscription.
VBS and kids ministry
Use free illustrations and vectors for VBS decorations, name tags and take-home sheets.
Sound effects for skits
Download sound effects for a youth skit or a kids church video instead of recording them yourself.
Getting started with Pixabay
- 1
Filter your search by media type, like Vectors or Music, before you start scrolling.
- 2
Save the best finds to a collection for each sermon series or event.
- 3
Skim the License Summary so you know the few uses that aren't allowed.
Pros and watch-outs
What we like
- Photos, vectors, video, music and sound effects in one free library
- No attribution required
- Over 6 million media assets to search
- You can edit and build new work from the content
Watch out for
- Quality varies, so expect to sift
- Content showing brands or logos can't promote goods or services
- You must check privacy and other third-party rights yourself
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.
Pixabay FAQ
Is Pixabay free for churches?
Yes. Pixabay content is free to use, including for commercial projects, and attribution is optional.
Can we use Pixabay music in our church videos?
Yes. Music falls under the same Pixabay Content License, so you can use it in announcement and promo videos. You can't sell or distribute the track on its own.
Can we print Pixabay images on shirts or mugs?
Only if you've added real creative work. The license bars selling or distributing content on its own, and content with logos or brands can't go on merchandise for sale.
Who runs Pixabay?
Pixabay is a brand of Canva Germany GmbH, based in Berlin.
