Stock Photos
Unsplash
Free, high-quality photos under the Unsplash License. Images marked Unsplash+ need a paid plan. Good for sermon series art and social posts.
- Price
- Free; Unsplash+ $84/yr launch price, normally $240/yr (Oct 2026)
- Free option
- Yes
- Works on
- Web, iOS
- Learning curve
- Easy
The short answer: is Unsplash right for your church?
Unsplash is a library of over 6 million free photos and illustrations you can use without credit. It's best for churches that want a polished look for sermon series art, slides and social posts. The catch: paid Unsplash+ images are mixed into search results, and only Unsplash+ images come with model releases and a legal guarantee.
Who Unsplash is for
Great for
- Designers who want moody, editorial photos for sermon series artwork
- Volunteers making social posts who need images that don't look like stock
- Churches with no stock budget that still care about image quality
Skip it if
- Churches that need faith-specific photos like baptism or communion. A Christian stock library has more of them.
- Teams that need video or music. A free stock video site or a paid stock library covers those.
How churches use Unsplash
Sermon series artwork
Find a photo with room for a title, then build the series graphic, slides and social versions from that one image.
Worship lyric backgrounds
Use landscapes and textures as soft backgrounds for lyrics. Darken or blur them so the words stay readable from the back row.
Website hero images
Pick a high-resolution image for a ministry page or event landing page where your own photos are too low quality.
Getting started with Unsplash
- 1
Search, then skip images marked "For Unsplash+" unless you plan to subscribe.
- 2
Save picks into collections by sermon series or ministry.
- 3
Download the full-size file and add your text in your design app.
Pros and watch-outs
What we like
- Free photos with no credit required
- High-resolution images with a consistent, editorial look
- Over 6 million photos and illustrations
- iOS app for browsing on the go
Watch out for
- Paid Unsplash+ images are mixed into free search results
- Unsplash+ is a single-seat license, not a team plan
- Few faith-specific shots
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.
Unsplash FAQ
Is Unsplash free for churches?
Yes, for standard images. You can download and use them for church and commercial projects without permission or credit. Images marked Unsplash+ need a paid subscription.
Do we need to credit Unsplash photographers?
No. Credit is optional but appreciated, for example "Photo by [name] on Unsplash".
What does Unsplash+ cost?
Unsplash+ was $84 a year at a launch price in October 2026, with a regular price of $240 a year. Each subscription covers one user.
Can we put Unsplash photos on church shirts?
Not as an unedited photo for sale. The license bars selling images without significant modification, so make the photo part of a larger design.
