Image databases for social media
Licenses of image databases for social media
The images purchased from online image databases may not always be used for social media without further ado. Some providers require a reference to the author or only allow commercial use in social networks under certain conditions and licenses. Companies and private individuals should always check the current terms of use to ensure that the purchased image license permits use in social media and to protect themselves from a warning.
Strictly speaking, there are no royalty-free images for social media, only images with licenses that may be used commercially in social networks. Rather, the term royalty-free images refers to images whose licenses allow them to be used in social media. These supposedly royalty-free photos for social networks can come from both paid and free websites.
We have compiled the most important information on the social media use of images from the largest online image databases. The following is an overview of the social media license conditions of paid and then free image databases.
Social media use with free image databases
Unsplash
The Unsplash license does not contain any direct permission for the use of the content in social networks. However, since the in-house license differs from the Creative Commons Zero license only in the prohibition of making the images available for a similar service, it can be assumed that the use of the content in social networks is permitted.
Pixabay
The Pixabay license neither prohibits nor expressly permits the use of the images in social media. A blog post on pixabay.com from 2014 states that it is possible to use the photos on Facebook. In the FAQ, Pixabay agrees to the use of the images on social media platforms in short form. When using the images on social networks, the current terms of use should always be taken into account.
Pexels
The image database Pexels cites the sharing of photos on social media as an example of use. Accordingly, the use of content in social networks should be possible subject to the general license conditions.
Flickr
As the Flickr license models are based on Creative Commons (CC), only images with the corresponding CC license may be used in social media. According to our research, this includes licenses that may also be used for commercial purposes. Whether the content can be posted online with or without attribution or modified depends on the respective license.
Canva
Canva allows the use of images for commercial and non-commercial use, including for social media, subject to the general terms of use. Since some images come from Pexels or Pixabay, you should take a close look when selecting images and must observe the respective terms of use of the platforms in these cases. In addition to an extensive selection of free and paid images, Canva also offers layout and design options for social media content. The design templates make it easy to create vivid graphics and the like.
Infographic: Social media image licenses
Which image database is right for me?
You're still looking for the right image and don't know which image databases offer what? We have created an overview of the largest paid and free image databases with the basic information: The most important sites for royalty-free images.
If in doubt, professional legal advice can help
The information we have conscientiously researched provides an up-to-date overview, but is no substitute for professional legal advice. In addition, some image databases occasionally change their licensing models, which may also affect the use of images purchased in the past. Changes to the terms and conditions of social networks can also affect the use of images and videos. To be on the safe side, you should research the usage rights of the relevant image database yourself or contact support to make sure that you are allowed to use the file for your purpose.
Looking for professional social media support?
As a content marketing agency, we support you in the creation of social media content or, as a Facebook ads agency, we can place ads for you on social networks. Feel free to contact our marketing expert Matthias Kampmann.
Social media use of images from image databases
The commercial use of so-called license-free images in social media is usually possible without any problems. However, some image databases offer photos with special licenses for social networks. For example, the images must contain a reference to the author or require a different license. To protect yourself from warnings, the usage rights of both paid and free social media photos from image databases should always be checked again. The terms and conditions of the social networks may also contain provisions that contradict the general license rights of the image databases. In this article, you will find an overview of the most important information on the commercial use of royalty-free images in social media. We have examined the licenses of the largest image databases and summarized them for you.
Social media licenses for paid image databases
Fotolia / Adobe Stock
Since the Fotolia platform was integrated into Adobe Stock, the guidelines for using purchased images on social media have been relaxed. Adobe Stock's terms of use (as of July 2024) expressly permit the use of images on social media within the scope of the license terms. This excludes all images that are marked "For editorial use only". These images may only be used in such a way that the editorial context and the meaning of the editorial works are preserved.
Shutterstock
On its website,Shutterstock expressly permits the use of content on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Use for blogs and newsletters is also permitted. As a rule, the rights of use of the social networks are in line with the Shutterstock license. As with most other providers, the images may not be used on sites that contradict the usage agreements and claim ownership of the content, for example.
Getty Images
Both license models of the image database Getty Images, Standard Editorial and Standard Creative, generally allow the use of content in social media. The difference, however, is that the Standard Editorial license only allows use for social media posts that - according to Getty Images' wording - "deal with matters of public interest". Unlike the Standard Creative License, they may not be used for commercial, promotional or advertising purposes.
iStock
iStock permits the use of licensed content in social media, subject to the so-called "usage restrictions" that apply to use in all media. There is currently no separate regulation for the use of content in social media. Content that is only marked for editorial use may also only be used for editorial purposes in social networks.
123RF
The 123RF image database also permits the use of photos, vector files, videos and audio in social media subject to the regular terms of use. In the case of content used for editorial purposes, however, 123RF and the name of the provider must be stated, as in other editorial contributions.