Unsplash has become the default destination for free, high-quality photos on the web. Founded in 2013 by Mikael Cho in Montreal, it started as a simple Tumblr blog where 10 new photos were posted every 10 days. The idea was straightforward: give photographers a platform to share their work freely and give everyone else beautiful images to use without licensing headaches.
That simple concept took off fast. By 2024, Unsplash hosts over 4 million photos contributed by more than 300,000 photographers worldwide. The images are downloaded billions of times and appear everywhere — on websites, in apps, presentations, social media posts, and marketing materials. The Unsplash License allows free use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes without requiring attribution, though it’s encouraged.
In 2021, Getty Images acquired Unsplash, a move that raised eyebrows in the creative community. Getty promised to keep Unsplash free and independent, and so far, the platform has continued operating as before. The acquisition gave Unsplash access to Getty’s distribution network while providing Getty with a funnel to its paid offerings.
Unsplash also operates an API that powers image search in tools like Figma, Notion, Medium, and many others. This has turned Unsplash into a kind of infrastructure layer for the internet’s visual content needs.
The platform has faced criticism about how it impacts professional photographers’ ability to earn a living, since free alternatives can undercut paid stock photography. It’s a genuine tension, but Unsplash has helped democratize access to quality visuals in a way that was previously impossible.
