Demystifying Pexels.com: The Ultimate Resource for Photographers and Designers

There is a great way to make your messages more impactful that is free to use. Pexels is an online creative assets library that features high-resolution photos, including Pexels 4k, and an assortment of audio clips you can use in your creations.

The following are things you need to know about Pexels.com. It includes details on what Pexels is, important user information, and other hidden features of the website. Keep reading to find out more.

Part1: Is Pexels.com free to use?

Yes, Pexels.com is a free online library of stock photos that you can use for personal or commercial purposes with your creations. In addition, photographers submit their images to the platform to allow others to reuse them.

Pexels’ free download policy allows you to obtain images under the Pexels or Creative common licensing rules. In addition, both licenses allow you to use Pexels images and videos for personal and commercial purposes, provided you make alterations to the original.

According to the site’s founders, the following are the reasons why the site is free:

Its main source of revenue is selling advertisement slots to other paid-content databases.
You can also donate to the website’s operational costs with a single click. In addition, there is no limitation on how much and how often you can donate.
Most of the site’s contributors do so willingly to increase their brand exposure. For example, a verified user states that uploading his content to Pexels 4k and Pexels audio has resulted in an influx of high-paying customers.

So, what is the difference between paid and stock photo sites? Paid content databases such as Shutterstock and Deposit photos require you to create a user ID and subscribe to their service. Conversely, stock photo sites like Pexels.com feature free stock images and videos that you can use with minimal restrictions.

For example, the site allows you to use its content on YouTube for personal or commercial reasons, provided you make adjustments to the original asset, and you own the video. In addition, the site’s library features content that its contributors share willingly. As such, you can download content from these sites without creating an account or acknowledging the image owner.

Currently, you can access Pexels through your web browser or download the app on your Android or iOS device. In addition, you can also access the asset library through the Canva application following their merger. Furthermore, you can also download it as a plugin for different content creation software, including Photoshop, MS Office, and Google Slides.

Part2: What can Pexels provide you?

Now that you are aware of Pexels.com’s origin story and access methods, here is a rundown of what free access provides you.

1. 4K images for almost all topics

Pexels.com features a dedicated library of over 40,000 4k images from their contributors. You can access the library by typing 4k in the site’s search engine. In addition, the library is full of 4k images across various topics, including niche subjects such as Nebula and Abstract. Furthermore, the site’s search engine uses search tags to provide more accurate results. For example, by typing 4K Dark in the search engine, the site can narrow down your search to provide more relevant results.

2. Audio

You also get access to Pexels audio, a collection of over 8000 audio clips from the site’s numerous contributors. In addition, all of the Pexels audio’s content is completely free to use for all users. Currently, you can only access the database through your web browser and the iOS app.

3. Video

Another content category that your free access provides you is Pexels video. The database features a collection of over 2000 video clips you can use for your commercial or personal works. In addition, Pexels.com offers various editing tools to make alterations immediately. Furthermore, you also have templates for different content configurations, including social media and YouTube posts.

Part3: What’s Leaderboard and Challenges on Pexels.com?

The Pexels free download leaderboard is a list of the site’s top contributors within the past thirty days. The ranking is based on the number of views of photos and videos you submit within thirty days. For example, you earn the top spot if you receive the most views to your content, provided it is less than thirty days old. As such, each contributor has an equal chance of rising to the top, provided they put in the effort.

On the other hand, Pexels challenges are monthly competitions where contributors submit their best work to win different prizes. Typically, each challenge varies in the category, prizes, and content specifications. For example, the most recent challenge required contributors to upload images projecting friendship.

In addition, there is no limitation to the number of eligible uploads because challenge officials consider all of them. Finally, all images you submit for the Pexels challenge fall under the Pexels license, meaning they are free to use by the site’s visitors.

Part4: What are not allowed on Pexels?

Currently, all of the Pexels creative assets are under the Pexels license, a variation to the creative commons zero license other stock photo sites offer. Although you can access and download the site’s assets for free, there are some restrictions on your usage of them. Here is what Pexels.com’s free download license does not allow you to do with its assets.

1. It can’t be used in a political context

You cannot use Pexels free download videos, images, and audio clips in a political context. This is because some of the assets include identifiable people, and using their image may be seen as their endorsement of your political beliefs. In addition, the situation becomes worse if your ideology contains offensive material and messaging.

Furthermore, the Pexels license also bans using their creative assets to promote your personal brand, especially when they contain any identifiable imagery. By doing so, Pexels.com remains a free resource for people of all creeds, regardless of their political affiliations.

2. Resell the resources

Another thing you cannot do when using Pexels.com is to resell their photos and videos to other stock photograph platforms. Most users attribute this to the site’s owners wanting to maintain a fresher database than its competitors.

In addition, you can also consider the restriction as a way to prevent duplication of results on web searches and prevent the overuse of creative assets. As such, you cannot use their creative assets on items such as print media and physical goods, including T-shirts and mugs.

Part5: FAQs

Why should you create a Pexels account?

Pexels.com seeks to create a simple and fast medium for you to discover free photos and videos. It does so by providing a common platform where contributors can share their work with a greater audience. Here are some of the benefits of creating a Pexels.com account:

You can create collections for different projects, accessible on different dashboards.
Continuous free access to every creative asset you have ever downloaded. For example, you can access all images you have downloaded from Pexels 4K.
You also get a custom homepage that features your latest work and database favorites.
In addition, you will have access to the site’s community, which has helpful information for all users.

What are the rules for uploading videos on Pexels.com?

Here are the requirements for uploading videos on Pexels.com:

Your videos must be of resolution 1920 X 1080 and higher.
All videos should be free of explicit content such as nudity or violence.
Your videos should not feature any watermarks, branding, or borders.
The recording and scene transitions should be seamless.
The site does not permit the uploading of animations.

What are the image uploading requirements on Pexels.com?

Pexels free download accepts images in JPEG format only. In addition, your images must also meet the following conditions.

All photos need to be at least 4 megapixels and have a minimum resolution of 2592 X 1520 pixels.
Your images should not contain any explicit material. All photos with graphic nudity and violence are banned from the website.
Your photos should be well-oriented and should not include watermarks, text elements, or borders when uploading them to your pexelx.com account.

Does Pexels.com accept uploading of mobile photos?

Yes. Using the app, you can upload images from your smartphone’s internal storage directly to Pexels.com. In addition, other requirements must be met before your photo is approved. You can find out more from the upload guidelines on pexel.com.

What alterations can you make to use Pexels photos on your merchandise?

Pexels allows you to use its images for personal and commercial reasons if you alter them and make them your own. Some of the alterations the site recommends include:

Adding graphic elements to the images using Pexels.com’s editing tool.
Using part of the Pexels image in a greater project such as a collage or wallpaper.

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The Insider’s Selection: Top 8 High-Quality Rain Sound Packs (2023 Edition)

8 Best Rain Sound Effect Resources to Download

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Rain sound effect is a perfect blend of several emotions that one can feel with it. For instance, rain has always been a symbol of Romance! Rain sound effects can be an active element to stimulate the “Romantic” emotions in us.

Moreover, rain sound effect can also make one feel joyous and lively. While on the other hand, for some people feeling sadness, a rain sound mp3 can be the most heart touching music they want to listen to.

Therefore, we would like to bring limelight over the 10 best rain sound effect resources from where you can easily get hold of the effect for your video production.

8 Best Rain Sound Effect MP3 for You

Without waiting any longer, let’s get started with 8 of the best rain sound effect sources, which you can always look up to. These rain sound mp3 providers are not just easy to browse but also provide multiple sounds that can be free or paid depending upon the provider.

1. Sound Jay

One of the easiest sources to download a rain sound effect for your videos is Sound Jay. You’re privileged to play the preferred file before you can download it.

Moreover, you can get your desired rain sound mp3 from this website without pay any Royalty fee, implies, for absolutely no charge. But yes, you’re just not allowed to sell or publish these rain sound mp3 files over any website to let others download it.

2. Apple Music

Apple Music is a popular source for various sounds that you can make use of in your videos. But it is a little tricky to make use of. The rain sound effect provided over this source includes the sounds that stimulate emotions like Sleep, Relaxing, Meditation, Healing, etc.

Moreover, for various occasions as well, like Thunderstorms, raindrops, heavy rainfall, etc. These can only be shared using embed code or facebook or twitter. But in case you need to download it, you may need to purchase it or take help of some media file grabber tools to retrieve the rain sound mp3 files or free.

3. Calmsound

A yet another rain sound mp3 files provider is Calmsound. This website has quite an engaging interface. On the home screen itself, you have several options of sounds that you can choose from, and as soon as you hit one, it automatically gets played for your preview. You can also browse for more different sounds by scrolling down over the website.

4. Relax Rain Sounds

The next source from where you can get the rain sound effects is from the Microsoft Store. This rain sound mp3 collection is the largest one in the relaxing category as bragged over the description of the source.

It is packed with 51 types of rain sound effects, 23 for evoking deep meditation to achieve the complete state of relaxation.

5. BigSoundBank

BigSoundBank is the next big source of rain sound effect that you can browse. Though there are several adverts over the website, you may find it a little bit difficult to download the rain sound mp3 from the interface. But hey!

A little bit of struggle is worth it when you can get a royalty-free rain sound effect with not a single penny spent. However, you can always donate funds to the provider if you wish to appreciate their efforts. Furthermore, you also have a lot information available about the sound mp3 file like the author, conditions, channels, sample rate or bit depth, etc.

6. A Sound Effect

A well-defined website that provides rain sound effects is “A Sound Effect.” It is packed with a lot of important information about the rain sound effects and other sound effects that you can browse. Moreover, it has a well-designed interface to gain your interest. Though, the rain sound mp3 files provided here are paid.

But it offers a variety of rain sound effects that can prove to be worthy for you. For instance, you’ll have a wide collection of rainfall with varied intensities. It is ranging from soft (dripping of raindrops over the roof tiles) to torrential downpour to heavy rainfall during the night time and many more.

7. Adobe Audition Sound Effects

Up next, we have Adobe Audition Sound Effects as the 7th best rain sound effects provider. You can browse this website to get the desired sound mp3 files for your videos. On this website you have an entire list of categories that you can look up to choose the right one that caters your needs.

8. Sonniss

Lastly, Sonniss is another best rain sound effects provider that we have collated on today’s list. The website offers paid “Rain in the City” collection of rain sound mp3 files. You can easily preview the library using the inbuilt track player over the top banner.

Besides, it offers enormous details about the library in the later part of the website, like the author, package size, sample rate, number of files, playback time, etc. etc. Furthermore, you can even opt to buy a multiuser license if need be.

In a nutshell

With all this comprehensive information about each of the best rain sound effects providers, we now leave this up to you to choose the one that suits your needs.

No matter, which rain sound mp3 files provider you go with, if you like our efforts, please consider sharing this post with your other friends and corporate circles that may get benefitted from the information enclosed here.

In case you have any queries about rain sound effects or rain sound mp3 providers or require any further help, please feel free to comment it right below or directly mail us in.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango