The Ultimate Guide to Affordable Stock Photography: Insights From Pexels.com

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.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

The Ultimate Guide to Audio Treasures for Podcast Production

When people hear podcasting, they assume that it involves long speeches, but it is not so. For many creators, the concern for how to write podcast scripts that attract listeners involves adding sound effects. Doing so improves the quality of the audio content and appeals to listeners.

The dynamic sound effects for podcasts can help highlight specific moments/reactions/information, add to the atmospheric feel of the show, or prepare a unique intro tune. Different tools are useful for inserting the best sound effects into such shows. Let’s learn which ones they are and how they work.

Benefits of Adding Sound Effects in Podcasts

Before discussing what tools can help editors add sound effects to podcast episodes, we should refresh on why it is vital. Here are some of the best benefits you can expect from inserting sound effects for podcasts:

Thematic or mood setting

With a sound effect, you can portray a specific theme for your podcast that gives the users an instant feel of your brand/channel. For example, if a podcaster is creating a podcast show for the True Crime genre, spooky and moody background sound effects set the mood. Comedy or commentary podcasts can use mood-based sound effects like a laugh track with their content.

Point emphasis

Many podcasters utilize sound effects at pivotal moments of their content, e.g., to emphasize a cliffhanger in story-form podcast episodes. Like the boding and italicizing methods are useful in text documents to emphasize parts, you can adjust sound effects to do the same for your audio-based content. These can accentuate the dialogue and evoke specific emotional responses from the audience.

Transition points

Most podcasters utilize the best sound effects for podcast shows to act as a transition between conversational segments. For example, some use these effects as outros or intros.

Now that you are clear about the expected benefits, which platform should you turn to for many quality sound effects? Here are some of the best solutions you can trust, starting with the most useful- Filmora.

1.Wondershare Filmora [Most Recommended Platform]

If you want the best sound effects for podcast episodes, Wondershare Filmora is one notable solution to try out. You can use this software to record your audio, trim it, and add royalty-free sound effects in - all in one editor.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Users can utilize Filmora to further enhance the sound quality using audio editing features like Denoise and Equalizer. Remove long silent parts with the Silence Detection mechanism, and sync the beats with voiceover using Auto Beat Sync. Plus, it has a simple UI with drag-and-drop functionality for an easier method of adding effects to specific sections.

Top Features to Try for Podcasters on Filmora:

Optimize sound quality with audio editing tools like silence detection, audio synchronization, etc.
Make your narration clear-sounding using the one-click Audio Ducking feature.
Add AI-made voiceover if you want to avoid using your voice by adding text into the Text-to-Speech feature, which produces accurate voice narration.
Utilize Speech-to-Text to transcribe your speech into text format in different languages, and add subtitles for your global listeners to read if you add a video version.

How to add Sound and Edit your Voiceovers for Podcasts with Filmora?

Step1 Download and launch the Wondershare Filmora 11 software on your PC or Mac device.

Step2 Plug a stable microphone you will use on the computer when you start. For the best voice quality during recording, it is best to utilize a high-grade external microphone model for professional-level sound capture.

Step3 Access the Filmora software after you launch it beforehand. On the homepage, click on the New Project option.

Step4 When the editor program opens, tap on the drop-down menu below the top-most toolbar for Record. From the options, select the “Record a Voiceover” choice.

Step5 The recording pop-up window will open. Click on the big red record button after the input microphone/speaker settings, and start speaking. When you are done, click the square red stop button. Press OK to save.

Alternatively, you can click on the Microphone icon. Please wait 3 seconds and then start speaking into the microphone and click it again after you are done speaking. The newly recorded file will automatically come in the audio track timeline.

Step6 Click the audio track in the timeline. Among the settings, make changes as you prefer in Pitch, Volume, and Speed. Cut the sections of your voiceover recording you want to remove and add fade-in/fade-out effects. After making all changes, click OK.

Step7 If you have the recording of the narration already available in other locations, like your phone or device, import it into the software.

Step8 Add transitions, effects, and titles from the respective tabs on the top toolbar.

Step9 To add sound effects, go to Media and acquire the new audio clip or effect to add. Go to Effects > choose Audio Effects. Download the sound effect you want to insert and drag it onto the clip in the timeline.

Step10 Choose sound effects like Echo, Small Room, Big Rooms, Lobby, etc. Download and drag the sound effect to the clip or press the Add icon. Play a preview to see how it worked.

Step11 After completing all the edits, click on the Export button at the top. In the next window, choose the file format and additional customizations through Settings. After everything is done, press the Export button to save offline.

Watch this video for a more detailed visual guide to podcast editing using Filmora.

2.YouTube Audio Library

One of the most user-friendly places online where you can find a wide range of high-quality sound effects is the YouTube Audio Library under YouTube Studio. Here, you can find genre-based sound effect choices useful for adding to YouTube videos. In terms of podcasting, you can also download the options offline and use them on your show.

Price: Free

Features:

Simple and fast downloading process.
Clear and crisp sound quality.
Various sizes of sound effects.
Well-organized UI with liked songs under the starred section for easier access.

Pros

Easy to browse through diverse sound effects.
Directly filter the sound effect options by different components like length or genre to select.
Directly search for sound clips with relevant keywords.

Cons

You need to have a YouTube Studio account to get access to multiple free sound effects.
Mainly for YouTube users.

3.Podcastle

Another top-level for podcasters for podcast effects is Podcastle. With this software, you can get AI support for intuitive editing of your episodes and even easily record interviews with up to 10 different speakers. Then, easily combine the different tracks with the editor here and add transition sound effects for optimized sound enhancement.

Price: Basic- Free, Storyteller- USD 3 per month, Pro- USD 8 per month

Features:

Enhance speed in podcasts.
AI features automatically remove broken sounds, unwanted noise, or silent parts.
Use voice skins for text-to-speech benefits.
Record your voiceover directly through this one platform.

Pros

Royalty-free sound effects and music are available.
Multi-track editing.
Remoted interviewing benefits with the AI-powered app.

Cons

Sound quality is not the best for free plan users.
You have to upgrade to paid plans for more extensive free sound effects and music.

4.Freesound

If you want good free sound effects options, this is one of the oldest but most useful websites to trust for good-quality packs. The creators also edit and post their sound effects packs, which you can access easily. However, the learning curve of this site is slightly complicated, and it will take some time to learn how it works well.

Price: Free

Features:

The information is available to explain the sound packs.
Various types of sound effects are available.
Read comments and participate in forums with other creators.
Register and download different packs of sound effects.

Pros

Generate a random sound effect.
Easily find sound effects packages from the list.
Find song clips and effects via tags.

Cons

Hard to navigate in the confusing interface.
Strict licensing regulations are in place.

5.SoundBible

Another top-grade platform for sound effects that many podcasters trust is SoundBible. There are many types of suitable packs available that visitors can open and download. Previewing the sound effects first before downloading is easy to avoid choosing the wrong one.

Price: Free

Features:

Various styles of sound packs are available.
Many royalty-free music options are available.
Preview the sound clips before downloading.
Fast downloading process.

Pros

Download packs of sound effects based on type.
Browse sound effects by tags or categories.
Download sound effects in WAV and MP3 formats.

Cons

Limited variety of options.
Not the easiest browsing process to find relevant sound effects if you want genre-based choices.

6.Storyblocks

While trying out different apps and sites for dynamic music effect options, you should also give Storyblocks a chance. The platform offers different types of sound effects in its unlimited library. It is easy to search for them and preview the sound effect in your content with this app as well.

Price: Starter- USD 12.14 per month, Unlimited All Access- USD 24.29 per month, Pro- USD 29.35 per month

Features:

Simple audio editor available.
Preview what effects you will use and how they will work.
Optimize sound quality and enhance sound.
Get new content to choose from monthly.

Pros

Fully stocked library of royalty-free sound clips.
Diverse sound effects to choose from.
Easily search for the type of effect you want to use in the app.

Cons

No free version.
Sound effects are available under higher-priced Pro and Unlimited All Access plans.

7.Music Radio Creative

If you want creative and customized voiceovers and intros for your podcast show, you will find many options in Music Radio Creative. Top creators, DJs, and music producers have created and distributed a variety of jingles and effects for users to try out and use for their podcasts. Plus, you will get AI-powered voiceover choices as well.

Price: Priced collections start at USD 40.

Features:

Special offers for sound clips and effects.
Different intro options for podcasts.
Get themed jingles and effects.
Collections of different theme-based options are available.

Pros

Pre-made jingles are available for download.
Free sound effects for different podcast styles.
Pre-made voiceover choices.

Cons

Very costly for complete beginners.
Requires a strong and stable internet connection to download clips.

8.ZapSplat

Another user-friendly platform to try for free podcast sound effects is ZapSplat. The platform includes a wide range of sound effects you can hear and choose for your podcast episodes. The downloading process is simple, and you will get the final files in two commonly accessible audio formats for offline use.

Price: Free

Features:

Free sound effects for podcasts, recording and streaming.
A categorized genre of different sound effect types.
Download files in MP3 or WAV format.
Preview the sound before downloading.

Pros

Countless free sound effects.
Many SFX options are available for free access.
Well-organized list of sound effects for easier access and download.

Cons

Sound effects of using here are only allowed for production-based usage.
You cannot access and enable sound effects on the recorded files on other platforms.

9.Pixabay

If you want a straightforward user experience while choosing free sound effects for your podcast, Pixabay is a good choice. You will find different types of categorized sound effects, many of which are license-free. So, you can use them without worries of plagiarism in your content.

Price: Free

Features:

Users can leave or read comments.
Easily loads a new batch of royalty-free sound effects.
Multiple genre options are available.
Easy downloading process.

Pros

Bookmark those you will download.
Browse by tags.
Play the sound effects to choose from.

Cons

Need to register to get licensed content.
Prompts appear after each download to promote the site.

10.Epidemic Sound

Another top-notch platform where you can find the best podcast transition sound effects is Epidemic Sound. This website has multiple styles of quality thematic and unique sound effects for users to try out. While the website is not free to use, you can easily find the best-quality sound effects for podcasts and publish them without hassle.

Price: Personal- USD 6/month, Commercial- USD 12/month, Enterprise- quoted cost from the brand.

Features:

Monetize content across different social media platforms.
Free trial of all features for 30 days.
Easily publish your content on different sites.
Thirty-five thousand track choices are available.

Pros

Get 90,000 different sound effects to choose from.
Get an unlimited number of downloads.
Fast selection and downloading process.

Cons

Support for music curation only for Enterprise plan users.
The free first month is unavailable for enterprises or professionals using the biggest price plan.

11.Artlist

Another worthy option to trust for high-quality podcast sounds effects is Artlist. Users find it relatively simple to use this software to find different sound effects that will work for their podcast show theme. Plus, the website updates with new options daily, so you will not run out of options.

Price: Social Creator- USD 9.90/month, Creator Pro- USD 16.60/month, Enterprise- quoted cost, Team- USD 28.20/month

Features:

Get new tracks and sound effects per day.
The Pro license for users has a lifetime guarantee.
Users can opt for customized pricing plans with customer team support.
Diverse watermarked content is available for free plan users.

Pros

Free sound effects licensed for different social media platforms.
Podcast sound effects for free download under the Creator Pro plan.
No copyright issues with the sound effects and music available for download here.

Cons

Not possible to use the downloaded assets in multiple projects.
Canceling the subscription and getting a refund are not available after 14 if you already downloaded the SFX options.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Create Your Sound Effects As Last Resort

You will get different types of sound effects through the software and sites mentioned in this post. But do you want something different and more customized to your personal preferences for your podcast? The best solution, in that case, it to create your podcast sound effects.

The process will take a longer time. However, you will get a full license over the sound effects and save costs. Before doing so, you should research different content on creating podcast sound effects and add elements like echo effects online. Then, start the process.

Final Words

Different platforms are available for high-quality sound effects for podcast shows. You can use them to access countless free options or even prepare your own. However, if you want an overall high-grade user experience with one platform to record the podcast and add unique sound effects, Filmora is the best option for you.

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Top Features to Try for Podcasters on Filmora:

Optimize sound quality with audio editing tools like silence detection, audio synchronization, etc.
Make your narration clear-sounding using the one-click Audio Ducking feature.
Add AI-made voiceover if you want to avoid using your voice by adding text into the Text-to-Speech feature, which produces accurate voice narration.
Utilize Speech-to-Text to transcribe your speech into text format in different languages, and add subtitles for your global listeners to read if you add a video version.