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Brief
Unsplash

Unsplash

Unsplash provides unlimited access to millions of high-quality, freely usable photos contributed by a global creator community, enabling brands, developers, and marketers to source professional visual content at zero cost while offering advertisers native visual sponsorship opportunities at scale.

unsplash.comMontreal, Quebec, CanadaFounded 2013Parent: Getty Images

Last updated May 11, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Industry
Content Marketing & Creative Asset Technology
Business Model
Marketplace with Advertising and API Licensing
Target Market
SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise
Employee Count
51-200
Funding
$7.25M
Revenue Range
$10M-$50M
Stock Symbol
N/A
Parent Company
Getty Images
API Available
Yes
Market Position

World's largest free stock photography platform by contributor community and API adoption, operating as a subsidiary of Getty Images

Overview

Unsplash is a stock photography platform that provides access to over 3 million high-resolution photos contributed by a global community of photographers, all available under the Unsplash License which allows free use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Founded in 2013 by Mikael Cho and team in Montreal, the platform quickly became the go-to resource for designers, marketers, developers, and content creators seeking professional-quality imagery without licensing fees or attribution requirements. Unsplash was acquired by Getty Images in April 2021, operating as a subsidiary while maintaining its distinct brand and community-driven model.

Products & Features

Unsplash Photo Library

A searchable database of over 3 million free high-resolution photos contributed by photographers worldwide, available under the permissive Unsplash License.

Unsplash API

A developer API enabling third-party applications, design tools, and platforms to integrate Unsplash's photo library directly into their products.

Unsplash Brand+

A native advertising product that allows brands to sponsor curated photo collections, placing their imagery in front of creators and designers actively searching for visual content.

Unsplash for Figma

A plugin integration for the Figma design platform allowing designers to search and insert Unsplash photos directly into their design workflows.

Unsplash Instant

A browser extension that replaces new tab pages with curated Unsplash photography, extending brand and content reach to everyday browsing moments.

Key Features
3M+ freely licensed high-resolution photosPermissive Unsplash License for commercial useRobust public API with broad third-party integrationsNative Brand+ visual advertising sponsorshipsPhotographer contributor community and attribution systemAdvanced search with AI-powered visual discoveryCollections and curation toolsIntegration with major design and CMS platforms
Use Cases
Sourcing imagery for digital advertising creatives and social media campaignsWebsite and blog visual content without licensing feesProduct mockups and UI/UX design prototypingBrand sponsorship and native visual advertising via Brand+Powering image search within SaaS and design applications via APIEditorial and journalistic illustrationEmail marketing visual assetsPresentation and pitch deck imagery
Customer Segments
Graphic designers and creative professionalsDigital marketers and content creatorsWeb developers and product teamsBloggers and editorial publishersAdvertising agenciesSaaS and app developers (API consumers)Enterprise marketing teamsPhotographers seeking exposure
Connections

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