Popular Free Image Hosting Websites of 2024

By Kate Gross 11 days ago, Photo Editing Tips

With free image hosting websites, you can store pictures in one place and share them with friends, relatives, or even the entire Internet community. An album on Facebook or a post on Instagram can’t always help with this.

I looked through 50 free image hosting websites (that vary in the number of pics a user can publish and the download time) and selected the best of them. Each of the services listed here can be used for free or have trial versions.

Top 19 Free Image Hosting Sites

smugmug logo
SmugMug
CLOUD-SECURED
  • Free 14-day trial or from $13/mo
  • Unlimited storage, except RAW

flickr logo
Flickr
COMMUNITY
  • Free or from $5.99/mo
  • 1,000 photos for free

adobe portfolio logo
Adobe Portfolio
OWN WEBSITE
  • Free 7-day trial or from $9.99/mo
  • 5 sites & unlimited pages

pixabay logo
Pixabay
HIGH QUALITY
  • Free
  • 7 uploads per 7 days for new users

imgur logo
Imgur
GIF FILES
  • Free
  • Unlimited, 50 images per hour

500px logo
500px
SOCIAL NETWORK
  • Free or from $6.49/mo
  • 21 images per week for free

google photos logo
Google Photos
AFFORDABLE
  • Free or from $1.99/mo
  • 15 GB for free

icloud photos logo
iCloud Photos
FOR MAC USERS
  • Free or from $0.99/mo
  • 5 GB for free

imageshack logo
ImageShack
FOR MOBILE
  • Free 30-day trial or from $3.99/mo
  • 10 GB in free trial

unsplash free image hosting
Unsplash
MILLIONS IMAGES
  • Free or from $8/mo
  • 10 photos/week for free

dropbox logo
Dropbox
SAFE SYNC
  • Free or from $11.99/mo
  • 5 GB of storage for free

imgbox logo
Imgbox
FOR BEGINNERS
  • Free
  • Unlimited storage

icedrive free image hosting
Icedrive
FOR TEAMS
  • Free or from $4.99/mo
  • 10GB of free storage

imagebam logo
ImageBam
ZIP FILES
  • Free
  • 10MB download limit for pictures

imgbb logo
ImgBB
EASY TO USE
  • Free or from $12.99/mo
  • Unlimited storage

image venue logo
ImageVenue
FOR JPEG
  • Free
  • 3GB of storage

gifyu logo
Gifyu
BATCH UPLOADS
  • Free or from $5/mo
  • 5000 images/day

postimage logo
PostImage
FOR SHARING
  • Free
  • 12MB images

amazon prime photos free image hosting
Amazon Prime Photos
CLOUD-BASED
  • Free with Amazon Prime Membership
  • Unlimited storage

Image hosting sites are especially popular among photographers and businesses that work with tons of images every day. Many of the platforms provide a decent amount of space for picture storage, backups, and intuitive tools to upload and enhance images. My recommendation is to select websites that use end-to-end encryption to make sure that your photos or other personal data are safe.

If you need to build a website with multimedia assets, then your task is to download the program for hosting and sharing videos. Furthermore, many photo hosting services do not only support such common file formats as JPG, PNG, and GIF but also such rarely used formats as HEIC and WEBP. So, if you are going to store images of such rare formats, check if the selected platform accepts them.

1. SmugMug

(5/5) Cloud-secured

free image hosting smugmug
Pros
  • Unlimited storage
  • You can set up your online store
  • There are picture-editing tools
  • There are tariffs for beginners and professionals
Cons
  • A 14-day free trial period

Verdict: SmugMug is an online picture hosting service for storing and displaying photos with a customizable homepage and a lot of design templates. I was impressed that this photo sharing site offers a set of simple image editing tools. It can’t replace Photoshop in terms of photo improvement but it’s suitable for standard procedures.

Besides, the tool integrates with professional labs to deliver top-rated print products to clients, which makes it especially convenient for companies seeking to streamline business processes. Such functionality of the image hosting platform is more than beneficial.

2. Flickr

(4.5/5) Community

free image hosting flickr
Pros
  • Extensive tagging functionality
  • Plain interface
  • It’s easy to organize images into albums
  • Great stock site with billions of photos
Cons
  • You can upload up to 1000 photos for free
  • No batch download tool

Verdict: This website to upload photos is used for storing and sharing pictures. You can organize images into albums or edit them in the application. Another advantage I appreciate is the social network, where you can join groups by genre of photography, share your photos, and leave comments for your favorite images.

Thanks to the statistical engine, I could track, who views my photos. Also, there are simple drag-and-drop tools that help me to organize the space. For me as a photographer, the most considerable downside is that the platform only allows me to download a maximum of 1000 high-resolution pics or videos for free. More storage becomes available after purchasing a subscription.

3. Adobe Portfolio

(4.5/5) Website creation

free image hosting adobe portfolio
Pros
  • A lot of storage options
  • Easy to create a multi-page site
  • Has a subscription to Adobe programs
  • Hosting is unlimited
Cons
  • You can’t sell photos on the platform
  • May be expensive

Verdict: Adobe Portfolio is one of the best free image hosting sites for Creative Cloud users. With its help, you can create an online portfolio and share your photos. The platform offers easy-to-customize templates and layouts to make your portfolio more professional and attractive. Users can tweak the design according to their needs and preferences to align with their aesthetic taste and present their works in the best possible light.

Adobe Portfolio offers unlimited hosting and a personalized URL. Also, you have the possibility to automatically resize your photos in order to optimize download and viewing time.

4. Pixabay

(4.5/5) High-quality images

free image hosting pixabay
Pros
  • There is an online community
  • No attribution needed
  • You can select the resolution of the photo before uploading
  • A lot of free images for commercial purposes
Cons
  • 40MB limitation
  • Restrictions for new users

Verdict: Pixabay is a mix of hosting and online community that publishes high-quality images and videos without copyright.

Your photo must be checked by the editor whether it meets the quality requirements of the website before you can publish it. The main disadvantage is that newcomers can only make seven uploads per week. Although over time this limit for users who add high-quality photos may increase, such limitations on stock video sites are disappointing even for those who have just started.

5. Imgur

(4.5/5) GIF files

free image hosting imgur
Pros
  • Supports different formats, not only JPG
  • Offers direct linking
  • Supports the majority of social networks
  • Mobile apps for Android and iOS
Cons
  • Some photos are compressed
  • Doesn’t support the PSD format

Verdict: Imgur is an online service for uploading, storing, and sharing photos. The number of photos that you can upload is no more than 50 images per hour from a single IP address. File storage time is unlimited. It impressed me that you don’t need an account to upload images. You can register for free to create albums and add signatures.

Besides storing photos, this free image hosting allows searching to find funny pictures, cropping, or resizing your photos using the online editor. Imgur differs from similar services as it allows direct linking. Each image has its own URL, which you can post on social networks or within the Imgur community.

6. 500px

(4/5) Social network

free image hosting 500px
Pros
  • You can sell your photos on the website
  • Affordable prices for a subscription
  • The main focus on photography
  • Android and iOS apps
Cons
  • Restricted number of pics to upload
  • No direct links

Verdict: 500px is often considered the best free website to upload pictures for professional photographers. Its main function is to showcase images, without sharing them on social networks. You can’t generate links to other sites, however, you can share your photos on the website and leave comments.

As for me, an interesting feature of this stock photography site is the possibility to earn on your photos. You can create a profile and license your photos as stock ones. You will be paid up to 60% commission for any sale.

7. Google Photos

(4/5) Affordable

free image hosting google photos
Pros
  • Easily synchronizes with different devices
  • Offers standard picture-improving tools
  • Sharing functions
  • Integrates seamlessly with all Google tools
Cons
  • Free version with restricted storage
  • Integration with popular CMS systems could be better

Verdict: Google Photos is a service for storing images for free. This photo organizing software has an automatic backup feature so that you don’t need to worry about losing photos. Here you can edit and organize your photos in a way so that you can easily find them when needed.

The more I use this photo hosting website, the more technological goodies are unveiled to me. The tool identifies my habits and categorizes my images for a seamless and more efficient content organization. Mobile users can take advantage of a separate app to synchronize images with their Google profile.

8. iCloud Photos

(4/5) For Mac users

free image hosting icloud photos
Pros
  • Several users can easily add photos
  • Simple photo sharing tools
  • You can tag people, places, and things
  • Syncs photos between Apple devices
Cons
  • For Mac and iOS only
  • Amount of uploading space is 5GB

Verdict: iCloud Photos is a service for uploading photos on Mac and iOS devices. You can upload photos share them with friends, and tag users in photos and locations.

The major benefit of this platform is that it uploads all photos and videos to the cloud gallery automatically. I also appreciate having constant access to my photos from my iPhone, iPad, and Mac as the tool synchronizes all my assets across various devices instantly without any manual effort. This means that I can take some incredible shots on one device and view them worry-free from another.

9. ImageShack

(4/5) For mobile

free image hosting imageshack
Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • You can add tags
  • There are mobile and web versions
  • Simple photo organization
Cons
  • You can use it for free for 30 days only
  • Limited storage space in a free version

Verdict: ImageShack has a Pinterest-like interface and is used for uploading and sharing photos. You can organize your photos in albums and add tags to track images. You can also hide images from other participants or share them only with the selected audience.

Once all my files are downloaded, the tool provides me with the URL for each image so I can add these links to the bulletin board or a website to allow specific users to view and manipulate images.

10. Unsplash

(4/5) Millions of images

free image hosting unsplash
Pros
  • Has an editor with drag-and-drop functionality
  • Anyone has the right to upload pics
  • Intuitive UI
  • Offers a free version
Cons
  • Many restrictions
  • Absence of some handy features

Verdict: Unsplash's is a photo hosting website that boasts an intuitive UI and democratic licensing terms, so this is an ideal solution for those who need a highly functional tool for finding and sharing pics without having trouble with copyright restrictions.

Although this service has limitations and does not allow uploading and using as many media assets as you’d like, this is one of the most optimal variants for novice photographers.

Other goodies offered by this Unsplash are the collection of high-quality and free pics where creatives can find everything they need for making original projects. Besides, all the content is divided into categories and themes catering to the needs of photographers from any field. Another standout feature is the diverse collection of spans.

11. Dropbox

(4/5) Safe sync

free image hosting dropbox
Pros
  • A lot of storage space
  • There is a mobile application for Android and iOS
  • Collaboration tool
  • The offline viewing mode
Cons
  • No photo-improving tools
  • Lacks photo tagging

Verdict: Dropbox is a virtual box for storing your photos. You can use this cloud storage for photos for free to store up to 5GB of photos. Images are kept on the cloud and you can access them at any time and from any gadget. The backup is done automatically.

An intuitive photo-sharing process that only requires copying the link to a pic is another attractive aspect of Dropbox. Conveniently, the service allows the sharing of both single files and whole folders. However, I was disappointed by the fact this free image hosting platform does not offer picture editing tools but lets you collaborate with the team when creating your designs.

12. Imgbox

(4/5) For beginners

imgbox interface
Pros
  • Unlimited storage space and time
  • Hotlinking
  • Registration-free
  • Simple tools
Cons
  • You can’t create a title or description
  • Supports only 3 image formats

Verdict: Imgbox is another free service for uploading and displaying images. It has such tools as drag and drop feature, direct links, user-friendly codes, and image galleries. Also, using Imgbox, you can share your pictures on social networks and leave comments.

It’s amazing that on this online picture hosting service, you can permanently store photos. You don’t need to have an account to upload images. You will have to register to access your photos next time. Besides, the account allows you to upload shots with predefined settings faster.

13. Icedrive

(4/5) For teams

free image hosting icedrive
Pros
  • Focus on privacy with no zero-knowledge encryption
  • Straightforward UI and application for mobile phones
  • Compatible with an array of file formats
  • Protects files with a password
Cons
  • The free plan offers restricted storage (10GB)
  • No ability to upload files that weigh more than 2GB

Verdict: Focus on privacy is one of the brightest features of Icedrive. Those who have purchased the paid package can benefit from zero-knowledge encryption, which means that your encryption keys can't be seen by anyone, including the service provider. Another great plus is the ability to add password protection and expiration dates to your public sharing links.

Photographers can use 10GB of storage for free, which is quite generous but not sufficient. Unlimited uploads, massive storage, and fast download speeds are only available for those who purchased one of the packages.

14. ImageBam

(4/5) For ZIP files

free image hosting imagebam
Pros
  • Intuitive platform
  • You can upload as many photos as you want
  • You can upload multiple photos
  • Generates thumbnails in the JPEG or GIF format
Cons
  • Restricted image size
  • Not all image formats are available

Verdict: ImageBam is one of the free image hosting sites for an unlimited number of JPG, GIF, and PNG images. The service has one “trick” that distinguishes it from others – the possibility to download compressed ZIP files with a size of up to 250MB.

This image-uploading website mainly focuses on posting photos rather than creating a community. Registration is not necessary but registered users can use additional tools to manage and organize pictures.

15. ImgBB

(4/5) Easy to use

free image hosting imgbb
Pros
  • Minimalistic hosting
  • Direct links, BB codes, and thumbnails
  • Unlimited upload
  • Supports all main image formats
Cons
  • 32MB photo size limit
  • Does not allow editing pics

Verdict: ImgBB is a minimalistic hosting website where you can upload photos to share with other users. You can upload an unlimited number of photos, however, there is a size limit – less than 32MB. Your photos can remain on the site without time limits.

I was glad to know that it’s not necessary to register for this service. However, all my pictures were reviewed by editors. Another great thing about this service is the absence of annoying advertising. There are only a couple of ads on the main page but you can quickly hide them.

16. ImageVenue

(4/5) For JPEG

image venue interface
Pros
  • You can upload a large number of photos
  • Unlimited storage time
  • Tools and filters for photo organizing
  • A lot of upload options
Cons
  • Accepts images up to 10MB
  • Storage capacity is 3GB per month

Verdict: ImageVenue is hosting for uploading JPEG images. This service allows you to resize large photos and maintain their quality when downloading. You can upload as many images as you want. Here you can share digital photos with friends, and post images on message boards and blogs.

ImageVenue allows users to organize their images using the «ADULT content» and «FAMILY safe» filters for safe viewing and uploading.

Photos remain on ImageVenue servers forever. However, if you lose access and don’t use the server for over 1 year, then the photos will disappear without the possibility to restore them. A lot of bloggers, forum users, and eBay sellers choose ImageVenue to upload photos to share them with the public.

17. Gifyu

(4/5) Batch uploads

gifyu interface
Pros
  • Gives direct links, HTML codes, and BBCodes
  • 50MB photo size limit
  • Large GIF throttling
  • You don’t need to register to create an album
Cons
  • Ads in the free version
  • Bulk importer in the paid version

Verdict: Gifyu is a service for hosting files from your computer or using a URL. It supports GIF, PNG, JPG, and BMP files with a size of no more than 50MB.

Using Gifyu, you can upload images and after that you will get direct links, view links, HTML codes, and BBCodes. All images are published in a shared gallery or a private album that is available only through a special link.

18. PostImage

(4/5) For sharing

postimage interface
Pros
  • Online and desktop versions
  • Easy to publish on social media and forums
  • Batch image uploading
  • Screenshot tools
Cons
  • You can upload images smaller than 12MB
  • No photo improving tools

Verdict: PostImage is another sample of free photo sharing sites for photographers, which you can use without registration. It allows you to create a gallery or individual photos with a unique link to share with other users. You can resize your photos while uploading them. By default, pictures are stored on the website with no time limits but you can also set the terms yourself.

PostImage is a great free image hosting for forums. There is an image upload mode on the website that will help you share photos within seconds.

19. Amazon Prime Photos

(4/5) Cloud-based

free image hosting amazon prime photos
Pros
  • Amazon Prime members can enjoy unlimited storage space
  • Mobile application for a trouble-free backup
  • Synchronization across all devices
  • Preserves the original image resolution when storing files
Cons
  • Bad privacy policy
  • Somewhat restricted toolkit for experienced photographers

Verdict: The greatest benefit of Amazon Prime Photos is that it allows its members to use as much storage as they may need. If you are a shooter or just a hobbyist whose collection is overloaded with pics, the platform is the greatest solution to backup all your files.

Amazon Prime Photos also attracts users with the ability to detect faces and group them into different albums. With this feature, organizing and finding a specific file in your archive will be an easy task. Besides, all the images uploaded to the service have basic metadata like the name of the camera, shutter speed, aperture, shooting date and time, and file size and resolution. So, if you want to keep track of settings and details for each pic, this option is what you need.

My Tests

I have compiled a table to compare these programs I use by their main features. The most budget-friendly option is Flickr, but you won't get unlimited storage like with the paid version of SmugMug.

SmugMug Flickr Adobe Portfolio Pixabay Imgur

Imgur

Unlimited

1,000 photos for free

5 sites & unlimited pages

7 uploads per 7 days for new users

Unlimited

Image Size Limit

3GB

200 MB

-

40MB

20MB

Editing Tools

✔️

✔️

✔️

Free Version

✔️

✔️

✔️

FAQ

  • • What is a photo hosting website?

Image hosting websites provide users with storage space where they can upload and keep their images. The service gives each user a unique code or link through which they can access or share files with others on the web.

  • • Why is image hosting beneficial?

Using such sites, you can spare the space on your device keeping all the files on the platforms. Besides, such services simplify sharing files with a wider audience. Some of the platforms offer tools and features to help you with the management and organization of your image collection, which is a real boon for photographers demonstrating their works.

  • • What are the best social media platforms for sharing images?

If you are in search of social media platforms for photographers to showcase your photos, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook are the best variants. These pages are specifically designed to provide users with the ability to present their photos digitally to view portfolios of others.

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