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Design tools · Alternatives
Best Pexels alternatives in India (2026)
Pexels is a design tools product from Pexels (Canva), Berlin, priced at Free with a free plan. We compared 20 alternatives on published price, free plan, platforms and made-in-India support: 17 have a free plan, 2 are built in India.
Quick answer
The closest alternatives to Pexels are Unsplash (Free), GIMP (Free), Stencil (Free plan), Shutterstock (₹2,500/mo) and Darktable (Free). Unsplash is the top-ranked option with a free plan. Published prices in this list start at ₹1,700/month.
Why businesses look for a Pexels alternative
Indian support and GST
Pexels is built in Germany. 2 alternatives are made in India, where GST, TDS and UPI are usually handled natively and support runs on IST.
Pexels alternatives compared
Ranked by how closely each product matches Pexels's category, pricing model, platforms and business size, then by rating. Prices exclude GST.
| # | Software | Starting price | Free plan | Platforms | Made in India | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Pexels (current) | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.4/5 | — |
| 1 | Unsplash | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 2 |  GIMP | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.7/5 | |
| 3 |  Stencil | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 4 |  Shutterstock | ₹2,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 5 |  Darktable | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 6 |  Icons8 | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 7 |  Noun Project | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 8 |  Adobe Photoshop | ₹1,700/mo | No | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 9 |  Inkscape | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.7/5 | |
| 10 |  Krita | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.7/5 | |
| 11 |  Erase.bg | Free plan | Yes | Web | Yes | 4.4/5 | |
| 12 |  BeFunky | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 13 |  Affinity Photo | ₹6,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 14 |  Fotor | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 15 |  Remove.bg | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 16 |  Photoroom | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 17 |  Pixlr | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 18 |  Photopea | Free plan | Yes | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 19 |  Hatchful by Shopify | Free | Yes | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 20 |  Fontshare | Free | Yes | Web | Yes | 4.6/5 |
Top 10 Pexels alternatives in detail
3. Stencil
Stencil · Toronto · Design tools · 4.2/5
Browser-based image maker for quick social media graphics, blog headers and ads using templates and stock photos.
Free plan
Free plan available
₹2,500/mo
Free trial
Compared with Pexels
- No free plan, unlike Pexels
Compared with Pexels
- Open source
Free plan
Free plan available
Free plan
Free plan available
₹1,700/mo
Free trial
Compared with Pexels
- No free plan, unlike Pexels
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Pexels alternatives by what you need
Lowest published price
Free Pexels alternatives
Indian alternatives to Pexels
How to choose a Pexels alternative
- Match the tool to the user: Canva for marketers, Figma for product teams, Adobe for professional creatives.
- Check brand-kit and template governance for teams.
- AI features are now standard — compare quality, not presence.
Pexels alternatives — FAQs
What is the best alternative to Pexels in 2026?+
The closest matches to Pexels on App Advisor are Unsplash (Free), GIMP (Free), Stencil (Free plan). They are ranked by how closely their category, pricing model, platforms and target business size match Pexels, then by rating. The best choice depends on your team size and budget.
Is there a free alternative to Pexels?+
Yes. 17 of the 20 alternatives listed have a free plan or are free: Unsplash (Free), GIMP (Free), Stencil (Free plan). Free plans usually cap users, records or transactions, so check the limits against your monthly volume.
What is the cheapest alternative to Pexels?+
Among alternatives that publish a price, Adobe Photoshop starts lowest at ₹1,700/mo. Unsplash also has a free plan. Prices are read from each vendor's website and exclude GST.
Is there an Indian alternative to Pexels?+
Yes. 2 alternatives are built in India, including Erase.bg (Free plan), Fontshare (Free). Indian products usually handle GST, TDS and UPI natively and bill in rupees.
Pexels vs Unsplash: which is better?+
Unsplash is the closest match to Pexels in our catalogue. Compare them side by side before you book a demo.
How were these Pexels alternatives chosen?+
Every product listed sits in design tools or a category Pexels also covers, and Pexels (Canva)'s own products are excluded. Prices, free plans and platforms come from each vendor's official website. App Advisor does not sell any of this software.
Free shortlist
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Related alternatives
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