FAQ
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Pixabay is a vibrant community of creatives, sharing royalty-free HD photos and stock images, new illustration vectors, high-quality videos, popular animated GIFs and best audio music that are free to download. All contents are released under the Pixabay License, which makes them safe to use without attribution - even for commercial purposes.
To upload photos, videos, music, illustrations, GIFs, sound-effects and vectors, you need to be a registered user on Pixabay first. If you are not yet registered, you can sign up here. Once you have signed up you can upload any media by clicking the "upload” button in the top right corner of the page.
You can copy, modify, distribute, and use the Pixabay's royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, videos, music, GIFs, vectors and sound effects, even for commercial purposes. However, depicted content may still be protected by trademarks, publicity or privacy rights. Learn more about the Pixabay license.
Pixabay photos, illustrations, videos, music, animated GIFs, vectors and sound effects are free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. However, depicted content may still be protected by trademarks, publicity or privacy rights. While no payment is needed to use the media, it is always appreciated when you credit the contributor as it provides exposure to their work and encourages them to continue sharing. While not required, we also allow users to make donations to contributors. Find out how below under Downloads and Donations.
To download any media (stock photos, illustrations, videos, music, animated GIFs, vectors and sound effects), go to the specific media page of the content that you want to download, then click the ‘Free Download' button. Choose the size and click ‘Download'. You will need to sign up to download full resolution photos and videos, you can sign up here.
Canva purchased Pixabay back in 2019. Since then, we've continued to operate as Pixabay and will continue to do so. This entity change is an organizational and administrative change only. It does not impact our brand or community.
License & Terms
The golden rule of thumb is to consider whether the product you are creating effectively amounts to reselling the original image and whether a reasonable person on the street would look side-by-side at the original image and your product and consider them to be identical (or effectively identical).
If you've made some creative effort to incorporate a photo into a broader design, this should generally be sufficient (see examples in the next question below). Applying a filter over a photo, minor cropping, or simply changing some colours will generally not be enough.
- Adding the photo to a video montage.
- Incorporation into a greater work (e.g. adding it to a book, app, game).
- Adding the photo to any work where the reason someone would buy it is because of what you have made, rather than the image.
Digitally printing images onto a canvas or wallpaper for sale is not allowed if there were no significant changes made to the image(s).
Yes, you can use the images in any way you want for personal use.
Yes – but only if they are significantly altered, as mentioned above.
Yes, you can use Pixabay images for your logo. However, you cannot claim ownership of any images on Pixabay, which means you cannot register your logo as a trademark. Kindly check our Terms of Service for further information.
We suggest removing things like logos, trademarks or any other features that may identify a particular brand, as those items are likely to be trademarked or protected in some way, and reproduction of those marks (especially in a commercial way) may result in legal implications.
Yes, in this case you are incorporating the media into a greater work. People would buy the book for the book itself (reading it) and not for the media you are using.
It is best to contact the artist and inquire about a model release if a person is recognisable.
Please note that the patent or trademark rights of any person are not affected by our license, so we encourage our users to always check whether they have all rights to use such content.
The general license applied to the content you upload to Pixabay means we're able to use this content for the development of responsible AI models and the creation of exciting new features. We believe that everything at Pixabay starts with our incredible community of contributors, and we want to ensure transparency around how your content is used in addition to the ability to opt-out of using your content for AI and machine learning.
By allowing us to use your content for AI and ML training, your content helps others by
- Responsible AI model training: By allowing us to use your content, you help improve responsible AI models. This contributes to a future where the leading AI models are the responsibly and ethically trained ones, made possible by contributors like you.
- Detecting AI-generated content: In addition to generative AI, we are working on systems that can detect if something is AI-generated or not to ensure authenticity as this technology continues to evolve. This requires a large & diverse set of non-AI and AI content to compare against.
- Improving diversity, representation, and safety: Your content helps contribute to AI models being more inclusive and representative of different cultures, races, and genders. Additionally, your participation helps in creating a safer community where we can detect and remove prohibited or illegal content.
If you would prefer we don't use your content for future training of our AI models, you can opt out by updating your preferences in your Account settings by clicking here and toggle off the "AI training” section.
Upload Guidelines
No. Uploading fan art or altered versions of existing content (like movie characters, celebrity images, or well-known games) is not allowed unless the original is in the public domain or you have clear written permission from the copyright holder.
Learn more: Intellectual Property Explained
Be careful with content that features trademarks—like company logos, product packaging, or brand slogans. Even if these appear in your photos, illustrations, or AI-generated content, uploading them may lead to legal issues or removal.
Learn more about trademarks and platform safety: Intellectual Property Explained
AI content is welcome on Pixabay, but it must be original, clearly labeled, and free from copyrighted styles, trademarks, or depictions of real people. You must check the "AI-generated” box when uploading and follow the guidelines to ensure it doesn't mimic or reuse protected work.
Read our full guide on AI and copyright: Intellectual Property Explained
You are not allowed to upload media that have signatures, watermarks or are advertisement. This can be considered spamming and might lead to the closure of your account. You can also check our blog regarding upload guidelines for more information.
Pixabay is a free photo, illustration, video and music sharing website powered by our generous community of photographers, videographers, illustrators and musicians. While not required, users can make donations to artists to thank them for their contributions. Find out how under Downloads & Donations.
Uploads are declined if they do not meet our quality guidelines. Learn more.
It usually takes a few minutes for new media to show up in your profile. In rare cases, it may take a few days. If many uploads are missing, please check our forum (https://pixabay.com/forum/) for any outages or contact us.
An upload that is marked as "Published" only appears in your profile.
An upload that is marked as "Featured" appears in your profile and additionally also shows up in the Pixabay search.
Audio can be uploaded in the file formats of either MP3, WAV, AAC,FLAC, AIF and M4A up to 100MB and < 15 minutes.
We update play numbers once a day, so it will take up to 24 hours for you to see changes. Please create a post here if you are still having issues after 24 hours.
Downloads & Donations
Yes, you can use Pixabay (stock photos, illustrations, videos, music, animated GIFs, vectors and sound effects) on social media platforms.
You can donate by clicking the "Donate” button right after downloading any kind of media. Alternatively, you can donate by going to the user's profile and by clicking the green ‘Donate' button found alongside the ‘Message' & ‘More options' buttons on the top right part of their profile page.
Currently, artists can only receive donations through PayPal. Please indicate your PayPal email address or Merchant ID through the settings page. The Merchant ID is a 13 digit code, which can be found on your PayPal account's settings page.
We only accept PayPal for donations to users.
Account & Settings
You can delete your upload(s) on the My Media page. Just click the avatar photo on the top right of the menu then click 'My Media' in the dropdown. Hover over the content and click on the pencil icon that appears > Select ‘Settings' > ‘Delete media'.
Please note, if your Content has any downloads, your content will be deleted from search results, but the URLs will continue to live on our website archivally as a reference for the benefit of Pixabay community members who have already downloaded your Content. This is because when you upload Content to Pixabay you agree to the broad Pixabay license in our Pixabay Terms of Service, which means that you grant an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty free license to your Content, and warrant that you have obtained all necessary approvals and that your Content does not infringe any third party rights. This allows us to offer our vibrant Pixabay community a way to download royalty-free content for their commercial or non-commercial use, and reference back to where that content came from if they need to in future.
If you're having any trouble with deleting your uploads, please contact us and we'd be happy to help once we have verified your account.
A deactivation link for this purpose is given on the settings page of your account.
API, Partnerships & Trademark Policy
Yes, we do have an API. Learn all about it in the API documentation
Anyone who uses Canva's trademarks must comply with Canva's Trademark Policy. This Policy sets out Canva's requirements around referring to or using Canva's trademarks. Find more info here.
Community
You can find all guidelines on our blog.
Your profile allows you to create your own space on Pixabay. It will represent your portfolio and whatever you want to share with the community. Learn more about how to get the most out of your profile.
You can either ask your question on the forum or contact us directly.
Yes, anyone can contribute to the Pixabay forum here. Please check out our forum rules and communication guidelines.
Music
Under the Pixabay Content License, you can't sell or distribute content (either in digital or physical form) on a standalone basis (i.e. where no creative effort has been applied to the content and it remains substantially the same form as it exists on the Pixabay website).
So long as you've created a unique, original creative work, the Pixabay license does allow use for both non-commercial and commercial purposes.
However, distributing music via DSPs (such as Spotify, Apple Music, or similar platforms) may involve additional platform or distributor requirements. It is the user's responsibility to ensure that their final work does not improperly claim, restrict, or monetise the original Pixabay track, and that any third-party permissions or licenses required by a distributor are satisfied.
Attribution or revenue sharing isn't required, but you're welcome to credit the original creator if you'd like. Suggested format: "by [Contributor] via Pixabay".
You can read more about the license here: Pixabay Content License Summary
Yes. You may use Pixabay music in commercial video projects, including content you sell or distribute (such as client videos, promotional materials, or paid training content), as long as the music is part of a larger creative work and not distributed as a standalone file.
Yes. Music from Pixabay can be used in content published on OTT or subscription platforms (e.g. documentaries, short films, branded content), provided the music is embedded as part of a creative project and not distributed separately or claimed as your own.
Yes. Pixabay music can be used as background or intro/outro music in podcasts and audiobooks, provided the music is not offered on its own or in a way that mimics a music distribution service.
Content ID is YouTube's automated copyright detection system. When a video is uploaded, YouTube scans it against a database of registered music, videos, and other media. If a match is found, the system may place a Content ID claim on the video based on the rights holder's preferences.
Even though music on Pixabay is free to use under the Pixabay Content License, some contributors or their distributors may choose to register their tracks with Content ID. This can result in automated claims even when the track is used legally.
No. A Content ID claim is not a copyright strike.
- Content ID Claim: May affect monetisation, visibility, or regional availability. It does not affect your channel standing.
- Copyright Strike: A formal takedown request from a rights holder that does affect your channel. Three strikes can lead to account termination.
Some contributors upload their tracks to Pixabay for free use but also register them with Content ID (directly or via a distributor). As a result, Content ID may flag your video even if you used the track legally under the Pixabay license.
Contributors may register their music with Content ID to:
- Monitor how and where their music is used on YouTube
- Prevent unauthorized re-uploads or misuse
- Monetise their work on other platforms while still offering it freely on Pixabay
This helps creators protect their work, but it can result in automated claims even for properly licensed use.
Canva integrates audio tracks from Pixabay into its media library. If you used music from Canva that originated on Pixabay, it is still covered by the Pixabay Content License.
However, the same rules apply: if the contributor has registered their track with Content ID, your video may still trigger a claim. You can dispute the claim using the same steps outlined below, using your Canva project or download information as supporting documentation.
1. Go to YouTube Studio → Content
2. Find the video with the claim and click "See Details"
3. Click "Dispute" and choose "I have permission or a license to use the content"
4. In the message box, include:
- The track title
- The track URL on Pixabay
- A link to the Pixabay license: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/
- A short explanation of how the music is used in your video
You can also follow this guide for step-by-step help.
You may submit a second-level appeal, but please note:
- If the rights holder rejects the appeal again, it could escalate to a copyright strike
- Only proceed if you're confident your use complies with the Pixabay Content License
- Keep records of your downloads (file name, screenshots, or project files)
- Only download music directly from the official Pixabay site
- Avoid uploading music-only content (e.g. static images with just an audio track), which is more likely to be flagged
- If you want to reduce the likelihood of automated claims, you may prefer tracks not registered with Content ID
- Tracks displaying a shield icon are registered with Content ID and may trigger claims, which can usually be disputed using the Download certificate
These platforms also use automated detection systems that may mute or block content. If this happens:
- Dispute using the same information you would provide for YouTube
- Include the track link and Pixabay license summary
- If needed, direct the platform to contact info@pixabay.com for verification
License certificates are available for tracks registered with YouTube's Content ID. For other tracks, users should keep the download link, file name, and the Pixabay Content License summary as proof of permitted use.
This may occur due to a mismatch in our detection system or because accompanying assets (such as album art or thumbnails) include copyrighted elements. For example, using images of well-known people, characters, or brands without rights may trigger a flag even if the audio itself is original.
Yes. Using AI tools to add lyrics, vocals, or otherwise adapt Pixabay music is allowed as long as the final result is a new, original creative work and the music is not redistributed on a standalone basis. Using AI does not change the Pixabay license rules. However, users are responsible for ensuring their final work complies with platform and distributor requirements and does not improperly claim or restrict the original Pixabay track.
Technical Questions
New contributors will start with an upload limit of 60 files. Consistent uploads of good or great quality content will boost your upload limit by 10 files, on a rolling basis.
Whilst you won't find any strong violence and/or highly explicit content on Pixabay, we do accept nude photography and other visual content that might be considered offensive to some users. In order to filter out these search results, you can make use of our SafeSearch filter. Learn more here.
Content Moderation
Pixabay employs a blend of automated tools and human moderators to identify and address content or behavior that violates our Terms of Service. This includes media, user comments, and forum discussions. Content that has been reported to us, or flagged as potentially violative by our automated systems, is reviewed by our team.
Upon detecting a violation, we take various actions, typically notifying the content owner via email. These actions may include:
- Content removal: Offending media is removed from the platform.
- Account suspension: Access to Pixabay may be temporarily or permanently suspended.
- Visibility restriction: Content may only be visible when Safe Search mode is deactivated.
Accounts primarily used to violate our Terms of Service or perpetuate serious harms are immediately permanently suspended. Repeated violations over time may also result in permanent suspension.
To report content, use Pixabay's in-product reporting feature found in the information panel. On desktop click the flag icon to report a violation, on mobile select (i) and 'Report'.
Alternatively you can use this form.
If you believe your content was incorrectly removed, restricted, or your account suspended, you can appeal by emailing info@pixabay.com within 180 days of receiving the decision. If you report content as violating EU law, you will also have the option to appeal our decision.
In your email, include the ID number from the original decision email, a reference to the content or account, and evidence supporting your appeal. Upon review, we'll notify you of the outcome. Successful appeals result in content or account restoration. For content reporters, successful appeals result in action being taken against the reported content or account.
For EU users, additional redress options are available, including challenges through out-of-court settlement or a competent court. Refer to our FAQ page 'Digital Services Act' for more information.