Stock images and vector art have become essential assets for marketing and branding professionals who want to build strong brand identities. Both are cost-efficient solutions that save time and money on content production while helping maintain brand consistency and boost a company’s reputation.
That said, finding a large library of high-quality, royalty-free, and commercially available assets can be a challenge. Can you rely on a single platform for all your content needs? Absolutely. From DepositPhotos, which offers royalty-free vector art with clear licensing, to beginner-friendly platforms such as Open Peeps and Undraw, there’s a site for every marketing purpose. Let’s uncover five top-notch websites that provide stock content of unparalleled quality.
3 reasons marketing experts search for vector art
The global vector graphics software market is projected to grow from $3.1 billion in 2024 to $5.2 billion by 2033. Here are the three key reasons driving that growth:
- Scalability without quality loss. Vectors allow marketing specialists to use the same design across multiple channels (social ads, notifications, emails) without pixelation. They save money and time by eliminating the need to create new visuals from scratch.
- Brand flexibility and personalization. Unlike static photos, vector art can be recolored, reshaped, and adapted to match brand guidelines. This flexibility makes vectors one of the best design resources for marketers, enabling them to maintain omnichannel consistency throughout campaigns.
- Modern digital-first appeal. Vector styles are typically clean and flat, resonating with digital audiences and aligning with current design trends. Brands can achieve a modern, forward-looking aesthetic without compromising their visual identity.
5 reliable platforms to source creative assets for marketing purposes
#1. DepositPhotos: Leading library of stock vectors for branding and beyond
DepositPhotos is a creative powerhouse with hundreds of millions of assets, from photos and vector art to videos and sound effects. Founded in 2009, it has grown into a comprehensive platform for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Clear licensing, enterprise plans, and practical features ensure a smooth experience for every user.
When it comes to stock vectors, DepositPhotos offers an extensive, regularly updated collection of themed visuals that fit any design strategy. You can use them to create identity packs, campaign visuals, infographics, and product mockups. Advanced filters let you search by color, orientation, and style to find the perfect match for your creative vision.
DepositPhotos also enables users to customize stock photos with AI-powered editing tools. Remove backgrounds, replace objects, or adjust elements to suit your context. Working in a team? DepositPhotos’ API makes creative collaboration seamless and efficient.
FAQ: How do I choose the right vector style for my campaign?
There are several factors to consider when selecting the right visual style, but start with the basics. Make sure it:
- aligns with your brand identity;
- matches your campaign tone (corporate, friendly, or casual);
- fits the platform context.
Define your audience and test potential styles for readability across different formats. This will help you narrow down your options and choose the one that’s most consistent, effective, and visually engaging.
#2. Open Peeps: Creative platform with royalty-free, people-centered graphics
Open Peeps offers hand-drawn, modular, and human-centric illustrations that are perfect for storytelling campaigns and personal branding. The imagery is versatile and highly customizable—mix and match different elements to create a unique Peep. With over 500,000 possible combinations, you’re unlikely to stumble upon the same character as yours.
Best of all, Open Peeps is completely free and doesn’t require attribution, making it an excellent choice for brands that want to build relatable, diverse personas effortlessly.
#3. UnDraw: Beginner-friendly site with appealing visuals
UnDraw is an open-source platform featuring regularly updated illustrations. While it doesn’t boast millions of creative assets like DepositPhotos, it stands out for simplicity and ease of use. Its SVG format allows effortless color customization, enabling marketers to align designs with their brand palette and create more engaging, results-driven campaigns.
You can also use UnDraw visuals for landing pages, onboarding flows, or explainer sections, maintaining tone and design consistency across touchpoints.
#4. Unblast: Vibrant platform full of free design assets
From black and white to bold and colorful, Unblast offers a wide range of engaging vector graphics. The platform focuses on free design resources that are perfect for mockups, UI kits, and social media ads. Its value for marketers cannot be overstated. If you work in the field, you can use Unblast to test campaigns cost-effectively before investing in premium platforms like DepositPhotos.
One area where Unblast truly shines is prototyping. With its vast collection, you can easily brainstorm, conceptualize, prototype, and pitch campaign ideas to stakeholders—at no cost.
FAQ: Are stock vectors suitable for print and digital ads?
Yes, they are. Vectors scale infinitely without losing quality. Just remember that print designs require CMYK-compatible files, while digital designs use RGB. Always preview your mockups in both formats before final approval to ensure top quality and full compliance with all requirements.
#5. Unsplash: A go-to website for free stock photography
Unsplash is best known for high-quality, free-to-use photos, but the platform also features vector-like assets and icon packs contributed by its creative community. While the vector collection is smaller, these visuals are ideal for lifestyle-driven campaigns that require the perfect balance of visuals.
Unsplash is a valuable source for hybrid campaigns that combine professional photos with vector graphics. Research shows that visuals directly influence engagement on social media, so experimenting with different ratios between the two can deliver better results. For instance, you might favor vectors in social ads while using more photos in product descriptions or blog posts.
Bottom line
Finding the right platform to source royalty-free graphics doesn’t have to be daunting. From more profound sites like DepositPhotos to niche resources focused on versatile people icons, such as Open Peeps, this list can serve as your go-to reference for branding and ad campaigns. Explore each platform and align your choice with your creative and professional needs. Doing so will help you set clear priorities and know where to turn when planning your next campaign.