Openverse is a free search engine for over 800 million openly licensed images, photos, audio, and other media, all available under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain.
What is Openverse?
Openverse is an open-source search platform developed by the WordPress community. It aggregates over 800 million creative works from across the web, allowing users to search for images and audio by keyword, and filter results by license type or content category. The platform indexes content from institutions like museums and libraries, as well as individual creators, and returns results with clear license information for easy reuse.
Key Features
- Massive collection — Over 800 million images and audio files, spanning diverse subjects and styles, all in one searchable index.
- Free and openly licensed — Every work is either in the public domain or under a Creative Commons license, enabling legal reuse for personal or commercial projects.
- Two content types — Search specifically for images or audio, with filters to narrow by license, aspect ratio, and more.
- Dark mode — A built-in dark theme reduces eye strain during nighttime browsing.
- Privacy controls — Analytics are optional; users can opt out via the privacy page.
- Direct attribution — Each result includes attribution text and license details, simplifying compliance for creators.
Who is it for?
- Students and educators — Find copyright-free visuals for presentations, reports, and course materials.
- Content creators — Bloggers, YouTubers, and social media managers can source images and audio without worrying about licensing fees.
- Designers — Access a vast library of stock photos and textures for commercial design projects.
- Researchers — Discover historical images and audio recordings from cultural institutions.
What can you do with Openverse?
- Find images for websites — Search for high-resolution photos and illustrations to complement blog posts or landing pages.
- Get audio for podcasts — Locate royalty-free music and sound effects for intros, transitions, or background tracks.
- Explore museum collections — Browse digitized artifacts and artworks from institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
How does Openverse work?
Openverse indexes metadata from dozens of sources, including cultural heritage institutions and individual creators. Users enter a search term, optionally filter by content type (image or audio) and license, then browse results. Clicking a result shows a full preview, attribution information, and a link to the source. No account or login is required to search or download.
Pricing
Openverse is completely free to use. No subscription or payment is needed to search, view, or download any content.
FAQ
Is Openverse completely free?
Yes, Openverse is free for everyone. All content is either in the public domain or licensed under Creative Commons, meaning you can use it without paying fees.
Can I use images from Openverse for commercial projects?
Yes, but check the specific license for each work. Many Creative Commons licenses allow commercial use; public domain works have no restrictions.
Do I need to credit the creator?
Attribution is required for most Creative Commons licenses. Openverse provides ready-to-use attribution text for each work.
What types of files are available?
Openverse indexes image files (JPEG, PNG, etc.) and audio files (MP3, WAV, etc.). The actual file formats depend on the source.
How do I filter by license?
Use the license filter dropdown on the search results page. Options include "Public Domain," "CC0," "CC BY," "CC BY-NC," and more.
