Brandwave

How popular isPixabay?

In September 2026, people searched for Pixabay by name about 3.4 million times worldwide, an 18.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 38% of all global stock photo library searches, placing Pixabay first out of eight libraries. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about stock photo libraries, Pixabay appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Pixabay is the most searched of 8 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PixabayShare of searches 38%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. PexelsShare of searches 25.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. UnsplashShare of searches 17%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. Getty ImagesShare of searches 11.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. iStockShare of searches 4.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th

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Top stock photo libraries in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pixabay was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Pixabay is the fifth most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Unsplash1st
  2. Pexels2nd
  3. Getty Images3rd
  4. iStock4th
  5. Pixabay5th
  6. Alamy6th
  7. Depositphotos7th
  8. 123RF–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Unsplash5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pexels4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pixabay3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Getty Images3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • iStock2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Alamy1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Depositphotos1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • 123RF0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about stock photo libraries

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which stock photo libraries compete with Pixabay?

Pixabay against stock photo libraries worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Pixabay, Pexels, Unsplash, Getty Images, iStock, Alamy. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPixabayPexelsUnsplashGetty ImagesiStockAlamy123RFDepositphotos
Oct 202536.3%24.3%19.9%10.9%5.2%1.6%0.99%0.8%
Nov 202537.1%24.8%20.3%9.1%5.3%1.7%0.83%0.82%
Dec 202539.1%26.2%17.5%9.6%4.7%1.5%0.88%0.71%
Jan 202639%26.1%17.4%9.6%4.6%1.7%0.87%0.71%
Feb 202634.3%28.1%18.7%10.3%4.9%1.9%0.94%0.76%
Mar 202636%24.1%19.7%10.8%4.3%2.3%1.5%1.5%
Apr 202638.9%26.1%17.4%9.6%4.6%2.1%0.72%0.7%
May 202634.6%28.3%18.9%10.4%4.1%1.9%0.94%0.93%
Jun 202638%25.4%17%11.6%4.4%2%0.85%0.69%
Jul 202633.5%27.4%18.3%12.4%4.8%2.2%0.75%0.74%
Aug 202634.7%28.3%19%10.5%4%1.9%0.78%0.77%
Sep 202638%25.4%17%11.5%4.4%2.1%0.86%0.69%

  1. 1.Pixabay

    38%

    Held 1st. 3.4M estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +3.4 points.

  2. 2.Pexels

    25.4%

    Held 2nd. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.9 points.

  3. 3.Unsplash

    17%

    Held 3rd. 1.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.

  4. 4.Getty Images

    11.5%

    Held 4th. 1M estimated branded searches, +21.5% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  5. 5.iStock

    4.4%

    Held 5th. 384K estimated branded searches, +21.2% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  6. 6.Alamy

    2.1%

    Held 6th. 182K estimated branded searches, +20.9% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  7. 7.123RF

    0.86%

    Held 7th. 75.7K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  8. 8.Depositphotos

    0.69%

    Held 8th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, -0.02% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Pixabay and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Pixabay

17 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Pixabay changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Pixabay worldwide fell from 4.1M to 3.4M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pixabay’s share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide increased from 36.3% to 38%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pixabay’s share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide peaked at 39.1% in December 2025 and was lowest at 33.5% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for stock photo libraries worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Pixabay gained share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide, from 34.7% to 38%.

  2. In September 2026, Getty Images gained share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide, from 10.5% to 11.5%.

  3. In September 2026, Pexels lost share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide, from 28.3% to 25.4%.

  4. In September 2026, Unsplash lost share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide, from 19% to 17%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for iStock worldwide fell 35.1% over 12 measured months, from 591K to 384K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Depositphotos worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 90.6K to 60.5K in September 2026.

How are Pixabay’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pixabay’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • pixabay

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Pixabay compete?

Pixabay is ranked in four competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Stock image sites1st of 730.8%Show ranking
Stock photo libraries1st of 838%Shown above
Stock footage libraries1st of 744.1%Show ranking
Royalty-free music libraries1st of 774.7%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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