123RF vs Pixabay:Which is searched more?
In September 2026, Pixabay had more branded searches than 123RF among stock photo libraries worldwide. Pixabay had about 3.4 million branded searches, while 123RF had 75,700. Pixabay made up 38% of all stock photo library searches we track, and 123RF accounted for 0.86%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Is 123RF or Pixabay more popular in search?
Compare services and tools used to license stock photography for creative projects. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of searches by month for Pixabay, 123RF. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Pixabay | Pexels | Unsplash | Getty Images | iStock | Alamy | 123RF | Depositphotos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.3% | 24.3% | 19.9% | 10.9% | 5.2% | 1.6% | 0.99% | 0.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.1% | 24.8% | 20.3% | 9.1% | 5.3% | 1.7% | 0.83% | 0.82% |
| Dec 2025 | 39.1% | 26.2% | 17.5% | 9.6% | 4.7% | 1.5% | 0.88% | 0.71% |
| Jan 2026 | 39% | 26.1% | 17.4% | 9.6% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 0.87% | 0.71% |
| Feb 2026 | 34.3% | 28.1% | 18.7% | 10.3% | 4.9% | 1.9% | 0.94% | 0.76% |
| Mar 2026 | 36% | 24.1% | 19.7% | 10.8% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 38.9% | 26.1% | 17.4% | 9.6% | 4.6% | 2.1% | 0.72% | 0.7% |
| May 2026 | 34.6% | 28.3% | 18.9% | 10.4% | 4.1% | 1.9% | 0.94% | 0.93% |
| Jun 2026 | 38% | 25.4% | 17% | 11.6% | 4.4% | 2% | 0.85% | 0.69% |
| Jul 2026 | 33.5% | 27.4% | 18.3% | 12.4% | 4.8% | 2.2% | 0.75% | 0.74% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.7% | 28.3% | 19% | 10.5% | 4% | 1.9% | 0.78% | 0.77% |
| Sep 2026 | 38% | 25.4% | 17% | 11.5% | 4.4% | 2.1% | 0.86% | 0.69% |
How has the 123RF and Pixabay comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Pixabay was ahead of 123RF in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, 123RF’s share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide moved from 0.99% to 0.86%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 112K to 75.7K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pixabay’s share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide moved from 36.3% to 38%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
How did search popularity change for stock photo libraries worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Pixabay gained share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide, from 34.7% to 38%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for 123RF worldwide fell 32.2% over 12 measured months, from 112K to 75.7K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using 123RF’s and Pixabay’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among stock photo libraries
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