Brandwave

Depositphotos vs Pexels:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Pexels had more branded searches than Depositphotos among stock photo libraries worldwide. Pexels had about 2.2 million branded searches, while Depositphotos had 60,500. Pexels made up 25.4% of all stock photo library searches we track, and Depositphotos accounted for 0.69%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about stock photo libraries, Pexels appeared in four of the five answers and Depositphotos in one. Pexels was mentioned before Depositphotos in every answer that named either.

Among stock photo libraries worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Pexels, about 37 searches for every 1 for Depositphotos

Pexels 2.2M searchesDepositphotos 60.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Pexels, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Depositphotos in 1

Pexels in 4 of 5Depositphotos in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Pexels, named ahead of Depositphotos in 4 of 4 answers

Pexels first in 4Depositphotos never first

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Top stock photo libraries in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pexels was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Depositphotos was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Pexels was listed before Depositphotos in every answer that named either.

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.

Is Depositphotos or Pexels more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Depositphotos and Pexels by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight stock photo libraries we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Depositphotos and Pexels among stock photo libraries worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Pexels, Depositphotos. 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%

How has the Depositphotos and Pexels comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Pexels was ahead of Depositphotos in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Depositphotos’ share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide moved from 0.8% to 0.69%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.6K to 60.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pexels’ share of searches among stock photo libraries worldwide moved from 24.3% to 25.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.7M to 2.2M.

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

2 changes

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

  2. 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 branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Depositphotos’ and Pexels’ 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.

Depositphotos

4 branded search terms

  • depositphotos
  • depositphotos app
  • depositphotos images
  • depositphotos stock photos

Pexels

1 branded search term

  • pexels

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among stock photo libraries

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