Pexels vs Unsplash:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Unsplash had more branded searches than Pexels among stock image sites in New Zealand. Unsplash had about 8,800 branded searches, while Pexels had 4,440. Unsplash made up 23.5% of all stock image site searches we track, and Pexels accounted for 11.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about stock image sites, Pexels and Unsplash each appeared in four of the five answers. Unsplash was mentioned before Pexels in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Unsplash, about 2 searches for every 1 for Pexels
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Unsplash, named ahead of Pexels in 4 of 5 answers
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Top stock image sites in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pexels and Unsplash were each mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Unsplash was listed before Pexels in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Unsplash1st
Adobe Stock2nd
Shutterstock3rd
Pexels4th- Truestock5th
Pixabay6th
iStock7th
Getty Images8th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Shutterstock5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Unsplash4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Stock4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Pexels4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- iStock3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Pixabay2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Truestock2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Getty Images1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about stock image sites
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which stock image site should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best stock image sites in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best stock image site in New Zealand for marketing images?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“stock photos nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“royalty free images”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Pexels or Unsplash more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pexels and Unsplash by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight stock image sites we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Unsplash, Pexels. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Unsplash | Adobe Stock | Pixabay | Pexels | Getty Images | Shutterstock | iStock | Truestock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 22.4% | 23.9% | 14% | 11.8% | 10.8% | 10% | 6.2% | 0.83% |
| Nov 2025 | 18.8% | 24.2% | 17.5% | 11.8% | 10.2% | 10.3% | 6.3% | 0.84% |
| Dec 2025 | 19% | 24.4% | 14.3% | 11.9% | 12.5% | 10.6% | 6.6% | 0.84% |
| Jan 2026 | 22% | 23% | 11% | 13.7% | 13% | 10% | 6.7% | 0.64% |
| Feb 2026 | 22.2% | 23.2% | 13.8% | 11.4% | 10.9% | 9.8% | 7.9% | 0.82% |
| Mar 2026 | 21.1% | 22.3% | 16.1% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 9.4% | 7.9% | 0.77% |
| Apr 2026 | 22.5% | 23.7% | 14% | 11.6% | 12.2% | 8.1% | 6.9% | 1% |
| May 2026 | 23.2% | 20.1% | 17.8% | 12% | 10.3% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 0.86% |
| Jun 2026 | 24.1% | 20.9% | 15.1% | 12.5% | 10.8% | 8.9% | 6.9% | 0.89% |
| Jul 2026 | 24.7% | 21.1% | 14.9% | 12.4% | 10.9% | 8.8% | 6.3% | 0.88% |
| Aug 2026 | 25.6% | 18.3% | 19.4% | 13.1% | 9.7% | 7.5% | 5.5% | 0.77% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.5% | 20.4% | 17.6% | 11.9% | 10.9% | 8.6% | 6.1% | 1% |
How has the Pexels and Unsplash comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Unsplash was ahead of Pexels in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pexels’ share of searches among stock image sites in New Zealand moved from 11.8% to 11.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.5K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unsplash’s share of searches among stock image sites in New Zealand moved from 22.4% to 23.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10.5K to 8.8K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand stock image sites in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Unsplash lost share of searches among stock image sites in New Zealand, from 25.6% to 23.5%.
In September 2026, Pexels lost share of searches among stock image sites in New Zealand, from 13.1% to 11.9%.
How are branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pexels’ and Unsplash’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 image sites
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