Last updated on April 24th, 2023
Vectors are great. Why? Vectors, are digital illustrations with lines, points, & curves and they’re made on vectorial software using mathematical formulas. Besides, for starters they’re different from raster images. Such raster images present on vector websites usually come in formats like jpg, png, and gif.
They’re far better than other types of images for a lot of things. For example, they can be resized infinitely without any quality loss . This is not the case with raster images: enlarge them a little and they’ll start looking pixelated. I’m sure you know what we mean, we’ve all been there.
Vectors are also highly manipulable, which can lead to more creative options and customization. Elements can be pulled apart easily. Fonts can be transformed into outlines they always take same time to load, whether you have them installed or not.
Plus, the file sizes are smaller. While a 50 x 50 pixels raster file has to save 2500 pixels of information, a vector only needs to know the coordinates of the starting points, width and height.Are you convinced?
Now you’ll want to get some vectorial designs for yourself. Vector stocks are a great way to start. We’ve put together a handy list with the best vector sites with great variety of images.
Next time you’re looking for new vectors for your projects, we recommend you try the following sites:
Table of Contents
Here Are The Top 10 Vector Websites To Get Compelling Images
01. Vexels
Vexels is a graphic stock and online editor that’s continually adding thousands of isolated SVGs (downloadable in PNG, SVG, EPS and PSD) as well as vector illustrations. All their designs are exclusive and can’t be found anywhere else.
While they create images on lots of different topics, they also create seasonal designs for any approaching holidays, so you’re sure to find something useful everytime you browse the site. They have Merchandise licenses available for their designs.
Subscribers can make image requests, which is quite useful and their in-house designers work fast to deliver them. Vexels also has an online editor on beta that suggests you smart elements to swap or add to your design and make it better.
Pros: Online editor, SVGs/PNGs, requests available, merchandise and commercial license, has both individual licenses and monthly subscriptions.
Cons: Some designs are only available to paying members, doesn’t have a photography stock.
02. Ouch
Ouch offers a collection of vector illustrations that can be used to add visual appeal to websites, presentations, mobile apps, and other design projects. The library is designed to provide users with a wide variety of options to choose from, including characters, animals, and objects, to create compelling designs.
The illustrations are available in various file formats, including SVG, and PNG, making it easy for designers to incorporate them into their projects seamlessly.
The modern design aesthetic, diverse characters, and customizable scenes make Ouch an excellent choice for designers looking to create compelling designs.
Pros: SVGs/PNGs, diverse images, customization options, all the illustrations can be used for free for a link back to Ouch, constant updates.
Cons: The majority of illustrations are paid, need a link back to Ouch to use illustrations for free.
03. Freepik
Freepik is probably the best known search engine for free graphics on the web. You’ll find thousands of designs for almost every topic there. Their stock includes free vectors, stock images, and PSDs, although not SVGs or PNGs.
Site has also got premium graphic designs for subscribers and offers licenses to use their graphics on a variety of projects. You can’t purchase only one graphic though, a monthly or yearly subscription is mandatory. An online editor would definitely make Freepik’s stock stand out from the crowd, it’s a shame it doesn’t have one.
Pros: Large collection of images, variety of designs, photography stock included, lots of free-with-attribution designs.
Cons: Has no image editor, lacks SVGs and PNGs, only has subscription option available.
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04. Vecteezy
Vecteezy has been on the web for quite a while now, and recently added an editor to the site that lets you modify designs before downloading them. The editor’s UX has been improving too, but it’s still far from being perfect.
Since the designs weren’t made with this tool in mind, some graphics are a little harder to customize. This is one of the vector websites where vectors quality varies along the site but you have lots of categories to browse and choose from.
It’s also got both a subscription service through credits and an unlimited subscription to get every design you might want. They don’t have a photography stock though.
Pros: Online editor, big library of designs.
Cons: Doesn’t offer merchandise licenses, some designs are only available to paying members, doesn’t have a photography stock.
05. Dryicons
Dryicons doesn’t have the largest library, but the site is very easy to navigate. Just write a keyword on the big search bar and it’ll show you pages of results. There are very specific designs so graphic designers will definitely find what you’re looking for. An ad pop ups too though, which can be annoying. They offer Paid Licenses besides the Free ones, which are quite affordable.
Pros: easy to navigate, variety of designs, offers affordable licenses.
Cons: Not the biggest stock, annoying pop-up ads.
06. Freedesignfile
Freedesignfile’s a stock that offers vectors, pictures, fonts and even Photoshop actions. Yes, all of that! It’s not the biggest stock out there, and their scope and quality isn’t always great, but it can become your one-stop site to get every resource you need.
Plus, most of their stuff is free and when a design is made from another site it’ll have a link to download it from the original creators. Keep an eye out for the Attribution requirements.
Pros: Free downloads, range of formats.
Cons: Has no editor, doesn’t include merchandise license.
07. iStock
While there aren’t any free downloads available on iStock, if you can afford the designs they’re worth it. You’ll find plenty of options for whatever keyword you write, every time. There’s quite a range of vectors and pictures, as well as videos and audio clips.
The vectors can be resized & edited on their new editor and image resizer. It’s still in beta and doesn’t let you do much but it’s got potential. You can become a subscriber or purchase credits to exchange for graphics. Plus, the site’s a delight to browse, very well designed and fast loading. You can also avail fantastic discounts on iStock subscriptions using a promo code.
Pros: Lots of designs, stock includes videos and audio clips, editor in beta.
Cons: No free downloads available.
08. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the renowned vector website best known for image stocks on the market. It offers an overwhelming variety of designs, pictures, videos, audio and even an online editor for the images, but there’s no free option available.
You can either purchase individual images or subscriptions. You can also search by image to find similar graphics to one that you upload. Shutterstock has a vast stock where you can find anything you need, if you can afford it.
Pros: Lots of high-quality designs, stock also has videos and audio clips.
Cons: No free downloads available, lacks SVGs and PNGs.
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09. Vectorportal
Vectorportal has been creating designs since 2005 and over 35 million vectors have been downloaded since then. While browsing the site you’ll see a Vector category, but it includes much more than that. Apart from the vectors, there are also Illustrator Brushes, Illustrator Patterns, Swatches and more.
They even have Brand Guidelines from some city campaigns, universities, and more. Search around to find thousands of graphics in quite a few styles. The site doesn’t tell you in which format the designs are going to be downloaded and the ads are intrusive sometimes. Still, give it a try to find new vector designs.
Pros: extensive library, includes Illustrator brushes.
Cons: doesn’t say about formats, no editor, no merchandise license, doesn’t have photos.
10. Flaticon
While Flaticon only has icons, you can download them in many formats and their quality is excellent. Sometimes you can do it for free, but you always have to be logged in. You can also create patterns from the icon packs on the site or make your own collections.
Each collection comes in a different style too, so you can find everything from flat to stroke to realistic icons. If you’re a designer yourself, you can offer them your icon sets, graphic designs and actually make money with them, so that’s a bonus.
Pros: Free downloads, different formats available, make patterns from the icons.
Cons: Only has icons available.
Bonus
Iconfinder
Similar to Flaticon, Iconfinder is packed of icons in different styles. Their site says they’ve got more than 2,000,000 icons so you’re sure to find one that works for you. Their designs can be downloaded in a variety of formats, too. It doesn’t have an editor to create patterns but you can actually get in contact with their icon designers to create whatever you need.
Pros: Free downloads, tons of designs, different formats available.
Cons: Only has icons, has no editor.
Conclusion
Finding the right graphic or design can sometimes be a long and stressful process, but these sites are making the work easier by providing creative options and customization. Plus, you can always edit them to make sure they fit your project. Depending on your graphic design skills you can download any design and make it unique with a few clicks. Next time you’re looking for some ready-made graphics, head to our recommended sites to make your project stand out!