Pixabay vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Pixabay's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Pixabay
This App
Unsplash
Contender
Core Identity
DeveloperCanva Germany GmbHKappboom Inc.ZipoAppsНико БелликJude HUnsplash IncShanghai Yuhuan Technology Co., LTDPanda Apps LimitedAdobe Inc.HDY Studio
CategoryPhoto & VideoPhoto & VideoEntertainmentEntertainmentEntertainmentPhoto & VideoPhoto & VideoPhoto & VideoPhoto & VideoPhotography
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOSiOSiOSiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOSAndroid
Store Metrics
Rating4.8 / 54.7 / 54.7 / 53.9 / 54.8 / 54.9 / 54.7 / 54.7 / 54.8 / 54.6 / 5
Ratings Count1,63932,131101322,87312,4951,6322,977335,13820,495
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree$2.99FreeFree
Release DateJan 17, 2017Dec 17, 2009Sep 17, 2021Nov 27, 2019Feb 13, 2015Apr 5, 2018Mar 3, 2025Dec 13, 2016Jun 22, 2014Oct 8, 2022
Last UpdatedNov 25, 2025Feb 3, 2023Jun 17, 2025Jun 10, 2023May 12, 2026May 7, 2026Mar 16, 2026Apr 27, 2026Jun 15, 2026May 9, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixedmixedpositive-excellentpositivemixedmixedpositive-
Score55/10075/10085/100-85/10075/10055/10045/10085/100-
Praises
  • Extensive library of royalty-free assets provides significant value for content creators and students
  • Absence of intrusive advertisements improves the overall user experience during asset discovery
  • High quality of visual resources supports professional and amateur creative projects
  • High-quality visual assets and diverse wallpaper categories keep users engaged for years
  • High-resolution image quality
-
  • High-resolution image quality provides a visually satisfying experience for users across all mobile devices
  • High quality photography and artistic galleries provide consistent visual inspiration for creative projects
  • Ad-free experience and free access to professional content drive strong user satisfaction
  • Vintage camera filters provide high quality aesthetic results for social media content creation
  • Professional cinematography tools provide high quality output comparable to expensive dedicated hardware
  • Manual white balance and exposure controls allow for precise aesthetic adjustments during filming
  • Professional-grade color science and RAW editing capabilities
-
Complaints
  • Copyright claims on supposedly free music assets create significant legal risk for creators
  • Navigation regressions prevent users from returning to search results after viewing individual assets
  • Technical failures during asset downloads prevent users from accessing content on mobile devices
  • Search engine connectivity errors prevent users from finding specific wallpaper content
  • Subscription value concerns
-
  • Aggressive advertising behavior triggers full-page redirects even when users do not interact with banners
  • Frequent application crashes during image interaction gestures like zooming or rapid swiping
  • Interface redesign removed convenient quick-access menus for adding images to collections
  • Aggressive monetization shifts lock previously free camera filters behind a subscription paywall
  • External microphone connectivity failures prevent audio recording after the latest update
  • Application crashes during recording sessions lead to significant loss of creative work
  • Subscription-only model creates high barrier to entry
-
Requests
  • Persistent login sessions to avoid repeated authentication requirements during daily use
  • User-submitted image uploads through a moderated filter to expand the library
--
  • Granular quality selection for downloads to manage storage capacity on devices with limited space
  • Customizable widget themes allowing users to display their own curated photo collections
  • Reversion of popular camera filters to free status to restore the original user experience
  • Vertical shooting interface layout to accommodate modern social media content creation
--
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Massive CC0 asset library drives organic search acquisition
  • Canva Germany backing provides professional brand reputation
  • High-volume user base supports ad-inventory scale
  • High-fidelity image library sustains multi-year retention
  • iMessage stickers drive organic acquisition
  • Cross-platform sync maintains aesthetic consistency
  • Daily content refresh cycle sustains user habit loops
  • High-fidelity 4K curation meets specific iPhone display requirements
  • High-resolution curation focus appeals to minimalist aesthetic preferences
  • 100+ category library provides broad content coverage
  • Design-led aesthetic curation sustains high user satisfaction scores
  • Freemium conversion gates effectively monetize high-engagement power users
  • 7-million-image library functions as a primary source for artistic reference
  • Ad-free browsing experience sustains high user satisfaction
  • Drag-and-drop iPad integration embeds the app into professional design workflows
  • Real-time effect preview reduces editing friction
  • Retro imaging simulation drives organic acquisition
  • Professional-grade manual control depth sustains prosumer interest
  • External hardware compatibility creates high switching costs
  • One-time purchase model differentiates from subscription-heavy rivals
  • Professional-grade RAW editing engine maintains high image fidelity
  • Creative Cloud integration creates high switching costs for existing Adobe users
-
Weaknesses
  • Copyright enforcement discrepancies on music assets
  • Navigation regressions in the latest release
  • No persistent login session for daily users
  • Search-engine connectivity errors block core utility
  • Subscription paywall alienates long-term users
  • App crashes during favorites folder access
  • Subscription pricing model lacks clear value differentiation from free stock repositories
  • No integrated photo-editing or search utility
  • No recurring revenue model limits long-term development
  • Lack of creative tools reduces time-in-app
  • Aggressive full-page ad redirects trigger user frustration
  • Technical instability causes startup black screens
  • Frequent crashes during image interaction gestures erode the daily active habit
  • Interface redesign increased tap-depth for collection management
  • Android version lacks parity with iOS rating and feature set
  • Subscription-only model triggers high refund rates
  • Ad-loading failures block premium feature access
  • High-frequency crash reports during recording sessions
  • External microphone connectivity regressions post-update
  • Non-intuitive file management UX for casual users
  • Standalone subscription at $11.99/month exceeds category median
  • Lack of viral social-sharing loops compared to Lensa AI
-
Pricingfreesubscriptionsubscriptionfreefreemiumfreemiumfreemiumpaidsubscriptionfree
MomentumMaintenanceZombieZombieZombieIntenseMaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenanceActive-
Update Cadence2 versions, ~124d avg1 versions1 versions1 versions2 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~2d avg2 versions, ~50d avg3 versions, ~5d avg5 versions, ~235d avg5 versions, 3 majors/6mo, ~20d avg-

Compare Pixabay head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Pixabay, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0