While we all already know about mainstream tools like Dropbox or Google Drive, let’s look into some of the hosting services dedicated to images.
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1. Imgur
Imgur is one of the most popular image hosting services on the web today. It has a simplistic user interface that lets users drag-and-drop photos and uploads them through their computer or a URL. Once an image is uploaded, you can get a direct link to it. This link can then be used for sharing or for embedding the image into various platforms. The best part is that it is completely free!
Imgur supports various image file types including JPG, JPEG, TIF, PNG, and animated GIF. The file size is limited to 200MBs per image. If you just want to upload and share images, you don’t even need to create an account. However, if you wish to add captions or create albums, then you will have to create one.
2. PostImage
PostImage is another completely free hosting tool. It can be used as a website as well as a Windows software application. Users can simply drag-and-drop or upload images into the tool. It allows users to set an expiration date on images and resize them too. Once this is done, direct photo links are generated, which can then be used on various platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and messaging boards.
PostImage supports several different file types such as PNG, JPG, TIFF, PSF, BMP, and GIF.
3. Free Image Hosting
Although Free Image Hosting’s user interface isn’t as trendy as some of the other similar tools, people have been using its reliable service since 2003. It works well with PNG, BMP, GIF, and JPG file formats and has a size limit of 3 MB per image. If you are looking for a reliable way to store your images online forever, Free Image Hosting is a great option to consider.
4. ImageShack
ImageShack is another user-friendly image hosting tool. It is available as a web app as well as a mobile app for both Android and iOS. This means that you can upload images on-the-go. Using a free account, you can host files of up to 10 GBs per month and can also organize them in albums. If you opt for the premium paid plan, you can also avail of other features such as watermarking, direct linking, unlimited space, and even image statistics.
When you initially create an account on ImageShack, you will instantly get a 30 days free trial for their premium plan. What else could you want after all?
5. Oshi
Oshi is an effortless image hosting service that aims to keep your photos on the web for as long as possible. After you have uploaded an image, you can get a direct link to it. Unlike other tools, Oshi allows you to set a self-destruction time for links such that the links can automatically expire after for example, 1 hour, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 30 days, or 90 days. Additionally, with Oshi, you can also randomize file names for enhanced security. If you are concerned about your privacy while sharing images via links, Oshi can be an ideal choice for you.
6. Google Photos
Google Photos is one of the most used image hosting services today and for all the right reasons! Billions of images are uploaded to Google Photos each day and Google ensures that the image quality is not hampered in any way.
What makes Google Photos different from other services is that with its mobile application, you can not only upload pictures but can also directly capture pictures through a point-and-shoot camera of up to 16 megapixels. Additionally, Google Photos has well-developed search functionality that you can use to search for photos based on factors like date or location.
Like most other Google services, Google Photos is also completely free to the public. It even ensures an automatic backup for all uploads. If you are a regular user of other Google services like Gmail or Google Drive, you might prefer using this particular tool over the previously mentioned ones.
7. 500px
500px is a unique image hosting service that consists of social networking features as well. If you wish to discover and share amazing photographs from across the globe, this might be a great platform for you. While you can upload any kind of image on 500px, this platform is used mainly by photographers or other creative individuals to showcase their portfolios. Apart from building their portfolios, users can also like/comment on others’ work and can even follow their favorite users. Additionally, users can create slideshows of their photo collections as well.
One thing to keep in mind is that unlike most other platforms, 500px does not allow you to directly link your photos to social media platforms or any websites. It does, however, allow you to sell the usage rights of your photos. With a free account, you can upload up to 20 photos per week. If you want to upload more than that, you will have to opt for their premium plan.
8. Pinterest
You simply cannot miss out on Pinterest when talking about images on the web. Pinterest is much more than an image hosting service. It is a powerful search engine for images. Whether you are looking for room decor inspiration or aesthetic wallpapers, you can find it all on Pinterest.
Millions of images are uploaded to Pinterest each day. To upload, you first require an account. You can either create a new account using an email or log in using your existing Google or Facebook account. For images, Pinterest supports PNG, JPEG, and GIF file types. The size limit for each upload is set to 10MB. Pinterest also allows users to upload videos (MOV, MP4) given that they are shorter than 30 minutes each and the size is under 2 GBs.
9. Flickr
Flickr provides users access to billions of photos, both licensed and license-free. Apart from uploading and sharing images, Flickr can be used for easy image management as well. Whether you have 5 albums or 50, Flickr will make managing them a piece of cake. Flickr also has traits of social media. There are several communities and groups through which you can easily share your photos with the world.
You can also place your photos under different topics for example “black and white photography”. Additionally, using Flickr, you can easily access advanced statistics for your photos and galleries. As a photographer or designer, what else could you wish for?
10. PhotoBucket
PhotoBucket is no ordinary image hosting and sharing tool. With PhotoBucket’s easy-to-use user interface, users can easily store, edit, as well as share images via direct links. What makes PhotoBucket different from other services is that it also has an additional printing facility. Yes! Using Photobucket, you can easily get your pictures printed as wall art, framed prints, and other decor items. Throughout the process, it is ensured that the quality of your images is not damaged and that there is no compromise on your privacy.
Their free plan allows users to host up to 250 images for free. However, they also have paid plans that can give you more storage space, an ad-free experience, and much more.
We believe that all the above-mentioned tools are amazing in their own way (and in no particular order). We hope that our guide helped you figure out the most suitable service for your use case. Have anything to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below!