On August 21, 2025 Envato quietly pulled the plug on its Elements extension for WordPress. In a help‑center post, Envato explained that all extensions across Adobe, Canva, Figma, mobile and WordPress are no longer available. It was an experiment that worked well for a while but required more investment than the company was willing to make, so they’re focusing on AI tools instead (our guess… this is a BIG mistake). From that date, previously installed extensions simply stopped working. Yikes!!!
For businesses like CORE CONNECT, this abrupt sunset is inconvenient. Our websites (and our clients’ sites) rely on fast access to high‑quality photos. Without a direct connection to a stock library, we’re back to downloading from web‑based marketplaces and uploading manually — a huge time‑sink. The good news? WordPress has plenty of plugins that pick up where Envato left off. Let’s explore the best options.
Our top replacement plugins
Below are the plugins we recommend to keep your WordPress media library humming. They’re ranked by ease of use, image sources, licensing and integration with page builders.
Instant Images — one plugin, five free libraries
For most projects, Instant Images is the easiest drop‑in replacement. It’s a free, open‑source plugin that integrates directly with WordPress. The plugin connects to Unsplash, Openverse, Pixabay, Pexels and even Giphy, giving you access to millions of free photos, illustrations and GIFs. According to its README, the plugin offers one‑click uploads to your media library and supports advanced features such as:
- Instant search — quickly find images for any subject.
- Orientation filters — refine results by landscape, portrait or square.
- Gutenberg/sidebar integration — use it in WordPress’ media modal or as a sidebar in Gutenberg and popular page builders such as Elementor and Divi.
- Metadata editing — change file names, alt text and captions before uploading.
- Accessibility & SEO — automatically adds relevant alt descriptions.
Best of all, you don’t need an Unsplash account. Instant Images is our go‑to for quick blog posts and prototype work.
Pixabay Images — CC0‑licensed pictures for blogs and small sites
If you want a focused library of public‑domain art, Pixabay Images is a solid choice. The plugin (active since 2018) highlights easy search and legal safety:
- Easy image search — find and insert CC0 public‑domain pictures with a single click.
- No attribution required — images are free to use without linking back.
- Versatile filtering — filter results by image type and orientation.
- Seamless integration — the plugin fits neatly into WordPress without clutter.
Because the plugin hasn’t been updated since 2018, it may lack compatibility with modern builders and doesn’t support some newer image formats. We checked out reviews and it looks like Divi page builder has a bunch of issues with this option.
StockPack — one tab, multiple premium sources
When you need enterprise‑grade, fully licensed stock photos, consider StockPack. This plugin adds a new tab to your WordPress media library and aggregates both free and paid sources:
- Integrated search across seven providers — Unsplash, Adobe Stock, Getty Images, iStock, Pixabay, Pexels and Depositphotos.
- Access to 430 million + images — search and download hundreds of millions of pictures from multiple libraries.
- Media library tab — find and insert images directly in WordPress.
- Time and bandwidth savings — direct downloads to your server save at least 50 % over the manual download/upload process.
StockPack is free to install, but some providers (like Adobe Stock or Getty) require separate accounts and licenses! For agencies that need licensed images, this plugin is an all‑in‑one solution.
Unsplash import (premium) — advanced filtering and previews
Unsplash’s marketplace remains one of the largest sources of free photos. The premium Unsplash import plugin (formerly on CodeCanyon) uses the official API and offers a slick interface:
- Keyword search with filters — input a keyword and filter by orientation or popularity/newest images.
- Preview and import — view large previews and import chosen photos directly into your media library.
Although the plugin is inexpensive, remember that Unsplash’s license allows free use but forbids selling unaltered images. Also, always check that your theme or builder supports the plugin before purchasing.
Openverse (built‑in) — 800 million+ Creative Commons assets
WordPress maintains its own search engine for open‑licensed photos and audio called Openverse. It indexes more than 800 million Creative Commons images and is integrated into WordPress via various plugins (including Instant Images and Free Assets Library). If you’re using WordPress.com or have Jetpack installed, the Openverse library appears as a tab when you add media. It’s an excellent source for safe, attribution‑friendly pictures — just note that search relevancy can vary, and some images may be lower resolution.
Getty Images plugin — editorial pictures for news and blogs
Getty offers an official plugin that lets logged‑in customers search, license and insert editorial photos and illustrations within the WordPress editor. The free embed option allows bloggers to embed up to 50 million editorial images at no cost (images display with a small Getty logo). For marketing uses, you’ll need to purchase a license. This plugin is best for newsrooms or brands that need professional photography with clear legal coverage.
Which should you choose?
CORE CONNECT builds and markets sites for a wide range of clients, so one plugin rarely fits all scenarios. Here’s our recommended workflow:
- Everyday blog posts & prototyping — Install Instant Images. It taps into multiple free libraries and works with page builders. Use the orientation filters to maintain consistent look and feel.
- Public‑domain or attribution‑free images — Use Pixabay Images when you need CC0 photos and simple licensing. We will be skipping this one as it hasn’t been updated in several years.
- Enterprise & marketing assets — Use StockPack with your Adobe or Getty account. The plugin’s unified search and direct download save hours and may be a great option for your premium clients by setting them apart with a unique look!
Best practices after installing
- Optimize & compress — Use a compression plugin (like Smush or ShortPixel) to avoid slowing down your site.
- Name your images — Search engines read file names and alt text. Instant Images lets you edit these before uploadinggithub.com.
- Check licensing — Even free libraries have rules. Unsplash photos can’t be sold unaltered, and editorial Getty images can’t be used in ads.
- Keep plugins updated — Vulnerabilities occur. As with any plugin, update promptly to stay secure.
Envato’s WordPress extension may be gone, but the sky isn’t falling. The WordPress ecosystem is thriving with tools that make finding and inserting stock images easier than ever. By mixing Instant Images for quick access to free photos and StockPack for licensed assets and specialist plugins like Unsplash import or Getty Images, you can tailor your workflow to each project’s needs. At CORE CONNECT, we’ve already migrated our sites to this multi‑plugin strategy and haven’t looked back.
Got questions about implementing these plugins or need help revamping your site’s visual strategy? Drop us a line