Textures, patterns or a generator?
The three kinds of sites in this list solve different jobs:
| Kind | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 3D texture libraries | Texture sets and materials for 3D programs and game engines | 3D scenes, games, product renders |
| Pattern collections | Small tiles that repeat without a seam, often as SVG | Website backgrounds, packaging, slides |
| Generators | A tool that draws a new background from your settings | Unique headers, social images, wallpapers |
For a quick web background you often need no download at all: our SVG pattern generator, noise texture generator and CSS gradient generator run in the browser.
CC0 texture libraries
The 3D texture sites in this list publish under CC0, the public domain dedication from Creative Commons. The ambientCG license says you may copy, modify and distribute the assets, even for commercial purposes, without asking, and that the raw files can go into a project such as a video game. Poly Haven says its assets can be used for any purpose, including in a product you sell, and 3D Textures says the only thing you cannot do is claim to be the author.
CC0 covers the asset files. Poly Haven notes that the rest of its website, such as logos, example renders and text, is not CC0. Credit is never required on these sites, but all three say they appreciate it, and Poly Haven suggests supporting it on Patreon if you use it a lot.
Credit rules for patterns and generators
Pattern sites are stricter than the CC0 libraries. Read the Credit column before you ship:
- Hero Patterns lists the CC BY 4.0 license on its page, and the CC BY deed says you must give appropriate credit, while it allows use for any purpose, even commercially.
- BGJar lists CC BY 4.0 for its free plan, and its license page marks attribution as required for free users.
- SVGBackgrounds requires credit unless you pay. Its attribution page asks you to name the graphics, credit SVGBackgrounds.com and link to the set, close to where the graphics appear or on a credits page. Its license also says the graphics may not be used on their own, as is; combine them with your own design.
- fffuel needs no credit, but its license bans reselling or redistributing the images.
Tips for seamless results
- Check the repeat. Place a tile four times in a grid before you use it. A visible seam or a spot that repeats too clearly is easier to fix now than on a printed box.
- Keep patterns quiet behind text. Lower the contrast or the opacity of a pattern under body text. Hero Patterns lets you set foreground color, background color and opacity before you export.
- Mind the resolution. For print, pick the largest file a site offers. Haikei's free plan, for example, exports PNG at medium resolution and unlimited SVG, per its pricing page; SVG scales to any size.
- Add shapes. Waves and blobs make a flat background more lively. Try the wave generator or the blob generator.
How we checked
For every site we opened its own license, terms, about or pricing page on the date shown and wrote down only what it says. We did not use reviews or roundups. Where a page does not mention commercial use or credit, the cell says "Not stated"; that does not mean it is forbidden, only that we found no statement. We left out sites whose license pages we could not open or that named no terms at all for downloads. Licenses change, so check the source link before you use a texture in a product.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use free textures in a game or product I sell?
On the CC0 sites, yes. ambientCG says you can include the raw files in a project such as a video game, and Poly Haven says you can include its assets in a product you sell. For other sites, read the license: fffuel, for example, bans reselling or redistributing the images themselves.
Do I have to credit a texture or pattern site?
Not on ambientCG, Poly Haven, 3D Textures, cgbookcase or fffuel. Hero Patterns uses CC BY 4.0, which asks for credit, and BGJar and SVGBackgrounds require credit on their free plans. SVGBackgrounds removes the credit rule for paid members.
Is CC0 the same as public domain?
In practice it is close. Poly Haven describes CC0 as effectively public domain, and ambientCG explains that it lets you copy, modify and distribute the assets, even commercially, without asking. Poly Haven adds that its website content, such as logos and example renders, is not CC0.
Are the free FreePBR textures fine for commercial work?
The FreePBR home page offers 600+ texture sets at no cost but does not say whether the free files can be used commercially. It names commercial rights only for a paid bundle of all sets. If you plan commercial use, ask the site or pick a CC0 library.
Can I make my own seamless pattern for free?
Yes. Our SVG pattern generator and noise texture generator run in your browser with no sign-up. fffuel, BGJar and Haikei are free generators too; check their credit rules in the table before you publish the result.