This article explains the most common licenses used for web illustration libraries, like CC0 and MIT. It’s for designers, developers, and creators who want to use art without legal headaches.
Using illustrations in your project? Great — but before you drop them into your website or app, you should know what you're allowed to do with them. Here's a simple breakdown of popular licenses and what they mean for personal or commercial use.
1. CC0 (Public Domain)
This is the most flexible license. You can use CC0 illustrations however you want — no credit required.
- ✅ Use for commercial projects
- ✅ Edit, remix, animate, or recolor
- ✅ No attribution needed
- ✅ Safe for client work
Example:
Pablo Stanley’s Open Peeps, Open Doodles, Humaaans are all licensed under CC0. You can use them in your apps, blogs, client projects, even in merchandise.
2. MIT License
The MIT License is often used for open-source projects, including illustrations or design systems. It’s also very permissive — but with a small string attached.
- ✅ Use for commercial or personal projects
- ✅ Modify and distribute
- ⚠️ Must include original license text somewhere (like in your repo or credits)
Use case:
You’re building a startup and want to use a MIT-licensed icon set — you can use it freely, just make sure to include the license file somewhere in your codebase or site.
3. Attribution Required (e.g. CC BY 4.0)
This license allows you to use the illustrations, but you must give credit to the creator.
- ✅ Personal and commercial use
- ✅ Modify and remix
- ⚠️ Must include proper attribution (name + link)
- ❌ Not great for branding unless you can hide credits somewhere appropriate
Use case:
You're creating a blog post and want to include visuals — as long as you add a caption like “Illustration by Jane Doe via CC BY 4.0,” you're good.
4. Non-Commercial Licenses (e.g. CC BY-NC)
These licenses do not allow commercial use. That includes client work, apps, and anything with ads or product sales.
- ✅ Okay for personal blogs, school projects
- ❌ Not allowed in products, websites with revenue, or client work
Use case:
You’re building a hobby website — fine. But if you start monetizing it, you’ll need to switch to a different license.
5. Custom Licenses
Some illustrators create their own rules — maybe free for startups, paid for enterprises. Always read the license page on the site.
- ⚠️ Sometimes free for limited use
- ⚠️ May have upgrade paths (e.g. pay to use in commercial apps)
- ✅ Usually more flexible if you contact the creator directly
TL;DR: What Can I Use?
| License Type | Free to Use? | Commercial Use? | Credit Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC0 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| MIT | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ (include license) |
| CC BY | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CC BY-NC | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Custom | ⚠️ (depends) | ⚠️ (depends) | ⚠️ |
How to Stay Safe
- Always check the license. Even free libraries may change over time.
- Give credit when asked. When in doubt, add a small footer or comment in code.
- Avoid non-commercial licenses for client work or paid apps.
Recommended Free Libraries
Here are a few illustration libraries with clear, creator-friendly licenses:
- Open Peeps (CC0)
- Humaaans (CC0)
- Open Doodles (CC0)
- unDraw (Custom license, free for commercial use with credit)
If you're working on a project and unsure if you can use something, it’s always worth double-checking the license — or just email the creator. Most of them are friendly folks who love seeing their work used the right way.