Description
Easy search and use CC-licensed images helps you search millions of free photos using the Openverse API and insert the original image into your content or set as featured image very quickly.
It allows the user to filter the provider source.
The plugin is inspired and based on CCSearch and it wouldn’t be possible without the Openverse API.
After the plugin’s activation, you can see the “Image with CC License” button above the editor and as an option into the “Add Media” pop-up window.
By pressing it you can search using Latin characters for an image, browse the returned images, preview an image and its license and adjust the image settings:
– Use of thumbnail or original image.
– Set the image link (if any).
– Insert the image into the post or as featured image.
Features
- Works in WordPress editor and adds a button above the content text area and into the “Add Media” pop-up window.
- Via a pop-up window, allows searching through millions of images using Creative Commons Catalog API power.
- Allows filtering by a provider.
- Paginated results.
- Quick insert original image or thumbnail with an (optional) link to the image URL or the original site.
- Use image as a featured image for the blog post.
- WPML compatible.
- Multisite compatible.
- Translation ready (it’s already translated in Greek).
You can find a blog post in opensource.creativecommons.org about the inspiration and how it works.
NOTE 1: Please, verify the license at the source. Creative Commons does not host the content and does not verify that the content is properly CC-licensed or that the attribution information is accurate or complete.
Please follow the link to the source of the content to independently verify before reuse.
NOTE 2: Currently, the plugin needs Classic Editor in order to work for WP 5+ or in Gutenberg use Classic Block.
Roadmap
- Multiple images select support.
- Gutenberg compatibility.
- Multiselect options for filtering: providers.
- Select options for filtering: licenses, creator.
- Image for the ‘Image with CC license’ editor button.
- Info page.
- Initial step for registering in the API and use of Bearer authentication.
Credits
- The plugin is inspired and based on CC Search and wouldn’t be possible without the Creative Commons Catalog API.
- The plugin’s code is based on the WP Pexels code by WPclever.net.
- Pointer’s code is based on the Tuts+ Admin Pointers Guide.
- Many thanks to Stavroula Stasinou for the free creation of header image and plugin icon.
Screenshots





Installation
- Unzip the
ls-wp-ccsearch.zip. - Copy
ls-wp-ccsearchfolder towp-content/plugins. - Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, find Easy search and use CC-licensed images and click Activate.
- Now when you create/edit the post, you can see the “Image with CC License” button above the editor and as option into the “Add Media” pop-up window.
- Enjoy!
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Easy search and use CC-licensed images” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors“Easy search and use CC-licensed images” has been translated into 4 locales. Thank you to the translators for their contributions.
Translate “Easy search and use CC-licensed images” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
5.0
- Performance: Restricted admin scripts to load exclusively on post edit and new post screens.
- Security: Enhanced security by escaping all localized variables and translation strings in the backend.
- Renamed from Easy search and use CC-licensed images for WP to Easy search and use CC-licensed images.
- Tested WordPress 7.0 compatibility.
4.0
- Fix bug for displaying available images sources.
- WordPress 6.5.4 compatibility.
3.2
- Fix bug when image was set as post thumbnail. Props to @gnr5 for spotting the bug.
- Display images sources sorted by name.
- WordPress 6.1 compatibility.
3.1
- Minor changes.
3.0
- Changes to use openverse API urls.
2.0
- Changes at creativecommons API urls.
- Support also non-latin keywords.
1.0
- Replaces curl with WordPress native functionality.
- Fix some typos.
- Sanitize input.
- Renamed from WP CCsearch to Easy search and use CC-licensed images for WP.
0.5.0
- Add class to img.
- Larger colorbox height.
- New strings added.
- New screenshots.
0.4.0
- Add wp-pointer on editor’s button.
- Fix: Wrong textdomain.
- Removed unused code.
- New strings added.
0.3.0
- Add provider dropdown select.
- Fix: Use full image when thumbnail url is broken.
0.2.0
- Fix ls-wp-ccsearch.pot.
- Greek translation added.
0.1.0
- Released.
