Last updated:
For a forum image, choose a host that provides the direct-image or BBCode link the forum accepts. For family albums or private documents, use a service with appropriate access controls. A public image host and a cloud photo library serve different purposes, and neither should be your only copy of an important original.
Choose by the sharing method
| Service | Starting use | Limit to check |
|---|---|---|
| Postimages | Image links and forum embeds | Free upload/hotlink size limits, ads and any expiry choice |
| ImgBB | Uploading images and copying supplied share/embed links | Current file limit, deletion settings and account controls |
| Flickr | Photo organization and a photography community | Free item/privacy limits and original-download restrictions |
| Google Photos or Drive | Albums or files shared with intended recipients | Quota and permissions; a share link is not necessarily an embeddable image URL |
Postimages and ImgBB for a forum
Postimages currently describes a free tier with uploads up to 32MB and hotlinked images up to 1280px, plus paid features. If the original resolution matters, inspect what the selected share option actually displays. Check expiry/resizing choices before uploading.
ImgBB supplies image-hosting and sharing options. Inspect the current upload limit and any automatic-deletion selection on the upload screen. Save an account-managed record or supplied deletion link when you need to manage an upload later; the precise options depend on the service and upload method.
An upload-and-embed example
- Prepare a JPG or PNG sized for the forum and remove information you do not want to publish.
- Upload through the host’s official site and choose the required expiry/resizing option.
- Copy the provided direct image link or the forum-compatible BBCode snippet.
- Paste it into the forum’s image field or supported editor.
- Preview the post and check the image in a signed-out view.
A gallery-page URL may display a webpage instead of an image when pasted into an image field. A private cloud link may require sign-in or may not allow hotlinking. Use the host’s supplied format rather than inventing a file URL.
Flickr’s free allowance is no longer 1TB
Flickr’s current free-account rules limit accounts to 1,000 items and 50 non-public items, with other content restrictions. Its download policy also restricts original/large-size downloads for free accounts. Check the plan before treating it as original-file backup.
Private sharing and long-term copies
In Google Photos, choose the album’s sharing controls; Google’s sharing guide explains recipients and links. Our Drive settings guide covers file permissions. Anyone who receives an accessible link may be able to forward it, so an obscure URL is not a substitute for suitable access control.
Keep originals and a separate backup. Host policies, expired links, moderation or account changes can break an old post. For animation rather than a photo, our GIF download guide explains saving and sharing the actual animated file.