GitHub's user-attachments (pasting an image into an issue or PR) is the easiest way to host an image inside GitHub. The catch: the URL is tied to GitHub's session and isn't usable outside the platform. swiftimg gives you a permanent public URL you can paste anywhere — README, blog, Slack, forum.
swiftimg vs GitHub user-attachments at a glance
| Feature | swiftimg | GitHub user-attachments |
|---|---|---|
| Public, no-login URL | Yes | Tied to GitHub session |
| Works outside GitHub | Anywhere | GitHub UI only (in practice) |
| Permanent direct URL | Yes | Tied to user/session |
| Upload from CLI / API | Yes | Web UI only |
| On-the-fly resize | Yes (signed) | No |
| Animated GIF → WebP grid | Automatic | No |
List prices as of 2026 for context — directional, not apples-to-apples. Check each provider for current pricing.
When GitHub user-attachments is the better choice
GitHub user-attachments if your audience is always logged into GitHub and the image only lives inside an issue/PR thread.
swiftimg vs GitHub user-attachments — FAQ
Will my README image render through GitHub's camo proxy?
Yes — GitHub proxies external images through camo.githubusercontent.com. swiftimg URLs work through camo because they're plain HTTPS with no auth headers.
Can I migrate existing user-attachment URLs?
Open the issue/PR with the image, download it, and upload to swiftimg. Then replace the GitHub URL in your README.
Why does GitHub change attachment URLs sometimes?
GitHub rotates the signed-URL portion of attachments occasionally, which is one of the reasons external hosts are more reliable for public READMEs.
Switching from GitHub user-attachments?
Image hosting for GitHub README
Upload screenshots, diagrams, and GIFs and embed them in a GitHub README with a Markdown snippet. No account needed; the direct URL is permanent and globally cached.
Image hosting for Docusaurus
Host Docusaurus screenshots and diagrams on swiftimg. Keeps the docs repo lean, gives you permanent URLs, and adds on-the-fly resize.
How to host images in a GitHub README (and keep them fast)
Where to put images so they render reliably in a GitHub README, load fast, and don't break — with copy-paste Markdown and HTML.
Discord image links expiring? Here's how to fix it permanently
Discord's cdn.discordapp.com URLs now expire after about 24 hours. Re-host on an external image host with a permanent URL so embeds outside Discord don't break.
Weigh it up before you migrate: swiftimg pricing and plan limits next to GitHub user-attachments, and the image hosting API documentation covering uploads, transforms and signed URLs.
Ready to switch from GitHub user-attachments?
Start free, then unlock the full API, transforms, signed URLs, and a custom domain on the Developer plan.