Heads-up
GitHub's own user-attachment URLs require you to be signed in to view — fine for issue threads, awkward for a public README. An external host like swiftimg sidesteps that.
Step by step
1. Upload the image
Drop the file at /upload — no account required. You'll get a viewer page, a direct image URL, and a Markdown snippet on the share box.
2. Copy the Markdown snippet
The viewer page has a one-click copy for Markdown, HTML, and BBCode. Paste the Markdown into your README.md.
README.md 3. Resize on the fly (optional)
On a Developer plan, append width/format hints to serve a smaller version — handy when a 4K screenshot would dominate the README.
Resized variant 4. Animated demos work too
GIFs are accepted as-is and auto-converted to animated WebP for grids. In a README you can embed the original GIF URL or the smaller WebP — both unfurl correctly.
GitHub README — FAQ
Will the image URL expire?
No. Uploaded images stay live indefinitely — there's no rolling expiry on free uploads. Use a delete token (saved to the share box on upload) if you ever want to remove it.
Can I use it for private repos?
Yes, but the image URL itself is public. If the screenshot is sensitive, host it in a private bucket instead.
Does GitHub strip image hotlinks?
GitHub proxies external images through camo.githubusercontent.com for privacy. swiftimg URLs work through that proxy — direct delivery from i.swiftimg.com is fine.
See also
Image hosting for Stack Overflow
Upload screenshots and diagrams to swiftimg and paste a Markdown image link into a Stack Overflow question or answer. Permanent URLs, no account required.
Image hosting for Obsidian
Host attachments on swiftimg and embed them in Obsidian notes with a Markdown image link. Keeps the vault small, makes the notes portable, and works across devices.
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.
swiftimg vs GitHub user-attachments
An open alternative to GitHub user-attachments — works for unauthenticated viewers and outside issues.
Hosting for GitHub README works on the free plan — see swiftimg pricing and plan limits for what each tier includes, or read the image hosting API documentation to upload from your own code instead of the browser.
Ready to host your GitHub README images?
Start free, then unlock the full API, transforms, signed URLs, and a custom domain on the Developer plan.