TL;DR: You can add a free GitHub stats card to your profile README with one line of Markdown. The old default, github-readme-stats, now says it's no longer maintained. These five free options still work in 2026: GitHub Stats Extended, GitHub Stats Pro, GHStats, the GitHub Readme Stats Action, and GitHubCard. None of them need a sign-up for a basic card.
Disclosure: I work on GitHubCard, one of the five. I tested every option below on 2026-10-31 and tried to say where each one wins.
Why people are looking for a new stats card
github-readme-stats.vercel.app was the copy-paste answer for years. Its README now reads: "This repository is no longer maintained. Please use the successor project GitHub Stats Extended instead!" When I requested a card from the old public endpoint on 2026-10-31, it returned a 503. If your README shows a broken image, that's probably why.
The comparison
| Tool | Free? | Sign-up | Open source | How you add it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Stats Extended | Yes | No | Yes (MIT) | URL, or its visual card wizard | Moving off github-readme-stats |
| GitHub Stats Pro | Yes | No | Source repo not public | Web form, copy Markdown or HTML | Picking a theme in a form |
| GHStats | Yes | No | Yes (MIT) | URL | A quick hosted URL |
| GitHub Readme Stats Action | Yes | No (runs in your repo) | Yes | Workflow file | Cards that never depend on a shared server |
| GitHubCard | Yes, with a small GitHubCard mark | No for default cards | No | URL or drag-and-drop designer | Designed cards with a visual layout |
1. GitHub Stats Extended
The maintained fork that github-readme-stats itself points to. Its README says migrating only needs a domain change (github-readme-stats.vercel.app to github-stats-extended.vercel.app) and that it aims to be fully compatible. It also has a top languages card and a visual card wizard if you'd rather not edit URLs:
Pick it if you want the closest drop-in replacement. Watch out for the usual shared-instance limits; self-host it if you need guaranteed capacity.
2. GitHub Stats Pro
A free web app where you enter a username, pick a card type (stats, languages, streak, activity and more) and a theme, then copy Markdown or HTML. Its site says it is free and needs no sign-up or API key.
Pick it if you prefer clicking through themes in a form over editing URL parameters. Watch out for less transparency: the site links to a source repository, but that repository was not publicly reachable when I checked on 2026-10-31.
3. GHStats
A hosted card you add with one URL:
Pick it if you want a fast hosted embed with no setup. It's MIT-licensed (source) and also offers a theme picker on its site. Watch out for its size: it's a small project, so pin a fallback if your README depends on it.
4. GitHub Readme Stats Action
A GitHub Action that generates the SVG on a schedule and commits it to your repository. Your README points at a file in your own repo, so no third-party server has to be up when someone views your profile.
Pick it if reliability matters most. Watch out for the extra workflow file. The numbers only update when the workflow runs.
5. GitHubCard
A hosted card designer. The default live card is one line:
[](https://githubcard.com/USERNAME/card)
It shows totals (stars, commits, PRs, issues), a contribution heatmap, and streaks. In the profile card generator you can drag widgets like stats, streaks, top languages, repositories, and custom text onto a canvas, then export SVG or PNG.
Pick it if you want a designed card instead of a standard stats panel. Watch out for two things: free cards always carry a small GitHubCard mark (removing it is a paid Pro feature), and it's closed source, so you can't self-host it. Saving a custom design needs a GitHub sign-in; default cards do not.
Which free GitHub stats card should you use?
- Already on github-readme-stats? GitHub Stats Extended. Change one domain.
- Want it to never break? The Action.
- Want to pick a theme in a form? GitHub Stats Pro.
- Want the shortest hosted URL? GHStats or GitHubCard.
- Want a designed, multi-widget card? GitHubCard.
How to add any of them
- Create a public repository named exactly your GitHub username.
- Add a
README.mdand paste the Markdown line from the tool you chose. - Replace
USERNAME, commit, and open your profile. GitHub's image cache can take a few minutes to refresh.
FAQ
Is there a free GitHub stats card without a watermark? Yes. The GitHub Stats Extended and GHStats cards I rendered on 2026-10-31 showed no branding, and the Action uses the same open-source card renderer. GitHubCard's free cards include a small mark.
Do I need a GitHub token? Not for hosted options. You need one only if you self-host or want private contributions counted.
Why is my stats card not loading? Open the image URL in a new tab. If it errors, the service is down or rate limited; switch tools or self-host. If it loads there, check your Markdown and wait for GitHub's cache.
About the author
- Fullstack developer. Writing about system design. GitHub: https://github.com/Cactusinhand GitHubCard: https://githubcard.com Showcase: https://github.com/Cactusinhand/GithubCard
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