Honest comparison · 2026
Engive vs github-readme-stats
Both free. Both ship pure SVG images for your README. Both work on GitHub. Here's an honest side-by-side — what each one does well, where each one falls short.
We respect github-readme-stats — it's the most widely-deployed GitHub widget on the web and has years of polish behind it.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Engive | github-readme-stats |
|---|---|---|
Widgets | 6 (developer card, top languages, streak, streak trophy, contribution graph, repo showcase) | 1 primary card. Other widgets require separate projects. |
Themes | 7 hand-curated presets, fully customizable via URL | A handful of named themes, fewer customization knobs |
JS shipped to your README Both products use a pure SVG image — both work on GitHub, dev.to, and CSP-strict hosts. | 0 KB (SVG <img> only) | 0 KB (SVG <img> only) |
Customization without signup | Yes — 18 URL query parameters | Yes — ~10 URL query parameters |
Customization after signup | Per-widget saved settings + shareable config URLs | Server-rendered image with optional repo override |
Self-hostable | Yes — endpoints + embed.js are open | Yes — MIT licensed |
API key required? | No (uses our tokens) | Optional, recommended for high-traffic use |
Card design Both designs are intentional. Pick the one that matches the look you want on your profile. | Custom glass-morphism aesthetic, 7 presets | Classic minimalist GitHub-style card |
Custom avatar / bio override | Yes (via per-user settings) | Not supported |
Repo showcase card github-profile-readme-generator.com fills this gap with a separate tool. | Built-in (repos.svg) | Not built-in |
Contribution graph | Built-in (contributions.svg) | Not built-in (github-readme-activity-graph is a separate project) |
Maturity github-readme-stats has years of polish and a larger install base. Engive is newer and ships a more curated, opinionated set. | v1 (2026) | Iconic, 2020+ |
Price | Free forever | Free |
Migrate in one paste
Already have a github-readme-stats URL in your README? Paste it below — the theme and custom colors are mapped to their closest Engive equivalents and you get a drop-in replacement snippet.
When to use which
Use github-readme-stats if…
- You want the classic minimalist GitHub-style card everyone recognizes
- You prefer a battle-tested project with 5+ years of polish
- You want MIT-licensed self-hosting today
- You're happy with one card and don't need streak / repo / contribution widgets
Use Engive if…
- You want a coherent 5-widget set that share one design system
- You want 7 hand-curated themes and 18 URL parameters for fine control
- You want a built-in repo showcase and contribution graph (no separate projects)
- You want zero JS shipped to your host page (it is 0 KB either way — we just want you to know)
Try Engive on your username
30 seconds. Paste a single <img> tag. Done. Free forever, no signup.