About
Shields.io is a badge generation service that provides dynamic and static badges for software projects. It renders badge images from service metrics and custom text, and also offers an NPM library for generating badges inside applications.
The service includes hosted badge endpoints, a badge-maker library, and the option to run a self-hosted instance behind a firewall using its Docker image. The pricing page describes Shields.io as a non-profit project funded through OpenCollective donations rather than a paid subscription plan.
- Dynamic badge endpoints
- Static custom text badges
- NPM badge-maker library
- Self-hosted Docker instance
- OpenCollective donation funding
Free Tier Value
This is an always-free, open service with no published paid plans, quotas, trials, or credit-based allowances to price against. The page describes a perpetual public offering and a self-hosted option, so there isn’t a defensible monthly dollar value to assign beyond noting that the free access has no usage cap on the public service.
What's included in the free tier
Verified
- Unlimited badge requests, no usage cap
- Self-hosted Docker option available
- Funded by OpenCollective donations, not a paid plan
See Shields.io pricing for current limits.
Common questions
Is Shields.io free forever?
Yes. Shields.io is free forever, with no time limit and no usage threshold that forces a paid plan.
What is Shields.io's free tier worth?
Shields.io's free tier has no dollar cap - it's unlimited, with no usage threshold that forces a paid plan. That maps to an FTV score of 90/100. The FTV score is explained at freetier.co/ftv.
