Writing alt text for every image on your WordPress site can be tedious—especially when managing a large media library. But thanks to recent advancements in AI, you can now automate this entire process directly within WordPress. In this guide, you’ll learn how to generate image alt text in WordPress using AI, which tools to use, and how to enhance your site’s SEO and accessibility effortlessly.
Why Alt Text Matters (And Why You Should Automate It)
Alt text, short for “alternative text,” plays a critical role in:
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Accessibility: Describing images for screen readers helps visually impaired users understand your content.
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SEO: Search engines use alt text to better index and rank your images in Google Image Search.
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User Experience: When an image fails to load, the alt text provides a description of the missing content.
But let’s face it—writing alt descriptions for every image manually is time-consuming. That’s where AI-powered alt text tools come to the rescue.
Benefits of Using AI for Image Alt Text
Here’s why using AI to generate image alt text is a smart move:
✅ Saves Time: Create accurate image descriptions in seconds, even for large libraries.
✅ Boosts SEO: AI-generated descriptions can include SEO-friendly keywords, improving search rankings.
✅ Improves Accessibility: AI ensures every image has a descriptive label, enhancing site usability.
✅ Consistent Formatting: Avoid inconsistencies by applying uniform alt text standards across your site.
✅ Scales Easily: AI tools can process hundreds—or thousands—of images with just a few clicks.
Method 1: Automatically Generate Alt Text with AltText.ai (Premium Plugin)
AltText.ai is a popular AI-powered plugin that integrates with WordPress and allows you to generate high-quality alt text for new and existing images.
🔧 Setup Steps:
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Sign Up on AltText.ai and create a free account.
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Create an API Key from the dashboard.
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Install the AltText.ai Plugin in WordPress.
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Paste Your API Key into the plugin settings (AltText.ai » Settings).
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Customize Settings:
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Choose language and tone (Concise, Terse, Elaborate, etc.).
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Enable auto-generation for alt text, titles, and captions.
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Optionally use SEO focus keywords from plugins like Yoast or AIOSEO.
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🖼️ Generate Alt Text:
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For new uploads: Alt text will be added automatically.
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For existing images: Go to Media » Library, select an image, and click “Update Alt Text.”
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For bulk generation: Use AltText.ai » Bulk Generate to process your entire media library at once.
Free Trial: First 25 images are free; paid plans start at $5 for 100 credits.
Method 2: Use AI for SEO Plugin (Free With Limited Daily Credits)
If you’re looking for a free tool to test AI alt text generation, the AI for SEO plugin is a great entry-level solution.
🔧 How It Works:
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Install & Activate the AI for SEO plugin.
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Go to AI for SEO » Settings and enable:
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Alt text generation
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Optional: Captions, titles, descriptions
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Set the Language you want the AI to use.
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Go to Media Library and select any image.
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Click the “Generate with AI” button to instantly create metadata.
🔁 Click again for alternative AI suggestions if the first result isn’t quite right.
🆓 Limitations: 5 free AI generations per day. Requires upgrade for unlimited use.
Bonus Tip: Optimize Alt Text with AIOSEO (Optional)
Pair your AI-generated alt text with an SEO plugin like All in One SEO (AIOSEO) for extra benefits:
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Image XML Sitemaps: Help search engines discover and index your media files.
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Alt Tag Formatting: Append brand names, post titles, or categories to alt text for better SEO.
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Focus Keyphrase Integration: AIOSEO can pass focus keywords to AI plugins like AltText.ai.
[InternalLink: Learn how to optimize WordPress images for SEO]
Accessibility + SEO = A Smarter WordPress Site
Alt text isn’t just about compliance—it’s a competitive advantage. With AI tools, you can ensure your site is inclusive and optimized for search engines without spending hours writing descriptions manually.
These tools don’t just help your site perform better—they also make it more user-friendly for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re running a blog, an eCommerce store, or a portfolio website, automating your image alt text with AI can save you time, improve SEO, and make your site more accessible.
💡 Recommended AI Tools:
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AltText.ai (Best for bulk automation and customization)
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AI for SEO (Best free plugin for occasional use)
Don’t forget to pair these tools with a strong SEO plugin like AIOSEO to unlock even more optimization potential.
FAQs
Q: Is AI-generated alt text accurate?
A: While not perfect, AI-generated descriptions are often good enough for SEO and accessibility. You can always tweak them manually if needed.
Q: Can I bulk update alt text in WordPress?
A: Yes! Both AltText.ai and AI for SEO offer bulk generation options.
Q: Will this affect my existing alt text?
A: Only if you enable overwrite options. Otherwise, existing alt text will remain untouched.
Q: Does this work with WooCommerce product images?
A: Yes. As long as the images are in your WordPress Media Library, these tools can generate alt text for them.
Q: Is it worth paying for a premium tool like AltText.ai?
A: If you manage a media-heavy site or prioritize accessibility and SEO, the time saved and quality improvement can more than justify the cost.
Ready to improve your SEO and save time? Start generating alt text automatically in WordPress today using AI!