AltText.io

Overview

AltText.io is an image metadata service for creators and teams that need accessible alt text, SEO metadata, or stock-photo keywords. Its mix of a WordPress plugin, API, and publishing integrations makes it most compelling for people managing images across a content workflow. The trade-off is a credit-based service with file-size and API-rate limits to plan around.

Key features

AltText.io generates alt text in more than 130 languages. Its API can also return image titles and descriptions, and stock mode adds buyer-focused keywords. That gives stock contributors metadata tailored to Getty Images, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, iStock, and Alamy, rather than only accessibility descriptions.

The WordPress plugin handles new uploads and can bulk-process an existing media library. It requires WordPress 5.0 or later and PHP 7.4 or later. Beyond WordPress, integrations include Contentful, Hygraph, DatoCMS, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento, so it can suit teams whose publishing stack spans several platforms.

Credit costs depend on the output: SEO images use one credit, stock photos two, and Getty Images metadata three per image. Credits roll over month to month while the account stays on the same plan, but a plan change resets the balance to the new plan’s monthly amount. PNG, JPG, and WebP files are supported up to 10 MB. API limits of 60 requests per minute and 1,000 per hour are relevant constraints for automated, high-volume pipelines.

Uploaded images are temporarily stored for processing and automatically deleted after generation; AltText.io says it does not use them to train models. Support requests are typically answered within 24 hours during business days.

Pricing

The free plan provides 25 image credits per month, the WordPress plugin, alt text generation, basic SEO, and REST API access. It is a way to try the core workflow, but its small allowance can run out quickly, especially when stock or Getty outputs consume more credits per image.

Silver costs $19 a month, billed per month, and includes 600 image credits per month, batch processing, advanced SEO, and priority email support. It is the practical paid tier for a modest image workload that benefits from bulk processing. Gold costs $49 a month, billed per month, and raises the allowance to 2,000 credits while adding Getty Images keywords, custom integrations, advanced analytics, and priority support. It is better suited to larger teams or stock workflows that need those specific capabilities.

Both paid plans use monthly billing. The rollover rule rewards staying on a plan, while changing tiers resets accumulated credits; buyers should factor that in when scaling up or down.

Platforms

AltText.io is available as a web service, extension, and API. The WordPress plugin supports both new uploads and bulk processing of existing images, while integrations cover several CMS and commerce platforms. API rate limits make it a less natural fit for pipelines that need sustained request volumes beyond 60 per minute or 1,000 per hour.

Who it's for

AltText.io is a strong fit for content creators, developers, and businesses that want one service for accessibility text, SEO metadata, or stock-photo metadata across multiple publishing platforms. WordPress site owners get a direct upload workflow, and teams with developers can use the REST API. It is less suited to users who need a large volume on the free plan or whose image files exceed 10 MB.

Pros and cons

• Pros: More than 130 languages and multiple output types make it useful beyond basic alt text.
• Pros: WordPress upload and bulk workflows plus integrations with CMS and commerce tools can reduce fragmented publishing tasks.
• Pros: Credit rollover on an unchanged plan helps preserve unused monthly capacity.
• Cons: The free plan’s 25 credits per month is restrictive for ongoing or bulk use.
• Cons: Credit costs vary by output, and plan changes reset the balance, complicating workload estimates.
• Cons: A 10 MB file cap and API request ceilings may constrain larger assets or high-throughput automation.

Alternatives

AI Alt Text Generators is a useful starting point for comparing options across the category.

Choose Alt Audit if a lower entry price and a larger stated monthly allowance matter more: its Starter plan costs $5 a month for 800 credits, bulk processing, priority email support, and exports. AltTextAPI is a better fit for an API-focused user seeking a $9 a month Pro plan with 1,000 images monthly; its free plan also allows 50 images per month and is English-only.

AltTextLab may suit users prioritizing 20+ integrations and 130+ languages, with 25 monthly credits on its free tier. Altvisor is an option for a web-only workflow priced in euros, with a free allowance of 50 images per month and 24 EU languages. AutoAlt.ai offers a free 50-credit monthly tier and a free trial, making it worth considering for users who want to compare an extension-based alternative.

Uix Page Builder is a free WordPress plugin. AI Alt Text Generator offers 50 managed images per month per site on its free tier. AI Image Alt Text Generator is a free self-hosted plugin, though its AI provider may charge per API request and must be configured.

Verdict

Choose AltText.io if your work needs multilingual alt text alongside SEO or stock metadata, especially across WordPress and other publishing platforms. The broad workflow coverage and rollover credits are its strongest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if your image volume is too high for the credit allowances or if your automation needs exceed its API limits.