IMG Performer, AutoAlt.ai or alttext.ai? Alt text for WordPress compared
AI alt text for WordPress compared: local processing with your own AI key (IMG Performer) vs. a cloud service with credits (AutoAlt.ai) vs. a US tool (alttext.ai).
All three generate alt text with AI. The difference is in processing, model and billing. alttext.ai is a US service with no EU agreement. AutoAlt.ai is a German provider (webAufstieg GmbH, Aalen) with EU servers, but it uploads images to its cloud and bills per image. IMG Performer processes images locally on your own WordPress server, uses your own AI API key for the alt text – Mistral, based in France, is recommended – with no credit cap, and additionally covers WebP/AVIF optimization and EU AI Act Art. 50 labelling in the same plugin.
The main differences
| IMG Performer | AutoAlt.ai | alttext.ai | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Enfants Terribles digital GmbH (Hamburg) | webAufstieg GmbH (Aalen) | Alt-Tab LLC (USA) |
| Processing | local, on your own server | cloud, EU server (Germany) | US cloud |
| Account required | no | yes | yes |
| AI model (alt text) | your choice – Mistral (France) recommended | OpenAI GPT-4 Vision / Google Gemini (fixed, US models) | not disclosed |
| Billing | license, no quota | credits per image (subscription or packs) | credits per image |
| Data protection | no image transfer to third parties; DPA only for the optional alt-text AI | GDPR-compliant, EU server, DPA on request – images are sent to OpenAI/Google for analysis | no EU agreement, third-country transfer |
| EU AI Act Art. 50 | yes, already in the free version | no | no |
| WebP / AVIF | yes (AVIF in Pro) | no | no |
| AI alt text | yes (Pro, your own API key, no credit cap) | yes | yes (credits) |
| AI image detection | automatic (C2PA, EXIF, AI-tool signatures) | – | – |
| Marker in all image sizes | yes – machine-readable marker in every size incl. WebP/AVIF | – | – |
| Visible label | yes, customizable design (Pro) | – | – |
| Platforms | WordPress | WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopware, Shopify, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, PrestaShop, browser extension | WordPress and others |
| Cost | Free · Pro €69/year or €9/month | Free 50 images/month · from €4.49/month (100) · €16.99/month (500) · €52/month (2,000) | 25 credits free · from $5/month or $49/year |
Last verified: August 2026. The current vendor pages are authoritative.
Local processing instead of the cloud
AutoAlt.ai rightly points out its German server location and offers a data processing agreement. Still, every image leaves your own website: it goes to AutoAlt.ai and from there to OpenAI or Google for analysis. With IMG Performer, image optimization and AI image detection stay entirely on your own server. Only the optional alt-text generation calls an AI service – through your own key, with a provider of your choice.
”European” – a closer look
AutoAlt.ai is registered in Germany and hosts in the EU. The actual image analysis, however, is done by OpenAI (GPT-4 Vision) and Google (Gemini) – US models, with no choice. With IMG Performer you choose the AI provider yourself; the recommendation is Mistral, based in France. Anyone who wants to keep the processing chain European end to end has that control with IMG Performer.
Your own key instead of a price per image
AutoAlt.ai bills per image on an ongoing basis – 500 images a month cost around €17, so well over €200 a year. IMG Performer Pro costs €69 a year regardless of the number of images; for the alt text you only pay your actual usage with your AI provider, with no markup and no quota that expires.
Alt text is not everything
AutoAlt.ai generates alt text – nothing else. Anyone who also wants to optimize the images and cover the AI labelling obligation needs a compression plugin alongside it and a third tool for Art. 50 labelling. IMG Performer combines alt text, WebP/AVIF conversion and machine-readable plus visible AI labelling in one plugin.
When AutoAlt.ai is the better choice
- You run shops on several systems (Shopware, Shopify, Magento) and want one tool for all of them.
- You want to start without technical setup – no API key, no provider choice.
- You only need alt text, not image optimization or AI labelling.
- The browser extension for individual images on the go matters to you.
When IMG Performer fits
- You are on WordPress and want to process images locally, with no upload to a service.
- You want to decide on the AI provider yourself (e.g. Mistral, France).
- You want predictable costs – an annual licence instead of a price per image.
- You want alt text, WebP/AVIF and the EU AI Act labelling from one source.
Disclaimer
Note: Information on features and prices – including those of IMG Performer – reflects our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. We accept no liability for its accuracy. The current product and pricing pages of the respective providers are authoritative; information on IMG Performer is available at img-performer.enfants.de.
Frequently asked questions
Is AutoAlt.ai GDPR-compliant?
AutoAlt.ai is registered in Germany, hosts in the EU and offers a data processing agreement. For the image analysis, however, the images are passed on to OpenAI and Google. Whether that works for your use case is a case-by-case question.
Do I need my own AI account with IMG Performer?
For the alt-text feature, yes – you store an API key with a provider of your choice. The advantage: full control over model and cost, no markup, no quota. Image optimization and AI labelling run without any account.
Can I switch from AutoAlt.ai to IMG Performer?
Yes. Alt text already set stays in the media library. IMG Performer fills in missing descriptions and can process the library in bulk.