IMG Performer or Converter for Media?
Both convert WebP/AVIF locally and without an account. The difference: IMG Performer additionally labels AI images (EU AI Act) and generates accessible alt text.
Converter for Media is the most direct free competitor: local conversion to WebP and AVIF, no account, wide adoption. The basic “local vs. cloud” difference falls away here. Converter for Media does format conversion only. Alongside that, IMG Performer covers EU AI Act Art. 50 labelling and – in the Pro version – accessible alt text, and picks the smallest format per image.
| IMG Performer | Converter for Media | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Enfants Terribles digital GmbH (Hamburg) | – |
| Processing | local, on your own server | local |
| Account required | no | no |
| AI model (alt text) | your choice – Mistral (France) recommended | – |
| Billing | license, no quota | – |
| Data protection | no image transfer to third parties; DPA only for the optional alt-text AI | – |
| EU AI Act Art. 50 | yes, already in the free version | no |
| WebP / AVIF | yes (AVIF in Pro) | yes (AVIF in Pro) |
| AI alt text | yes (Pro, your own API key, no credit cap) | no |
| 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 | – |
| Cost | Free · Pro €69/year or €9/month | Free · Pro (price on vendor site) |
Last verified: August 2026. The current vendor pages are authoritative.
Where the difference is
- IMG Performer detects AI-generated images on upload and keeps the machine-readable marking across all image sizes; Converter for Media has no feature for this.
- In the Pro version, IMG Performer generates alt text with AI through your own API key.
- IMG Performer picks the smaller of WebP and AVIF per image.
When Converter for Media is enough
If you only need WebP/AVIF, have no interest in alt text or AI labelling, and want to stay with a very lean, established plugin.
When IMG Performer fits
If you want to cover the AI labelling obligation and accessible alt text at the same time – in the same plugin, locally.
More lean local optimizers compared: IMG Performer or Smush?. For a broader overview, see the guide GDPR image optimization without the cloud.
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
Does Converter for Media compress the images?
It replaces JPEG/PNG with lighter WebP/AVIF variants but does not change the dimensions. IMG Performer works in the same format-based way.
Can I switch without re-uploading images?
Yes. IMG Performer works with the existing originals in the media library.