Table of Contents
- TLDR:
- What is Alt Magic and how does it help image SEO?
- What features does Alt Magic include?
- How do I set up Alt Magic for WordPress?
- How does automatic generation work and what does it produce?
- How to bulk-generate alt text for hundreds of images
- When should you use the SEO plugin integration?
- Practical tips I follow when using Alt Magic
- My verdict on Alt Magic
- Does Alt Magic work with Shopify?
- Can Alt Magic compress images or optimise file names?
- Will Alt Magic overwrite my existing alt text?
- How many languages does Alt Magic support?
- How do I connect Alt Magic to my WordPress site?
- What should I watch out for when bulk-generating alt text?
TLDR:
I tested Alt Magic for a few days and found it to be a useful, AI-powered, set and forget image SEO tool. Alt Magic automates alt text generation for images, integrates with WordPress and Shopify, supports 120 plus languages, and can bulk-generate alt text for existing images.
It does not currently compress images, and file name optimisation is planned for the future. If you want to improve image SEO and accessibility with minimal manual work, Alt Magic is worth checking out.
What is Alt Magic and how does it help image SEO?
Alt Magic is an AI-powered SEO image optimisation service that focuses on automating alt text generation. What this does is helps you with your image or text by generating descriptive alt tags that improve two things simultaneously. First, image SEO: Google Images and other image search engines still deliver meaningful traffic back to your site. Second, accessibility: alt tags help screen readers describe images to users who are visually impaired. In short, Alt Magic aims to be a set and forget solution for your image SEO needs.
Why should you care about image SEO and alt tags?
Image SEO is similar to page SEO. When images rank for keywords in Google Images, clicks on those images send visitors back to your pages. Proper alt text increases the chance your images rank and helps search engines understand the visual content. Alt tags also make your website more accessible through screen readers on Windows, Mac and Android, so there are clear SEO and accessibility benefits.
What features does Alt Magic include?
- Bulk alt tag generation and site scanning for missing alt text
- WordPress and Shopify support with native integrations
- Automatic alt text generation for new uploads
- 120 plus language support so alt text can be localised
- Integration with major SEO plugins for keyword-aware alt text (Yoast, All-in-One SEO, SEOPress, Rank Math)
- Options to apply generated alt text to image title, caption and description
- Prefix and suffix fields for brand names or copyright info
- File name optimisation is planned; image compression is not currently supported
Quick view of the Alt Magic app screen
The dashboard shows what is included and highlights new features like SEO plugin support and upcoming file name optimisation.
How do I set up Alt Magic for WordPress?
- Install the Alt Magic plugin from the WordPress plugin directory by searching for Alt Magic and activating it.
- Create or copy your API key from the Alt Magic dashboard and paste it into the plugin to verify and connect your site.
- Open the AI settings and configure automatic generation, language, and additional options.
Search and install the Alt Magic plugin inside WordPress.
Copy and paste the API key to connect your WordPress plugin to Alt Magic.
Which AI settings should you use?
In the AI settings area you will see several options. I use the following configuration as a starting point:
- Automatically generate alt text whenever a new image is added – turned on so future uploads are handled automatically
- Alt text language – set to the primary language of your site. Alt Magic supports over 120 languages so this is useful for non-English sites
- Apply alt tags to image title, caption and description – optional, I usually keep these enabled
- Prefix and suffix – add brand names or copyright info if you want consistent branding across all generated alt tags
- Use SEO keyword features – enable this if you use Yoast, All-in-One SEO, SEOPress or Rank Math and want generated alt text to reference your focus keyword
- Update behaviour – choose to update only empty alt attributes or overwrite existing values. I recommend starting with only empty fields to avoid losing curated alt text
Language and additional options are set here. Choose the target language for alt text generation.
How does automatic generation work and what does it produce?
Once connected and configured, Alt Magic will auto-generate alt text for new images when they are uploaded. You can also open an existing image and click generate to produce alt text manually. The AI uses the image content and contextual signals such as post title or configured focus keyword to craft alt text that is relevant to your content.
Example of generated alt text: the AI identified a person and generated a relevant description such as “managing web hosting server and cloud services for top web hosting pro”.
How accurate is the AI in practice?
The AI does a good job identifying objects and contextual clues, but it is not 100 percent perfect. For example, screenshots and UI dialogs will often yield alt text that references the post title or nearby text such as “confirm button highlighted” or “spreadsheet showing email verification result”. The output is natural and useful, but you should spot check important images to ensure accuracy.
How to bulk-generate alt text for hundreds of images
When you have hundreds or thousands of images, manual edits are not practical. Alt Magic offers a bulk generation mode that scans your site, counts how many images are missing alt text and allows you to generate all at once. Keep an eye on your credits because bulk processing consumes API credits.
Bulk generation shows how many images need alt text and remaining credits. Click generate all text to begin processing.
When should you use the SEO plugin integration?
If you use an SEO plugin and fill in a focus keyword for each post, enabling the SEO keyword feature tells Alt Magic to reference that keyword when generating alt text. This can help the generated alt tags be more targeted toward the post’s SEO goal. If you already know your keywords and manage them manually, you may not need this feature.
Practical tips I follow when using Alt Magic
- Start with only empty alt fields so you do not overwrite carefully written alt text.
- Enable automatic generation for new uploads to make the workflow truly set and forget.
- Use prefix or suffix for branding or copyright information consistently.
- Spot check a sample of generated alt text to ensure quality and adjust settings if needed.
- Monitor credit usage before running large bulk jobs.
My verdict on Alt Magic
Alt Magic is a focused tool that automates the tedious process of writing alt text. It is particularly useful for WordPress and Shopify users who want to improve image SEO and accessibility without manual work. The tool is not a comprehensive image optimisation suite since it does not compress images yet, but for alt text generation and bulk handling it works well. For me, it delivers on the promise of being a set and forget solution for alt tag optimisation.
Final thoughts
If you want to boost image SEO, make your website more accessible, and save hours of manual alt tag editing, Alt Magic is a practical tool to try. It is not perfect, but it greatly reduces the manual effort for new and existing images and integrates nicely into common WordPress and Shopify workflows.
Does Alt Magic work with Shopify?
Yes. Alt Magic supports Shopify in addition to WordPress. The app integrates directly with those platforms for automatic alt text generation.
Can Alt Magic compress images or optimise file names?
Currently Alt Magic focuses on alt tag optimisation. Compression is not supported at the moment. File name optimisation is planned as a future feature.
Will Alt Magic overwrite my existing alt text?
You can control the update behaviour. Choose to update only empty alt attributes or to overwrite existing alt text. I recommend starting with empty-only updates to avoid losing hand-written alt tags.
How many languages does Alt Magic support?
Alt Magic supports over 120 languages, allowing generated alt text to be localised to your site language.
How do I connect Alt Magic to my WordPress site?
Install the Alt Magic plugin, copy the API key from the Alt Magic dashboard, paste it into the plugin settings in WordPress and verify. Then configure AI settings, language and update behaviour.
What should I watch out for when bulk-generating alt text?
Check your remaining credits before starting. Bulk generation consumes API credits for each image processed. Also spot check samples after the run to ensure quality.
