Automatically Generate Alt‑Text for Images
Ever uploaded a bunch of images to your website and then realized none of them have alt-text? You’re not alone. Writing alt-text for every image is tedious, but skipping it means your site is less accessible and loses valuable SEO points. The good news: you can now automate this with smart, easy-to-use AI tools—even if you aren’t a coder!
Why Automate This
- Accessibility: Alt-text helps visually impaired users understand content. It’s not just nice—it’s often required by law!
- SEO: Search engines use alt-text to “see” images and boost your rankings.
- Time Saver: Let AI suggest or fill in alt-text for you, freeing you up for other work.
- Consistent Quality: Automation avoids gaps or mismatched descriptions, especially as your site grows.
Step-by-Step Setup
Below are several popular strategies and tools—pick the one that best fits your CMS and workflow. Each one includes an explanation, a workflow description, a JSON payload example, and advice for tweaking it to your needs.
n8n with Google Cloud Vision API
What happens: When you upload a new image to your CMS (like WordPress), n8n watches for the event. It sends the image to Google Cloud Vision, which returns a description suitable for alt-text, and then n8n updates your CMS automatically.
What the setup looks like: Picture a flowchart:
Image Uploaded → n8n → Google Vision → Alt Text Generated → CMS Updated
{
"image_url": "https://yourcms.com/uploads/blue-shirt.jpg",
"alt_text": "A folded blue cotton shirt on a wooden table with sunlight."
}
Tips to customize:
- Ask Google Vision for different languages just by tweaking API parameters.
- Add conditional steps—e.g., only fill alt-text if missing.
- Map extra fields like image captions or tags in your flow.
OpenAI Vision WordPress Plugin
What happens: Install the “AI Image Alt Text Generator” WordPress plugin, connect your OpenAI account, and let it work. Every time you upload an image, the plugin analyzes it (using GPT-4o) and writes a human-style alt-text. It even allows bulk-updating existing images, all inside your WordPress media library.
What the setup looks like: You just upload images as usual—behind the scenes:
Image Upload → Plugin Triggered → OpenAI Vision → Alt Text Saved
{
"image_id": 3152,
"file_name": "coffee-mug-desk.jpg",
"alt_text": "White ceramic mug filled with coffee next to a laptop on a tidy workspace."
}
Tips to customize:
- Control how long or detailed the alt-text is via plugin settings.
- Set rules to ignore certain image folders or file types.
- Pick which images get processed in bulk.
n8n-Gemini AI Agent Workflow
What happens: Use n8n with Google Gemini 1.5 Pro (an advanced AI model). This setup can handle images in different formats and even extract text from them. It makes nuanced alt-text, then updates your CMS. It’s great if you want smarter descriptions or need to handle lots of product images.
What the workflow looks like:
Get Image (URL/Binary) → Gemini Analyzes → Generate Alt Text → Push to CMS → Handle Errors
{
"source": "https://store.com/images/product123.jpg",
"description": "Red running shoes with white soles on a reflective surface, logo visible."
}
Tips to customize:
- Set up error alerts via email or Slack if descriptions fail.
- Resize or compress images during the flow to save bandwidth.
- Add extra context (like product category) for even richer alt-text.
Automated SEO Audits with n8n
What happens: Every week (or month), n8n scans all your content for images that have no (or bad) alt-text. For each one, it fetches the image, uses AI (Google Vision or OpenAI) to make a description, logs the change in a Google Sheet (for reports or undo), and then updates the CMS. This keeps your site healthy as you add new content.
What the workflow looks like:
Scheduled Trigger → Get All Images → Check Alt-Text → AI Fills In → Log to Sheets → Update Site
{
"checked_image": "https://blogsite.com/assets/post42-banner.jpg",
"before": null,
"after": "Close-up of a handwritten journal next to fresh lavender sprigs."
}
Tips to customize:
- Set audit frequency to match your publishing schedule.
- Add Slack or email notifications for audit summaries.
- Export logs so you can roll back if something goes wrong.
Low-Code Alt-Text Pipelines via Pipedream
What happens: If you already use cloud storage (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Azure), try linking it to Pipedream, which is a low-code automation tool. Whenever you add new images to a folder, Pipedream runs a function (using Google Cloud Vision or Azure AI) to create alt-text. It then triggers an n8n workflow that puts that text into your CMS fields. Perfect for e-commerce with lots of product photos.
What the workflow looks like:
Cloud Upload → Pipedream Function → AI Alt-Text → n8n Mapping → CMS
{
"file_location": "dropbox://summer2025/floral-dress-01.jpg",
"caption": "Colorful floral summer dress on a display mannequin."
}
Tips to customize:
- Batch process folders overnight for high-volume shops.
- Map extra fields (price, SKU) while updating product listings.
- Use conditionals: don’t overwrite alt-text written by a human.
Real Example: Automating Alt-Text in a Small Online Shop
Let’s say you run a boutique T-shirt shop using WordPress. You add dozens of new product images weekly. By connecting WordPress to n8n and the Google Vision API:
- Whenever a new T-shirt image is uploaded, n8n grabs the image URL.
- It sends the image to Google Vision, which returns “Red T-shirt with a cartoon cat graphic, folded neatly on a white table”.
- n8n updates the alt-text in your CMS so visually-impaired shoppers and Google both get the right idea.
- A Google Sheet logs every update, so you can check or restore changes if needed.
Tools You’ll Need
- n8n (the automation engine)
- Google Cloud Vision, OpenAI Vision, or Gemini API access
- Your CMS (WordPress, Ghost, Shopify, etc.)
- AI Image Alt Text Generator Plugin (for WordPress only)
- Pipedream (optional for cloud-to-CMS flows)
Related Articles
- Automate Image Analysis with n8n + Google Vision
- How to Use AI Image Alt Text Generator for WordPress
- n8n + Ghost CMS: Content Automation Guide
- Using Google Cloud Vision on Pipedream
- Google Cloud Vision API Docs
Final Thoughts
Manually writing alt-text for every image is a pain, but bad or missing alt-text means lost sales, frustrated users, or even compliance problems. With these AI-powered, no-code (or low-code) tools, you can automatically keep your images accessible and SEO-friendly—without spending hours at the keyboard. Try one of these methods and see your website become more welcoming to everyone (and maybe rank a little higher, too!).