=== AltPost – Free AI Alt Text, No API Keys ===
Contributors: a63digital
Tags: alt-text, alt-text-generator, accessibility, image-seo, ai
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 8.0
Stable tag: 7.0.9
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Free AI alt text generator for WordPress. Bulk-generate accessible, SEO-ready image alt text — no OpenAI API key needed.

== Description ==

AltPost is a free AI alt text generator for WordPress that writes clear image descriptions and SEO-ready alt text for your media library. There is no API key to create and no OpenAI account to manage — AltPost Managed handles the AI for you. Just install, register your email for the free tier, and run.

Built by A63 Digital, a working WordPress agency in Dublin, Ireland.

**Included in this free plugin**

* Vision-based alt text — the AI actually sees and describes your images
* Batch runner with Start / Pause / Stop controls
* Inline editable results table with debounced autosave
* Rollback to previous alt text with one click
* Filename-as-alt detection (treats `IMG_1234.jpg` as missing)
* Compatibility with major page builders (Gutenberg, Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, WPBakery, Bricks, Oxygen)
* Cache plugin support (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, and others)

Use AltPost as an alt text checker: it scans your media library for images with missing alt text or filename-based placeholders such as `IMG_1234.jpg`, then lets you generate proper descriptions for those images in bulk.

Meaningful alt text is required under WCAG 2.1 and the European Accessibility Act (in force since June 2025). AltPost helps WordPress sites meet those accessibility requirements by generating accurate, human-readable alt text at scale.

**Free tier (service credits)**

Start with 10 AI-generated images per month — register your email during setup (no credit card required). Credits are enforced by the AltPost Managed API (`api.a63.ai`), not by locking PHP features inside this plugin.

**AltPost Pro (separate plugin — not in this zip)**

Advanced features (context-aware SEO alt text, background processing, Image Manager, Broken Image Scanner, title & description generation, higher monthly limits) ship in a **separate** AltPost Pro plugin from [a63.ai/altpost](https://a63.ai/altpost/). This WordPress.org build does **not** include those modules and does **not** gate them behind a license key.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/altpost/`
2. Activate through the WordPress Plugins menu
3. Open the setup wizard and register your email for the free tier
4. Visit **AltPost → Dashboard → Run selected** to begin processing

== Screenshots ==

1. Dashboard — batch runner, image stats, monthly quota, and live results feed
2. Settings — AltPost Managed account, quality tier, and privacy disclosure
3. Upgrade — free account summary with Free / Standard / Max pricing (AltPost Pro is a separate plugin)

== External services ==

This plugin connects to **AltPost Managed** at `https://api.a63.ai`.

When you generate alt text, the plugin sends a request to `https://api.a63.ai/api/altpost/v1/vision`. Each request includes:

* the public URL of the image being described
* the requested quality tier, language, and maximum length
* your site URL and the plugin version (sent as request headers)

The service calls an AI vision provider on your behalf, tracks your monthly credit usage, and returns the generated text plus your remaining credits. Images are not retained after processing.

Free-tier users also submit a registration request to `https://api.a63.ai/api/altpost/v1/register-free` during setup. This sends your email address, site URL, plugin version, and optional marketing consent preference (opt-in only — not required to use the free tier).

* Terms of Service: https://a63.ai/terms-of-service/
* Privacy Policy: https://a63.ai/privacy-policy/

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need an OpenAI or Google AI account? =

No. AltPost Managed runs the AI for you. You only need to register your email for the free tier.

= What image formats are supported? =

JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, SVG, and HEIC (WordPress image attachments).

= How do I get more than 10 images per month? =

Install **AltPost Pro** from [a63.ai/altpost](https://a63.ai/altpost/) — a separate plugin with higher limits and advanced automation.

= Is this trialware? =

No. Everything in this WordPress.org zip is fully usable. The free tier limit is a remote API credit quota (10 images/month). Pro features are not present in this codebase; they ship as a separate plugin.

= Do I have to opt in to marketing emails? =

No. Marketing updates are optional. Email registration is only used to identify your free-tier site for credit tracking.

== Changelog ==

= 7.0.9 =
* Improved readme description and tags

= 7.0.8 =
* Clearer WordPress.org plugin title: AltPost – Free AI Alt Text, No API Keys
* Add “Upgrade to Pro” link on the Plugins screen
* Plugin directory icons and banners
* Fix “View plans” links to use Upgrade page on the free edition
* Hide other plugins’ admin notices on AltPost screens
* Default image queue order: newest uploads first

= 7.0.7 =
* WordPress.org Guideline 5: no local plan/license locks on features shipped in the free build (API credit quotas remain).
* Moved admin inline CSS/JS to wp_enqueue_* / wp_add_inline_* APIs.

= 7.0.6 =
* Initial WordPress.org free edition
* Fully usable batch alt-text generation (10 images/month via AltPost Managed)
* Inline edit, rollback, page-builder compatibility, dark mode
* Soft upgrade CTA to AltPost Pro on a63.ai (separate plugin — Pro modules not included)
* Optional (not required) marketing consent on free registration
* External service disclosure for api.a63.ai

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 7.0.6 =
Initial WordPress.org release. Register your email during setup to unlock the free tier (10 images/month).
