Title: Media on Autopilot
Author: Storm Rockwell
Published: July 3, 2026
Last modified: July 4, 2026
---
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# Media on Autopilot
By [Storm Rockwell](https://profiles.wordpress.org/stormrockwell/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/media-on-autopilot.1.0.0.zip)
* [Details](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/media-on-autopilot/#description)
* [Reviews](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/media-on-autopilot/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/media-on-autopilot/#installation)
* [Development](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/media-on-autopilot/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/)
## Description
Media on Autopilot takes the friction out of images in WordPress. For every image,
AI writes alt text, adds tags, and picks the ideal focal point, so you get an accessible,
searchable library where every crop stays well-framed. The focal point holds across
your CDN’s optimizations, and everything is served through your own BunnyCDN or
Cloudflare account, with no reseller in between.
**What you get**
* **Focal points that stick:** The most important part of each image stays in frame
across every crop. AI sets the focal point on upload, or you can place it by
hand.
* **AI alt text and tags:** Every image gets descriptive alt text and searchable
tags, for a library that is accessible and easy to find things in. Generate them
per image, automatically on upload, or backfill your whole library at once.
* **Image CDN on your own account:** Serve optimized, responsive images through
your own BunnyCDN or Cloudflare account, with automatic format and quality tuning.
No reseller, no lock-in, and your originals are never deleted.
**Works with what you have**
Focal points work with no AI or CDN at all. It never overwrites your alt text unless
you ask it to, tags are always merged rather than replaced, and deactivating the
plugin reverts image URLs to your site with no leftover data. We do our best to
be compatible with other major plugins. If you face a conflict, let us know and
we may be able to help resolve it.
Setup steps for AI, BunnyCDN, and Cloudflare Images are on the Installation tab.
### How it works
#### Focal points
A focal point marks the main subject of an image so themes and CDN providers can
crop around it instead of the center. New uploads get a focal point automatically
when AI auto-tagging is enabled: the vision model marks the subject in the same
call that writes alt text and tags. With auto-tagging off, set the focal point by
hand with the picker on the edit-media screen. Focal-point cropping is on by default
and can be turned off in Settings.
#### AI alt text and tags
Alt text and tags are generated with the native WordPress AI Client, so you connect
your own provider (WordPress Settings Connectors). Alt text is written to the
standard alt field; tags are stored in a dedicated media-tag taxonomy and are searchable
in the media library. To keep costs down, images are downscaled before being sent,
and the plugin prioritizes small, low-cost vision models first. In practice that
keeps tagging to a few cents per hundred images; see the FAQ for a real-world example.
You can change the model currently via a PHP hook.
There are three ways to generate them:
* **Per-image button:** “Generate alt text & tags” in the attachment editor. Overwrites
existing alt text and merges new tags in alongside any existing ones.
* **Auto-tag on upload:** an opt-in setting (off by default) that fills empty alt
text and tags automatically when a new image is uploaded.
* **Retag existing media:** a Settings tool that backfills the whole library in
the background. Pick any of alt text, tags, and focal points, then either fill
missing only or overwrite existing (with a confirmation). A progress bar survives
page refreshes and can be cancelled mid-run.
The fill-empty options never clobber alt text you have written, and tags always
merge. If no AI provider is configured, the AI fields are hidden, the Retag tool
is disabled, and auto-upload does nothing.
#### CDN delivery
CDN delivery is opt-in. Choose a provider in Settings Media on Autopilot CDN:
None (default), BunnyCDN, or Cloudflare Images. Only one can be active at a time.
Selecting a provider lets you save credentials, and a separate “Serve images through
CDN” toggle controls whether front-end URLs are actually rewritten.
The integration is front-end only: the admin, REST API, block editor, and feeds
are never rewritten. Every option is reversible. Disable the provider and URLs revert
to your origin with no stored state, and your original files are never deleted.
**BunnyCDN** is a pull zone. Enter your pull-zone hostname and Bunny becomes the
resizing engine: front-end image URLs are rewritten to the pull zone, a responsive
image set is built from the original, and hard crops are anchored to the stored
focal point. Bunny pulls each image from your origin on first request and caches
it at the edge, so there are no uploads. Choose a format strategy (auto WebP/AVIF,
force WebP/AVIF, or off) and a quality setting.
**Cloudflare Images** offloads copies of your originals to Cloudflare and serves
them from imagedelivery.net. New images are offloaded in the background after upload,
and an “Offload existing media” tool backfills your existing library. Offloading
is additive: your local originals are always kept, and if an image has not been
offloaded yet, its front-end URL falls back to the local file so nothing breaks.
### For developers
Media on Autopilot uses WordPress 7.0’s native AI Client, so you bring your own
provider. Filters let you adjust the taxonomy slug, prompt, target tag count, image
resize width, AI connector, vision-model preference order (`moap_ai_tagging_model_preference`),
and alt-text application strategy, plus the CDN behavior:
* `moap_cdn_image_transform`: modify the transform spec before a URL is built.
* `moap_cdn_srcset_widths`: override the responsive candidate widths.
* `moap_cdn_max_width`: hard pixel-width ceiling.
* `moap_cloudflare_delivery_base`: serve Cloudflare Images through a custom delivery
domain.
* `moap_focal_point_cache_bust`: suppress the focal-point cache-bust on CDN URLs(
disabled automatically when the active provider encodes the focal point in its
URL).
### External services
Media on Autopilot only contacts an external service when you turn on a feature
that needs one. Nothing is sent until you configure and enable that feature.
#### Cloudflare Images
Used only when you set the CDN provider to “Cloudflare Images” in Settings Media
on Autopilot CDN. The plugin uploads copies of your image files to Cloudflare Images(
api.cloudflare.com) so they can be served, resized, and cropped from Cloudflare’s
delivery network (imagedelivery.net). It also calls the Cloudflare API to verify
your credentials, to delete an image when you delete the attachment, and to run
the built-in delivery test. What is sent: your image files, plus the Cloudflare
Account ID and API token you enter. When: when you offload media (on upload or via
the “Offload existing media” tool), when an image is deleted, and when you run a
connection or delivery test.
Cloudflare [terms of service](https://www.cloudflare.com/website-terms/) and [privacy policy](https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/).
#### bunny.net (BunnyCDN)
Used only when you set the CDN provider to “BunnyCDN” and enable “Serve images through
CDN”. The plugin rewrites front-end image URLs to your BunnyCDN pull-zone hostname;
BunnyCDN fetches (“pulls”) each image from your site’s origin the first time it
is requested and caches it at the edge. The built-in CDN test makes one request
to your pull zone. What is sent: image requests (URLs) to your pull-zone host, which
then fetches the corresponding images from your origin. When: on front-end page
loads once serving is enabled, and when you run the CDN test.
bunny.net [terms of service](https://bunny.net/tos/) and [privacy policy](https://bunny.net/privacy/).
#### AI provider (via the WordPress AI Client)
Used only when you use AI alt text, AI tagging, or automatic focal-point detection.
These features send a downscaled copy of the image (maximum 512px on the longest
edge) together with a text prompt to the AI provider you configure in WordPress
Settings Connectors, using WordPress’s built-in AI Client. This plugin does not
include or hardcode an AI provider; the destination is whichever provider you connect.
What is sent: a downscaled copy of the image and the tagging prompt. When: when
you click “Generate alt text & tags”, when a new image is uploaded with auto-tagging
enabled, or when you run the “Retag existing media” tool.
Because the AI provider is the one you choose and connect, please review that provider’s
own terms of service and privacy policy.
## Screenshots
[⌊The Media on Autopilot settings dashboard with focal point, AI tagging, and CDN
status at a glance, plus quick links to report a bug or request a feature.⌉⌊The
Media on Autopilot settings dashboard with focal point, AI tagging, and CDN status
at a glance, plus quick links to report a bug or request a feature.⌉[
The Media on Autopilot settings dashboard with focal point, AI tagging, and CDN
status at a glance, plus quick links to report a bug or request a feature.
[⌊Searching the media library by keyword, with the focal point selector alongside.⌉⌊
Searching the media library by keyword, with the focal point selector alongside.⌉[
Searching the media library by keyword, with the focal point selector alongside.
[⌊CDN settings: choose BunnyCDN or Cloudflare Images, with quality and format options.⌉⌊
CDN settings: choose BunnyCDN or Cloudflare Images, with quality and format options
.⌉[
CDN settings: choose BunnyCDN or Cloudflare Images, with quality and format options.
[⌊The built-in end-to-end CDN delivery test, confirming upload, resize, and delivery.⌉⌊
The built-in end-to-end CDN delivery test, confirming upload, resize, and delivery
.⌉[
The built-in end-to-end CDN delivery test, confirming upload, resize, and delivery.
[⌊The "Retag existing media" tool mid-run, backfilling the library in the background.⌉⌊
The "Retag existing media" tool mid-run, backfilling the library in the background
.⌉[
The “Retag existing media” tool mid-run, backfilling the library in the background.
## Installation
1. Install and activate Media on Autopilot. Focal-point cropping works right away,
with no configuration.
2. Follow the sections below to turn on AI features or CDN delivery.
#### Set up AI alt text and tags
1. Connect an AI provider in WordPress Settings Connectors. This plugin does not
include a provider; usage is billed by whichever one you connect.
2. Once a provider is connected, the “Generate alt text & tags” button appears in
the attachment editor.
3. To generate automatically, enable auto-tag on upload in Settings Media on Autopilot.
4. To backfill your existing library, use the “Retag existing media” tool in Settings
Media on Autopilot.
#### Connect BunnyCDN
1. In Settings Media on Autopilot CDN, select BunnyCDN.
2. Enter your pull-zone hostname (e.g. `yourzone.b-cdn.net`).
3. Choose a format strategy and quality.
4. Turn on “Serve images through CDN”.
#### Connect Cloudflare Images
1. In your Cloudflare dashboard, go to Images and enable the service for your account.
2. Create an API token with the Images:Edit permission.
3. In Cloudflare Images settings, enable Flexible variants. This is required for the
width, quality, and format URL parameters to work.
4. Make sure your WordPress site has a publicly accessible origin URL so Cloudflare
can fetch images over HTTP. Localhost or private-network URLs will not work.
5. In Settings Media on Autopilot CDN, select Cloudflare Images, then enter your
Account ID, API token, and Account Hash (the hash segment from your `imagedelivery.
net/` delivery URL). Choose a quality and format.
6. Turn on “Serve images through CDN”. New uploads offload automatically; use the “
Offload existing media” tool to backfill.
## FAQ
### How do I get started?
Install and activate the plugin. Focal-point cropping works immediately, with nothing
to configure. To turn on AI alt text and tags, connect an AI provider under WordPress
Settings Connectors. To serve images through a CDN, add a BunnyCDN pull zone or
a Cloudflare Images account. Full steps are on the Installation tab.
### Is Media on Autopilot free?
Yes. The plugin is free and licensed under the GPL. There is no paid tier inside
the plugin.
### Which features need a paid third-party service?
Some features rely on services you bring yourself:
* **Free, no account needed:** the manual focal-point picker and focal-point cropping
at every image size.
* **Needs an AI provider:** AI alt text, AI tagging, and automatic focal-point
detection require an AI provider configured in WordPress Settings Connectors.
You supply the credentials; usage is billed by that provider.
* **Needs a CDN account:** CDN delivery requires either a BunnyCDN pull zone or
a Cloudflare Images account.
### Do I need to pay for AI, and how expensive is it?
You configure your own AI provider, and any usage is billed directly by that provider,
never by this plugin. Images are downscaled before being sent to keep token cost
low. In our own testing, using OpenAI as the provider with gpt-5.4-mini, generating
alt text and tags for 100 images cost roughly 8 cents at current OpenAI rates. Pricing
is set by your provider and can change, so treat this as a rough guide.
### Which CDN should I use?
BunnyCDN is a pull zone: it resizes images on the fly and pulls from your origin,
with no uploads. Cloudflare Images offloads copies of your originals and serves
them from imagedelivery.net. Only one provider can be active at a time, and your
local originals are always kept.
### Will this delete my original images?
No. The CDN rewrite and Cloudflare offload are both additive: your original files
are never deleted by Media on Autopilot.
### Does it work without AI configured?
Yes. Focal points set by hand and focal-point cropping work without AI. AI fields
are hidden and auto-tagging does nothing until a provider is configured.
### What happens if I deactivate the plugin?
Front-end image URLs immediately revert to your origin. There is no stored CDN state
to clean up and no data loss.
## Reviews
### [Essential toolkit for WP media in 2026](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/essential-toolkit-for-wp-media-in-2026/)
[petermodest](https://profiles.wordpress.org/petermodest/) July 8, 2026
Necessary functionality with simple, low-cost AI integrations. Replaces several
separate plugins in one lightweight install. Each of the three components (focal
points, AI alt text and tags, and CDN delivery) works on its own or all together.
Focal-point cropping runs with zero setup, and the bring-your-own-account model
for both AI and CDN keeps costs down and avoids any reseller lock-in. Alt text and
tagging came in at a few cents per hundred images in practice. Solid, well-scoped,
and does exactly what it says.
[ Read all 0 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/)
## Contributors & Developers
“Media on Autopilot” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ Storm Rockwell ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/stormrockwell/)
[Translate “Media on Autopilot” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/media-on-autopilot)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/media-on-autopilot/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/media-on-autopilot/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/media-on-autopilot/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/media-on-autopilot/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 1.0.0
* First stable release of Media on Autopilot.
## Meta
* Version **1.0.0**
* Last updated **6 days ago**
* Active installations **Fewer than 10**
* WordPress version ** 7.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **7.0.1**
* PHP version ** 8.3 or higher **
* Language
* [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/media-on-autopilot/)
* Tags
* [Alt Text](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/alt-text/)[cdn](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/cdn/)
[focal-point](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/focal-point/)[image optimization](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/image-optimization/)
[media library](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/media-library/)
* [Advanced View](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/media-on-autopilot/advanced/)
## Ratings
5 out of 5 stars.
* [ 1 5-star review ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/?filter=5)
* [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/?filter=4)
* [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/?filter=3)
* [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/?filter=2)
* [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/?filter=1)
[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ Storm Rockwell ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/stormrockwell/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-on-autopilot/)