Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find answers to common questions about Viscribe.
Is Viscribe free to use?
Yes! Viscribe is a free, open-source WordPress plugin licensed under the GPL-2.0-or-later. The free version integrates with Groq's AI services, which provide a generous free tier.
Is this plugin "vibe-coded"?
No. Absolutely not. Viscribe is professionally architected, tested with PHPStan at the strictest level, and follows WordPress coding standards. It runs through full PHPCS and PHPStan validation before every release. It is hand-crafted code built for real production environments, not generated in a chat window and shipped blindly.
If quality matters to you, support the project — it helps keep the development rigorous.
Do I really need a Groq API key?
Yes. The API key allows Viscribe to connect to Groq's AI vision models (the free version uses Groq). You can obtain one for free at console.groq.com. No credit card is required.
What happens if the AI service is unavailable?
Viscribe is built with reliability in mind. If the AI service cannot be reached, the image upload proceeds as normal using its original filename. Your uploads will never fail because of the plugin.
Which AI models does Viscribe use?
The free version exclusively uses vision models from the Llama 4 family through Groq — there is no OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini support in the free plugin. Those are added by the Pro add-on.
Two models are available:
- Llama 4 Scout: Fast — a good fit for most workflows. Recommended
- Llama 4 Maverick: More detailed analysis. Deprecated by Groq
Does it work with images already in my library?
Currently, Viscribe processes images at the moment of upload. Bulk renaming and optimization for existing media library items are high-priority features for a future update.
Can I customize the renaming logic?
Absolutely. Developers can use the viscribe_prompt filter to change how the AI interprets images. For non-technical users, the plugin settings allow you to adjust keyword limits and select different models.
Is my API key secure?
Security is our top priority. Viscribe encrypts your API key before storing it in the database using the defuse/php-encryption library. For maximum protection, we recommend defining your key and encryption secret in your wp-config.php file.
Will this slow down my website?
Not at all. The AI analysis only runs when you upload an image in the admin dashboard. This process usually takes between 1 and 3 seconds. It has zero impact on your site's front-end performance or page load speeds for visitors.
What image formats are supported?
Viscribe currently supports JPEG, PNG, WebP, and GIF. You can enable or disable support for each format in the settings menu.
What data is sent to the AI?
Only the image data itself and a specific text prompt (the instructions for the AI) are sent to Groq (free version). No user data, visitor information, or personal details from your WordPress site are ever transmitted. See Security & Privacy for details.
How do I get support or report a bug?
If you encounter any issues, check the Troubleshooting guide first. If that does not help, please reach out via:
Viscribe is free and open-source. If you find it useful, consider supporting its development.