Overview
This plugin adds an avatar image upload field to the user profile screen for users with media upload permissions. Images are saved to the same uploads folder as regular media, and required sizes are automatically generated on demand. Supports both using alongside Gravatar and default avatars, as well as completely disabling Gravatar.
Download page: https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-local-avatars/
Conclusion
If you want to keep avatars locally and avoid linking email addresses to external services, this is a solid first choice. Settings are not overwhelming, making adoption relatively easy.
Key Features
- All in Admin Panel
Avatar settings can be managed from "Users" → "Profile", making it easy to explain and operate - Standard Function Compatible
Works seamlessly with themes and comment displays using the standardget_avatar()function - Flexible Permission Control
Configure whether to allow lower-privilege users (subscribers, contributors) to upload avatars via "Settings" → "Discussion"
What It Can Do
- Avatar Image Upload
Upload images from the profile screen with automatic cropping and size adjustment - Media Library Integration
Manage upload destination in the same area as other media - Gravatar Coexistence
Use Gravatar or default avatars when no local avatar is set (Gravatar can also be disabled) - Size Auto-Generation
Generate images for each display size and reuse saved sizes - Rating Support
Supports "avatar rating" settings just like Gravatar
Best Use Cases
- When you want to display author profile photos in comment lists or author sections on company blogs or membership sites
- For communities where many people don't have Gravatar accounts, allowing simple profile-only management
- When you want to reduce external service dependencies and keep avatars entirely within your site
Things to Note
- Development Policy
According to the authors, large new features are not actively being developed; focus is on bug fixes and security updates. Check the README if you expect future feature expansion - Theme Dependency Warning
Usingget_simple_local_avatar()directly in themes creates plugin-dependent code. Be careful if distributing generic themes
Summary
A reliable choice for the requirement of "managing avatars as images within the site." If your requirements are simple, the cost of trying it is low.