WordPress currently only allows you to use custom avatars that are uploaded through Gravatar. WP User Avatar enables you to use any photo uploaded into your Media Library as an avatar. This means you use the same uploader and library as your posts. No extra folders or image editing functions are necessary.
WP User avatar also lets you:
*Upload your own Default Avatar in your WP User Avatar settings.
*Show the user’s Gravatar avatar or Default Avatar if the user doesn’t have a
WP User Avatar image.
*Disable Gravatar avatars and use only local avatars.
*Use the [avatar_upload] shortcode to add a standalone uploader to a front page
or widget. This uploader is only visible to logged-in users.
*Use the [avatar] shortcode in your posts. These shortcodes will work with any
theme, whether it has avatar support or not.
*Allow Contributors and Subscribers to upload their own avatars.
*Limit upload file size and image dimensions for Contributors and Subscribers.