A11yInspect vs PDFix Desktop

A11yInspect is a browser extension that works with the Inspect tool in DevTools to assess web-page accessibility against WCAG 2.2. Automated checks cover more than 600 issues across 30 Success Criteria, with a stated false-positive rate below 1%. Results classify findings as Fails, Validates, or Suggestions and map them to criteria and severity. Supported standards include WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, GIGW 3.0, and IS 17802. Manual review tools include bookmarklets for headings, tab order, grayscale, target size, text spacing, and forms, as well as a color contrast checker. The extension is available for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox and can examine a page or a specific element. Pages can be tested in any language, although the interface is English-only; the extension is for desktop browsers and cannot be used on mobile. The Free plan allows unlimited webpage testing without login or a credit card. Pro costs $120.00 per year and includes a 30-day trial without a card; users move to Free if they do not subscribe when it ends.

PDFix Desktop is a desktop application for PDF accessibility remediation, auto-tagging, and validation against PDF/UA and WCAG standards. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and offers automated scans as well as manual review tools. Four auto-tagging methods are available: basic tagging, templates generated from preflight checks, AI-generated templates, and predefined layout templates. A visual Accessibility Panel lets users refine tables, headings, and alternative text. Its built-in veraPDF engine checks PDF/UA-1 and PDF/UA-2, WCAG 2.1 and 2.2, Section 508, and the European Accessibility Act; audit reports can be exported in HTML, XML, or JSON. The free download exposes all features, but saved PDFs may contain redacted content and a watermark. Desktop Pro costs $599 a year, and Desktop Enterprise costs €1,000 a year; Enterprise adds batch processing with layout templates. The product page says validation is local and documents are not uploaded to a server. PDFix cautions that human checks and intervention remain necessary for full compliance.