A11yScope vs IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
A11yScope
a11yscope.com
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
ibm.comSide by side
| Figure | A11yScope | IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Spec score · Website Accessibility Tools | 8.5 (#18) | 9.0 (#6) |
| Browser extension | No | The Chrome extension runs inside Developer Tools and helps locate accessibility problems and possible fixes. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | A11yScope scans public web pages for accessibility issues and provides practical next steps. | The checker automates accessibility checking of web content and applications for web developers and accessibility auditors. |
| Reports | PDF and emailed reports are included with every plan, including Free. | XLSX output is included automatically, and JSON and other report formats can be configured. |
| Scan scope | site | page |
| Support | Support is available at [email protected], including for data rights requests and subscription help. | The project Wiki directs users to submit bugs, questions, and suggestions through GitHub issues. |
| WCAG version | wcag 2.1 | wcag 2.2 |
Plans
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
- Free and open sourceFree
- Free/open-source toolkitFree
In their own words
A11yScope
A11yScope scans public web pages for accessibility issues and gives practical next steps. It renders pages in a headless browser, including JavaScript, then runs axe-core checks for WCAG 2.1 AA. It also offers guidance on WCAG 2.2 criteria that may require manual review. Findings include fix guidance and copyable code snippets for common failures. Every plan, including Free, includes PDF and emailed reports. Free allows five page scans per hour without an account; a free account allows 50 scan attempts per 30 days and keeps the last three scans in history. Paid plans add weekly rescans and changes with links to page results. Starter costs $10 a month for one monitored site; Pro costs $49 a month for up to 10 sites; Agency costs $149 a month for up to 30 sites. A 7-day trial is available. A11yScope runs on the web and has no browser extension. Automated scans do not certify WCAG conformance, so keyboard and assistive-technology review is still needed.
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker automates accessibility checks for web content and applications, with tools aimed at web developers and accessibility auditors. Its rule engine connects checks to accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.2, and scans at page level. Results can identify the issue type, applicable WCAG success criteria, affected element, XPath, progression level, and a help link. Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. They work in browser DevTools and include a visualization mode for keyboard checking. For CI/CD workflows, packages are available for Node, Cypress, and Java; the project Wiki also lists a Karma plugin and names Selenium, Puppeteer, Playwright, and Zombie as testing or parsing engines. The extension can combine up to 50 stored scans into a Microsoft Excel report. The Wiki says web data, rules, and the engine stay local rather than sending web data to servers or third parties. The tool is free at free. IBM cautions that automated checks cover only part of its accessibility requirements, so manual and screen reader testing should follow.