Access Continuum vs PDFix Desktop
Access Continuum
levelaccess.com
PDFix Desktop
pdfix.netSide by side
| Figure | Access Continuum | PDFix Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 7 |
| Spec score · Accessibility Testing Software | 8.5 (#28) | 9.0 (#11) |
| Automated scans | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | The product page lists iOS, Android, Appium, Cucumber, Python, Karma, Jasmine, Java, Ruby, and Sauce Labs among its integrations. | PDFix announced PDF/UA validation and remediation actions becoming available in the Enfocus Switch App Store in 2026. |
| Manual review tools | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Access Continuum is an SDK that automates accessibility testing so developers can find issues before they reach a live environment. | PDFix Desktop is a desktop tool for PDF accessibility remediation, auto-tagging, and PDF/UA and WCAG validation. |
| Support | Licensed Continuum customers receive personalized training and expert support to customize scripts. | PDFix lists European support at [email protected] and a North America office with sales contact details. |
| WCAG coverage | wcag 2.1 | wcag 2.2 |
Plans
PDFix Desktop
- Desktop Pro$599 a year
- Desktop Enterprise€1,000 a year
- Desktop LiteFree
- PDFix Desktop LiteFree
- Desktop Pro$599 a year
- PDFix Desktop Pro$599 a year
- PDFix Desktop Enterprise€1,000 a year
In their own words
Access Continuum
Access Continuum is an SDK for developers adding automated accessibility checks to development and testing workflows. It includes the Professional edition of Access Engine and defaults to automatic tests that do not require human validation. Teams can test code snippets, page nodes or rendered pages within existing automated tests, including CI/CD processes. Its XML-based scripting framework lets teams author accessibility tests without an existing test framework or automation setup. Guided Automatics can flag items for human review; advisory tests are not run in Continuum. Coverage includes WCAG 2.1, with web and mobile testing and examples for Android and iOS. SDK instructions cover C#, Java, JavaScript and Python; Ruby is also listed among supported package repository languages. Results can be returned as JSON or exported to the Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) UI. Use depends on AMP services and access to Level Access package repositories, which may require network access. Licensed customers receive personalized training and expert support. Pricing is available on request, and the product page offers a demo request.
PDFix Desktop
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.