Access Continuum vs WAVE

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.

WAVE is a web accessibility tool that identifies many accessibility and WCAG errors and provides tools for human evaluation of web content. Its browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge can examine password-protected, locally stored, and highly dynamic pages. The service supports page scans, scheduled site audits, intranet pages with most authentication types, and custom viewport sizes for checking responsive breakpoints. Stand-alone tools can integrate with continuous-integration systems including Selenium and Puppeteer. The API returns JSON or XML; basic analysis uses one credit, while advanced features may use two or three. New accounts receive 100 free API credits. Subscription API access has a 250-credit minimum purchase for $10 a month. Stand-alone API licenses cost $4,000 a year for Basic, $8,000 a year for Expanded, and $12,000 a year for Unlimited. The stand-alone API runs on Linux, Mac, or Windows web servers with PHP and Node installed; minimum requirements are 1 CPU, 1 GB memory, and 100 MB storage.