AllyShield vs WAVE

AllyShield is a web-based service for automated accessibility scans against WCAG 2.2. It supports mobile testing, CI/CD integration, and remediation guidance, with plans ranging from a free allowance to higher-volume options. The Free plan costs nothing, billed monthly, and allows 3 scans per month, 1 page per scan, and 1 domain. Starter costs €49/mo and includes 25 scans per month, 5 pages per scan, 3 domains, and 5 AI fixes per scan. Pro costs €99/mo and raises the limits to 100 scans per month, 25 pages per scan, and 10 domains; it also includes scheduled scans and API access. Agency costs €149/mo, with 500 scans per month, 50 pages per scan, 50 domains, white-label reports, and custom rules. Enterprise costs €799/mo, with unlimited scans, 100 pages per scan, unlimited domains, SSO/SAML, and dedicated support. AllyShield does not offer manual review tools or a browser extension.

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.