Askem PDF Fixer vs CommonLook PDF

Askem PDF Fixer is a paid web service that checks PDF accessibility, applies automatic corrections, and validates results against PDF/UA-1 and applicable WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. Fixes cover document structure and tags, reading order, image alternative text, metadata, artifacts, and untagged content. Every document receives a validation result and a per-document record; Askem says more than 9 in 10 documents pass. A single upload accepts PDFs up to 500 pages and needs no integration, project, or procurement process. Batches can contain up to 200,000 documents. Files can be processed in any language, with the language set in PDF metadata. Scanned PDFs, complex tables or infographics with ambiguous meaning, context-dependent alternative text, and forms with conditional logic are flagged for manual handling. Documents are processed and stored on EU infrastructure and are not transferred outside the EU. OCR and API access are not available. Pricing is on request, with a 20-minute call offered for prospective customers.

CommonLook PDF helps organizations remediate PDFs for accessibility and compliance. Users can choose an advanced or simplified editor based on their experience and document complexity. AI-driven tagging assists with tables, lists, forms, and other elements, while manual tagging tools and a Fix Wizard support review and correction. The software provides PDF tagging, reading-order, and alternative-text tools, and validates against WCAG, PDF/UA, and HHS standards. It can generate bookmarks from document headings and supply a downloadable Validation Report showing passed, failed, and warning issues. A system of record tracks remediation history and lets users remove older files or download accessible PDFs with their reports. The desktop version is an on-premises plugin for Adobe Acrobat Pro or Pro DC. Allyant offers live and on-demand training and a CommonLook Knowledge Base. The product is designed for users of every ability and organizations addressing requirements such as Section 508, ADA Title II, and the EAA. Pricing is available on request, and a seven-day trial is listed.