axe-core vs IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker

axe-core is a free, open-source accessibility testing engine for websites and other HTML-based interfaces. It is designed to run beside functional tests in unit, integration, browser, and other testing environments. Its rules cover WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 at A, AA, and AAA levels, along with additional best practices. Deque says automated checks find an average of 57% of WCAG issues, while uncertain findings are marked for manual review. Installation is documented through npm or pnpm, with tests calling the axe.run() API. The API lists Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari; Internet Explorer 11 is deprecated. Chrome and Firefox are tested on every pull request. JSDOM support is limited, and color-contrast checks do not work there. axe-core uses the Mozilla Public License 2.0. Security updates are available for minor lines up to 18 months old. Vulnerabilities are requested by email, with a stated 24-business-hour response and no bug bounty.

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.