Axe DevTools vs WAVE
Axe DevTools
deque.com
WAVE
wave.webaim.orgSide by side
| Figure | Axe DevTools | WAVE |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $40/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 13 |
| Spec score · Accessibility Testing Software | 9.5 (#1) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Spec score · Website Accessibility Tools | 9.5 (#1) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Spec score · Web Accessibility Software | 9.1 (#2) | 8.5 (#4) |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes |
| CI/CD integration | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Herndon, Virginia, United States | Logan, Utah, United States |
| Scan scope | page | page |
| WCAG version | wcag 2.2 | wcag 2.2 |
Plans
Axe DevTools
- Axe DevTools Extension (Free)Free
- Axe DevTools Extension (Pro)Priced on request
- Axe DevTools Extension (Pro)$40 a month
- Axe DevTools EnterprisePriced on request
- Axe DevTools for Web (Bundle)Priced on request
WAVE
- Subscription API — 250–999 credits$10 a month
- Subscription API — 1,000–9,999 creditsPrice not published
- Subscription API — 10,000+ creditsPrice not published
- Stand-alone API — Basic$4,000 a year
- Stand-alone API — Expanded$8,000 a year
- Stand-alone API — Unlimited$12,000 a year
- Free API creditsFree
- API credits 10000+$0.03, paid once
- API credits 1000-9999$0.03, paid once
- API credits 250-999$0.04, paid once
In their own words
Axe DevTools
Axe DevTools is an accessibility testing product with automated scans, manual review tools, and remediation guidance. Its stated standard coverage is WCAG 2.2, and the product lists mobile testing, API access, and CI/CD integration. The free browser extension costs nothing and checks one page at a time. The Pro extension adds AI-enhanced features, Intelligent Guided Testing, user flow analysis, Jira integration, and advanced reporting and sharing; no price is listed for it. The Axe DevTools for Web Bundle includes a browser extension, CI/CD and API integrations, linting, business intelligence reporting and monitoring, and on-premises and private-cloud options; its price is also not listed. The pricing model is freemium. The maker, Axe DevTools, was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, United States. The listed platform is API, alongside the browser extension. Plan descriptions distinguish single-page checks in the free extension from broader testing and workflow capabilities in the other plans.
WAVE
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.