BAAT vs IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
BAAT
tools.caat.report
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
ibm.comSide by side
| Figure | BAAT | IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 2 |
| Spec score · Accessibility Testing Software | 7.1 (#157) | 9.0 (#7) |
| Audience | The maker says BAAT is suitable for organizations dedicated to developing accessible websites. | IBM describes the tools as intended for web developers and accessibility auditors. |
| Browser extension | No | The Chrome extension runs inside Developer Tools and helps locate accessibility problems and possible fixes. |
| CI/CD integration | No | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | BAAT can be used as a browser bookmarklet without installing additional software or plug-ins. | The Node module installs with npm install --save-dev accessibility-checker and can also be installed globally for the achecker command. |
| Purpose | BAAT runs automated accessibility tests on websites directly in the browser. | The checker automates accessibility checking of web content and applications for web developers and accessibility auditors. |
| Support | The maker directs users with questions or feedback to open an issue on GitHub. | The project Wiki directs users to submit bugs, questions, and suggestions through GitHub issues. |
Plans
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
- Free and open sourceFree
- Free/open-source toolkitFree
In their own words
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
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.