IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker vs PDFix Desktop
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
ibm.com
PDFix Desktop
pdfix.netSide by side
| Figure | IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker | PDFix Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 7 |
| Spec score · Accessibility Testing Software | 9.0 (#7) | 9.0 (#11) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Licence | The source repository is published under Apache-2.0; separate Toolkit copyright content is generally CC BY unless marked otherwise. | An independent product directory describes Desktop licensing as a proprietary commercial EULA rather than open source, with SDK Lite under Apache 2.0. |
| Purpose | The checker automates accessibility checking of web content and applications for web developers and accessibility auditors. | PDFix Desktop is a desktop tool for PDF accessibility remediation, auto-tagging, and PDF/UA and WCAG validation. |
| Self-hosting | The repository documents local builds of browser and Node engine bundles and includes a rule-server component. | Desktop and SDK are documented as on-premises products that keep documents on the user's computer or network. |
| Support | The project Wiki directs users to submit bugs, questions, and suggestions through GitHub issues. | PDFix lists European support at [email protected] and a North America office with sales contact details. |
| What it does | IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker automates accessibility checks in browsers and continuous-development environments. | PDFix Desktop is a desktop application for automated and manual PDF accessibility remediation, tagging, conversion, extraction and compliance validation. |
Plans
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
- Free and open sourceFree
- Free/open-source toolkitFree
PDFix Desktop
- Desktop Pro$599 a year
- Desktop Enterprise€1,000 a year
- Desktop LiteFree
- PDFix Desktop LiteFree
- Desktop Pro$599 a year
- PDFix Desktop Pro$599 a year
- PDFix Desktop Enterprise€1,000 a year
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.
PDFix Desktop
PDFix Desktop is a desktop application for PDF accessibility remediation, auto-tagging, and validation against PDF/UA and WCAG standards. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and offers automated scans as well as manual review tools. Four auto-tagging methods are available: basic tagging, templates generated from preflight checks, AI-generated templates, and predefined layout templates. A visual Accessibility Panel lets users refine tables, headings, and alternative text. Its built-in veraPDF engine checks PDF/UA-1 and PDF/UA-2, WCAG 2.1 and 2.2, Section 508, and the European Accessibility Act; audit reports can be exported in HTML, XML, or JSON. The free download exposes all features, but saved PDFs may contain redacted content and a watermark. Desktop Pro costs $599 a year, and Desktop Enterprise costs €1,000 a year; Enterprise adds batch processing with layout templates. The product page says validation is local and documents are not uploaded to a server. PDFix cautions that human checks and intervention remain necessary for full compliance.