IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker vs Tabnav Web Accessibility Checker
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
ibm.comTabnav Web Accessibility Checker
tabnav.comSide by side
| Figure | IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker | Tabnav Web Accessibility Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $39/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 6 |
| Spec score · Accessibility Testing Software | 9.0 (#7) | 7.5 (#129) |
| Spec score · Website Accessibility Tools | 9.0 (#6) | 7.5 (#98) |
| Audience | IBM describes the tools as intended for web developers and accessibility auditors. | Tabnav describes its monitoring and audit products as tools for developer teams and its solutions as serving businesses seeking accessibility support. |
| Installation | The Node module installs with npm install --save-dev accessibility-checker and can also be installed globally for the achecker command. | Tabnav says the widget can be installed with a short script and does not require source-code access for its managed remediation service. |
| Limits | IBM says automated checks cover only a subset of its accessibility requirements and should be followed by manual and screen reader testing. | Tabnav states that its free widget typically helps meet up to 30% of accessibility guidelines on its own. |
| Support | The project Wiki directs users to submit bugs, questions, and suggestions through GitHub issues. | The managed accessibility plan includes dedicated 24/7 support. |
Plans
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
- Free and open sourceFree
- Free/open-source toolkitFree
Tabnav Web Accessibility Checker
- Free Accessibility WidgetFree
- Free PDF POCFree
- Widget + Managed Accessibility$39 a month
- Accessibility Monitoring$69 a month
- Manual Accessibility AuditPriced on request
- PDF RemediationPriced on request
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.
Tabnav Web Accessibility Checker
Tabnav Web Accessibility Checker has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.