CompliaScan vs accessiBe
accessiBe adds an overlay widget to your site. CompliaScan actually finds and helps you fix the real accessibility issues in your code. Two fundamentally different approaches to web accessibility — here is why it matters.
The Overlay Problem
accessiBe is an accessibility overlay — a JavaScript widget that sits on top of your website and attempts to fix accessibility issues in real time. While the promise is appealing, the reality is more complicated. Overlays have faced serious criticism from the accessibility community, with over 800 advocates signing the Overlay Fact Sheet arguing that overlays do not ensure WCAG compliance.
Key issues with the overlay approach include:
- Overlays cannot fix all WCAG criteria — many issues require source code changes
- Overlay widgets can conflict with assistive technologies that users already rely on
- If the overlay script fails to load, no accessibility improvements are applied
- Overlays do not fix PDFs, native apps, or server-rendered content
- Multiple lawsuits have been filed against companies using overlay solutions
CompliaScan takes the opposite approach: scan your actual code, identify real issues, and provide specific instructions to fix them permanently in your source.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | CompliaScan | accessiBe |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Code-level scanning | Overlay widget |
| Free Tier | Yes (no account needed) | |
| Starting Price | Free / $69/mo | ~$49/mo per site |
| Fixes Actual Source Code | Yes (provides fix instructions) | No (overlay only) |
| WCAG Rule Scanning | 100+ rules (axe-core + custom) | Overlay-based adjustments |
| Multi-Page Scanning | Up to 250 pages | N/A (overlay applies site-wide) |
| API Access | ||
| Monitoring & Alerts | Daily / Weekly / Monthly | |
| PDF Reports | ||
| AI Recommendations | ||
| Enhanced Scanning | Lighthouse, CVD sim, heading map | |
| Works Without JavaScript | Reports work regardless | No (requires JS widget) |
Pricing Comparison
CompliaScan
- Free: $0 — Single-page scan, no account needed
- Starter: $69/mo — Multi-page, reports, monitoring
- Pro: $179/mo — API, weekly monitoring, 3 seats
- Business: $349/mo — 250 pages, daily monitoring, unlimited
accessiBe
- No free tier
- Small sites: ~$49/mo (up to 1,000 pages)
- Medium sites: ~$99/mo+
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Pricing is per-site and scales with page count / traffic
CompliaScan's approach is not only more effective — it is also more cost-effective for most organizations. accessiBe charges per site and scales pricing with traffic, which can add up quickly for companies with multiple properties. CompliaScan's plans include multi-page scanning across your entire web presence with a single flat monthly fee.
Key Advantages of CompliaScan over accessiBe
Real Compliance, Not Cosmetic Fixes
CompliaScan identifies the actual WCAG violations in your HTML, CSS, and ARIA attributes, then tells you exactly how to fix them in your source code. These fixes are permanent and work regardless of whether any third-party script loads. accessiBe's overlay only modifies what the browser displays without changing the underlying code.
No Reliance on Third-Party Widgets
accessiBe requires a JavaScript widget to be loaded on every page of your site. If the script fails to load, encounters errors, or is blocked by ad blockers, your accessibility improvements disappear. CompliaScan helps you fix the code itself, so accessibility improvements persist regardless of external dependencies.
Transparent and More Affordable
CompliaScan has clear, published pricing starting with a free tier. No per-site charges, no traffic-based scaling, no enterprise-only pricing. accessiBe's per-site model means costs multiply quickly when managing multiple web properties.
Developer-Friendly Tooling
CompliaScan provides REST API access, JSON/CSV/PDF export, and CI/CD integration capabilities. Development teams can automate accessibility testing as part of their build process and catch regressions before they reach production. accessiBe does not offer developer-facing APIs or CI/CD tooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CompliaScan and accessiBe?
CompliaScan is an accessibility scanner that analyzes your website's actual code and identifies real WCAG issues with specific fix instructions. accessiBe is an overlay solution that adds a JavaScript widget to your site that attempts to modify the page on the client side. CompliaScan helps you fix your source code permanently; accessiBe applies cosmetic changes without addressing underlying code issues.
Are accessibility overlays like accessiBe effective?
Accessibility overlays have faced significant criticism from accessibility professionals and the disability community. Over 800 accessibility advocates signed the Overlay Fact Sheet stating that overlays do not ensure compliance with accessibility standards. Overlays cannot fix all issues, may conflict with assistive technologies, and do not modify the actual source code.
Is CompliaScan cheaper than accessiBe?
CompliaScan offers a completely free tier with no account required. Paid plans start at $69/mo. accessiBe starts at approximately $49/mo per site, but pricing increases with site size and traffic. For multi-site organizations, CompliaScan is typically more cost-effective.
Can CompliaScan replace accessiBe for ADA compliance?
CompliaScan takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than adding an overlay widget, CompliaScan identifies the actual accessibility issues in your code and tells you exactly how to fix them. This approach produces genuine, lasting improvements. Note that no automated tool alone guarantees full ADA compliance — manual testing is also recommended.
Why do accessibility experts recommend scanners over overlays?
Accessibility experts generally recommend fixing the actual code because overlays only apply surface-level patches, may not work correctly with all assistive technologies, can break when the overlay script fails to load, and do not address server-rendered content, PDFs, or native mobile apps.
Fix Real Issues, Not Symptoms
Try CompliaScan free and see the actual accessibility issues in your code. No overlay, no widget, no account needed. Just real results.