CompliaScan vs axe DevTools
axe DevTools from Deque is a best-in-class developer testing tool built on the axe-core engine. CompliaScan runs that same axe-core engine and wraps it in a hosted platform with crawling, monitoring, and reporting. Both are genuine code-level tools. Here is how they compare.
Developer Tool vs Hosted Scanning Platform
axe DevTools puts axe-core rules right where developers work: a browser extension for manual checks, plus a CLI and test-framework integrations for automated checks in CI. Because CompliaScan also uses axe-core, the underlying rule detection on a given page is comparable. The difference is in how each tool is delivered and what surrounds the scan.
Where axe DevTools is a strong fit
- Built on axe-core, the widely trusted open-source engine known for low false positives
- Excellent developer tooling: browser extension, CLI, and Playwright, Cypress, and Jest integrations
- Guided intelligent testing in the paid Pro tier extends coverage beyond fully automatic checks
- Backed by Deque's deep accessibility expertise and used across the industry
For teams that need ongoing, site-wide accessibility management rather than in-editor testing, axe DevTools has some gaps:
- The free browser extension tests one page at a time, inside your browser
- Multi-page monitoring, dashboards, and enterprise features require paid Pro or axe Monitor licensing
- Primarily a developer tool, so shareable PDF reports for non-technical stakeholders are not the focus
- No BYOK AI fix recommendations
CompliaScan is built for continuous, site-wide scanning: enter a URL and it crawls up to 1,000 pages, re-scans on a schedule, alerts you to regressions, and generates PDF reports for stakeholders. Many teams use both, axe DevTools in the IDE and CI, and CompliaScan for hosted monitoring and reporting.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | CompliaScan | axe DevTools |
|---|---|---|
| Detection engine | axe-core + custom checks | axe-core |
| Free tier | Yes (no account needed) | Yes (browser extension) |
| Multi-page scanning | Up to 1,000 pages (hosted) | Via CLI or paid tiers |
| Automatic crawling | ||
| Scheduled monitoring & alerts | Daily / Weekly / Monthly | axe Monitor (enterprise) |
| PDF reports | ||
| AI fix recommendations | Yes (BYOK) | |
| In-browser / IDE testing | ||
| CI/CD integration | ||
| Test-framework integrations | REST API | Playwright, Cypress, Jest |
| Enhanced scanning | Lighthouse, CVD sim, heading map | Guided testing (Pro) |
| Hosting model | Hosted (nothing to install) | Local extension / CLI |
Pricing Comparison
CompliaScan
- Free: $0 Single-page scan, no account needed
- Starter: $69/mo Multi-page, reports, monitoring
- Pro: $179/mo API, weekly monitoring, 10 team members
- Business: $349/mo 1,000 pages, daily monitoring, unlimited
axe DevTools
- axe DevTools browser extension: Free
- axe DevTools Pro: paid, per-seat licensing
- axe Monitor / axe Auditor: enterprise, quote-based
- Deque manual audits and consulting: quote-based
- Deque publishes a free extension; Pro and enterprise products are licensed per seat or by contract. Check Deque for current pricing.
Because both tools use axe-core, you are not choosing between detection engines. You are choosing between a per-seat developer toolchain and a hosted platform. CompliaScan starts free, scales to $349/mo for 1,000 pages with daily monitoring, and never charges per seat for scanning.
Key Advantages of CompliaScan over axe DevTools
Hosted crawling with zero setup
CompliaScan crawls and scans up to 1,000 pages from a single URL with nothing to install. axe DevTools' free extension checks one open page at a time, and unattended multi-page scanning moves you into CLI scripting or paid tiers.
Monitoring and regression alerts
CompliaScan re-scans on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule and emails you when new issues appear. Continuous monitoring in the axe ecosystem lives in the enterprise axe Monitor product.
Reports for non-developers
CompliaScan generates shareable PDF reports for clients, legal teams, and stakeholders, plus JSON and CSV export. axe DevTools is optimized for developers in the browser and CI rather than stakeholder reporting.
BYOK AI fix recommendations
Connect your own OpenAI or Anthropic key and CompliaScan generates specific code suggestions for each violation. axe DevTools provides guided testing and remediation guidance but not BYOK AI code generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do CompliaScan and axe DevTools find the same issues?
For automated checks on a single page, results are comparable because both are built on the axe-core engine. CompliaScan adds a small set of custom checks and enhanced audits on top. The bigger difference is delivery: CompliaScan crawls many pages and monitors them over time, while axe DevTools focuses on testing the page in front of you and in CI.
Is axe DevTools free?
The axe DevTools browser extension is free. axe DevTools Pro adds guided intelligent testing under per-seat licensing, and axe Monitor and axe Auditor are enterprise products. CompliaScan also offers a free single-page scan with no account and paid plans from $69/mo.
Can axe DevTools scan a whole site automatically?
The free browser extension checks one page at a time. Site-wide automated scanning in the axe ecosystem is handled by the CLI (which you script yourself) or the enterprise axe Monitor product. CompliaScan crawls up to 1,000 pages automatically from one URL, with no scripting.
Should I use axe DevTools or CompliaScan?
They complement each other. axe DevTools is excellent for developers testing in the browser and blocking regressions in CI. CompliaScan is built for hosted site-wide scanning, scheduled monitoring, PDF reporting, and AI fix suggestions. Many teams run both.
Does either tool guarantee ADA or WCAG compliance?
No automated tool can. Automated scanning, whether axe DevTools or CompliaScan, reliably catches roughly 30 to 40 percent of WCAG success criteria. Full conformance still requires manual testing with assistive technology. Both tools are a strong foundation, not a legal guarantee.
The axe-core Engine, Hosted and Monitored
Try CompliaScan free and see axe-core rule detection wrapped in automated multi-page crawling, scheduled monitoring, PDF reports, and AI fix recommendations. No install, no account needed.
Feature data based on publicly available information as of early 2026. Competitors' features and pricing may change.