8 Best ADA Compliance Software and Services

What is ADA Compliance?

An accessible website isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a legal requirement, one that can have pretty steep consequences if not followed. According to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all businesses must provide people with disabilities with the same access to information as those without disabilities. 

So, what does an ADA-compliant website look like in practice? It’s one where all users, regardless of ability, can navigate and complete tasks without barriers. For example, a compliant retail site would have product images with alt text that works with screen readers, form fields with clear labels for people using assistive technology, captions for videos, and a layout that adapts to different devices and zoom levels.

Equal access doesn’t just extend to physical spaces — the U.S. Department of Justice has repeatedly stated accessibility requirements also extend to online spaces. That’s why more and more businesses are facing lawsuits and reputation risks when their websites don’t meet ADA standards. 

What are ADA Compliance Software and Services?

ADA compliance software and services are tools and solutions that help businesses ensure their websites and digital content meet accessibility standards enforced by the ADA. These solutions identify and fix barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing online information or completing tasks. 

ADA compliance software often includes automated scanning tools that test your site against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and highlight common accessibility issues. 

Services, on the other hand, typically provide human expertise — such as accessibility audits, hands-on testing, assistive technology technologies like screen readers, and professional remediation of code and content.

What Accessibility Issues are Identified with ADA Compliance Software and Services?

ADA compliance requires a holistic approach — more complex accessibility issues require human judgment and intervention, which can be missed by accessibility testing tools. 

While automated ADA compliance software can quickly flag common problems like missing alt text, poor color contrast, or broken links, only accessibility experts can accurately evaluate issues such as keyboard navigation, logical reading order, form labeling, and whether interactive elements work with assistive technologies like screen readers. 

Put simply, software helps you catch surface-level errors, but services ensure your website truly meets WCAG and ADA compliance standards by addressing usability barriers that automation can’t detect.

Key Features to Consider in ADA Website Compliance Software and Services

When evaluating ADA compliance solutions, look for features that combine automated efficiency with expert human oversight to ensure full accessibility and legal protection. Some of the top features to look for include:

• Automated testing and scanning: Look for tools that include automation that can quickly identify common accessibility issues.

• Real-time fixes: Solutions that can apply instant corrections to common problems flagged during scans are strong contenders as they help reduce risks before they impact users. 

• Ongoing remediation: Solutions should ensure long-term compliance with continuous updates and accessibility improvements across your site.

• Expert testing: Accessibility specialists use assistive technologies like screen readers to detect issues automation can’t catch. Be sure the tool you’re considering offers expert testing.

• Comprehensive monitoring: Look for tools that track your website’s status over time with regular audits and alerts. 

• Developer integration: Solutions should seamlessly connect with your existing CMS or development workflow for faster fixes. 

• Reporting and analytics: Platforms should generate clear reports that show compliance progress, highlight risks, and provide documentation for stakeholders.

• Legal protection and support: Tools should provide you with peace of mind with expert guidance, documentation, and, in some cases, legal support to reduce liability. 

With these features in mind, let’s look at the most popular ADA compliance solutions, like AudioEye, and provide tips for building a sustainable and effective digital accessibility strategy using both automated tools and expert testing.

8 Popular ADA Website Compliance Software and Services

Web accessibility software falls into two broad categories: automated solutions which typically address common compliance issues automatically, and accessibility testing tools, which attempt to identify issues that need to be fixed.

For example, automated SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions can find (and in some cases, fix) many issues that affect real-life users. One common issue is color contrast. WCAG requires a certain level of contrast between the text and its background. SaaS solutions can detect this problem by analyzing a website’s CSS and then adjusting the styling to meet WCAG thresholds. 

But other issues require human intervention. Images need alternative text (also called alt text) that explains their context, and while artificial intelligence is rapidly improving, humans still need to write alt text to ensure that it’s accurate and descriptive. 

No automated solution can guarantee 100% compliance with the ADA or other non-discrimination laws. Your strategy should include manual and automated testing, and you should use software that’s built around the best practices of WCAG, the international standards for digital accessibility. 

With that in mind, let’s review eight of the most commonly used automated solutions and accessibility testing tools for accessibility testing.

audioeye website homepage with the headline 'minimize risk, maximize compliane'

1. AudioEye

At AudioEye, we understand that there is no silver bullet to solving digital accessibility. But there is a gold standard that takes a three-pronged approach to achieve compliance with web accessibility standards. AudioEye provides this three-pronged approach with:

• AI-driven automation technology that finds and fixes common accessibility issues in real-time with 24/7 Active Monitoring.

• Expert audits from our team of experts and individuals from the disability community that supplement testing from our automated testing tools for enhanced accessibility and compliance.

• Testing during the development process to proactively address accessibility issues early on and minimize the need for costly fixes.

AudioEye also includes an Accessibility Help Desk that gives visitors a fast, easy way to report new accessibility issues and get support, and AudioEye Assurance, which provides 400% better legal protection than consulting or automation-only approaches.

Why Choose AudioEye?

The AudioEye digital accessibility platform seamlessly integrates with your existing workflows, enabling you to maintain compliance without the hassle of time-consuming accessibility fixes. It runs for every visitor — not just once — and simplifies accessibility remediation by fixing many issues automatically.

Web visitors can customize their user experience with our web personalization tools, and the robust Active Monitoring feature provides a realistic, real-time analysis of your website’s conformance.

Most importantly, AudioEye doesn’t rely on automation alone for ADA compliance testing. We help teams learn the best practices of WCAG and implement those practices with expert guidance. AudioEye’s combined approach of automated and expert fixes provides 400% more legal protection than traditional consulting or automation-only solutions and streamlines your path to accessibility compliance.

Pricing: Pricing is available upon request.

Screenshot of lera homepage

2. LERA

Provided by digital accessibility firm AdvancedBytez, LERA(opens in a new tab) is a free automated web accessibility testing and reporting tool.  Available as a Chrome extension that scans web pages for WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA violations, generates detailed reports with visualizations, and offers suggestions for remediation.

Why Choose LERA

Like all automated tools, LERA is limited to simple pass-or-fail issues — it’s not a replacement for manual testing, and it doesn’t perform fixes (also known as remediations). Browser extensions are also limited; they operate well on individual pages, but LERA and similar products may not be the best choice for testing content at scale.

LERA features a “reporting dashboard with granular data” and includes a pre-built reporting template for performing basic audits. It features a simple installation and compelling visualizations.

Pricing: The browser extension is free (Note: AdvancedBytez provides other accessibility testing and remediation services at a cost).

screenshot of accessibe homepage

3. accessiBe

accessiBe’s accessWidget(opens in a new tab) utilizes two applications that work together to remediate your website. The accessibility interface is responsible for the UI and design-related adjustments, while the AI-powered process handles the complex requirements, such as optimization for screen readers and keyboard navigation.

Why Choose accessiBe

accessiBe is relatively affordable. However, the product’s functionality relies on JavaScript, which may be disabled on certain browsers. 

Pricing: Plans start at $49 per month (or $490 per year with annual billing). Standard and advanced plans have page limits, and additional charges apply for premium “addons" such as priority support and monthly remediation reports.

screenshot of wave web accessibility tool

4. WAVE

WAVE(opens in a new tab) is a suite of evaluation tools developed by WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind). Like other reporting tools on this list, it doesn’t perform accessibility fixes, but it delivers visual feedback to help developers and content creators fix issues on their own. 

The tools are available as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. WebAIM also provides subscription API options for testing data on many pages at once.

Why Choose WAVE

By providing visual overlays for certain issues (such as missing alternative text and structural tags), WAVE provides intuitive feedback for developers. WebAIM’s site has excellent resources for learning about the best practices of web accessibility. 

As with other automated tools, WAVE cannot make your website fully compliant, and WAVE doesn’t claim to guarantee ADA compliance. The API version of the software may be expensive for some applications.

Pricing: The WAVE browser extension is free. Annual licenses for WAVE’s standalone API start at $4000 for up to 100,000 API requests. API credits can also be licensed for $.04 cents per credit, with a minimum purchase of $10. 

Screenshot of IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker homepage.

5. IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker

The IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker(opens in a new tab) is a free, open-source browser extension that helps identify accessibility issues on web pages and PDF documents. It uses IBM’s accessibility rule engine and integrates with other browser development tools.

Why Choose IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker

IBM Equal Access is intended for developers and auditors, so its output can be technical. If you’re learning the basics of accessibility and you don’t have a solid understanding of code and markup, other tools may offer a smoother learning curve.

The accessibility checker is part of IBM’s greater Equal Access Toolkit,(opens in a new tab) which contains resources for planning, designing, developing, testing, and launching digital products. If you’re creating a web app, a mobile app, or a complex website, the Equal Access toolkit provides excellent resources for building with an inclusive design mindset.

Pricing: Free.

Screenshot of Total Validator homepage.

6. Total Validator

Total Validator(opens in a new tab) is a website HTML validator that checks for various aspects of site health. Its accessibility tests claim to cover “more than sixty W3C specifications.” The standalone tool also searches for issues with CSS, HTML, broken links and spelling.

Why Choose Total Validator

Total Validator uses WCAG 2.2 for web accessibility. It can be used on offline pages and runs on three operating systems (Windows, macOS, and Linux). The basic version of the software can validate one page at a time, while the professional version is “fully featured for testing entire websites.” A browser extension is also available. 

Total Validator provides detailed output, though users may need some technical knowledge to interpret the results. It’s more complex than similar browser extensions, but it’s useful for experienced developers who have at least a basic knowledge of WCAG standards.

Pricing: A basic license home license costs $14, while a professional license costs $52.

Screenshot of axe DevTools homepage.

7. axe DevTools

axe DevTools(opens in a new tab) is an accessibility testing engine developed by Deque Systems. Available as browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, it can also be integrated into automated testing environments. 

The company’s full software suite includes axe DevTools, a toolkit that can be used to test apps and websites while coding. That toolkit also includes axe Monitor, which can “dynamically scan, monitor, and report on the accessibility status of your entire website.”

Why Choose axe DevTools

The axe toolkit can be set up to run automatically and the results can be integrated into the build process. The DevTools browser extension is free, and can quickly test individual web pages. As the tools are designed for developers, the output can be fairly technical, but Deque has excellent resources for learning the best practices of WCAG. 

Pricing: The DevTools web extension is free. Pricing for the full DevTools toolkit varies based on company size and usage. Developers can also use the open-source axe-core automated testing rules library, which powers DevTools, at no charge.

Screenshot of Siteimprove homepage.

8. Siteimprove

Siteimprove(opens in a new tab) is a comprehensive platform offering a suite of website optimization tools, including accessibility testing. Automated scans identify WCAG violations and offer guidance on remediation. Siteimprove also includes features for assessing content quality and search engine optimization (SEO).

Why Choose Siteimprove

Siteimprove takes a holistic approach to website management with accessibility as a core component. Its user-friendly interface is intuitive for non-technical users.

The platform's breadth makes it a comprehensive platform to manage website accessibility alongside other aspects of website performance. However, teams may need to adapt existing workflows to use the software, and some users report a high incidence of false positives. 

Pricing: Varies depending on the chosen plan and features.

Real-World Results: Visit Delaware’s ADA Compliance Journey

Visit Delaware was struggling to keep its website WCAG and ADA compliant while managing a small marketing team with limited resources. Key pages, including the events and attractions sections, lacked accessibility, and there was no scalable process to maintain compliance across the site. 

With AudioEye’s three-pronged approach, the team gained a comprehensive approach to accessibility. From automated scanning and real-time fixes to ongoing monitoring and expert support, the team had everything needed to maintain and scale accessibility. Plus, the solution was easy to implement, required minimal training, and was cost-effective, allowing the teams to focus on content and engagement.

Thanks to AudioEye, accessibility improved across the site, compliance risks were reduced, and key metrics rose — including a 45% increase in travel guide requests and a 37% boost in event page views — all while saving time and resources.

Yes – ADA Compliance is Required

Title III of the ADA applies to all “places of public accommodation,” which includes websites. Even if you’re sure that your business doesn’t have customers with disabilities, you still have a responsibility to provide accessible content (and there’s a good chance that you’re wrong — more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults live with some type of disability). 

All digital communications need to be accessible. That includes mobile apps, web-delivered documents (such as PDFs), emails — even social media posts. 

But here’s the good news: Most accessibility improvements don’t cost much to implement, and they have enormous benefits for all customers. Adding alt text to an image makes web experiences better for screen reader users, but it can also help users when an image fails to load. Adjusting your site’s color contrast makes it readable for people with color vision deficiencies, and it also helps people who browse in bright ambient light. 

And with AudioEye, the path to meeting ADA standards and providing an accessible user experience is fast, easy, and cost-effective. Our hybrid approach to accessibility testing leverages the power of automation with the knowledge provided by accessibility experts, resulting in digital content that’s compliant and accessible.

Ready to get started? Schedule a demo with AudioEye to see our accessibility and compliance services in action.