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Get ReportHow Much Does a Web Accessibility Audit Cost?
Accessibility audit costs vary widely depending on site size, testing method, and depth of reporting. This guide breaks down what you can expect to pay for automated and manual audits, what factors drive cost up or down, and how to determine what level of audit your site actually needs.
Author: Missy Jensen, Senior SEO Copywriter
Published: 03/12/2026
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A stylized website, next to a stack of currency that has an accessibility symbol in the middle.
A website accessibility audit is a smart investment for your business.
Not only does it help you create a more inclusive experience for all customers, but it also helps you comply with WCAG standards, a win for both your business and your audience.
But just how much will a web accessibility audit cost you?
On average, a small business may expect to spend between $2k to $7k for an audit, a mid-size business $7k to $25k, while a large enterprise site can range from $50k or more, with factors such as site size, page type, depth of reporting, automated vs. manual testing, and actual fixes influencing cost.
We’ll cover typical pricing and the factors that influence it in more detail below.
What Is a Web Accessibility Audit?
A web accessibility audit, also known as an “ADA audit” or “WCAG audit”, is a structured evaluation of a website or digital product against WCAG standards to identify compliance gaps. It typically includes automated scanning and manual testing by accessibility professionals. An audit does not guarantee compliance; it identifies barriers that require fixes.
The purpose of an accessibility audit is to determine which aspects of your website don’t align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(opens in a new tab) (WCAG) and other accessibility laws. An accessibility audit also helps:
Improve user experience for all
Opens your site to a larger audience
Improves ease of site navigation
Supports SEO and search performance
Identifies issues early on, saving time and money
WCAG: A Quick Refresher
WCAG standards were created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make websites, mobile apps, and other digital tools accessible to all, particularly for users with disabilities. With 1 in 6 people living with a disability(opens in a new tab), WCAG helps people with visual, auditory, motor, and/or cognitive impairments navigate digital platforms more easily.
Within the latest versions of WCAG standards 2.1 and 2.2, there are varying conformance levels:
Level A (minimum)
Level AA (standard)
Level AAA (highest)
WCAG is used as the benchmark for multiple accessibility laws worldwide. For example, in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act(opens in a new tab) (ADA) does not include technical standards. Instead, the law enforces WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines as a benchmark for ADA compliance.
What Does an Accessibility Audit Include?
A professional accessibility audit generally tests against WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria to identify compliance errors and may include the following:
Review of key pages or templates
Keyboard navigation testing
Screen reader testing (e.g., VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS)
Evaluation of forms, navigation, and interactive elements
Color contrast and visual accessibility checks
Error identification mapped to WCAG criteria
Documentation with fix recommendations
Cost of Web Accessibility Audits
Web accessibility audit costs vary.
To determine the most accurate cost estimate for your website, you’ll need to consider factors such as the number of pages on your site, the audit type (e.g., automated or manual testing), the level of documentation, and more.
For example:
Keep in mind, these audit costs do not include remediation costs, which are the estimated amount to fix the accessibility errors.
What Factors Affect Audit Pricing?
There are five primary factors that affect web accessibility audit costs:
Site size (i.e., number of pages)
Number of templates vs. unique pages
Automated software testing vs. human-led expert testing
Mobile apps, PDFs, and other digital documents
Depth of audit reporting
Factor #1: Site Size
The number of pages you have on your site typically influences the cost of a manual audit. For instance, an audit of a 50-page website is typically faster and easier to complete than a 500-page website.
Keep your site size in mind when evaluating accessibility audit costs. Remember that web accessibility audits are rarely priced by size alone, especially if your site consists of more complex elements.
Factor #2: Templates vs. Pages
If your site uses templates and other reusable components (e.g., navigation, footer, modals, forms, etc.), auditors typically don’t need to test every page. This can reduce manual audit costs compared to a site with entirely unique pages.
Think of it this way: More unique layouts = more testing hours.
For example, if 200 pages use the same blog template, auditors don’t manually test all 200 pages. Instead, they’ll test:
A few representative examples
Each unique layout variation
Edge-case states (errors, popups, dynamic content)
Pricing usually reflects template count, not total URL count for manual audits.
However, templates are not as important for automated audits, which use software to scan every page.
Factor #3: Expert vs. Automated Testing
One of the major factors that influences web accessibility audit costs is whether you choose automated or manual testing.
Automated scans use software that detects common technical accessibility issues on your site.
Expert testing is when human experts or those with disabilities test your site page by page for accessibility errors that automation alone can’t catch. Assistive software may still be used, but a more customized approach is needed to thoroughly document accessibility errors.
Automated audits are cost-effective for smaller websites, while expert audits are preferred for larger organizations and for organizations that need to demonstrate compliance.
Factor #4: Mobile Apps and PDFs
Accessibility doesn’t stop at your homepage — all digital components of your business must comply with WCAG standards. That means apps, PDFs(opens in a new tab), client portals, video content, interactive calculators, course platforms, etc.
These digital resources are typically priced separately from web accessibility audit costs, as they require different testing requirements.
Here’s an example of a typical pricing impact for the expert testing of a mobile app:
Factor #5: Depth of Reporting
The “depth of reporting” refers to the level of detail that you’ll receive in the final audit report. In other words, how thoroughly issues are documented and presented to the business.
For example, a basic automated report might list issues by page, note the relevant WCAG criteria, and leave fixes to your team. A more detailed technical report typically includes screenshots, severity ratings, and specific guidance on how to fix each issue.
Advanced, high-cost audits go a step further, including:
Executive summaries for leadership
Risk framing and compliance documentation
Detailed notes and tracking
Retesting verification
Remediation guidance
Since reporting accounts for a significant portion of total audit time, the more detailed an audit is, the more it’ll cost.
Free Scan vs. Professional Audit: What’s the Difference?
You’ve likely heard of “free accessibility scans,” however, don’t mistake these scans for professional audits.
A free scan refers to automated software that scans website code to quickly identify WCAG errors, and is typically a no-cost tool.
However, free scans are limited in what they can detect and only provide an overview of your site’s accessibility errors. For smaller businesses or those looking for an initial benchmark, using a free scan tool is a great starting point.
A professional audit, on the other hand, is a paid assessment conducted by accessibility experts that evaluates site templates, pages, user flows, and other digital components for accessibility errors.
The main difference? Professional audits go deeper.
A full accessibility audit typically includes expert testing and real-world usability validation alongside automated testing to find and fix more accessibility issues.
Expert accessibility testing will do what free scans can’t: use screen readers and conduct keyboard-only testing to determine whether your site is WCAG-compliant, and then provide a structured report with fix suggestions.
One-Time Audit vs. Ongoing Monitoring Costs
Conducting accessibility audits is a great way to help keep your site on track with current accessibility guidelines. But how often should you audit your site?
A one-time audit typically refers to an in-depth audit conducted by an accessibility expert. These are fixed project fees and can be a larger upfront investment for your business.
Ongoing accessibility monitoring involves using software that scans your site monthly or even daily, flagging compliance errors. This software typically operates on a subscription basis and is great for staying on top of your compliance each month.
A one-time audit makes the most sense for businesses with:
Major website redesigns
Compliance initiatives
Legal concerns
Ongoing monitoring makes the most sense for businesses with:
Growing sites
Frequent content updates
Long-term governance
The table below compares estimated costs for a one-time audit vs. ongoing monitoring to help you decide which is best for your business.
Is an Accessibility Audit Worth the Investment?
Yes! A website audit reveals your site’s accessibility errors, and with expert guidance, can even show you how to solve them.
With an accessible site, your business has the opportunity to:
Reduce legal risk
Expand market reach
Improve user experience for all
Protect brand reputation
Enhance cross-device compatibility
Improve SEO performance
Before committing to a full accessibility audit, review what WCAG standards and compliance laws apply to your business, and understand the scope of evaluation. A structured audit identifies barriers, but fixes and ongoing monitoring are what ultimately support long-term compliance.
While audit costs may vary depending on a variety of factors, investing in an audit for your site is a great step towards improving the inclusivity of your site — and your business.
Start Your Accessibility Journey with a Free Audit from AudioEye
Accessibility audit costs vary widely, and a big reason for that is scope. The more issues an auditor finds, the more documentation, reporting, and fix guidance they have to produce. That drives up time, and time drives up cost.
The best way to get ahead of that is to know your baseline before you start contacting vendors. A free automated scan won’t replace a manual audit, but it will surface the most common issues on your site, give you a realistic sense of your compliance gaps, and help you have a more informed conversation with vendors.
AudioEye’s free accessibility scan does just that — so you can walk into the audit process knowing what you’re dealing with, not discovering it on someone else’s invoice.
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