A real alternative to accessiBe
accessiBe is an overlay — a JavaScript widget that claims to make sites accessible without touching the code. The FTC disagreed. ADA Scanner is a scanner: it finds your actual WCAG violations and tells you exactly how to fix them. No widget, no false claims, no ongoing subscription.
FTC fine against accessiBe for deceptive accessibility claims
Source: FTC, April 2025
Of websites still fail WCAG 2.1 AA despite overlay adoption
Source: WebAIM Million 2024
ADA lawsuits filed in 2024 — overlays didn't stop them
Source: UsableNet 2024 Annual Report
Why overlays don't work
The accessibility community has been clear on this for years. The FTC action in 2025 made it official.
Overlays don't fix the underlying code
accessiBe and similar tools inject a JavaScript widget that attempts to modify how your site is perceived. They don't change your HTML, CSS, or ARIA attributes. Screen readers interact with your actual DOM — the overlay doesn't sit between them and your code the way it claims.
Screen readers still fail on overlay-patched sites
Multiple accessibility auditors and disability advocacy groups have documented that users of JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver encounter broken experiences on overlay-patched sites. The National Federation of the Blind filed an amicus brief against overlay claims. The failures aren't theoretical — they're documented by the people the law is designed to protect.
Legal exposure remains — and is documented
Dozens of businesses using accessiBe have been named in ADA lawsuits. The FTC's $1M fine in April 2025 was specifically for making false claims that their product achieved full WCAG compliance. Having an overlay installed does not constitute a good-faith remediation defense if the underlying site is still non-compliant.
accessiBe vs ADA Scanner
accessiBe pricing from their public website. accessiBe capabilities based on FTC findings and independent auditor testing.
What ADA Scanner actually does
We run axe-core — the open-source accessibility engine used by Google, Microsoft, and the US government — against your page. We report every automatically-detectable WCAG 2.1 AA violation with:
- The exact HTML element that's failing
- Which WCAG criterion it violates
- Plain-English explanation of the problem
- Code your developer can copy and paste to fix it
- Severity ranking so you know what to address first
We don't install anything. We don't claim to fix your site automatically. We tell you exactly what's broken so your developer can fix it for real.
Real compliance, one-time cost
accessiBe starts at $490/year for a widget that doesn't fix your code. We charge once for a report that tells you exactly what to fix.
Your highest-risk page — booking, contact, or homepage. Full WCAG 2.1 AA violation list with fix instructions.
Scan a pageFull site audit across your most important pages. WCAG criteria mapping supports VPAT documentation.
Scan key pagesEnterprise-grade audit. Complete violation inventory across your entire site with smart page prioritization.
Scan full siteCommon questions
Is accessiBe actually illegal?
Not illegal to use, but the FTC fined them $1M in April 2025 for making deceptive claims — specifically that their product achieved full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Sites using it can still face ADA lawsuits if the underlying pages are non-compliant.
What does ADA Scanner actually do differently?
We run axe-core — the same engine used by Google, Microsoft, and the US government — against your actual page. We report every detectable WCAG 2.1 AA violation with its exact HTML location and fix instructions. We don't modify your site. We tell you what's broken so you can fix it for real.
Will fixing WCAG violations make me lawsuit-proof?
No automated tool can catch every accessibility barrier — manual testing and assistive technology testing are also required for full compliance. What a scan gives you is documented evidence of violations and a fix roadmap, which is the foundation of any real compliance program.
How much does it cost?
A single page scan report is $19. Key Pages (up to 10 pages) is $49. Full Site (up to 50 pages) is $99. One-time, no subscription. accessiBe starts at $490/year for a widget that doesn't fix anything.