Everything you need to know about WCAGsafe
Questions about scanning, reports, compliance standards, and pricing — answered plainly.
About WCAGsafe
What is WCAGsafe?
WCAGsafe is a web accessibility scanning tool. Paste a URL and it checks your website against WCAG 2.1 Level AA — the standard referenced by the U.S. Department of Justice for ADA compliance, by AODA in Canada, and by the European Accessibility Act in the EU. It produces a plain-English report with a compliance score, a list of violations by severity, and exact fix instructions for each issue.
How is WCAGsafe different from accessibility overlays like accessiBe?
Overlays like accessiBe inject JavaScript that tries to patch accessibility issues at runtime without fixing the underlying code. WCAGsafe scans your actual source code and tells you exactly what is broken and how to fix it. Overlay widgets have been named in a high percentage of ADA lawsuits and the FTC fined accessiBe $1 million in 2025 for misrepresenting their widget as a compliance solution. WCAGsafe does not modify your website — it audits it.
What scanning engine does WCAGsafe use?
WCAGsafe uses axe-core, the open-source accessibility testing engine maintained by Deque Systems. It is the same engine that powers Google Lighthouse, Chrome DevTools accessibility audits, and Microsoft's accessibility testing tools. Using axe-core means the rules are publicly auditable and the results are consistent with what developers already see in their own browsers.
Compliance & legal
Does a passing WCAGsafe scan mean my website is ADA compliant?
No. WCAGsafe is a technical scanning tool that identifies WCAG violations in your code. It does not provide legal advice and a passing scan does not guarantee immunity from ADA litigation. Automated scanners catch roughly 30–40% of accessibility issues — manual testing and assistive technology testing catch the rest. WCAGsafe helps you identify and fix real violations and document your remediation efforts, but compliance is a legal determination made by a court or regulator, not a scanner.
What is WCAG 2.1 AA and why does it matter?
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 Level AA is an international standard published by the W3C that defines how to make web content accessible to people with disabilities. It is the standard consistently referenced by the U.S. Department of Justice for ADA website compliance, by AODA in Canada, and by the European Accessibility Act and EN 301 549 in the EU. Meeting WCAG 2.1 AA is the most widely accepted benchmark for demonstrating good-faith accessibility efforts.
Does WCAGsafe provide legal advice?
No. WCAGsafe is a technical tool that identifies WCAG violations. It does not provide legal advice and nothing in a WCAGsafe report should be treated as legal counsel. If you have received an ADA demand letter or are facing litigation, consult a qualified accessibility attorney.
Reports & scanning
What does a WCAGsafe report include?
Every paid report includes: an AI-written executive summary in plain English; an overall compliance score out of 100; violations broken down by severity (critical, serious, moderate, minor); a per-page score and violation count for every page scanned; a legal risk assessment (High, Medium, or Low); and for each violation — a plain-English explanation of who is affected, why it matters legally, and the exact HTML change needed with a working code example.
How many pages can WCAGsafe scan?
Page limits depend on your plan. The free scan covers 1 page. Basic scans up to 10 pages, Pro up to 50 pages, and Agency up to 100 pages. The one-time report scans up to 25 pages.
Does WCAGsafe scan PDF documents?
Yes, on paid plans. You can upload PDFs alongside your website scan. Each PDF is checked for tagging, reading order, heading structure, alt text on images, language declaration, and document title. Pro and Agency plans also run a full PDF/UA conformance check — the strictest accessible document standard — to confirm your PDFs meet end-to-end accessibility requirements.
International standards
Does WCAGsafe work for AODA compliance in Canada?
Yes. AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) references WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA as its web accessibility standard. WCAGsafe scans against WCAG 2.1 AA, which meets and exceeds the AODA requirement. The violations and fix instructions in your report apply equally to AODA compliance.
Does WCAGsafe help with the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
Yes. The European Accessibility Act and its harmonized standard EN 301 549 reference WCAG 2.1 AA for web content. WCAGsafe scans against WCAG 2.1 AA, so the results and fix instructions are directly applicable to EAA compliance preparation.
Pricing & plans
Is there a free plan?
Yes. You get 3 free scans per day with no account required. Free scans cover 1 page and show a preview of violations. No credit card is needed to try it.
What does the Agency plan include that others do not?
The Agency plan adds white-label PDF reports (your branding instead of WCAGsafe), unlimited sites monitored monthly, up to 25 PDFs per scan, and a dedicated account manager. It is designed for web agencies and accessibility consultants who deliver reports to clients.
Still have a question?
Reach out at hello@wcagsafe.com. We read every email.
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