# WCAGsafe

> WCAGsafe is a web accessibility scanning tool that checks websites and PDF documents against WCAG 2.1 Level AA — the standard referenced by the U.S. Department of Justice for ADA compliance, by AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) in Canada, and by the European Accessibility Act (EAA / EN 301 549) in the EU. It is built for small business owners, developers, and agencies who need plain-English results and actionable fix instructions, not just raw error codes.

## What WCAGsafe does

- Scans websites for WCAG 2.1 A and AA violations using axe-core, the same open-source engine behind Google Lighthouse and Chrome DevTools
- Scans uploaded PDF documents for accessibility issues including tagging, reading order, heading structure, alt text, language declaration, and document title
- Runs PDF/UA conformance checks on the Agency plan
- Generates a PDF report with an AI-written executive summary, compliance score, per-page breakdown, and per-violation fix instructions with HTML code examples
- Provides monthly automated monitoring with regression alerts

## Pricing

- Free: 3 scans per day, 3 pages per scan, issue count + violations preview; free account to reveal full score
- Starter ($7/mo): 1,000 pages/month (up to 15 per scan), fix instructions, email report, 1 monitored site, PDF accessibility scanning (up to 5 PDFs)
- Pro ($29/mo): 2,000 pages/month (up to 50 per scan), PDF export, fix instructions, 3 monitored sites, PDF accessibility scanning (up to 10 PDFs)
- Agency ($99/mo): Up to 250 pages, up to 25 PDFs, 5 monitored sites, PDF/UA check, white-label PDF reports
- One-Time Report ($29): Single full scan, up to 25 pages, PDF export, fix instructions, PDF scanning included

## Key facts

- Scanning engine: axe-core (open source, maintained by Deque Systems)
- Standard: WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA
- U.S. ADA compliance reference standard (DOJ): WCAG 2.1 AA
- Canadian AODA compliance reference standard: WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA
- European Accessibility Act (EAA) and EN 301 549 reference standard: WCAG 2.1 AA
- No installation required — paste a URL, get results
- Does not use overlay widgets; identifies actual code violations
- Does not provide legal advice

## Pages

- [Home](https://wcagsafe.com): Free scanner — paste a URL and get instant results
- [Pricing](https://wcagsafe.com/pricing): Plan comparison and feature breakdown
- [About](https://wcagsafe.com/about): Why WCAGsafe was built and how it works
- [FAQ](https://wcagsafe.com/faq): Common questions about scanning, compliance standards, reports, and pricing
- [Blog](https://wcagsafe.com/blog): Guides on ADA compliance, WCAG, and web accessibility
- [PDF Accessibility Checker](https://wcagsafe.com/pdf-accessibility-checker): Free PDF accessibility checker — paste a public PDF URL, get instant WCAG results for tagging, alt text, headings, language, and more
- [ADA Compliance Checker](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance-checker): Free ADA checker tool page
- [WCAG Checker](https://wcagsafe.com/wcag-checker): Free WCAG checker tool page
- [Website Accessibility Checker](https://wcagsafe.com/accessibility-checker): Free website accessibility checker — scans any URL against WCAG 2.1 A and AA using axe-core plus enhanced checks, explains the four WCAG principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust), covers who accessibility helps, is honest about what automated scanning can vs. cannot catch, and compares against browser extensions and overlay widgets
- [Chrome Extension](https://wcagsafe.com/accessibility-checker-chrome-extension): Free WCAGsafe Chrome extension (Manifest V3) — audits the current browser tab for a 0–100 ADA/WCAG score, severity breakdown, and every axe-core violation; includes a color-contrast checker with suggested passing colors, on-page inspectors (heading outline, ARIA landmarks, keyboard focus order), disability simulators (color blindness, low vision, dyslexia), an accessibility-overlay-widget detector, and an ADA legal-risk summary; runs entirely locally (nothing leaves the browser), no account required; complements the server-side site scanner which crawls whole sites
- [Is My Website ADA Compliant?](https://wcagsafe.com/is-my-website-ada-compliant): Answers the question directly — a website is ADA compliant when it meets WCAG 2.1 AA (the courts/DOJ benchmark), there is no official government certification seal, includes 6 signs a site is NOT compliant, what compliance requires, what happens if non-compliant (demand letters, lawsuits, lost customers), and how to check for free; informational only, not legal advice
- [ADA Audit Certificate](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-audit-certificate): Formal dated record of a WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility audit — documents good-faith compliance effort, includes unique certificate ID, score, pages scanned, violations found, and standards checked; available on all paid plans
- [Accessibility Remediation Services](https://wcagsafe.com/accessibility-remediation-services): Done-for-you remediation — WCAGsafe's team fixes the WCAG 2.1 AA violations found by the scanner with real code changes plus manual testing (not an overlay widget), covers all major platforms (WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, custom), re-scans to verify, and issues an ADA Audit Certificate; quote-based, request a free no-obligation quote
- [ADA Lawsuit Protection](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-lawsuit-protection): Risk reduction guide
- [ADA Demand Letter Response](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-demand-letter-response): What to do after receiving an ADA website demand letter — scan your site in minutes, document your good-faith effort with a dated ADA Audit Certificate to share with your attorney, fix the cited violations or get done-for-you remediation; informational only, not legal advice
- [WCAGsafe vs accessiBe](https://wcagsafe.com/accessibe-alternative): Comparison with accessiBe overlay
- [WCAGsafe vs AudioEye](https://wcagsafe.com/audioeye-alternative): Comparison with AudioEye overlay
- [ADA Alt Text Requirements](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-alt-text-requirements): What alt text is and why missing alt text is the #1 issue cited in ADA website lawsuits, WCAG 1.1.1 (Level A) requirements, a decision table for every image type (informative, functional, decorative, text-in-image, complex, CAPTCHA), six alt-text writing rules with pass/fail examples, real lawsuit cases (Robles v. Domino's, Sweetgreen/Colak, Fox News and Beyoncé site suits), industries most at risk (e-commerce, restaurants, healthcare, real estate), three ways to check a site, and a tools comparison
- [ADA Color Contrast Requirements](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-color-contrast-requirements): What ADA color contrast is and why it is the #1 cited WCAG violation, the exact ratios (4.5:1 normal text, 3:1 large text, 3:1 UI components) with pass/fail hex examples, exceptions, real ADA lawsuit context (Robles v. Domino's, Gil v. Winn-Dixie), industries most at risk (e-commerce, restaurants, healthcare, professional services), three ways to check contrast, six common issues with fixes, and a tools comparison
- [Wix ADA Compliance 2026](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/wix-ada-compliance): Complete guide for Wix site owners — why Wix does not provide ADA compliance by default, the three Wix-specific risk factors (templates, AI builder, App Market), 12-step WCAG 2.1 AA compliance checklist, the five most common Wix violations, overlay myth, legal cost table, and how to scan any Wix URL free
- [Shopify, WordPress & WooCommerce ADA Compliance 2026](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/shopify-wordpress-woocommerce-ada-compliance): Side-by-side platform comparison — platform-specific WCAG 2.2 risk breakdown, violation comparison table across all three platforms, WordPress and WooCommerce deep-dives (plugin paradox, Gutenberg div soup, silent AJAX cart, inaccessible filter sidebars), 6 universal fixes, overlay myth, and 3-phase action plan
- [Shopify ADA Compliance 2026](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/shopify-ada-compliance): Complete guide for Shopify merchants — why Shopify stores account for 32% of ADA web lawsuits, three platform-specific risk factors (themes, apps, dynamic content), 14-step compliance roadmap, legal cost breakdown, accessibility overlay myth, and how to scan a Shopify store instantly
- [EU Accessibility Act for Ecommerce](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/eu-accessibility-act-ecommerce): The EAA deadline passed June 28, 2025 — what online stores (EU-based and US stores selling to EU customers) must do to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA, how to audit in 5 minutes, fines by country, and a full fix checklist
- [ADA Title II School Website Compliance](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-title-ii-school-website-compliance): Complete K-12 guide for the ADA Title II deadline (extended by the DOJ in April 2026 to April 26, 2027 for larger districts and April 26, 2028 for smaller ones) — what school districts and public universities must do to bring websites and digital content into WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
- [ADA Title II vs Title III](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-title-iii-vs-title-ii): What each ADA title requires for websites — government entities (Title II, deadline extended to April 2027–2028) vs private businesses (Title III, thousands of website lawsuits annually) — landmark cases, compliance steps, and WCAG 2.1 AA standard
- [ADA Website Compliance Cost 2026](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-compliance-cost-2026): Full breakdown of ADA audit, remediation, and legal fee costs in 2026 — what to budget and how to reduce costs
- [ADA Compliance Checklist for Small Businesses](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-compliance-checklist-small-business): Step-by-step WCAG 2.1 AA checklist for small business website owners — practical, non-technical language
- [Developer's Guide to WCAG 2.1 AA](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/wcag-2-1-aa-developer-guide): Practical WCAG 2.1 AA developer guide with copy-paste code examples (alt text, color contrast, form labels, keyboard accessibility, ARIA, focus management, modals, live regions), a side-by-side ADA vs AODA vs EU EAA standard/scope/deadline table, React/Vue/Angular notes, and an automated-plus-manual testing workflow — the unifying point being that all three laws rely on WCAG 2.1 AA
- [How to Fix WCAG Violations](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/how-to-fix-wcag-violations): Complete guide to fixing common WCAG violations — written for non-developers with HTML code examples
- [ADA Lawsuit Statistics 2025–2026](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-lawsuit-statistics): Data and trends on ADA website lawsuits — filing rates, targeted industries, and what businesses must know
- [ADA Website Demand Letter Guide](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-demand-letter): Step-by-step guide for business owners who received an ADA website demand letter — what it means, what to do, and how to respond
- [How to Check If Your PDF Is Accessible](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/pdf-accessibility-checker): How to test PDF accessibility without Adobe Acrobat — tools, common failures, and WCAG requirements for documents
- [PDF Accessibility for Universities](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/pdf-accessibility-universities): WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA Title II, and Section 508 requirements for university PDFs — OCR enforcement history, 8 common failures, and step-by-step remediation for course materials and document libraries
- [Section 508 Compliance Guide](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/section-508-compliance-guide): Who must comply with Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA alignment, VPAT requirements, common violations, and step-by-step roadmap
- [WCAG 2.2 vs 2.1: What Changed](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/wcag-2-2-vs-wcag-2-1): Every change in WCAG 2.2 — new Level AA criteria, removed criteria, and what it means for ADA compliance
- [Accessibility Overlays Don't Work](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/accessibility-overlays-dont-work): Why overlay widgets fail ADA compliance and what actually works
- [ADA Title II Deadline (Extended to 2027–2028)](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/ada-title-ii-deadline-april-2026): Government website compliance deadline guide — the DOJ extended the dates in April 2026 to April 26, 2027 (large entities) and April 26, 2028 (smaller entities and special districts)
- [AODA Website Compliance](https://wcagsafe.com/blog/aoda-website-compliance): Guide to AODA requirements for Canadian websites
- [ADA Compliance by Industry](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance): Index of industry-specific ADA compliance guides — dental, law, gyms, hotels, real estate, and more
- [ADA Compliance for Dental Offices](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/dental-offices): ADA Title III obligations for dental practice websites — top WCAG violations, patient form accessibility, appointment booking, and compliance checklist
- [ADA Compliance for Law Firms](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/law-firms): ADA compliance guide for law firm websites — client intake forms, PDF accessibility, and WCAG 2.1 AA requirements for legal practices
- [ADA Compliance for Gyms & Fitness Centers](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/gyms-fitness): Gym and fitness center website ADA compliance — class booking widget accessibility, membership form labels, and WCAG 2.1 AA checklist
- [ADA Compliance for Hotels](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/hotels): Hotel website ADA compliance — accessible room descriptions (28 CFR Part 36), booking flow accessibility, and top hospitality WCAG violations
- [ADA Compliance for Real Estate Websites](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/real-estate): ADA and Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements for real estate websites — property search tools, mortgage calculators, and listing accessibility
- [ADA Compliance for Restaurants](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/restaurants): ADA Title III guide for restaurant websites — Robles v. Domino's precedent, menu PDF accessibility, reservation widget compliance, and WCAG 2.1 AA checklist
- [ADA Compliance for Medical Practices](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/medical-practices): ADA and Section 504 compliance for medical practice websites — patient portal accessibility, intake form labels, and HHS OCR obligations
- [ADA Compliance for Auto Dealerships](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/auto-dealerships): ADA Title III guide for car dealership websites — inventory search accessibility, finance calculator labels, service booking compliance, and third-party vendor liability
- [ADA Compliance for Nonprofits](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/nonprofit-websites): ADA Title III and Section 504 compliance for nonprofit websites — donation form accessibility, event registration, federal funding risk, and WCAG 2.1 AA checklist
- [ADA Compliance for Chiropractors](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/chiropractors): ADA Title III guide for chiropractic practice websites — patient intake form accessibility, booking widget compliance, and PDF intake paperwork
- [ADA Compliance for Accounting Firms](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/accounting-firms): ADA Title III guide for CPA and accounting firm websites — client portal accessibility, document upload tools, and tax resource PDF compliance
- [ADA Compliance for Optometrists](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/optometrists): ADA Title III guide for optometry and eye doctor websites — booking form screen reader accessibility, eyewear product alt text, and insurance verification tools
- [ADA Compliance for Veterinarians](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/veterinarians): ADA Title III guide for veterinary practice websites — appointment booking form labels, new patient registration accessibility, and WCAG 2.1 AA checklist
- [ADA Compliance for Salons & Spas](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/salons-spas): ADA Title III guide for salon and spa websites — third-party booking widget accessibility, service menu alt text, and gift card checkout compliance
- [ADA Compliance for Insurance Agencies](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/insurance-agencies): ADA Title III guide for insurance agency websites — quote form labels, policy portal keyboard accessibility, and claims filing tool screen reader compliance
- [ADA Compliance for Schools](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/schools): ADA Title II guide for K-12 public schools and charter schools — WCAG 2.1 AA deadline, online enrollment form accessibility, PDF handbooks, captioned videos, and OCR complaint risk
- [ADA Compliance for E-commerce Stores](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/ecommerce): ADA Title III guide for online retailers — product image alt text, checkout form labels, variant selector keyboard accessibility, and the Domino's precedent
- [ADA Compliance for Universities & Colleges](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/universities): ADA Title II and Section 504 guide for higher education — extended 2027 WCAG deadline, LMS portal accessibility, course video captions, and OCR complaint risk
- [ADA Compliance for Banks & Financial Services](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/financial-services): ADA Title III guide for banks, credit unions, and financial advisors — online banking portal labels, PDF statement accessibility, loan calculator keyboard access
- [ADA Compliance for Therapists & Counselors](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/therapists): ADA Title III guide for mental health practices — intake form labels, scheduling widget accessibility, telehealth portal screen reader support
- [ADA Compliance for Pharmacies](https://wcagsafe.com/ada-compliance/pharmacies): ADA Title III guide for pharmacies — prescription refill form accessibility, patient portal screen reader support, drug information PDF compliance
- [Sitemap](https://wcagsafe.com/sitemap): Complete directory of all WCAGsafe pages — free tools, ADA compliance industry guides, blog posts, compare pages, and company pages
- [Contact](https://wcagsafe.com/contact): support@wcagsafe.com

## Who it is for

- U.S. small business owners who received an ADA demand letter or want to document a good-faith accessibility effort
- Canadian businesses and public sector organizations subject to AODA compliance requirements
- European businesses preparing for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline
- Developers and web agencies who deliver accessibility audits to clients
- Organizations that publish PDF documents and need document accessibility compliance