Alternatives to Pa11y

Open-source command-line and dashboard tools that test web pages for accessibility issues automatically. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Pa11y.

  • axe DevTools

    Accessibility testing tools and browser extension from Deque, built on the axe-core rules engine.

    FreemiumProprietaryWebBrowser extension

    axe DevTools uses the axe-core engine with in-browser checks and CI toolkits, but is freemium and closed, with advanced features sold to enterprises.

  • IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker

    IBM's open-source browser extension and toolkit for automated accessibility checks of web pages.

    FreeOpen sourceBrowser extensionCommand line

    IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker is open source with a browser extension plus CI integrations for Cypress, Karma, Vitest and Java, but no self-hosted dashboard.

  • Asqatasun

    Open-source, self-hosted engine that audits web pages and whole sites for accessibility and SEO.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    Asqatasun is an open-source self-hosted engine that audits whole sites with a CI API, but its rules follow the French RGAA standard.

  • WAVE

    A suite of web accessibility evaluation tools, available online and as browser extensions.

    FreemiumProprietaryWebBrowser extension

    WAVE shows issues in place on the page through online tools and extensions, with bulk and CI testing requiring its paid API or engine.

  • Accessibility Insights

    Microsoft's open-source tools for finding and fixing accessibility problems in web pages and Windows apps.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsBrowser extension

    Accessibility Insights is Microsoft's open-source tool with guided WCAG 2.1 AA assessments in Chrome and Edge and Windows app checks, rather than CI automation.

  • Tanaguru Engine

    An automated accessibility testing engine that checks websites and web applications against RGAA and WCAG.

    FreeProprietarySelf-hosted

    Tanaguru Engine is a self-hosted engine automating about 380 tests against RGAA and WCAG, though licence details are unstated and its page is mostly French.

  • webhint

    A customizable linting tool that checks websites for accessibility, speed, compatibility and security problems.

    FreeOpen sourceBrowser extensionCommand line

    webhint is an open-source linter covering accessibility, speed, compatibility and security across editor, browser and CI, needing Node.js for the CLI.

  • Rocket Validator

    A hosted crawler that runs HTML, CSS and accessibility checks across thousands of site pages.

    PaidProprietaryWeb

    Rocket Validator is a paid hosted crawler running accessibility and HTML checks across thousands of pages, with scheduling and an API instead of self-hosting.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Pa11y as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Accessibility Checker

    WordPress plugin that scans posts and pages for accessibility problems and reports them in the editor.

    FreemiumProprietarySelf-hosted

    Pa11y is open source and automates checks via CLI, CI and a self-hosted dashboard, aimed at developers rather than WordPress content editors.

  • AccessMonitor

    A Portuguese government web service that checks web pages against WCAG 2.1 accessibility practices.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Pa11y is open source with command-line, CI and self-hosted dashboard tools, which suits automated checks more than a quick web form.

  • AChecker

    Online accessibility checker that tests a URL, uploaded file or pasted HTML against WCAG and Section 508.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Pa11y is open source and runs from the command line or CI, so it can test local pages as part of development.

  • EXPERTE Accessibility Checker

    An online checker that crawls a website and tests each page for accessibility problems.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Pa11y is open source with a CLI, CI tool and self-hosted dashboard for tracking results, but needs your own server and some setup.

  • Stark

    A suite of accessibility tools for checking and fixing issues across design and development.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    Pa11y is a free open-source command-line, CI and self-hosted dashboard toolset, dropping Stark's design-stage tools and requiring your own server for the dashboard.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.