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Pa11y vs WAVE: catalog facts
Pa11y	WAVE
Free Free and open source.	Freemium The online tool and extensions are free; the API and stand-alone testing engine are paid.
Self-hosted, Command line	Web, Browser extension
Command-line tool for quick one-off accessibility checks CI tool for testing a list of pages in builds	Shows issues in place on the page Extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge
Automated checks catch only part of all accessibility problems The dashboard requires running your own server	Bulk testing requires the paid API or engine Automated results still need human judgement
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Web application, Browser extension
Open source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.