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