What You'll Learn
Why Businesses Are Abandoning accessiBe in 2026
accessiBe dominated the accessibility widget market for years by promising a simple JavaScript snippet could make any website WCAG compliant. But the reality has caught up:
⚖️ $1M FTC Fine (Jan 2025)
The Federal Trade Commission found accessiBe's claims that its AI could make websites fully WCAG compliant were deceptive. The company was ordered to pay $1 million and stop making unsubstantiated compliance claims.
📋 25% of Lawsuits Cite Overlays
According to UsableNet's 2024 report, 1,023 digital accessibility lawsuits explicitly mentioned overlay widgets as barriers. Using an overlay may actually increase your lawsuit risk.
🦯 NFB Opposition
The National Federation of the Blind formally opposes accessibility overlays, stating they interfere with existing assistive technologies and create more barriers than they remove.
🎯 Plaintiff Attorneys Target Overlays
Accessibility plaintiff attorneys use tools like BuiltWith to specifically identify websites running overlay widgets. An overlay on your site can make you a higher-priority target for lawsuits.
The bottom line: overlay widgets don't fix your code, don't provide legal protection, and may actively make your site less accessible. Over 700 accessibility professionals have signed the Overlay Fact Sheet declaring that "overlays do not provide full conformance with any accessibility standard."
What to Look for in an accessiBe Alternative
Before comparing tools, here's what actually matters when choosing an accessibility solution:
- ✓Source code scanning, not overlays. The tool should identify issues in your actual HTML, CSS, and ARIA markup — not paper over them with JavaScript injection.
- ✓Industry-standard testing engine. Look for tools powered by axe-core (used by Microsoft, Google, and the US government) rather than proprietary "AI" claims.
- ✓Honest about limitations. Automated tools catch approximately 30-40% of WCAG issues. Any tool claiming to catch "everything" is being deceptive — the same kind of deception that got accessiBe fined.
- ✓Actionable fix guidance. Identifying issues is only half the battle. The best tools explain how to fix each violation in plain language.
- ✓Transparent pricing. No hidden fees, no annual lock-in, no surprise price increases after the first year.
The 7 Best accessiBe Alternatives in 2026
RatedWithAI
Best for: Small businesses wanting affordable, honest accessibility scanning
$29
/month (Starter)
axe-core
Industry standard engine
Zero
Overlay widgets
RatedWithAI takes the opposite approach to accessiBe. Instead of injecting a widget that masks problems, it scans your actual source code using axe-core — the same engine trusted by Microsoft, Google, and the US federal government — and shows you exactly what's broken and how to fix it.
At $29/month, it's the most affordable professional accessibility scanner on the market. That's 93% cheaper than accessiBe's lowest tier ($490/year) and you get something overlays can never provide: actual code-level insights that lead to real compliance.
Strengths
- ✓ Lowest price point of any pro scanner ($29/mo)
- ✓ Powered by axe-core (industry standard)
- ✓ No overlay widget — zero lawsuit risk from the tool itself
- ✓ Free scan available (no credit card required)
- ✓ Plain-English fix guidance for every issue
- ✓ Real-time WCAG 2.1 AA / ADA compliance scoring
- ✓ Monitoring with email alerts on score drops
- ✓ Honest about what automation can and can't detect
Limitations
- • No managed remediation service (you fix issues yourself)
- • No overlay widget (a plus for compliance, but some businesses want one)
- • Newer company (less brand recognition than Deque or Siteimprove)
- • No enterprise/agency tier yet
Deque axe Monitor
Best for: Enterprise teams wanting the creators of axe-core
Custom
Enterprise pricing
axe-core
They created it
Zero
Overlay widgets
Deque Systems created axe-core, the open-source engine that powers most legitimate accessibility testing tools. Their commercial product, axe Monitor, provides enterprise-grade automated scanning with dashboards, role-based access, and integration with CI/CD pipelines. If you have a large team and budget, Deque is the gold standard.
Strengths
- ✓ Created axe-core — deepest expertise
- ✓ No overlay — pure code-based scanning
- ✓ Enterprise features (RBAC, CI/CD, APIs)
- ✓ Human auditing services available
- ✓ IAAP-certified accessibility experts on staff
- ✓ Trusted by Microsoft, Google, US Gov
Limitations
- • Enterprise pricing (typically $5,000-$30,000+/year)
- • Requires sales call — no self-serve
- • Overkill for small businesses
- • Long onboarding process
Siteimprove Accessibility
Best for: Large organizations wanting accessibility + SEO + analytics in one platform
$4,000+
/year (estimated)
Code-based
Real scanning
Zero
Overlay widgets
Siteimprove is a comprehensive digital governance platform that includes accessibility scanning alongside SEO, quality assurance, and analytics. Their accessibility module uses WCAG-based scanning (not overlays) and provides detailed dashboards, issue tracking, and DCI (Digital Certainty Index) scoring.
Strengths
- ✓ All-in-one platform (SEO + accessibility + QA)
- ✓ No overlay — genuine code scanning
- ✓ Excellent reporting and dashboards
- ✓ Conformance level tracking over time
- ✓ Browser extension for live testing
- ✓ Large, established company (20+ years)
Limitations
- • Expensive ($4,000-$20,000+/year)
- • Requires annual contract
- • Accessibility is one module of many — not the primary focus
- • Complex setup for smaller teams
WAVE (by WebAIM)
Best for: Developers wanting a free single-page testing tool
Free
Web tool + extension
Code-based
Real scanning
Zero
Overlay widgets
WAVE is a free web accessibility evaluation tool created by WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind), a nonprofit at Utah State University. It's one of the most respected tools in the accessibility community and provides visual feedback about issues directly on the page. It's excellent for developers but lacks the monitoring and automation that businesses need.
Strengths
- ✓ Completely free for single-page testing
- ✓ Highly respected in the accessibility community
- ✓ No overlay — real code analysis
- ✓ Visual feedback directly on the page
- ✓ Browser extension available
- ✓ Non-profit, no commercial agenda
Limitations
- • One page at a time (no site-wide scanning)
- • No monitoring or scheduled scans
- • No dashboard or historical tracking
- • API available but paid ($0.04/credit)
- • Technical output — not business-owner friendly
Google Lighthouse
Best for: Developers doing quick accessibility audits alongside performance testing
Free
Built into Chrome
axe-core
Powered by it
Zero
Overlay widgets
Google Lighthouse is built into Chrome DevTools and uses axe-core for its accessibility audits. It's free, fast, and provides a 0-100 accessibility score alongside performance, SEO, and best practices scores. Perfect for developers, but limited for ongoing business compliance needs.
Strengths
- ✓ Free and built into Chrome
- ✓ Powered by axe-core
- ✓ Tests performance + SEO + accessibility together
- ✓ Trusted Google brand
- ✓ CI/CD integration available
Limitations
- • One page at a time (manual)
- • Limited axe-core rules (subset, not full)
- • No monitoring, dashboards, or alerts
- • Technical — requires developer knowledge
- • No fix guidance beyond basic descriptions
AudioEye
Best for: Enterprise teams willing to pay premium for hybrid automation + human remediation
$3,600+
/year
Hybrid
Automation + human
⚠️ Uses
Overlay technology
AudioEye (NASDAQ: AEYE) combines automated scanning with IAAP-certified human experts who manually remediate issues. At ~127,000 customers and $38M annual revenue, they're the largest publicly-traded player. However, they still rely on overlay technology for their automated fixes, which carries the same fundamental limitations as accessiBe.
⚠️ Note: AudioEye still uses overlay/JavaScript injection for automated remediation. While their human auditing adds genuine value, the overlay component carries the same risks the accessibility community has flagged for accessiBe and others.
Strengths
- ✓ Publicly traded — financial transparency
- ✓ Human remediation by IAAP-certified experts
- ✓ 127,000+ customers
- ✓ Claims higher detection rate (33 of 56 criteria)
- ✓ Legal support programs on higher tiers
Limitations
- • Still uses overlay technology
- • Expensive ($3,600-$25,000+/year)
- • Doesn't fix source code (applies overlay fixes)
- • Customers have still faced lawsuits
- • Overkill for small businesses
UserWay
Best for: Budget-conscious businesses wanting a familiar overlay experience (with known trade-offs)
$490+
/year
AI-powered
Overlay approach
⚠️ Uses
Overlay widget
UserWay is another overlay-based solution, but generally receives better customer reviews than accessiBe for its support quality and user interface. With 1M+ installations and a free tier, it has broad adoption. However, it shares the same fundamental limitation: overlays don't fix code, and the accessibility community's criticism of the overlay approach applies equally to UserWay.
⚠️ Note: UserWay is an overlay solution. If you're switching from accessiBe specifically because of the overlay approach, UserWay has the same fundamental design. Consider a code-based alternative instead.
Strengths
- ✓ Free tier available
- ✓ Better customer support reviews than accessiBe
- ✓ 1M+ installations
- ✓ More affordable than AudioEye
- ✓ 33 language support
Limitations
- • Overlay-based — same fundamental problems
- • Same lawsuit targeting risk
- • Reviews cite surprise price increases
- • Free tier creates false sense of compliance
- • Mobile accessibility limitations
Quick Comparison: All 7 Alternatives
| Tool | Price/yr | Overlay? | Fixes Code? | Monitoring | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatedWithAI ⭐ | $348 | No ✓ | You fix ✓ | ✓ | SMBs |
| Deque axe Monitor | $5K-$30K+ | No ✓ | You fix ✓ | ✓ | Enterprise |
| Siteimprove | $4K-$20K+ | No ✓ | You fix ✓ | ✓ | Large orgs |
| WAVE | Free | No ✓ | You fix ✓ | ✗ | Developers |
| Lighthouse | Free | No ✓ | You fix ✓ | ✗ | Developers |
| AudioEye | $3.6K-$25K+ | Yes ⚠️ | Overlay layer | ✓ | Enterprise |
| UserWay | $490-$2.5K | Yes ⚠️ | Overlay layer | ✓ | Budget overlay |
Our Recommendation
If you're switching from accessiBe because of the overlay backlash and FTC concerns, choose a code-based scanner (alternatives #1-#5 above). Switching to another overlay (AudioEye or UserWay) may solve brand concerns but doesn't address the fundamental problems the accessibility community has identified. For most small businesses, RatedWithAI offers the best balance of affordability, real scanning, and ease of use.
How to Switch from accessiBe (Step by Step)
Run a baseline scan before removing anything
Before removing the accessiBe script, run a free accessibility scan with the overlay active. This gives you a baseline of your current accessibility state with the overlay masking issues.
Remove the accessiBe JavaScript snippet
Find and remove the accessiBe <script> tag from your site's header or footer. It typically loads from acsbapp.com or accessibe.com. Cancel your accessiBe subscription after removal.
Scan again to see your real accessibility state
With the overlay removed, run another scan. This shows the actual accessibility issues in your code — the ones the overlay was hiding. Don't be alarmed if the number of issues increases; this is normal and expected. You're now seeing reality.
Prioritize and fix critical violations
Focus on critical and serious WCAG violations first — missing alt text, color contrast failures, missing form labels, and keyboard navigation issues. These are the issues most likely to trigger lawsuits and most impactful for users with disabilities.
Set up ongoing monitoring
Accessibility isn't a one-time fix. Set up scheduled monitoring to catch new issues as your site evolves. RatedWithAI's Starter plan ($29/mo) includes weekly scans with email alerts when your accessibility score drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are businesses switching from accessiBe?
The FTC fined accessiBe $1 million in January 2025 for deceptive claims that its AI could make websites fully WCAG compliant. Courts have rejected overlay widgets as evidence of good-faith ADA compliance. And according to UsableNet's 2024 report, 25% of accessibility lawsuits (1,023 cases) explicitly cited overlays as barriers rather than solutions. Businesses are switching to tools that fix real code issues instead.
What is the best accessiBe alternative for small businesses?
For small businesses, RatedWithAI offers the best combination of affordability ($29/month), real code-level scanning (powered by axe-core), and ease of use. Unlike enterprise tools like Deque or Siteimprove that cost $5,000-$30,000/year, RatedWithAI is built specifically for SMBs. You can start with a free scan — no credit card required.
Do accessibility overlays actually work?
Over 700 accessibility professionals signed the Overlay Fact Sheet stating that "overlays do not provide full conformance with any accessibility standard." Overlays modify the frontend presentation but don't fix underlying code issues. They can interfere with screen readers and assistive technologies, and 25% of 2024 accessibility lawsuits cited them as making sites worse. The NFB formally opposes all overlay approaches.
How much does it cost to switch from accessiBe?
Switching is often cheaper than staying. accessiBe costs $490-$3,990/year. RatedWithAI starts at $29/month ($348/year) — a savings of up to 91%. The switch itself is free: you just remove the overlay script from your site and start scanning with a code-based tool. Start with a free accessibility scan to see your current state.
Will removing accessiBe make my site less accessible?
In most cases, removing an overlay actually improves accessibility. The NFB formally opposes overlays because they interfere with assistive technologies that users already rely on. After removal, use a scanner like RatedWithAI to identify real issues in your source code and fix them permanently. This approach creates genuine, lasting accessibility — not a JavaScript bandage that fails when the overlay doesn't load.
Is axe-core better than accessiBe's AI scanning?
axe-core is the industry-standard open-source accessibility testing engine, maintained by Deque Systems and used by Microsoft, Google, and the US government. It identifies real WCAG violations in actual source code with zero false compliance claims. accessiBe uses proprietary AI that attempts to remediate issues through a JavaScript overlay — an approach the FTC found to be deceptively marketed. RatedWithAI is powered by axe-core.
Ready to switch from accessiBe?
Get your real accessibility score in 30 seconds. No overlay widgets, no false compliance claims — just honest scanning powered by axe-core.
Free scan. No credit card required. See what accessiBe was hiding.
Scan your site free — see the truth →Related Resources
- RatedWithAI vs accessiBe: Full Comparison — Detailed feature and pricing comparison
- RatedWithAI vs AudioEye — Enterprise alternative at SMB pricing
- RatedWithAI vs UserWay — Why code scanning beats overlays
- ADA Website Compliance Guide 2026 — Everything you need for April 2026 deadline
- WCAG Compliance: The Complete Guide — Understand WCAG 2.1 AA requirements
- Accessibility Lawsuit Statistics 2026 — 8,667 lawsuits and counting
- Best Accessibility Checker Tools 2026 — Complete tool roundup
- Overlay Fact Sheet — 700+ experts explain why overlays don't work