Why Teams Are Leaving AudioEye
AudioEye is a publicly traded company ($AEYE) that has built a real product with real customers. But several factors are driving teams to explore alternatives:
- Price — At $199+/month ($2,388+/year), AudioEye is one of the most expensive accessibility solutions. For small and medium businesses, that's a significant ongoing cost for what amounts to JavaScript patches.
- The overlay concern — AudioEye calls it "automated remediation," but the mechanism is the same: JavaScript modifying the live page. The accessibility community has documented extensively why this approach is problematic.
- Vendor lock-in — Remove AudioEye's JavaScript and all remediation disappears. You're paying for a permanent dependency, not a permanent fix.
- Stock performance pressure — As a public company, AudioEye has incentives to maximize revenue per customer. Annual contracts and upselling are part of their sales model.
- The FTC factor — In 2024, AudioEye competitor accessiBe was fined $1 million by the FTC for deceptive compliance claims. The entire overlay category faces increased regulatory scrutiny.
AudioEye vs Alternatives: Annual Cost Comparison
| Tool | Annual Cost | Approach | Savings vs AudioEye |
|---|---|---|---|
| RatedWithAI | $348/year | Scanning + code fixes | 85% savings |
| AudioEye | $2,388+/year | Scanning + overlay | — |
| accessiBe | $490+/year | Overlay only | 79% less than AE |
| UserWay | $588+/year | Widget + scanning | 75% less than AE |
| Siteimprove | $10,000+/year | Enterprise platform | 4x more than AE |
| WAVE / axe (free tier) | $0 | Manual scanning | 100% savings |
Top 5 AudioEye Alternatives Compared
1. RatedWithAI
Best ValueAI-powered accessibility scanning with axe-core
$29/month
$348/year
Approach: Transparent scanning — identifies real WCAG violations for code-level fixes
Pros
- ✓Industry-standard axe-core engine (same as Microsoft and Google)
- ✓85% cheaper than AudioEye ($29/mo vs $199+/mo)
- ✓No overlay or JavaScript dependency on your site
- ✓Free scan to evaluate before subscribing
- ✓Brand accessibility ratings and competitor monitoring
- ✓Permanent code-level fixes — no ongoing widget fees
Cons
- •Requires developer effort to fix identified issues
- •No automated client-side remediation
- •No human audit service (yet)
Best for: Teams that want affordable, transparent accessibility with permanent results
2. Deque axe DevTools
Developer-focused accessibility testing suite by Deque
Free extension / Pro from $400+/year
$400+/year
Approach: Browser extension and CI/CD pipeline integration for developer workflows
Pros
- ✓Gold standard axe-core engine (creators of axe)
- ✓Deep CI/CD and testing framework integration
- ✓Guided resolution workflow in Pro version
- ✓Enterprise-grade compliance reporting
Cons
- •Pro version is expensive for small teams
- •Heavily developer-focused — steep learning curve
- •No website monitoring dashboard
- •No accessibility scoring for non-technical stakeholders
Best for: Enterprise development teams with mature accessibility workflows
3. Siteimprove Accessibility
Enterprise digital accessibility and content platform
Custom pricing ($10,000+/year typical)
$10,000+/year
Approach: Comprehensive platform combining content management, SEO, and accessibility
Pros
- ✓Full platform: accessibility, content quality, and SEO
- ✓CMS integrations for in-context editing
- ✓Detailed compliance dashboards and trend reporting
- ✓Dedicated enterprise support and training
Cons
- •Very expensive — enterprise-only pricing
- •Significant overkill for small and medium businesses
- •Long implementation and onboarding cycles
- •Complex interface requires dedicated training
Best for: Large enterprises with dedicated accessibility teams and substantial budgets
4. WAVE (WebAIM)
Free browser-based accessibility evaluation tool
Free (extension) / API from $100/mo
Free / $1,200+/year
Approach: Visual overlay highlighting errors directly on the webpage
Pros
- ✓Free browser extension — no cost barrier
- ✓Visual indicators directly on the page for quick scanning
- ✓Well-established reputation in the accessibility community
- ✓API available for automated testing at scale
Cons
- •Manual — no scheduled monitoring or alerting
- •One page at a time for the free version
- •API pricing scales quickly for large sites
- •Limited fix recommendations compared to paid tools
Best for: Developers who need a free spot-checking tool
5. accessiBe
AI-powered accessibility overlay widget
From $490/year
$490+/year
Approach: JavaScript overlay widget with AI-driven auto-remediation
Pros
- ✓One-line installation — live in minutes
- ✓No developer resources needed for initial setup
- ✓Visible accessibility icon signals commitment
- ✓Large customer base and brand awareness
Cons
- •Overlay approach criticized by 700+ accessibility professionals
- •Doesn't fix underlying HTML/code issues
- •Companies using overlays have been sued successfully
- •Creates permanent vendor lock-in
Best for: Teams wanting fastest possible installation with zero developer resources
Feature Comparison: AudioEye vs RatedWithAI
| Feature | AudioEye | RatedWithAI |
|---|---|---|
| Automated WCAG scanning | ✓ | ✓ axe-core |
| Open-source scanning engine | ✗ Proprietary | ✓ axe-core |
| Code-level fix guidance | ✗ Auto-patches | ✓ |
| No JavaScript on your site | ✗ Required | ✓ |
| Human audit option | ✓ (enterprise) | ✗ |
| Continuous monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free tier / free scan | ✓ Free scan | ✓ Free scan |
| Brand competitor monitoring | ✗ | ✓ |
| Monthly pricing (no contract) | ✓ $199+/mo | ✓ $29/mo |
| Zero page speed impact | ✗ | ✓ |
AudioEye's "Hybrid" Approach: What It Really Means
AudioEye differentiates itself from pure overlay tools like accessiBe by calling its approach "hybrid" — combining automated scanning with JavaScript-based remediation and optional human auditing. In practice, this means:
- Scanning finds real issues — This part works. AudioEye's scanner identifies WCAG violations, similar to axe-core and other tools.
- Instead of showing you how to fix them, they auto-patch via JavaScript — This is the overlay component. Rather than giving you code-level fix instructions, AudioEye injects JavaScript that modifies the page client-side.
- Human auditing is an enterprise upsell — Available, but adds significantly to the cost. Not included in standard plans.
The fundamental question is: do you want to rent compliance or own it? AudioEye's patches disappear if you cancel. Code-level fixes are permanent.
How to Switch From AudioEye to RatedWithAI
Run a parallel scan
Before canceling AudioEye, run a free scan with RatedWithAI to see your actual violations. This baseline shows you what AudioEye has been auto-patching vs what it hasn't caught.
Prioritize critical issues
Focus on critical and serious violations first — these carry the most legal risk. Missing alt text, contrast failures, and keyboard traps are typically the fastest to fix.
Fix in your codebase
Use RatedWithAI's violation reports with WCAG criteria references to fix issues at the source. Most fixes are straightforward HTML/CSS changes.
Remove AudioEye's JavaScript
Once your code-level fixes are in place, remove AudioEye's script tag. Your page speed will improve and your accessibility will be real, not patched.
Monitor continuously
Subscribe to RatedWithAI Pro ($29/mo — saving $170+/mo over AudioEye) for ongoing monitoring. Catch regressions from new deployments automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AudioEye worth $199/month?
It depends on your situation. If you have zero developer resources and need automated remediation, AudioEye provides value. But if you have any development capability — even a part-time developer or freelancer — you can get equal or better results with a scanning tool like RatedWithAI at $29/month, plus a few hours of developer time to fix issues permanently. The math heavily favors code-level fixes for most teams.
Is AudioEye an overlay?
AudioEye markets itself as a "hybrid" solution, distinct from pure overlays like accessiBe. However, their automated remediation component works the same way: JavaScript injected into the live page that modifies the DOM client-side. Whether you call it an "overlay" or "automated remediation," the mechanism and limitations are similar.
Will removing AudioEye break my site's accessibility?
If you remove AudioEye without fixing the underlying issues, yes — the auto-patched improvements will disappear. That's why we recommend a transition approach: scan with RatedWithAI, fix the critical violations in your code, then remove AudioEye once the code-level fixes are deployed. Your accessibility will actually be better because the fixes are permanent.
Does AudioEye protect against ADA lawsuits better than scanning tools?
AudioEye offers a "Digital Accessibility Legal Support" feature, but no tool can guarantee lawsuit immunity. Courts have sued companies using all types of accessibility tools, including overlays. The strongest legal defense is demonstrating genuine, ongoing compliance efforts — regular scanning, documented code fixes, and a published accessibility statement. A $29/month scanning tool that drives real fixes provides better legal standing than a $199/month overlay that patches symptoms.
How much would I save switching from AudioEye to RatedWithAI?
AudioEye costs $199+/month ($2,388+/year). RatedWithAI costs $29/month ($348/year). That's a savings of $2,040+ per year — or $170+ per month. Over three years, that's over $6,000 saved per website. For organizations managing multiple sites, the savings multiply quickly.
See what AudioEye's been auto-patching
Run a free scan to see your actual accessibility violations — not what a JavaScript overlay is hiding. Get transparent, actionable results in 30 seconds.
Scan your site free — save $170+/mo