Why Switch From UserWay?
UserWay markets itself as a hybrid solution, but its primary product remains the widget overlay. Here's why teams are looking for alternatives:
- Overlays don't achieve real compliance — The Overlay Fact Sheet, signed by 700+ accessibility professionals, states that overlays "do not provide full conformance with any accessibility standard."
- Duplicate functionality — Every major operating system and browser already offers text resizing, contrast adjustment, and cursor customization. UserWay's widget duplicates what users already have.
- JavaScript dependency risk — If the widget script fails to load (CDN outage, ad blocker, JavaScript error), all accessibility enhancements disappear instantly.
- Performance overhead — The widget adds JavaScript weight to every page load, impacting Core Web Vitals scores and user experience.
- No permanent improvement — When you cancel UserWay, you're back to square one. Code-level fixes are permanent.
Top 5 UserWay Alternatives Compared
1. RatedWithAI
RecommendedAI-powered accessibility scanning with axe-core
$29/month
Approach: Transparent scanning — identifies real WCAG violations in your code
Pros
- ✓Industry-standard axe-core scanning engine
- ✓Identifies actual WCAG violations at the source
- ✓No overlay widget or JavaScript dependency
- ✓Free scan to try before subscribing
- ✓Brand accessibility ratings and competitor monitoring
- ✓40% cheaper than UserWay
Cons
- •Requires developer effort to fix identified issues
- •No user-facing accessibility widget
Best for: Teams that want permanent, code-level accessibility fixes at an affordable price
2. WAVE
Free browser-based accessibility evaluation tool
Free (extension) / API from $100/mo
Approach: Visual overlay highlighting errors directly on your page
Pros
- ✓Free browser extension for manual spot-checks
- ✓Visual indicators directly on the page
- ✓Well-established in the accessibility community
- ✓API available for automated testing pipelines
Cons
- •Manual — no scheduled monitoring or alerts
- •API pricing escalates quickly at scale
- •One page at a time for the free version
- •Limited fix recommendations
Best for: Developers who need a free spot-checking tool for individual pages
3. axe DevTools (Deque)
Developer-focused accessibility testing suite
Free extension / Pro from $400+/year
Approach: Browser extension and CI/CD pipeline integration
Pros
- ✓Gold standard axe-core engine (same as RatedWithAI)
- ✓Deep CI/CD and developer workflow integration
- ✓Guided issue resolution in Pro version
- ✓Trusted by enterprise development teams
Cons
- •Pro version is expensive for small teams
- •Requires strong technical skills
- •No website monitoring dashboard or scoring
- •Steep learning curve for advanced features
Best for: Enterprise development teams with mature accessibility processes
4. Siteimprove
Enterprise digital accessibility and content platform
Custom pricing (typically $10,000+/year)
Approach: Comprehensive platform covering content, SEO, and accessibility
Pros
- ✓Full-featured platform: content, SEO, and accessibility
- ✓CMS integrations for in-context editing
- ✓Detailed compliance reporting and dashboards
- ✓Dedicated enterprise support
Cons
- •Very expensive — enterprise-only pricing
- •Overkill for small and medium businesses
- •Long implementation and onboarding cycles
- •Complex interface with steep learning curve
Best for: Large enterprises with dedicated accessibility teams and significant budgets
5. accessiBe
AI-powered accessibility overlay widget
From $490/year
Approach: JavaScript overlay widget that auto-remediates on the client side
Pros
- ✓One-line installation — live in minutes
- ✓Visible accessibility icon on your site
- ✓Automated remediation without developer involvement
- ✓Large customer base and brand recognition
Cons
- •Overlay approach criticized by 700+ accessibility professionals
- •Doesn't fix underlying code issues
- •Companies using overlays have still been sued
- •Creates permanent vendor dependency
Best for: Teams wanting the fastest possible installation with no developer resources
Quick Comparison: UserWay vs Top Alternatives
| Feature | UserWay | RatedWithAI | WAVE | axe DevTools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixes actual code issues | ✗ Widget patches | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No overlay dependency | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated monitoring | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Open-source engine | ✗ Proprietary | ✓ axe-core | ✓ | ✓ axe-core |
| Free option available | Limited trial | ✓ Free scan | ✓ Extension | ✓ Extension |
| Starting price | $49+/mo | $29/mo | Free / $100+/mo | Free / $400+/yr |
| Zero page speed impact | ✗ Widget JS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
How to Migrate From UserWay to Code-Level Accessibility
Switching from a widget-based approach to real accessibility is simpler than you think:
Run a free baseline scan
Use RatedWithAI's free scanner to see your actual accessibility issues — the ones UserWay's widget has been papering over.
Prioritize by severity
Focus on critical and serious WCAG violations first. These carry the most legal risk and impact real users the most.
Fix issues in your source code
Each violation comes with specific WCAG criteria references and plain-language fix instructions. Most common issues take minutes to fix.
Remove the UserWay widget
Once your critical issues are fixed at the code level, remove the widget script. Your site will be faster and genuinely accessible.
Set up continuous monitoring
Subscribe to RatedWithAI's monitoring plan ($29/mo) to catch regressions from new code deployments automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's wrong with UserWay's widget approach?
UserWay's widget provides user-facing controls for text size, contrast, and other preferences. The issue is that operating systems and browsers already provide these features natively — and they work better because they're built into the platform. The widget doesn't fix underlying HTML issues like missing alt text, broken form labels, or keyboard navigation problems. These are the issues that actually prevent people with disabilities from using your site.
Is UserWay cheaper than RatedWithAI?
No. UserWay starts at $49/month ($588/year), while RatedWithAI is $29/month ($348/year). That's 40% savings with RatedWithAI, and you get a scanning approach that leads to permanent fixes rather than ongoing widget dependency.
Does UserWay protect against ADA lawsuits?
No overlay or widget has been accepted by courts as proof of ADA compliance. The strongest legal protection comes from demonstrating genuine efforts to fix accessibility issues in your code and maintaining ongoing compliance monitoring. A scanning tool like RatedWithAI provides documentation of your remediation efforts.
Can I use both UserWay and a scanner?
You technically can, but there's little reason to. If you're fixing issues at the code level based on scan results, the widget becomes unnecessary. Most teams find that once they address the actual violations, the widget adds complexity without value. We recommend scanning, fixing, then removing the widget.
How long does it take to fix accessibility issues without a widget?
Most critical WCAG violations — missing alt text, color contrast failures, unlabeled form fields, missing page titles — can be fixed in hours. A typical small business website might need 4-8 hours of developer time to address the most important issues. That's a one-time investment versus ongoing widget payments.
Ready to ditch the widget for real accessibility?
Get your free accessibility scan in 30 seconds. See what UserWay's widget has been hiding — and learn what actually needs fixing.
Scan your site free — no widget neededRelated Resources
- RatedWithAI vs UserWay: Full Comparison
- Best accessiBe Alternatives 2026
- Best AudioEye Alternatives 2026
- Free Website Accessibility Checker
- ADA Compliance Checklist 2026
- Overlay Fact Sheet — Why accessibility professionals oppose overlays