WAVE
Visual accessibility evaluation that shows problems in place on the page.
What it is
WAVE, from WebAIM, overlays icons directly on the rendered page to show errors, alerts, ARIA usage, contrast issues and structural elements, which makes it unusually good at teaching people what an accessibility problem actually looks like. It is free as a browser extension and online tool, with a paid API for bulk scanning.
Best for
Where it is strong
- The in-page visual overlay teaches non-specialists what is wrong far better than a list.
- Free for everyday developer and designer use.
- WebAIM's guidance behind each rule is authoritative and clear.
Where it falls short
- Manual, page-by-page — not a CI tool.
- Alerts require human judgement, so counts are not directly comparable between pages.
- No issue tracking or programme management.
Pricing
From $0.04 per credit (one basic page scan), falling to $0.025 at 10k+
Free tierFree tier: Browser extension and single-page online checker are free.
What drives the bill: Free for interactive use. The API is bought in credits — one credit per basic page scan, 2-3 for advanced requests — at $0.04 each up to 999, $0.03 to 9,999 and $0.025 beyond. Minimum purchase is 250 credits ($10), and new accounts get 100 free.
Check current pricing on WebAIM (Utah State University)’s siteFigures are indicative and were last reviewed August 2026. Vendors change pricing often; confirm before you commit.
Works with
What people who use WAVE say
No reviews of WAVE yet. If you have used it in anger, yours would be the first.
Alternatives to WAVE
If WAVE is not the right fit, these solve the same problem differently.
