Website Accessibility Scanner for WCAG 2.2, ADA, and EN 301 549
Use an accessibility scanner for websites to find machine-detectable barriers, prioritize fixes by severity, and support continuous compliance workflows.
Related resources: WCAG contrast checker · free accessibility widget · EAA compliance guide
What This Website Accessibility Scanner Detects
This accessibility scanner for websites evaluates rendered pages against WCAG 2.1/2.2 checks and highlights machine-detectable issues that impact disabled users and compliance outcomes.
Missing Alternative Text
Detects images, icons, and media without proper alt attributes or ARIA labels.
Color Contrast Failures
Identifies text and UI elements that don't meet WCAG contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
Keyboard Navigation Barriers
Finds elements that are not keyboard accessible or lack visible focus indicators.
Heading Structure Errors
Flags improper heading hierarchies, skipped levels, or missing H1 tags that confuse screen reader users.
Form Label Issues
Detects form inputs missing labels, placeholders used incorrectly, or inaccessible error messages.
ARIA Implementation Errors
Identifies invalid ARIA roles, missing required attributes, or improper use of dynamic regions.
Link and Button Problems
Finds non-descriptive link text ('click here'), empty links, or buttons without accessible names.
Touch Target Sizes
Validates that interactive elements meet WCAG 2.2 minimum target size requirements (24x24 CSS pixels).
Media Accessibility
Checks for missing captions, transcripts, and accessible media player controls for audio and video content.
Accessibility violations detected
Move from Risk to Readiness
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is enforceable, and many procurement and legal workflows now require accessibility evidence. This web accessibility scanner helps teams find recurring code-level issues early, then pair automated results with manual testing to reduce compliance risk.
Fast Scanning
Crawl and test thousands of pages in minutes with minimal setup.
Deep Analysis
Identify WCAG 2.1/2.2 issues with severity scoring and remediation guidance.
Enterprise-Ready
Built for scale, with collaboration features for agencies, municipalities, and global teams.
Compliance Support
Aligns with EN 301 549 and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Who Benefits from GetWCAG's Accessibility Scanner
Our platform is built for teams that need scalable, reliable website accessibility scanner coverage across products, markets, and release cycles.
Web Developers & Engineers
Integrate accessibility testing into your development workflow. Catch violations early and fix issues before they reach production.
Digital Agencies
Deliver more accessible websites to clients with confidence. Use automated scanning to audit portfolios and support project compliance workflows.
Government & Municipalities
Meet legal requirements for public sector websites under Section 508, WCAG, and EN 301 549 with regular automated monitoring.
E-commerce & SaaS Platforms
Ensure your digital products are accessible to all customers. Reduce legal risk and expand your market reach with inclusive design.
Enterprise Organizations
Scale accessibility across multiple sites and teams. Centralize reporting, prioritize remediation, and maintain compliance organization-wide.
Accessibility Consultants
Accelerate audits with automated pre-assessment. Use detailed reports as starting points for comprehensive manual testing.
How a Website Accessibility Scanner Works
- 1
Enter Your Website
Provide your URL to start automated accessibility testing.
- 2
Automated Scanning
GetWCAG crawls your site and runs WCAG & EN 301 549 checks across all selected pages.
- 3
Download Your Report
Receive prioritized issues and actionable recommendations for remediation.
Note: Automated testing finds many issues, but manual checks are needed for full WCAG compliance.
Key Benefits of Using GetWCAG Scanner
Reduce Legal Risk
Proactively identify accessibility violations before they result in complaints, lawsuits, or regulatory penalties under the EAA or ADA.
Accelerate Development
Catch accessibility issues during development—not after launch. Integrate scanning into your CI/CD pipeline to maintain quality.
Improve User Experience
Accessible websites work better for everyone. Clear navigation, readable text, and keyboard support benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.
Support Compliance Programs
Generate audit-ready reports that demonstrate due diligence and support WCAG, EN 301 549, EAA, and ADA compliance documentation.
Scale Accessibility Testing
Monitor multiple websites, subdomains, or product versions from a single dashboard. Perfect for enterprises and agencies managing many properties.
Save Time and Resources
Automated scanning identifies issues faster than manual testing alone, freeing your team to focus on complex remediation and user testing.
Why Use an Accessibility Platform Instead of a Single Website Scan?
A single scan gives you a snapshot. An accessibility platform gives you continuous monitoring, team workflows, historical tracking, and reporting so compliance work can continue after the first audit.
| Capability | Accessibility platform | Single website scan |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous monitoring | Recurring scans keep checking your site over time. | One-off snapshot with no ongoing monitoring. |
| Historical tracking | Trend data shows progress, regressions, and fix history. | No built-in history or trend view. |
| Teams | Shared dashboards and collaboration across roles. | Usually just a report sent to one person. |
| Issue management | Assign, prioritize, and track issues through resolution. | Findings stay in a static report. |
| Scheduled scans | Daily, weekly, or monthly scans run automatically. | Manual reruns every time you want fresh results. |
| Multiple websites | Monitor domains, subdomains, and products from one place. | Usually focused on one site at a time. |
| Reports | Downloadable reports for audits and stakeholders. | A one-time export with limited context. |
| Compliance workflows | Supports remediation, review, and sign-off workflows. | Requires manual coordination after the scan. |
Automated Accessibility Testing: Definition, Examples, and Limits
Automated testing is a rules-based method that checks your pages for machine-detectable accessibility issues. It is excellent for finding repeated code-level defects quickly, but it does not prove full WCAG conformance on its own.
What automated scans are strong at
- Missing alt text and missing form labels
- Color contrast failures against WCAG thresholds
- Improper heading hierarchy and landmark misuse
- ARIA role and attribute validation checks
- Regression tracking across deployments
What automated scans cannot verify alone
- Whether alt text is meaningful in context
- Keyboard flow quality for complex widgets and dynamic states
- Screen reader experience and reading order in real tasks
- Error message clarity and cognitive accessibility
- Legal sufficiency without documented manual evidence
| Issue Type | Automated Detection | Manual Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Image alternatives | Finds missing alt attributes | Validate whether text alternatives convey purpose |
| Form validation errors | Detects missing labels and ARIA links | Evaluate clarity, recovery guidance, and timing |
| Keyboard access | Flags some focusability defects | Test tab sequence, traps, and expected interaction model |
| Complex user journeys | Partial coverage per state | Validate complete journey outcomes with assistive tech |
Stay Audit-Ready with GetWCAG
Automated accessibility scans support WCAG 2.1/2.2 and EN 301 549 compliance to meet European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements
Website Accessibility Scanner FAQ
What is a website accessibility scanner?
A website accessibility scanner is a rules-based testing tool that checks rendered pages for detectable WCAG failures, such as missing alt text, contrast failures, and invalid ARIA usage. It supports audits, but it does not by itself prove full conformance.
Which standards does this web accessibility scanner test against?
GetWCAG maps checks to WCAG 2.1/2.2 criteria and EN 301 549 requirements used in European accessibility programs, including EAA-related compliance workflows.
Can this accessibility scanner for websites crawl large sites?
Yes. GetWCAG is built for scale and supports enterprise-grade scans across thousands of URLs quickly.
Why do I still need manual testing?
Automated scanners detect many barriers, but manual testing with assistive technologies is required for full accessibility assurance.
How often should I scan my website?
Regular scans are recommended—weekly or monthly for active sites. Schedule automated scans to catch new issues from updates, deployments, or content changes.
Can I use GetWCAG as an ADA accessibility scanner?
Yes. Teams use GetWCAG as an ADA accessibility scanner to find WCAG-based issues that commonly appear in ADA remediation programs, then confirm user experience with manual and assistive-technology testing.
Can I export accessibility reports?
Yes. Generate downloadable PDF reports with detailed violation summaries, severity scores, and remediation recommendations for stakeholders and auditors.
What can a digital accessibility scanner detect automatically?
A digital accessibility scanner can detect many repeatable issues, including missing text alternatives, color contrast failures, heading and landmark problems, form-label errors, invalid ARIA patterns, and some keyboard/focus defects.
Is GetWCAG suitable for government and public sector sites?
Absolutely. GetWCAG is used by government agencies and municipalities to maintain compliance with accessibility regulations including WCAG, EN 301 549, and the EAA.