Alternatives to accessiBe and other overlays
The alternative to accessiBe, UserWay or another overlay is not a better widget but a different way of working: find the barriers with an automated checker, fix them in the theme, templates and content, test the main journeys by hand and re-check after every change.
Updated October 14, 2026 · 4 min read · How we write and check our guides
This page lists the tools and services for each step, with prices from the vendors' pages checked on 14 October 2026. We make one of these tools, Pandus, so we say where it fits and where other tools are better.
Why look for an alternative
An overlay is a script that changes the page in the visitor's browser. It does not change the HTML that screen readers, keyboard users, search engines and other tools read. In April 2025 the US Federal Trade Commission ordered accessiBe to pay $1 million and to stop claiming, without evidence, that its automated products can make any website conform to WCAG. The Overlay Fact Sheet, signed by more than a thousand accessibility practitioners, asks site owners to use permanent accessibility work instead. More in why overlays are not a solution.
The alternatives, step by step
| Step | Option | Price (vendor page, 14 Oct 2026) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find, one page | WAVE online and extensions | Without charge | A visual review of one page |
| Find, one page | Lighthouse, axe DevTools, Accessibility Insights | Free (axe DevTools Pro is paid) | Developers in the browser; see testing tools |
| Find, one page | Pandus free check | Free, no signup | A plain-language list of the main problems |
| Monitor the whole site | Pandus | Plans on our pricing page | Shops and agencies: weekly checks, owner reports in seven languages, white-label |
| Monitor the whole site | Pope Tech (built on WAVE) | Free for 25 pages a month; Team from $25 a month billed yearly | Teams that like the WAVE engine |
| Monitor the whole site | Siteimprove | On request | Large organisations wanting SEO and analytics in the same platform |
| Test by hand | An accessibility audit by experts | Quoted per project | A full WCAG review, a statement of conformance, a VPAT |
| Fix at the source | Theme and content changes; our WordPress plugin | Developer or content time; plugin free | Lasting fixes for every visitor |
| Publish and listen | Accessibility statement generator and a "Report a barrier" form | Free | Telling visitors what works and how to reach you |
How the steps fit together
- Find. Run an automated check of the key pages: home, category, product, cart, contact. Automated tools find only a part of WCAG problems, but they find the frequent ones fast: missing labels, low contrast, missing alt text, nameless buttons.
- Fix. Most problems in shops sit in the theme and in apps or plugins, not in the content. Our reports name the place for Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop and Shoptet; see the Shopify and WooCommerce checkers.
- Test by hand. Go through checkout with only a keyboard, try a screen reader, read the error messages. Our WCAG 2.2 checklist lists what to look at.
- Re-check. Theme updates, new apps and new content bring problems back. A weekly check shows what is new.
- Publish. In the EU, the European Accessibility Act asks many consumer services for information about accessibility. First check whether the EAA applies to your business.
Where Pandus fits — and where it does not
Pandus covers steps 1, 4 and part of 5: weekly automated checks of every page, reports for the owner in English, Ukrainian, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian or Russian, white-label reports for agencies and a free accessibility statement generator. It does not fix your site for you, does not add a widget, and does not replace manual testing or a full audit. It is not legal advice.
All comparisons are on Pandus compared; for accessiBe specifically, see Pandus vs accessiBe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to accessiBe?
There is no single replacement, because an overlay tries to do everything with one script. The working alternative is a process: find the problems with an automated checker, fix them in the theme and content, test the key journeys by hand and re-check every week.
Are there free alternatives to accessibility overlays?
Yes for finding problems: WAVE, Lighthouse, axe DevTools, Accessibility Insights and the free Pandus one-page check cost nothing. Fixing the problems takes developer or content time, which no free tool replaces.
Should I remove my overlay right away?
Not necessarily. Fix the problems in the site first, then decide whether the widget still adds anything for your visitors. Do not rely on it as your accessibility measure.
Sources
- US Federal Trade Commission, accessiBe order (22 April 2025): https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/04/ftc-approves-final-order-requiring-accessibe-pay-1-million
- Overlay Fact Sheet: https://overlayfactsheet.com/en/
- WebAIM, WAVE: https://wave.webaim.org/
- Pope Tech, pricing: https://pope.tech/pricing/
- Siteimprove, pricing: https://www.siteimprove.com/pricing/