AccessGuard vs accessiBe for agency clients
accessiBe is best known for accessWidget, a script that adds an overlay to a site. AccessGuard adds nothing to the client's site. It finds the barriers so developers can fix the code.
Which one fits
An overlay changes how a page behaves in the browser. An audit tells you what to fix in the site itself. Agencies that build and maintain client sites usually need the second.
- Choose accessiBe if
- A client wants a widget with user controls such as text size and contrast on their site.
- You understand that a widget doesn't change the underlying code.
- Choose AccessGuard if
- You build or maintain the client's site and can change its code.
- You want to show clients what fails, what was fixed and what still needs a person.
- You want nothing added to the client's pages.
Side by side
| What you need | AccessGuard | accessiBe |
|---|---|---|
| Adds a script or widget to the site accessWidget | No | Yes |
| Automated WCAG 2.2 AA audit accessiBe also sells developer tools | Yes | Partly |
| Code fix for each finding AI fixes on AccessGuard paid plans | Yes | Partly |
| PDF report under your agency's name | Yes | No |
| Public pricing | Yes | Yes |
Where accessiBe is better
- Quick to install
- A widget is added with one script and gives visitors display controls straight away.
- User preferences
- The widget lets visitors adjust text size, spacing and colors on the page.
- Wider product range
- accessiBe has broadened beyond the widget with developer and monitoring tools.
Pricing
Prices change. Check each vendor's page before you decide.
- AccessGuard
- Free audit of any page without an account, and a free plan of 1 site and 10 pages when you sign up. Plans from €14.99 a month. See pricing
- accessiBe
- accessWidget plans were listed from $490 a year on 13 September 2026, priced by average monthly visits. Source (accessiBe pricing, opens in new tab)
Questions
Does an overlay make a site WCAG compliant?
No automated product can guarantee that. In April 2025 the US Federal Trade Commission finalised an order requiring accessiBe to pay $1 million over claims that its product could make any website WCAG compliant.
Are sites with overlays still sued?
Yes. UsableNet's 2025 year-end report counted over 1,400 lawsuits filed in 2025 against companies using accessibility widgets on their websites. Fixing barriers in the code is the durable approach.
Does AccessGuard make a site compliant?
No, and it never claims to. It finds failures automated checks can detect, suggests fixes and marks what a person needs to test.
Related
- AccessGuard vs Pope Tech
Pope Tech suits organisations monitoring many sites of their own on a schedule. AccessGuard suits agencies that audit client sites and report to each client.
- AccessGuard vs Equalize Digital
Equalize Digital suits agencies whose client sites are all WordPress and who want checks in the editor. AccessGuard suits agencies auditing sites on any platform and reporting to each client.
- ARIA checker
A page's URL in, every ARIA problem out, with the element and what is wrong with it.
- Keyboard and focus checker
Finds controls people can't reach by keyboard, controls a keyboard reaches but nobody can see, focus styles that were removed, and focused elements hidden behind sticky headers.
- Alt text checker
Paste a page address. See every image on it with its alt text, and which ones need fixing.
Try AccessGuard on a client page
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