Scanverra vs. WAVE (WebAIM)
Scanverra checks WCAG-mapped accessibility issues as one part of a full audit. WAVE is a free, dedicated accessibility evaluator from WebAIM with a distinctive visual, in-page overlay of every issue it finds.
| Feature | Scanverra | WAVE (WebAIM) |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest paid price WAVE's Stand-alone API pricing isn't published on wave.webaim.org - contact WebAIM for current figures | $19/mo (Pro) | Not publicly listed (contact WebAIM) |
| Free tier & limits | Unlimited Website Audits, free forever | Free online tool + browser extensions, public pages only |
| Depth of WCAG error/alert detection Accessibility is WAVE's entire product; visual overlay of issues directly on the page is a distinctive strength | WCAG-mapped issues as part of a full audit | Deep, visual, WCAG-focused evaluation |
| Test non-public/intranet pages | Yes | Paid Stand-alone API only |
| CI/CD pipeline integration | Via API key, all four scan types | Paid Stand-alone API only |
| Performance & Core Web Vitals scoring | Yes | No |
| Security header & cookie analysis | Yes | No |
| Repository/code scanning | Yes | No |
| AI-written, framework-aware fixes | Yes | No |
Where WAVE is the better choice
For hands-on, visual accessibility review - seeing exactly where on the page each error or alert lives, in context - WAVE's browser extension is purpose-built and free. It's a strong complement to automated scanning during manual QA passes.
Where Scanverra is the better choice
WAVE's free tier only covers publicly accessible pages and has no performance, SEO, or security scope at all. Scanverra runs accessibility checks alongside a full performance, security, and code audit, with API access for CI/CD on every plan rather than a separate paid tier just to test non-public pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is WAVE more accurate for accessibility than Scanverra?
WAVE's visual, in-page overlay of errors and alerts is a genuinely strong way to manually review accessibility issues in context, and it's a widely trusted, WebAIM-maintained tool built for exactly that. Scanverra's accessibility checks are WCAG-mapped and run as part of a broader automated audit rather than a dedicated manual-review tool - each suits a different workflow.
Can WAVE test pages behind a login?
The free online tool and browser extensions are built for publicly accessible pages. WAVE's paid Stand-alone API supports intranet, non-public, and secure pages, including in CI pipelines - but that requires the paid tier.
Does automated accessibility testing (either tool) replace manual review?
No - both WAVE and Scanverra explicitly frame automated checks as catching a meaningful subset of WCAG issues, not full conformance. Things like whether alt text is actually meaningful (not just present) or whether a tab order makes logical sense still need a human reviewer.
Do I need WAVE if I already run Scanverra's accessibility checks?
If you want a visual, element-by-element walkthrough of accessibility issues directly overlaid on the page for manual review, WAVE's browser extension is worth using alongside Scanverra's automated, WCAG-mapped findings - they complement rather than duplicate each other.
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