Free WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Checker
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for web accessibility. AccessScore checks your website against WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA criteria — the conformance levels referenced in ADA lawsuits, Section 508, and the EU European Accessibility Act.
Understanding WCAG Levels
Essential accessibility
The minimum level. Failure means some users literally cannot access your content. Examples: alt text for images, keyboard navigation, page titles.
Standard compliance target
The level required by most laws and regulations. Examples: color contrast ratios, text resizing, consistent navigation. This is what courts reference in ADA cases.
Enhanced accessibility
The highest level. Not typically required by law, but recommended for specialized content. Examples: sign language for video, simplified language.
WCAG 2.1 Criteria We Check
WCAG 2.1 contains 78 success criteria across four principles (POUR): Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. AccessScore focuses on the 16 most impactful, automatable criteria that account for the majority of real-world accessibility barriers and legal violations.
SC 1.1.1: Non-text Content
All images must have text alternatives (alt text).
SC 1.2.2: Captions (Prerecorded)
Prerecorded audio in video must have captions.
SC 1.3.1: Info and Relationships
Semantic structure (headings, landmarks, form labels) must be programmatically determinable.
SC 1.4.2: Audio Control
If audio plays for more than 3 seconds, there must be a mechanism to pause, stop, or control volume.
SC 1.4.4: Resize Text
Text must be resizable up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
SC 2.4.1: Bypass Blocks
A mechanism (skip link) must allow users to bypass repeated navigation blocks.
SC 2.4.2: Page Titled
Web pages must have descriptive titles.
SC 2.4.3: Focus Order
Focusable components must receive focus in an order that preserves meaning.
SC 2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context)
The purpose of each link must be determinable from the link text.
SC 3.1.1: Language of Page
The primary language of each page must be programmatically determinable.
SC 4.1.2: Name, Role, Value
All UI components must have accessible names and roles.
Why WCAG Matters for Legal Compliance
While the ADA doesn't explicitly mention WCAG, courts and the Department of Justice consistently reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for web accessibility compliance. Settlement agreements in ADA cases routinely require conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA.
Beyond the US, WCAG compliance is required by law in the EU (European Accessibility Act, effective June 2025), Canada (AODA), the UK (Equality Act), and many other jurisdictions. If your website serves users in any of these regions, WCAG compliance is not optional.
Limitations of Automated Checking
Automated tools like AccessScore can identify approximately 30-40% of WCAG violations. Some criteria require human judgment — for example, whether alt text is actually descriptive, whether color contrast is sufficient in custom components, or whether content is cognitively accessible. Our tool catches the most common and impactful automated violations, but a complete WCAG audit should include manual testing with screen readers, keyboard navigation testing, and user testing with people who have disabilities.
16 automated checks. Results in seconds. No signup.