PageAuditors vs accessiBe

Why Accessibility Overlays Fall Short

Accessibility overlay widgets like accessiBe inject JavaScript onto your page that attempts to modify the user experience at runtime. On the surface, this sounds convenient -- install a script and your site becomes accessible. In practice, it does not work that way.

The core problem is that overlays do not fix your actual HTML, CSS, or ARIA markup. If an image is missing alt text, the overlay guesses what the image contains using AI -- often incorrectly. If your heading structure is broken, the overlay cannot restructure your DOM. If keyboard navigation is trapped in a modal, an overlay cannot redesign the interaction pattern.

Worse, overlays frequently interfere with assistive technology. The National Federation of the Blind and over 700 accessibility professionals have signed a public letter opposing overlay solutions. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against websites that used overlays, including accessiBe customers, because the sites remained inaccessible despite the widget being installed.

In 2024, the FTC took action against accessiBe for deceptive marketing practices related to their compliance claims. This underscores a critical point: installing an overlay does not make your website compliant, and claiming it does can itself be a legal liability.

The PageAuditors Approach: Fix the Real Issues

PageAuditors takes the opposite approach. We launch a real Chromium browser, load your page exactly as visitors experience it, and run axe-core -- the industry-standard accessibility testing engine trusted by Microsoft, Google, and the U.S. government -- to find every WCAG 2.2 violation in your actual code.

Every issue comes with a plain-English explanation of what is wrong, why it matters, and the exact code change needed to fix it. No accessibility expertise required. Hand the report to any developer, and they can start fixing issues immediately.

This approach produces genuine, lasting accessibility -- not a cosmetic layer that hides problems. It also demonstrates good-faith effort to comply with the ADA, which is the strongest legal defense available if a lawsuit is ever filed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is wrong with accessibility overlay widgets?

Overlay widgets add a JavaScript layer on top of your existing website but do not fix the underlying HTML, ARIA, or structural problems that cause accessibility failures. Screen reader users frequently report that overlays make sites harder to use, not easier. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against companies using overlays, and the National Federation of the Blind has publicly opposed them. The FTC fined accessiBe's practices, and major accessibility organizations recommend against overlay solutions.

Is PageAuditors better than accessiBe?

They serve different purposes. accessiBe is an overlay widget that attempts to auto-fix accessibility issues at runtime. PageAuditors is a scanner that identifies real WCAG violations in your actual code so you or your developer can fix them properly. If you want genuine, lasting compliance -- and legal protection that holds up in court -- you need to fix the source code, not apply a cosmetic overlay.

Can I switch from accessiBe to PageAuditors?

Yes. Remove the accessiBe script tag from your website, then run a free scan with PageAuditors to identify every underlying accessibility issue. Our reports include plain-English fix instructions you can hand directly to your developer. Most sites see meaningful improvement within days of addressing the critical issues we flag.

Do I need both an overlay and a scanner?

No. Accessibility experts and advocacy organizations overwhelmingly recommend fixing your actual code rather than using an overlay. A scanner like PageAuditors identifies the real issues. Once you fix them, your site is genuinely accessible -- no overlay needed.