WAVE

Overview

WAVE is a web accessibility evaluation tool for teams that need page-level checks alongside a human review process. Its mix of browser extensions, API access and CI support makes it adaptable to existing workflows, though API credit costs and substantial stand-alone license fees can shape the decision.

It identifies many accessibility and WCAG errors and provides tools to facilitate human evaluation. WAVE’s stated standard is WCAG 2.2; its maker is based in Logan, Utah, and was founded in 2017.

Key features

Checks that leave room for judgment

WAVE scans pages for many accessibility and WCAG errors, but it also supports human evaluation of web content. That combination suits teams treating automated findings as part of an assessment rather than a substitute for human review. The scan scope is a page, so the product is oriented toward page checks rather than a single whole-site scan.

Extensions for difficult pages

Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions can inspect password-protected, locally stored and highly dynamic pages. WAVE also supports most authentication types, including intranet pages. This is useful when the pages that matter cannot be assessed as ordinary public URLs.

Automation and API

The API uses GET requests with an API key and page URL, and returns JSON or XML. Basic analysis consumes one credit; advanced features can consume two or three, so credit usage may exceed the number of pages processed. Stand-alone tools support continuous integration with Selenium and Puppeteer, as well as regularly scheduled site audits. Custom viewport sizes support checks at mobile responsive breakpoints.

The stand-alone API runs on Linux, Mac or Windows web servers with PHP and Node installed. Minimum requirements are 1 CPU, 1 GB memory and 100 MB storage. These deployment requirements make it a better fit for teams able to operate server-based tooling than for those seeking a wholly hosted integration.

Pricing

WAVE is freemium, with 100 free API credits for each new account. That is a useful way to begin evaluating API use, but it is a limited starting allowance for recurring or large-scale checks.

• Subscription API, 250–999 credits: 10.00 USD per month, with a 250-credit ($10) minimum purchase.
• Subscription API, 1,000–9,999 credits: custom pricing, with a 1,000-credit minimum.
• Subscription API, 10,000+ credits: custom pricing, with a 10,000-credit minimum.
• API credits, 250–999: 0.04 USD per once, with a 250-credit ($10) minimum purchase.
• API credits, 1,000–9,999: 0.03 USD per once, billed at $0.03 per credit.
• API credits, 10,000+: 0.03 USD per once, billed at $0.025 per credit.

Credit purchases suit teams with occasional or variable demand, while subscriptions suit ongoing use; either way, advanced API features can draw down credits faster than basic analysis. The higher-volume credit tier lowers the per-credit charge, but requires a larger minimum purchase.

Stand-alone API licenses are annual and cost 4000.00 USD per year for Basic, 8000.00 USD per year for Expanded, and 12000.00 USD per year for Unlimited. Basic includes 100,000 API requests, up to 3 domains and 1 installation. Expanded includes 300,000 requests, up to 10 domains and 3 installations. Both limit data distribution to the licensee. Unlimited removes request, domain and installation caps and permits licensee-only or authorized data distribution. These licenses are aimed at organizations that need managed stand-alone deployment and defined usage rights; the annual commitment is a significant step up from credit purchases.

Platforms

WAVE covers API, extension, Linux, macOS, web and Windows platforms. Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. The stand-alone API’s server requirements are PHP and Node on Linux, Mac or Windows. Support is provided through a contact channel at Utah State University.

Who it's for

WAVE is a strong fit for accessibility teams and developers who need to check protected or dynamic pages, add page analysis to CI, schedule audits, or combine automated findings with human evaluation. Teams building mobile-responsive sites can also use custom viewports to assess breakpoints. It is less compelling for buyers seeking only an inexpensive, fixed-price automated scan service, particularly if their usage calls for a stand-alone license.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Extensions can reach password-protected, local and highly dynamic pages, broadening coverage beyond ordinary public pages.
• Pro: Selenium and Puppeteer support, scheduled audits and API output in JSON or XML provide several paths into existing workflows.
• Pro: Human evaluation tools complement automated detection instead of making automation the entire assessment.
• Con: Basic API analysis costs one credit, while advanced features can cost two or three, making usage less predictable as checks become more involved.
• Con: Stand-alone licenses start at 4000.00 USD per year and retain domain, installation or distribution limits on the lower tiers.
• Con: Subscription pricing for the larger credit bands is custom pricing, complicating cost comparisons for teams planning higher volume.

Alternatives

For a different set of accessibility assessment options, browse Website Accessibility Tools or Accessibility Testing Software.

• Axe DevTools is worth considering for a free extension that checks one page at a time, or if its paid Pro plan’s AI-enhanced features and Intelligent Guided Testing better match the workflow.
• Pope Tech offers a free tier capped at 25 pages, 2 users, 1 website and 1 group; choose it when those limits suit a small team’s needs.
• IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker is a free alternative.
• Accessibility Cloud may suit teams looking for a paid monitoring option: its Starter plan is 1980.00 EUR per year and includes 1 site, 500 pages, 500 documents, 2 named user seats and 1 mobile app scan per year.
• AccessLint is another freemium alternative with a free trial.
• ADA Scanner has a free tier of 25 scans a month, with paid plans starting at 9.00 USD per month for 250 scans, 10 pages and 1 site.
• axe-core is a free alternative.
• Oobee is a free alternative.

Verdict

Choose WAVE if you need page-level accessibility analysis that can reach authenticated or dynamic content and fit into CI or scheduled audits, while keeping human evaluation in the process. Its broad workflow options are the central advantage; look elsewhere if your priority is low-cost, predictable high-volume access or you cannot justify an annual stand-alone license.