Access Shift vs accessiBe
Comparing accessiBe and Access Shift for runtime web accessibility automation.
Important: Access Shift is an accessibility automation tool, not a legal certification. No automated tool can guarantee conformance with any accessibility law on its own.
What accessiBe is
accessiBe is one of the longest-running runtime-overlay vendors in the accessibility space. They sell a JavaScript widget (accessWidget) that applies automated fixes on page load, plus a separately marketed audit and statement product. accessiBe has been the subject of FTC scrutiny and class-action litigation over the limits of automated remediation — we recommend reading the Marketing claims policy section of our terms before evaluating any overlay-style tool.
When accessiBe is the better fit
If you have already standardized on accessiBe across many properties and your stack relies on their statement and dashboard integrations, switching costs may outweigh the gains from changing vendors. Their brand recognition with non-technical buyers is also higher than ours today.
When Access Shift is the better fit
Access Shift is built for teams that want a self-serve, per-website price (no page-count tax), prefer a defensive marketing posture, and want the same WCAG 2.2 AA technical baseline applied at runtime — paired with the explicit recommendation to also commission a human source-level audit.
Side-by-side comparison
Publicly available information as of July 2026.
| Criterion | Access Shift | accessiBe |
|---|---|---|
| Public pricing | Listed right here on this page — and priced below every other vendor in this table. One flat per-website fee that includes the runtime widget, continuous WCAG 2.2 AA scanning, and the monthly auditor report, with no page or page-view surcharges | Listed publicly |
| Pricing model | Per website, monthly or annual — no page or page-view tax | Per site, scaled by page count |
| Self-serve sign-up (no sales call required) | Yes — sign up, install the widget, start scanning | Yes — self-serve checkout on pricing page |
| Install time on a customer site | Minutes — one <script> tag, no sales call | Minutes — one <script> tag |
| Technical baseline targeted | WCAG 2.2 AA | WCAG 2.1 AA |
| Multi-framework coverage (ADA / 508 / EAA / AODA / ACA) | One WCAG 2.2 AA technical baseline addresses the web-content criteria behind ADA, Section 508, EAA, AODA, and ACA at once — so you manage a single standard instead of tracking five separate frameworks | Yes — covered in compliance materials |
| Free trial | Yes — 14 days, no card required | Free 7-day trial listed |
| Checkout & cancellation | Embedded Stripe checkout in-dashboard; cancel any time, no phone call | Self-serve checkout; cancel from account |
| Contract length | Month-to-month or annual; cancel any time | Monthly or annual |
Frequently asked
- Is Access Shift a drop-in replacement for accessiBe?
- Both products install as a single script tag and apply runtime fixes. The covered WCAG criteria overlap heavily. If you switch, you should still pair the widget with periodic source-level audits — neither tool guarantees legal compliance on its own.
- Does Access Shift produce a public accessibility statement?
- Access Shift publishes an accessibility statement for accessshift.com and you can link to it from your own pages. We do not market a per-customer statement as a compliance product, because no automated statement substitutes for the legal disclosures your counsel may require.
- What about the lawsuits and FTC concerns around overlays?
- We take the criticism of overlay-style tools seriously. Our marketing claims policy bans phrases like 'fully compliant', 'lawsuit-proof', and 'guaranteed ADA compliance', and we ask customers to pair the widget with manual audits. See our accessibility statement and terms for the standing disclosure.
- Can I import an accessiBe configuration?
- There is no automated import today. Most settings (color scheme, motion preferences, language) re-map naturally, and our customizer takes only a few minutes to set up per site.
See Access Shift on your own site
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