Axeazy vs axe DevTools: Scan, Then Fix

Opening answer

A small team does not need to pick between Deque axe DevTools and Axeazy as if they did the same job. axe DevTools, from Deque, tests a page in the browser and lists issues with guidance on how to fix them. Axeazy scans a site and then fixes code in 14 categories, with a dated record of the work. The two share an engine: axe-core, the open source rules engine from Deque, powers axe DevTools and also powers Axeazy checks. Use axe DevTools to find issues while editing a page, and use Axeazy to fix issues across a live site.

Quick comparison

• Maker: axe DevTools is from Deque Systems. Axeazy is a separate service that uses axe-core for its checks.
• Shared engine: axe-core, downloaded 5 billion or more times according to the Deque vendor page.
• axe DevTools free: automated testing, one page at a time, in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
• axe DevTools Pro: adds guided testing, AI assisted features, user flow analysis, component checks, deduplication, and Jira integration, on the Deque vendor page.
• Axeazy Free: $0, homepage scan only, 3 scans per month, scan in about 60 seconds, no signup, no card.
• Axeazy Starter: $29 a month on the capabilities page, $348 a year at that monthly rate before any annual discount shown at checkout.
• Axeazy Pro: $79 a month on the capabilities page, $948 a year at that monthly rate before any annual discount shown at checkout.
• Axeazy checks: 98 automated checks against WCAG 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2 AA plus best practices.

What axe DevTools does well

The Deque vendor page describes axe DevTools Extension as a browser tool for testing accessibility during development and quality checks. The free extension gives automated testing, and it tests one page at a time. It runs tests based on WCAG levels A, AA, and AAA, versions 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2, and it can be configured to check against other standards such as Section 508 and EN 301 549. It gives in product remediation guidance, with links to fixes and sharing through Jira, exports, or permalinks on the vendor page.

That shape suits a developer, a tester, or a site owner who edits pages one at a time. A developer can scan a page after a change, read the failing element and the WCAG tag, and fix the code in the same session. A tester can check a user flow page by page, and record each result. The Chrome Web Store listing for the free extension describes the same page by page automated testing on axe-core, and the Deque vendor page states that the extension has been installed 800,000 or more times in Chrome.

The limit is also clear on the vendor page. The free extension tests one page at a time, and guided testing, user flow analysis, and several team features sit in the Pro tier or in the bundle. A team with 200 pages cannot scan the whole site page by page without a large time cost, and a team with no developer may still need help applying a fix in code. Testing and fixing are different stages.

What Axeazy adds after the scan

Axeazy starts with a scan, then moves to fixes. The free scan covers the homepage only, in about 60 seconds, with no signup and no card. Paid plans scan more pages, monitor weekly on the pricing page, and fix the same 14 categories on every paid tier. The categories are alt text, skip navigation, language attributes, form labels, link names, button names, ARIA labels on custom widgets, ARIA attribute validity, keyboard tab order, pinch to zoom restrictions, iframe titles, table header structure, landmark structure, and heading structure.

How a fix arrives depends on the platform. For a site with a GitHub repo, fixes arrive as a real pull request with a visible diff, reviewed and merged by the owner or developer, with nothing applied without review. For WordPress, a free plugin applies 3 instant render time fixes: a skip navigation link, a page language attribute, and an alt text fallback, with no account needed, and paid plans add AI written alt text saved to the media library, auto captioning, and weekly scans. For Shopify, Axeazy scans the store and gives a guided plain English checklist, with no automatic fixes or pull requests for Shopify. For other sites without a repo, Axeazy scans and gives computed fix values plus a guided checklist.

Axeazy also keeps a dated record of scans and fixes on paid plans. Automated checks cannot test every WCAG criterion, so manual review still matters for reading order and captions.

A workflow that uses both

Step 1: Run the Axeazy free scan on the homepage, and note the violation count and the top categories. That scan gives a site level first view in about a minute.

Step 2: Open the top pages in a browser with axe DevTools, and scan each page in turn. Read the failing element, the severity, and the guidance, and fix the issues that are simple to fix in code, such as a missing label or a missing alt text value.

Step 3: For the issues that repeat across many pages, or that need a code change in a template, use the Axeazy paid workflow. A pull request for a GitHub site, a WordPress plugin fix, or a guided checklist for Shopify can apply the same fix across the site, rather than repeating the same edit page by page.

Step 4: Re scan after fixes, and keep the dated record. A second scan shows which issues remain, and the record shows the order of work. If a demand letter has arrived, or a case has been filed, talk to a qualified attorney. This article gives general information, not legal advice.

For a target size check, the target size quiz tests the WCAG 2.5.8 rule, which asks for targets of at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels or enough spacing, with exceptions.

Axeazy method in this comparison

Axeazy describes its method in plain terms on its methodology page, which publishes the Heuristic Risk Indicator as a 0 to 100 number summarising common WCAG violation patterns, and states that the number is not a WCAG conformance score and not a legal assessment. That distinction matters. A score can rank pages by urgency, but it cannot decide whether a site meets a legal standard. A court or a qualified human auditor makes that kind of decision, and Axeazy states that limit on its pricing page as well.

For a small team, the method to copy is simple: scan, fix in code, record the fix with a date, and re scan. A reader can start that method with the free scan from Axeazy, then read the tiers on Axeazy pricing. Paid prices appear at checkout on that page, with annual billing saving 20 to 25 percent. The methodology page itself is at Axeazy methodology, and it is worth reading before quoting any score from a scan.

How to choose

First, ask who will do the fixing. A team with a developer who edits code daily will get strong value from axe DevTools alone, because the guidance points straight to the failing element. A team with no developer, or with many pages to fix, will get more value from a fix workflow that delivers a pull request, a plugin fix, or a checklist.

Second, count pages. A site with 10 pages can be checked page by page in a browser in a reasonable time. A site with 500 pages needs a site scan and a fix program, not a page by page pass alone.

Third, ask what record is needed. A browser test gives a result for one page at one time. A paid scan program gives a dated record across pages and over time. A team that needs to show work done to a client or in a reply to a claim should weigh the dated record heavily.

Fourth, keep both tools in the workflow if the budget allows. A free browser extension costs no money, and a Starter tier at $29 a month on the capabilities page costs $348 a year at that monthly rate before any annual discount shown at checkout. Using both does not duplicate the check in a wasteful way, because the browser check guides an edit on one page, while the site scan finds repeated faults across templates. A related free starting point is free website accessibility scan in 60 seconds.

FAQ

Is axe DevTools free?

The browser extension has a free tier that gives automated testing, one page at a time. Pro adds guided testing, AI assisted features, user flow analysis, component checks, deduplication, and Jira integration on the Deque vendor page. The vendor page checked for this article does not state a Pro price, so ask Deque for a written Pro figure before budgeting for it.

Does Axeazy replace axe DevTools?

No, and it does not need to. Axeazy uses axe-core, the same engine, for its site checks, and it adds code fixes and a dated record after the scan. A developer can keep using axe DevTools in the browser while Axeazy handles site wide fixes and monitoring. The two stages fit together, rather than competing for the same step.

Which tool should a WordPress site owner pick first?

Start with the free Axeazy homepage scan, because it gives a site level first view in about a minute, and start with the free axe DevTools extension for a page by page check on the most visited pages. If the same faults repeat across many pages, the WordPress plugin path on a paid Axeazy plan can apply fixes at render time, with AI written alt text saved to the media library on paid plans.

Does either tool make a site meet WCAG 2.2 AA on its own?

No tool on its own can decide that a site meets WCAG 2.2 AA, because automated checks cannot test every criterion, and a conformance decision needs human review. Both tools help a team find and fix issues against WCAG 2.2 AA, and both give guidance or fixes for the issues they find. Keep the dated record, and ask a qualified auditor for a full assessment when one is needed.

Last checked: October 31, 2026

Sources: axe DevTools extension from Deque, axe DevTools on the Chrome Web Store, WCAG 2.2 checklist.

For the full tier scope, read Axeazy capabilities.

Related reading

• Axe DevTools Alternatives for Non-Developers