Free Website Accessibility Scan in 60 Seconds

Opening answer

A free website accessibility scan gives a fast first look at one homepage. You paste a homepage address, wait about 60 seconds, and read a list of machine found issues grouped by type. This article walks through that scan in general terms, explains what the report shows, and sets out what to do next. No named site is used as an example here. The aim is a clear starting point, not a final verdict on a whole site.

How the free scan works

Start with the homepage address only. The free tier covers one site and the homepage only, with 3 scans a month, so pick the live homepage address and check it for typos before you submit. The scan runs for about 60 seconds. You do not need an account, and you do not need a card to see the first result.

1. Copy the homepage address from the address bar of your browser.
2. Paste it into Axeazy's free scan.
3. Wait about 60 seconds while the scan checks the homepage against WCAG 2.2 AA checks.
4. Read the total count first, then read the list grouped by issue type.
5. Note the items you plan to fix first, before you close the page.

A second free checker can help you learn the same page from a different angle. WAVE is a free evaluation tool from WebAIM, and you can enter a page address on its site or use a browser extension. WAVE itself says it cannot tell you if web content is accessible, and only a human can determine that. Use it to study one page in detail, then return to a fix workflow for the code changes.

What the report shows

The free report shows a public violation count for the homepage, plus a list of violations found on that page. The list groups repeated problems by type, so you can see at a glance whether one kind of issue appears again and again. Common types in the 14 fix categories include missing alt text, missing form labels, unclear link and button names, a missing page language attribute, a missing skip link, low color contrast, ARIA label problems, keyboard tab order problems, table header problems, and landmark and heading structure problems.

• A count for the homepage, so you can see the scale at a glance.
• A list grouped by issue type, so repeated problems stand out.
• Plain names for common types, such as missing alt text and low color contrast, so a reader without code skills can follow the list.
• A homepage only view, so inner pages still need their own checks later.

The report is a starting list, not a whole site review. It tells you what a machine found on one page, in one pass. It does not tell you whether alt text describes an image well, whether reading order makes sense, or whether a video needs captions. Those questions need human judgment, and they belong in the next step after the scan.

What to do next

Work through the list in an order that helps readers first. Start with items that block basic use, such as missing labels on forms, missing alt text on key images, and low color contrast on body text. Fix those items in the site code, then use a later scan in the same month to check the homepage again. Keep a dated note of what you fixed and when, so you can show the work later.

• Fix labels, alt text, and contrast items first, because they affect daily reading and form use.
• Hand the grouped list to a developer or theme editor, with the homepage address and the date of the scan.
• Check inner pages next, because the free scan covers the homepage only.
• Ask a human reviewer to check reading order, alt text quality, captions, and other judgment items.
• Repeat the scan after fixes, within the 3 scans a month on the free tier, to confirm the homepage list has changed.

What Axeazy adds after the free scan

Axeazy helps you find and fix issues in code, with a dated record of the work. It scans with axe-core and fixes 14 categories at code level. For a site with a GitHub repo, fixes arrive as a pull request with a visible diff for owner review before anything goes live. For WordPress, a free plugin applies 3 instant fixes at render time: a skip link, a page language attribute, and an alt text fallback, with no account needed.

For Shopify, Axeazy scans the store and gives a guided plain English checklist for the merchant or theme editor to follow, with no automatic Shopify fixes and no Shopify pull requests. For other sites, Axeazy gives computed fix values plus a guided checklist, with no automatic changes to the live site. Color contrast is detected and a WCAG correct color is calculated, but it is never applied without owner approval.

Paid plans add full site scope, PDF reports, and weekly monitoring. The capabilities page lists Starter at $29 a month, Pro at $79 a month, and Agency at $199 a month, while the live pricing page shows paid prices only at checkout, with annual billing saving 20 to 25 percent. Read the full plan scope on Axeazy's pricing page before you choose a plan, and compare site count, page count, and report type against your own site.

How to choose a checker, and mistakes to avoid

Choose a checker by the job you need done. A free scan fits a first look at one homepage. A free visual checker fits a detailed study of one page. A paid plan fits a full site, repeat monitoring, PDF reports, and code level fixes with a dated record. For a price and fit comparison, see Axeazy vs accessiBe: Price, Fixes and Fit.

• Treating a homepage result as a whole site result, when the free scan covers the homepage only.
• Treating a clean report as proof that a page is accessible, when judgment items still need a human check.
• Adding a script on top of the page instead of fixing the code underneath, so the same issues stay in the source.
• Chasing the count alone, without checking reading order, alt text quality, or captions.
• Using all 3 free scans in one day on the same unchanged page, instead of spacing scans around fixes.

FAQ

What does a free website accessibility scan check?

It checks a homepage against machine testable WCAG 2.2 AA checks, such as alt text, form labels, link names, color contrast, and heading structure. It does not check judgment items, such as whether alt text describes an image well or whether reading order makes sense. A human review covers those items, and a free scan works best as the first step before that review.

Is the Axeazy free scan really free?

Yes, for the homepage. It takes about 60 seconds, needs no signup, and needs no card. The free tier covers 1 site, the homepage only, and 3 scans a month, with a public violation count. Paid plans add full site scope, PDF reports, and weekly monitoring, so check the plan scope before you pay for more than a first look.

What should I do after I get the report?

Start with items that block reading and form use, such as labels, alt text, and contrast, and fix them in the site code. Share the grouped list with the person who edits the site, with the homepage address and the scan date attached. Then check inner pages, ask a human reviewer to check judgment items, and rescan the homepage after fixes to confirm the list has changed.

Does a free scan prove a site is accessible?

No. A scan finds machine testable issues on one page, and a clean report does not mean every barrier is gone. WAVE states the same point in plain terms, and only a human can determine true accessibility. Use the scan to find and fix what a machine can test, then use human review for the rest.

I received a demand letter. What should I do first?

This is general information, not legal advice. If you have received a demand letter or been sued, talk to a qualified attorney. A scan can give you a list of issues found on the homepage to take into that conversation.

Last checked and sources

Last checked: October 31, 2026

Sources: WAVE help, WCAG 2.2, ADA.gov web guidance.

Start with the homepage scan, then read Axeazy's capabilities page to compare what paid plans add.