When you finally decide to make the site accessible, you discover a confusing market with conflicting promises. Some sell a single line of code, some offer a comprehensive service, and some consider doing it all themselves. This comparison breaks down the three main approaches and helps you choose the one that fits your business.
Approach 1: Widget only
What it is: installing an accessibility widget in a single line of code, without touching the site's code.
The advantage: fast and cheap, and it immediately improves the visitor experience with display adjustments.
The disadvantage: it does not fix the site's code. The underlying failures, such as missing alternative text or broken keyboard navigation, remain. A widget alone is not enough for conformance.
Who it fits: as a complementary step only, not as a standalone solution.
Approach 2: Accessibility service with code fixes
What it is: a service that combines a check, code fixes, a widget, and an accessibility statement.
The advantage: it handles failures at their source and covers the required components together. It gives broader coverage and puts the business in a defensible position.
The disadvantage: it requires a slightly higher investment than a widget alone, but far lower than the cost of a lawsuit.
Who it fits: most small and medium businesses that want an orderly solution without dealing with the technical details.
Approach 3: In-house development
What it is: the business's technical team makes the site accessible itself.
The advantage: full control and precise adaptation to the site.
The disadvantage: it requires deep knowledge of the standard, of testing, and of ongoing maintenance. A misunderstanding of the requirements can leave the business exposed despite the effort.
Who it fits: businesses with an experienced development team that knows the accessibility requirements.
What to check before choosing
- Does the solution include code fixes, and not just a widget?
- Does it include an accessibility statement based on Regulation 35?
- Does the provider speak honestly about the limits and the need for a check?
- Is there a check that shows the state of the site before and after?
The first step, regardless of the approach
Whichever approach you choose, the starting point is the same: an accessibility check that shows the state of the site today. Without a clear snapshot, you cannot compare solutions or price them correctly.