WAVE API
Digital accessibility tools
Web accessibility software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
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What is WAVE API
WAVE API is a web accessibility testing API that returns automated evaluation results for web pages, including detected accessibility errors, alerts, and structural information. It is used by development teams, QA, and accessibility specialists to integrate accessibility checks into CI/CD pipelines, internal dashboards, or custom reporting workflows. The product focuses on machine-testable checks and provides results in a format suitable for programmatic analysis rather than a full end-user remediation overlay.
API-first automation workflow
WAVE API supports programmatic scanning of web pages, which fits engineering-led accessibility testing and continuous integration use cases. Teams can trigger scans from build pipelines and store results for trend reporting. This approach is well-suited to organizations that need to embed accessibility checks into existing QA and governance processes rather than rely on manual audits alone.
Structured, actionable findings
The API output typically includes categorized issues (for example, errors and alerts) and page element context that can be mapped to remediation tasks. This structure helps teams triage issues and route them to developers with relevant technical detail. It also enables custom dashboards and ticketing integrations without being locked into a specific UI.
Fits custom governance tooling
Because it is delivered as an API, WAVE can be used as a component inside broader web governance, monitoring, or analytics stacks. Organizations can standardize accessibility checks across multiple sites and environments using a single integration pattern. This is useful when teams want consistent rules and reporting across many properties.
Limited to automated checks
Like other automated accessibility scanners, WAVE API cannot fully assess requirements that depend on human judgment, such as the quality of alternative text, appropriateness of headings, or keyboard usability in complex widgets. Organizations still need manual testing and assistive-technology validation for compliance-grade assurance. Relying only on API results can leave significant gaps.
Requires engineering integration effort
Using the API effectively typically requires development work to authenticate, orchestrate scans, handle rate limits, and interpret results. Teams without engineering resources may prefer tools with built-in dashboards, guided workflows, and remediation management. The API-centric model can increase time-to-value for non-technical stakeholders.
Coverage depends on crawl strategy
The API evaluates the pages it is asked to scan; it does not inherently discover all URLs, states, or authenticated user flows. Organizations must design crawling, URL inventories, and test scenarios (including dynamic states) to avoid blind spots. Single-page applications and content behind logins may require additional scripting or tooling to achieve adequate coverage.
Plan & Pricing
WAVE Subscription API (shared service) — Usage-based credits
Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (credits) Free tier/trial: New accounts receive 100 free credits on registration. Example costs / credits pricing:
- 250–999 credits: $0.04 per credit (250-credit minimum = $10).
- 1,000–9,999 credits: $0.03 per credit.
- 10,000+ credits: $0.025 per credit.
How credits map to requests:
- Basic analysis (reporttype=1): 1 credit per page request.
- Advanced reporttypes may cost 2 or 3 credits per request (reporttype=2 costs 2 credits; reporttype=3 costs 3 credits).
Discount options: Lower per-credit pricing at higher volume (see tiers above).
WAVE Stand-alone API (installable) — Tiered annual license
| Plan | Annual Price | API Requests | Domains | Installations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $4,000 per year | 100,000 | Up to 3 | 1 | Licensee-only distribution |
| Expanded | $8,000 per year | 300,000 | Up to 10 | 3 | Licensee-only distribution |
| Unlimited | $12,000 per year | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Licensee-only or as authorized |
Notes: Stand-alone license available for local installation; trial version available on request.
Seller details
WebAIM
Logan, Utah, United States
1999
Non-profit
https://webaim.org/
https://x.com/webaim
https://www.linkedin.com/company/webaim
