EqualWeb offers 7 different pricing tiers and markets itself as a "hybrid." But most of those tiers are pure overlay — identical to accessiBe and UserWay. Human remediation only appears at the most expensive level. Here's what you're actually buying.
EqualWeb has 7 pricing editions — from a free widget to a "Full Remediation" managed plan. The $1,000,000 warranty they advertise? Only available on the most expensive tier. The AI-powered widget available on the entry-level plans? That's the same JavaScript overlay approach the entire accessibility community opposes. Most buyers land on the automated tiers and believe they're getting the hybrid experience. They're not.
Seven tiers sound like flexibility. In practice, it means most buyers end up on an overlay plan — while the marketing implies they're getting something more.
EqualWeb heavily markets their $1M warranty. Here's what it actually covers and what it doesn't.
EqualWeb advertises a "$1,000,000 warranty" as a headline feature. This warranty is meant to convey financial protection against accessibility-related legal claims. It's a compelling marketing message — until you examine the conditions attached to it.
EqualWeb's automated tiers vs Compliapoint's source-code remediation — compared on the metrics that matter for legal defense and actual compliance.
| Feature | EqualWeb | Compliapoint |
|---|---|---|
| Core Approach | ◐ Overlay widget on automated tiers; human remediation only on managed tier | ✓ Direct source-code fixes on every engagement |
| Source Code Modified | ⚠ Only on Full Remediation tier — and even then, overlay widget remains installed | ✓ Yes — all fixes made directly in HTML, CSS, and templates |
| Pricing Complexity | ⚠ 7 tiers ranging from free to custom pricing. Most critical features locked to highest tier | ✓ One engagement model. Scope-based pricing. Everything included |
| Human Expert Remediation | ⚠ Only on Full Remediation tier at custom (premium) pricing | ✓ Included in every engagement |
| Compliance Certificate | ⚠ Only on Full Remediation tier — requires active subscription | ✓ Included. Dated, signed, and permanently yours |
| $1M Warranty | ◐ Full Remediation tier only. Terms not fully public. Void if subscription lapses | ✓ No warranty needed — actual source-code remediation with compliance documentation for court |
| What Happens If You Cancel | ✗ Automated fixes disappear. Warranty void. Certificate invalid | ✓ All fixes remain. Certificate remains valid. Documentation is yours |
| Visible Widget on Site | ⚠ Widget displayed on all tiers — including Full Remediation | ✓ No widget. Accessibility built into the code |
| Legal Defense Documentation | ◐ Limited to managed tier. Tied to active subscription | ✓ Complete audit report, remediation docs, and compliance certificate |
| PDF Remediation | ◐ Available as a separate service at $1–$4 per page | ✓ Included in engagement scope |
| VPAT / ACR Available | ✗ Not listed as a standard deliverable | ✓ Full VPAT for government and enterprise procurement |
| Delivery Timeline | ⚠ Widget deploys quickly; full remediation timeline unclear | ✓ 7–10 business days standard. Rush in 1–3 days |
| Screen Reader Compatibility | ⚠ Widget modifies DOM at runtime — timing conflicts with assistive technology | ✓ Source-level fixes work natively with every assistive technology |
What you're actually paying for on most EqualWeb plans vs what Compliapoint delivers on every engagement.
Whether you choose EqualWeb's automated tiers or their premium managed plan, the subscription model costs more over time — with no permanent result if you leave.
| Cost Factor | EqualWeb | Compliapoint |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (Medium tier) | $490 (overlay only — no human remediation) | One-time project fee (varies by scope) |
| Year 1 (Large tier) | $1,090 (still overlay only) | |
| 5-Year Total (Medium) | $2,450 with zero source-code fixes | One-time fee. 100% of identified violations fixed permanently |
| 5-Year Total (Large) | $5,450 with zero source-code fixes | |
| If You Stop Paying | ✗ All modifications disappear. Widget removed. No certificate. No warranty | ✓ Nothing changes. Code is yours. Certificate is yours |
| Tax Credit Eligible | ⚠ May qualify — check with your CPA | ✓ IRS Form 8826 — up to $5,000 annually for eligible small businesses |
Both EqualWeb and AudioEye use the word "hybrid" to describe combining automation with human expertise. The key difference is pricing structure: AudioEye locks human expertise behind its $499/month Managed tier. EqualWeb locks it behind its custom-priced Full Remediation tier. In both cases, the entry-level and mid-tier plans are pure overlay — identical in approach to accessiBe and UserWay. The "hybrid" label applies to the company's total offering, not to the plan most customers actually purchase.
A warranty is a promise to compensate you if something goes wrong. A compliance certificate is documentation that your site has been remediated and meets WCAG standards. Courts evaluating ADA claims look for evidence that you identified and fixed violations — not that you purchased an insurance policy from a widget vendor. Actual remediation with proper documentation is a stronger legal position than a warranty tied to a subscription that could lapse.
Longevity demonstrates business stability, not technical effectiveness. EqualWeb has evolved its product over two decades, and their premium managed service with human auditors does provide more thorough coverage than their automated tiers. However, the vast majority of their pricing tiers rely on the same JavaScript overlay approach that over 800 accessibility professionals have formally opposed. The company's age does not change the fundamental technical limitation of overlays.
EqualWeb uses optical character recognition to generate alternative text for images. OCR can identify text within images, but it cannot determine the meaning or context of a photograph, chart, illustration, or infographic. A photo of a team meeting, a graph showing quarterly revenue, or a product image each require human-written alt text that describes the content in context. Automated OCR alt text frequently produces inaccurate or meaningless descriptions that fail WCAG success criteria.
Start with our free Site Accessibility Assessment. We'll evaluate your site's actual source-code compliance beneath the EqualWeb widget. If you're on one of the automated tiers, there's a high probability that significant violations remain unaddressed in your source code. We audit, remediate the source, deliver your compliance documentation, and you can remove the EqualWeb widget. Your site becomes natively accessible with permanent fixes and no subscription dependency.
Compliapoint delivers something more valuable than a warranty: actual remediation with documentation. Your compliance certificate documents that a WCAG 2.2 AA audit was conducted and all identified violations were remediated. Your audit report details every violation found and every fix applied. This documentation serves as direct evidence in legal proceedings — not a promise to pay if the evidence doesn't hold up. We also offer optional monthly monitoring to catch new violations introduced by content changes.
Our Site Accessibility Assessment takes about 3 minutes. We review your answers and respond with a clear written proposal — no obligation, no automatic charges, no pressure.
Eligible small businesses can recover up to $5,000 of accessibility costs annually via IRS Form 8826.