accessiBe sells an AI-powered overlay widget that claims to make your site accessible automatically. The accessibility community, the FTC, and courts have repeatedly shown this approach doesn't work. Overlays can't fix structural HTML problems, and they've been specifically called out in ADA lawsuits. Litmus takes the opposite approach: we scan your site, identify real WCAG violations in your code, and give you the data to fix them properly. Real compliance comes from real fixes, not JavaScript patches.
Feature comparison
Side by side
Feature
Litmus
accessiBe
Pricing
$49–199/mo
$49–200/mo
Scanning engine
axe-core (WCAG 2.1 AA)
AI overlay widget
Site-wide crawling
Yes — up to 100 pages
Overlay-based (not real scanning)
Scheduled scans
Daily or weekly
Always-on overlay
Trend analytics
Yes
Limited
PDF reports
Yes
Basic
Email alerts
Yes
Limited
Self-serve signup
Yes — under 2 minutes
Yes
Contracts
None — cancel anytime
Annual
Free trial
14 days, no credit card
No
Overlay widget
No
Yes (controversial)
accessiBe drawbacks
-Uses an overlay widget — not real remediation of underlying HTML issues
-FTC fined accessiBe $1M in 2025 for deceptive compliance claims
-Overlay approach is widely rejected by the accessibility community
-Does not protect against ADA lawsuits — courts don't accept overlays as compliance
Litmus advantages
+Litmus identifies real code-level violations you can actually fix
+No overlay widgets — shows you exactly what's broken and how to fix it
+Uses axe-core (same engine as Microsoft and Google) for reliable detection
+Provides actionable data for actual WCAG compliance, not cosmetic patches
Overlay widgets add a JavaScript layer on top of your site that attempts to modify the user experience for assistive technologies. They can't fix structural HTML issues like missing alt text in your CMS, broken form labels, or incorrect heading hierarchy. The FTC fined accessiBe $1M for deceptive claims, and major accessibility organizations have signed statements opposing overlay products.
Is Litmus better than accessiBe for ADA compliance?
Litmus and accessiBe take fundamentally different approaches. accessiBe adds an overlay that attempts to paper over issues. Litmus identifies the actual code-level violations so you can fix them properly. Courts and regulators consistently favor actual remediation over overlay solutions.
Does Litmus fix accessibility issues automatically?
No, and that's by design. Automated fixes via overlays create a false sense of compliance. Litmus identifies violations, shows you exactly which elements are affected, provides WCAG references, and gives fix guidance — so your team can make real, lasting fixes in your code.
Ready to switch from accessiBe?
Start scanning your website for WCAG 2.1 AA violations in under 2 minutes. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.