EqualWeb is a software company specializing in digital accessibility solutions for websites and online content. Founded in 2014, the company provides a suite of tools and services that help businesses make their websites accessible to people with disabilities and compliant with major accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. EqualWeb’s technology originated under the name “Accessibility by Click” in its early years, and over time it has evolved into a comprehensive platform combining artificial intelligence (AI) automation with manual expert remediation to ensure inclusive web experiences.
Background
EqualWeb was established amid growing awareness of web accessibility and legal requirements for websites to accommodate users with disabilities. The company has been providing digital accessibility solutions since 2014. Its leadership and team include experienced IT and accessibility experts who have spent decades in the field of inclusive design. From its base in Israel, EqualWeb expanded internationally, opening an office in New York to serve a global client base, and later establishing a presence in Tel Aviv as the local technology hub. By blending AI-driven software with professional consulting, EqualWeb positioned itself as a hybrid solution provider, aiming to remove barriers on websites for users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities. According to industry reports, EqualWeb’s platform is designed to meet the compliance requirements of ADA, Section 508, and WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The company’s client portfolio grew to include large enterprises and organizations worldwide, and it has been recognized in the accessibility industry (for example, being named among promising compliance technology providers in 2021). EqualWeb’s history reflects the broader trend of businesses seeking to avoid accessibility lawsuits and to provide equal access to digital content, which has driven demand for solutions like those the company offers.
Products
EqualWeb offers a range of core products focused on web accessibility. These products cover automated remediation widgets, full compliance solutions, ongoing monitoring, site-scanning tools, and document accessibility. Each is described below:
Auto AI Accessibility
The Auto AI Accessibility Widget is EqualWeb’s flagship tool for automatically remediating web content accessibility issues. It is a customizable interface (often appearing as an accessibility toolbar or widget on a website) that uses AI to scan and fix common accessibility problems in real time. Installation involves adding a snippet of code to the website, after which the AI-powered widget continuously ensures the site meets accessibility standards. The widget provides end-users with controls to adjust the site’s presentation to their needs – for example, enabling a built-in screen reader, altering text size or contrast, pausing animations, or navigating via keyboard and voice commands. EqualWeb’s Auto AI tool supports over 40 languages, allowing instant translation of content for multilingual accessibility. This product is marketed as a quick way to achieve baseline ADA and WCAG compliance, and it operates 24/7 to keep the site accessible without requiring constant manual updates. Although the AI widget offers a broad set of features for disabilities ranging from visual impairment to dyslexia and motor disabilities, EqualWeb acknowledges that automated overlays alone may not resolve every issue, which leads many clients to combine this tool with manual services for full compliance.
ADA Managed Compliance
ADA Managed Compliance is a fully managed solution intended to guarantee comprehensive web accessibility for an entire website. This plan combines EqualWeb’s automatic AI remediation with thorough manual auditing and fixing by the company’s in-house accessibility experts. The goal of ADA Managed Compliance is to achieve and maintain conformance with all relevant standards (such as ADA regulations and WCAG 2.2 guidelines) on an ongoing basis. Under this program, EqualWeb’s team performs an initial audit of the client’s site, fixes any remaining issues that the AI tool cannot address, and provides continuous monitoring and updates to keep the site compliant over time. The managed solution also includes support with legal compliance – for example, providing documentation, accessibility statements, and guidance in case of an accessibility-related legal claim. EqualWeb advertises this as its most “complete, professional, and scalable” offering, used by a range of clients from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, to ensure their websites are accessible year-round. In essence, ADA Managed Compliance is a hybrid service: the automation addresses many issues instantly, while human experts handle complex fixes and verify that the site meets the strict letter of the law and technical standards, thus protecting the business from compliance gaps.
Web Accessibility Monitor
The Web Accessibility Monitor is a cloud-based scanning and reporting tool for maintaining a website’s accessibility over time. It performs periodic audits of an entire website, checking each page against WCAG 2.2 Level AA criteria and flagging any compliance violations or new errors that arise. The Monitor is designed for continuous use – as websites change content or design, the tool can rescan and identify accessibility regressions. After each scan, it generates a detailed accessibility evaluation report with findings and step-by-step recommendations for remediation. These reports document which issues were found (such as missing alternative text, navigation problems, form labeling issues, etc.) and can serve as evidence of ongoing compliance efforts, which is valuable for regulatory or legal purposes. The Monitor also provides an overall accessibility score for the site, giving owners a quantifiable measure of their compliance status. This score can illustrate improvements made by EqualWeb’s tools – for instance, it may compare the number of issues present on the site with and without the Auto AI widget enabled. EqualWeb recommends using the Monitor for “year-round” maintenance of accessibility, ensuring that as new pages or features are added to a website, they remain accessible. In summary, the Web Accessibility Monitor helps organizations detect, fix, and retain accessibility by providing proactive scans and guidance, thus complementing the one-time fixes with ongoing oversight.
Web Accessibility Crawler
The Web Accessibility Crawler is a fast auditing tool that enables website owners and developers to scan their websites – including pages behind login screens – for accessibility issues directly through a web browser. Unlike the Monitor (which typically operates via the EqualWeb platform and can schedule recurring scans), the Crawler is available as a Google Chrome extension that users can run on demand. EqualWeb’s Crawler is notable for its ability to scan pages that require user authentication (such as user account dashboards or intranet pages), which historically have been difficult to audit with automated tools. By leveraging the user’s browser session, the Crawler can navigate password-protected areas and perform a WCAG 2.2 compliance audit on those pages. The scanning process is described as “lightning-fast,” often completing a full site check in minutes. After scanning, the Crawler generates a comprehensive report that includes an accessibility score and lists any violations or issues found, along with instructions on how to fix them. This report is similar in purpose to the Monitor’s report, but the Crawler puts the capability in the hands of the user for self-service testing. EqualWeb initially offered the Web Accessibility Crawler for free (unlimited domain scans) during its launch phase, targeting web administrators who want to quickly check their sites without engaging a full external audit. In practice, the Crawler serves as a convenient, real-time checker for developers – especially useful for testing staging sites or dynamic pages – and it helps organizations maintain ADA compliance continuously by allowing them to crawl their sites whenever needed.
Web Accessibility Checker
The Web Accessibility Checker is another free tool provided by EqualWeb, focused on quick testing of individual web pages for accessibility errors. This Checker is also delivered as a Chrome browser plugin, enabling users to run a scan on whatever page they are currently viewing with a single click. It validates the page against ADA requirements and WCAG 2.2 standards, highlighting any issues on that page in real time. The key difference between the Checker and the Crawler is scope: the Checker examines one page at a time (which is typical of many free accessibility browser extensions), whereas the Crawler can traverse an entire site and even logged-in sections. EqualWeb’s Web Accessibility Checker is intended as an entry-level testing utility – the company calls it “your first step towards achieving web accessibility”. It allows unlimited usage for scanning pages and does not require a subscription, making it a handy tool for web developers or content editors to identify common problems like missing form labels, low-contrast text, or improper heading structure. By offering this free Checker, EqualWeb provides a way for users to familiarize themselves with accessibility auditing and to see a snapshot of their compliance status. It serves as a feeder into the company’s broader suite: users who discover issues via the Checker may then opt for the more extensive Monitor or the Managed Compliance service to address those issues. In summary, the Web Accessibility Checker is a lightweight, on-demand testing plugin that helps ensure web pages meet ADA and WCAG criteria at the basic level.
PDF Accessibility Tools
In addition to web page tools, EqualWeb provides solutions for making PDF documents accessible. PDF Accessibility Tools refer to the company’s AI-driven software for remediating PDF files to comply with accessibility standards. Chief among these is the PDF Auto Tag Remediation tool, an automated system that analyzes PDF files and adds the necessary tags and structure to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA and Section 508 requirements. Many PDFs (such as brochures, reports, or scanned documents) are not originally tagged for accessibility, which means screen reader users or those who rely on keyboard navigation cannot effectively read them. EqualWeb’s PDF tool addresses this by programmatically inserting proper heading hierarchy, alt text for images, table structures, reading order, and other metadata into the PDF in a matter of seconds. The system uses artificial intelligence to detect elements in the document and to generate descriptive alternative text for images automatically. For example, it can identify objects or text in an image and produce a caption describing them, a task that would otherwise require manual effort. The result of running a PDF through this remediation tool is a new PDF file that is “tagged” and optimized for assistive technologies (like screen readers), ensuring that individuals with disabilities can navigate and comprehend the content. This tool supports not only PDFs but also other document formats such as Word and Excel, which it can convert to accessible PDFs as needed. By bringing PDF content into compliance with ADA and Section 508 mandates (which explicitly require electronic documents to be accessible in many contexts), EqualWeb’s PDF Accessibility Tools help organizations extend their inclusivity beyond their websites to their downloadable content.
PDF Accessibility Checker
Complementing the PDF remediation engine is the PDF Accessibility Checker, a tool used to audit and verify the accessibility of PDF files. After a PDF is processed with the auto-tagging tool (or if an organization wants to test an existing PDF), the Checker scans the document against the standards of WCAG and Section 508 and generates a detailed report of the findings. This report shows which accessibility criteria are met and which issues still need attention, breaking them down into categories such as document structure, page content, form fields, alternate text for images, tables, lists, and headings. For each category, the Checker indicates items that passed, items that might require manual review, and items that failed the guidelines. For example, it will report whether the PDF has a title set, whether all images have alt text, if form fields are properly labeled, if reading order is logical, and so on. The PDF Accessibility Checker incorporates EqualWeb’s AI as well, meaning it can intelligently identify document elements and provide an accurate assessment quickly. The output not only confirms compliance levels but also guides remediation by pinpointing remaining problems – effectively serving as a quality assurance step. Organizations can use this Checker to ensure that their PDFs are fully accessible after running auto-remediation, or they can include it as part of their document workflow to test files before publishing. This tool addresses the often overlooked area of document accessibility, which is an important part of overall ADA and WCAG compliance strategy (since documents posted on a website must also be accessible). By using EqualWeb’s PDF Accessibility Checker, users can confidently certify that their digital PDFs offer an inclusive experience or identify exactly what needs improvement to achieve compliance.
Services
Beyond its software products, EqualWeb provides professional services in the accessibility domain to support clients’ compliance efforts. These services include accessibility auditing, consulting, and translations, which supplement the tools and ensure that organizations can achieve their accessibility goals holistically.
Accessibility Auditing
EqualWeb’s accessibility auditing service involves a thorough manual review of a client’s website to evaluate its adherence to standards like WCAG, ADA Title III, and Section 508. During an audit, the company’s experts test webpages and user interface components to identify issues that might not be caught by automated scanners alone. The audit checks fundamental requirements such as the presence of alternative text for images, proper labeling of form fields and buttons, keyboard-only navigation capability, sufficient color contrast, and correct HTML semantic structure for assistive technologies. At the conclusion of the audit, EqualWeb provides a Web Accessibility Evaluation Report detailing all findings. This report highlights areas where the site meets compliance and areas that need improvement, often accompanied by guidance on how to fix each issue. The auditing process is intended not only to achieve compliance but also to educate the website owners and developers – it offers practical insights that can be applied to future design and content updates to prevent reintroducing accessibility barriers. EqualWeb emphasizes that an audit is an important step in understanding “how accessible you actually are” and serves as a baseline to plan remediation work. In combination with the audit, the company often recommends ongoing monitoring (using the aforementioned Monitor tool) because accessibility is an ongoing effort, not a one-time project. By using EqualWeb’s auditing service, clients receive a comprehensive assessment of their website’s accessibility status and a roadmap for achieving full compliance.
Accessibility Consulting
EqualWeb offers accessibility consulting services to guide organizations through the process of becoming and staying accessible. This consulting can take multiple forms, from one-time advisory sessions to comprehensive strategy development. Initially, EqualWeb provides a complimentary consultation for prospective clients, which can be especially useful for those who have received an accessibility lawsuit or demand letter, or who are unsure how to begin with compliance. In these sessions, experts discuss the specific needs of the business and outline possible solutions – whether through software, remediation services, or changes in development practices.
Beyond this initial advice, EqualWeb’s specialized consulting can assist in interpreting and meeting legal requirements: the company advises on standards like WCAG 2.1/2.2 and regional laws (for instance, providing guidance on ADA in the United States or the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in Canada). They help clients choose the right compliance targets for their situation and offer support in implementing those requirements.
EqualWeb’s consultants may work with a client’s web development team throughout a project lifecycle to ensure accessibility is built into a new website or app from the ground up. They also offer web accessibility legal consulting, keeping companies informed about regulations and how to navigate them. Additionally, consulting engagements can be customized into broader accessibility programs – for example, EqualWeb can help an organization develop internal accessibility policies, train their staff on best practices, create accessibility statements for their websites, and establish a long-term accessibility business plan.
This holistic approach is aimed at embedding accessibility into the culture and processes of the client’s organization. In summary, EqualWeb’s consulting service provides expert guidance at every stage, from planning and design to compliance certification, ensuring that clients not only fix immediate issues but also adopt sustainable practices for inclusion.
Accessibility Translations
Accessibility translations is a service (and feature set) by EqualWeb that focuses on making web content linguistically accessible to a global audience. Recognizing that language can be a barrier just as much as a disability can, EqualWeb’s solution integrates a multilingual translation capability into websites. Through the Auto AI Accessibility Widget, websites can offer on-the-fly translation of content into over 40 different languages. With a single click, a user can convert the text of a page from the site’s default language into languages such as Spanish, French, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, and many others. This translation feature uses neural machine translation technology (leveraging advanced engines like Google’s AI translation) built directly into the EqualWeb widget.
The result is real-time website translation: as a user toggles their preferred language, all visible text content is instantly rendered in that language without requiring a separate site version. This service benefits not only users who are non-native speakers but also individuals with certain cognitive or learning disabilities who might find content easier to understand in their native language.
By providing multi-language support, EqualWeb helps clients “connect [their] website to readers across the globe” as part of accessibility. The inclusion of translations in an accessibility strategy is also aligned with some accessibility guidelines that encourage clear and understandable content. EqualWeb’s translation tool is typically offered as part of its widget plan (rather than a standalone product), but it is highlighted as a service because it extends the notion of accessibility to linguistic inclusion. This means a business’s website can be both compliant for disability access and welcoming to international or multilingual users through one integrated solution. In practice, enabling the translation option can broaden the site’s audience and ensure that language differences do not prevent users from accessing information – an important aspect for companies with a diverse user base.
By using EqualWeb’s accessibility translation features, organizations can make their content readable and usable by millions of additional users who speak different languages, thereby “leaving no potential customer behind” due to language barriers.
Compliance and Standards
EqualWeb’s products and services are built to align with established accessibility standards and legal requirements. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), published by the W3C, are a central reference point – EqualWeb aims for Level AA conformance, addressing criteria that cover text alternatives, adaptable content, distinguishable audio/visual media, keyboard accessibility, navigability, readability, and more. The platform initially supported WCAG 2.1and has updated to include WCAG 2.2 in its tools (as seen in features like the Checker and Monitor validating against WCAG 2.2). In terms of regulations, EqualWeb’s offerings help businesses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S., especially Title III which has been interpreted by courts to apply to websites of places of public accommodation. By making a website operable and perceivable by people with disabilities, companies reduce the risk of ADA-related lawsuits. EqualWeb also addresses requirements of Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act, which mandates that federal agencies (and organizations receiving federal funding) ensure their electronic and information technology is accessible. For example, the PDF remediation tool explicitly targets Section 508 compatibility for documents. Globally, EqualWeb references standards and laws such as the European EN 301 549 (the EU’s accessibility requirements for ICT products and services)and others, indicating a broad compliance coverage.
The company often provides documentation like a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) upon request, which is a report detailing how a product or site conforms to Section 508 and WCAG criteria – this is part of their services to assist clients in government or enterprise sectors. Overall, EqualWeb’s purpose is to simplify adherence to these standards through technology: by automating fixes for many common issues and guiding remediation for the rest, it allows organizations to meet their legal obligations (such as ADA and Section 508) and follow best-practice guidelines (WCAG) without needing deep in-house expertise in accessibility. According to an independent review, when fully utilized (automation plus manual fixes), EqualWeb’s solution can achieve compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, Section 508, and even specialized standards like the European EN 301 549. This comprehensive approach to compliance is a key selling point of EqualWeb, as it assures clients that their websites can be made accessible and legally conformant to the latest requirements in different jurisdictions.