How Much Does an Accessibility Audit Cost? Pricing Guide

When you realize you need an accessibility audit, one of the first questions is naturally: what will this cost? I've seen too many organizations get sticker shock from accessibility audit quotes, or conversely, choose suspiciously cheap options that deliver nothing useful.

The honest answer is that accessibility audit costs vary dramatically—from free automated scans to six-figure enterprise assessments. Understanding what you're actually buying helps you match investment to need and avoid both overpaying and getting inadequate coverage.

Q: How much does an accessibility audit cost?

A: Accessibility audit costs range from free (basic automated scans) to $75,000+ (comprehensive enterprise assessments). Typical professional audits for mid-size websites run $5,000-$25,000. Cost depends on audit type (automated vs. manual), site size and complexity, scope of coverage, and deliverable requirements.

Understanding Audit Types and Their Costs

Automated Scanning Only

Cost range: Free to $500/month for ongoing scanning

What you get:

• Detection of issues automatable tools can identify
• Report of violations with locations
• Typically covers 30-40% of potential accessibility issues

When appropriate:

• Initial assessment to understand issue magnitude
• Ongoing monitoring after remediation
• Budget-constrained situations needing direction

Limitations:

• Misses majority of accessibility issues (60-70%)
• Can't evaluate meaning/context (is alt text actually descriptive?)
• Can't assess keyboard navigation effectively
• Doesn't provide conformance claim documentation

Free automated testing tools can provide this level of assessment at no cost, though paid tools often have better accuracy and reporting.

Manual Audit with Expert Review

Cost range: $3,000-$15,000 for typical websites

What you get:

• Automated scanning plus manual evaluation
• Testing with actual assistive technology (screen readers)
• Keyboard navigation assessment
• Context-aware evaluation (heading structure, alt text quality)
• Prioritized findings report
• Remediation guidance

When appropriate:

• You need to understand full accessibility status
• Preparing for remediation project
• Responding to legal pressure
• Due diligence for acquisitions or partnerships

What affects cost in this range:

• Number of unique page templates
• Site complexity (static vs. dynamic, custom components)
• Depth of manual testing
• Turnaround time requirements

Comprehensive Accessibility Assessment

Cost range: $15,000-$75,000+

What you get:

• Everything in manual audit
• Extended testing across broader page sample
• Multiple assistive technology combinations
• VPAT/ACR documentation
• Detailed remediation specifications
• Expert consultation time
• Often includes retest after remediation

When appropriate:

• Enterprise requirements with formal documentation needs
• Federal contractor VPAT requirements
• Complex web applications
• High legal risk situations
• Organizations with substantial compliance obligations

Specialized Audits

Some audits focus on specific areas:

Mobile app audit: $5,000-$30,000 depending on app complexity and platform coverage (iOS, Android, or both)

PDF document audit: $50-$500 per document depending on length and complexity, or $2,000-$10,000 for document library assessments

Video/multimedia audit: $500-$5,000 depending on content volume and captioning/description requirements

Factors That Affect Audit Cost

Site Size and Complexity

Page count matters, but not linearly. Auditors don't test every page—they test representative samples of each template or page type. A 10,000-page site with 5 templates isn't dramatically more expensive to audit than a 500-page site with 5 templates.

Unique templates drive cost. Each distinct page layout needs separate evaluation. Sites with many unique templates cost more.

Interactive complexity costs more. Custom widgets, dynamic content, single-page applications, and complex forms require more testing time than static content pages.

Third-party integrations add complexity. Embedded maps, chat widgets, video players, and other third-party components each need assessment.

Audit Scope

Sample size: Testing 20 pages costs less than testing 100 pages. Appropriate sample size depends on template diversity and risk tolerance.

WCAG level: Testing against AA (standard) vs. AAA (enhanced) affects time. Most audits target AA.

WCAG version: WCAG 2.2 has more success criteria than 2.0, requiring more test time.

Conformance claim: Audits supporting formal conformance claims require more rigorous documentation.

Deliverables Requested

Basic findings report: Lower cost, sufficient for internal use

Detailed remediation specifications: Higher cost, includes developer-ready fix guidance

VPAT/ACR documentation: Adds cost, often $2,000-$5,000 for comprehensive VPAT

Executive presentation: Adds cost if you need auditor to present to leadership

Retest inclusion: Verification testing after remediation, often 20-40% of original audit cost

Provider Qualifications

Certifications matter. Auditors with IAAP certifications (CPACC, WAS, CPWA) typically charge more but provide higher quality work.

Specialization commands premium. Providers specializing exclusively in accessibility typically cost more than generalist consultancies adding accessibility to their offerings.

Location affects rates. US/UK/EU-based providers typically charge more than offshore options, though quality often differs.

Getting Quotes and Comparing Proposals

What to Include in RFP

When soliciting audit quotes, provide:

Site information:

• URL(s) to be audited
• Approximate page count
• Number of distinct templates/page types
• Technology stack (CMS, frameworks)
• Notable complex features (forms, applications, dynamic content)

Scope requirements:

• WCAG version and level target
• Required sample size or coverage percentage
• Specific pages that must be included
• Mobile testing requirements
• Browser/assistive technology combinations

Deliverable requirements:

• Report format and detail level
• VPAT/ACR needed?
• Remediation specifications detail level
• Retest requirements

Timeline:

• When do you need results?
• Any hard deadlines (legal, procurement, launch)?

Comparing Proposals

Watch for scope differences. A $5,000 quote and a $15,000 quote might cover different things entirely. Compare:

• Number of pages tested
• Automated-only vs. includes manual testing
• Screen reader testing included?
• Deliverable detail level

Verify methodology. Ask specifically:

• Which automated tools used?
• Which screen readers tested?
• Which browsers?
• How many testers?

Check qualifications. Ask:

• How many IAAP-certified staff?
• Who specifically will do this audit?
• Can you speak with recent references?

Understand what's not included. Does the quote cover remediation consultation? Retesting? What happens if you have questions about findings?

Red Flags in Quotes

Suspiciously low prices. Professional manual accessibility audits take significant expert time. Quotes dramatically below market suggest either automated-only testing or inexperienced testers.

Vague methodology. "We test for accessibility" without specific process details suggests improvised approach rather than systematic evaluation.

Guaranteed compliance. No legitimate auditor guarantees compliance—they report findings and provide guidance. Guarantee language suggests the provider doesn't understand accessibility.

Very fast turnaround. Comprehensive audits take time. A week for thorough manual testing of a complex site isn't realistic unless multiple testers are assigned.

Audit Cost vs. Remediation Cost

Understanding Total Cost

Audit cost is typically the smaller portion of total accessibility investment. What you find requires fixing.

Rough planning ratios:

• Audit cost: 10-20% of total project
• Remediation cost: 70-80% of total project
• Verification/documentation: 10% of total project

A $10,000 audit that finds significant issues might precede $50,000-$100,000 in remediation work.

Audit ROI Considerations

Finding issues before customers or lawyers do. The audit's cost is trivial compared to lawsuit defense.

Enabling efficient remediation. Audits that provide clear developer guidance reduce remediation time. A detailed $15,000 audit might enable more efficient remediation than a vague $5,000 audit.

Identifying root causes. Good audits identify patterns and root causes, not just individual issues. Fixing root causes is more efficient than fixing symptoms.

Alternatives to Traditional Audits

AI-Powered Accessibility Platforms

Platforms like TestParty offer different economics than traditional audits:

Continuous assessment: Rather than point-in-time audits, ongoing monitoring catches issues as they appear.

Fix generation: Beyond finding issues, AI generates actual code fixes—dramatically reducing remediation cost.

Developer integration: Catches issues before deployment rather than finding them in production.

Cost model: Subscription-based rather than project-based. Annual platform cost often comparable to single comprehensive audit, with ongoing coverage.

For many organizations, platform-based accessibility (perhaps combined with periodic expert review) proves more cost-effective than repeated traditional audits.

Hybrid Approaches

Initial audit + ongoing platform: Traditional audit establishes baseline and provides VPAT documentation; platform provides ongoing monitoring and fix generation.

Platform + annual expert check: Platform handles continuous monitoring; annual expert review validates effectiveness and catches what automation misses.

DIY + platform + consultation: Internal team uses tools for routine testing; platform automates monitoring; expert consultants available for complex questions.

FAQ Section

Q: Can I get a free accessibility audit?

A: Automated scanning is available free through browser extensions and online tools. However, automated tools catch only 30-40% of issues. Truly comprehensive audits require expert manual evaluation, which has real cost.

Q: Why is there such a wide price range for audits?

A: Price variation reflects scope, methodology, and provider qualification differences. A $3,000 audit and a $30,000 audit are typically very different services—comparing them directly isn't meaningful.

Q: How often do I need accessibility audits?

A: Traditional audits are point-in-time. For most organizations, annual comprehensive audits combined with continuous automated monitoring provides appropriate coverage. Sites with frequent changes may benefit from more frequent assessment.

Q: Should audit cost affect my vendor selection?

A: Cost matters but shouldn't be the primary factor. An inexpensive audit that misses issues or provides unclear guidance costs more overall when you factor in remediation difficulty. Evaluate methodology and qualifications alongside price.

Q: What if I can't afford a professional audit?

A: Start with what you can do: free automated scanning, keyboard testing, and basic screen reader testing. This won't achieve comprehensive coverage but identifies obvious issues. As budget allows, add professional review.

Making the Investment Decision

Accessibility audit cost should be evaluated in context:

Against lawsuit cost: Settlement alone often exceeds comprehensive audit cost. Adding legal fees, audit cost is small fraction of lawsuit response.

Against remediation efficiency: Good audits enable efficient remediation. Poor audits waste developer time chasing symptoms instead of causes.

Against ongoing monitoring needs: Single audits become outdated. Consider whether audit investment should include monitoring strategy.

Against your risk profile: Higher legal exposure (e-commerce, healthcare, high-profile brand) justifies higher audit investment.

The question isn't just "how much does an audit cost?" but "what's the cost of not understanding my accessibility status?"

Ready to understand your accessibility situation? Get a free accessibility scan to see your baseline before scoping a comprehensive assessment.

Related Articles:

• Accessibility Audits: What to Expect
• How Long Does Website Accessibility Take to Fix?
• Accessibility Agencies: Full-Service Compliance Partners

Content disclosure: This article was produced using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by TestParty's team of accessibility specialists. As a company focused on source code remediation and continuous accessibility monitoring, we aim to share practical knowledge about WCAG and ADA compliance. That said, accessibility is complex and context-dependent. The information here is educational only—please work with qualified professionals for guidance specific to your organization's needs.