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Comparison

A Pa11y alternative

By · updated 2026-09-15

Pa11y is an open-source Node.js tool you run yourself. This covers the same job as a hosted scan, so there is nothing to install or keep patched. Here is where each one suits.

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Pa11y in brief

Pa11y is a command-line tool and Node library. It drives a headless Chrome through Puppeteer and runs a "runner" against the page: HTML_CodeSniffer by default, or axe-core if you ask for it, or both. Its companion, pa11y-ci, runs a list of URLs or a sitemap in a pipeline and fails the job on errors.

If you want full control and are happy to own the setup, it is a solid choice. You write the config, pin the versions, and keep Chrome working on your CI runners.

When a hosted scan saves you work

  • Nothing to maintain. Paste a URL and the browser, the engine and its updates are ours to look after.
  • Output people can read. Pa11y prints to a terminal or a JSON file. Here each scan is a report link, with failing elements outlined on a screenshot, that a designer or client can open.
  • A ready CI step. The GitHub Action fails the build on new violations at a severity you choose, without writing a pa11y-ci config.

Why the results can differ

With its default runner, Pa11y reports HTML_CodeSniffer's findings, which are worded and grouped differently from axe-core's and will not match one for one. This scanner always runs axe-core, so its messages match what Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights and axe DevTools show.

Either engine only covers the machine-checkable part of WCAG. What needs a human is flagged for review here, never counted as passing.

Frequently asked questions

Does Pa11y use axe-core?

It can. The default runner is HTML_CodeSniffer, and axe-core is available as a second runner. This scanner uses axe-core every time.

Is Pa11y free?

Yes, it is open source. Your cost is the time to set it up and run it. Our one-page scan is free too, and paid plans add multi-page audits and monitoring.

Can I use this in CI like Pa11y?

Yes. Add the GitHub Action or call the CLI from any pipeline. It fails on new violations at or above the severity you set.

What export formats are there?

CSV, JSON and Markdown. Each finding carries the element selector, the failure and a link to a fix guide.

Related guides

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Last updated 2026-09-15.