For WordPress users looking to enhance their website’s accessibility, incorporating the right tools is key. Accessibility plugins play a significant role in ensuring that websites are user-friendly for everyone, including those with disabilities. These plugins provide essential features and functionalities that help improve the overall accessibility of your WordPress site.
In this article, we’ll explore the top WordPress accessibility plugins that empower website owners to make their content more accessible to all users. From enhancing navigation for screen readers to optimizing content readability, these plugins offer simple yet powerful solutions to ensure that your website is welcoming and usable for a diverse audience.
Benefits of using Accessibility Plugins
Enhanced User Experience
Using accessibility plugins makes sure that everyone, including those with disabilities, can navigate and use your website, improving the user experience for all visitors.
Compliance with Legal Standards
Websites may keep up with accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) by using accessibility plugins, which lowers the possibility of legal issues arising from non-compliance with the accessibility needs.
Expanded Audience Reach
By adjusting to people who use assistive technologies, you can reach a wider audience by implementing these plugins and reaching a larger user population group.
SEO and Website Performance Improvement
Better search engine rankings and overall website performance are facilitated by accessibility features, which frequently overlap with proper SEO methods.
Demonstration of Social Responsibility
Employing accessibility plugins promotes a positive brand image and reputation by clarifying your dedication to social responsibility and equality for all.
9 Best WordPress Accessibility Plugins
1. One Click Accessibility
Try One Click Accessibility if you are a WordPress website administrator and want simple configuration and control over your accessibility settings. Basic accessibility options such as ARIA landmarks, outline focus, link target attribute clearing, and skip links are provided by the tool.
One-Click Accessibility does more than merely make your WordPress website accessible. It also optimizes your website for search engines. Furthermore, because it is a free WordPress plugin, you can use all these features without cost.
Top Features:
- Easy to use
- Auto sitemap generation
Pricing:
free
2. UserWay
Another widely used WordPress plugin for accessibility control is called UserWay, and it doesn’t need to rework the code of already-existing websites. In addition to this feature for developers, the plugin’s basic widget is available for free.
Lightweight, easily navigable designs with up to 28 features are available in the basic widget. Therefore, while the free option works well for a trial, it might not be enough for a fully functional business website. The accessibility capabilities offered by UserWay also improve website compliance with Section 508, WCAG 2.1, ATAG 2.0, and ADA.
Top Features:
- Custom recommendations
- Scans for accessibility issues
Pricing:
| Small Website | Medium Website | Large Website |
|---|---|---|
| $490/year | $1490/year | custom |
3. AcceissBe
Its AI programming finds and fixes accessibility issues on your website by automatically scanning both the front end and back end. It is capable of fixing icons, ARIA properties, picture alt texts, and forms on its own, for instance.
Additionally, it can assist you in changing the page layout to make it more keyboard-friendly. Additionally, the plugin continuously checks newly added content to make sure that accessibility settings are consistent across old and new content. AccessiBe uses two or more distinct programs to meet the requirements for maximum accessibility standards.
Top Features:
- AI-generated suggestions
- Keyboard-based navigation
Pricing:
| Standard | Advanced | Advanced Plus | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| $49/month | $149/month | $349/month | custom |
4. WP Accessibility Tool & Missing Alt Text Finder
WP Accessibility Tools & Missing Alt Text Finder is among the greatest plugins available through the WordPress plugins platform. This plugin is an open-source project, just like WordPress. As such, you can benefit your website and take advantage of its services without charge.
Additionally, the development team regularly provides updates and keeps a close eye out for bugs in the plugin. For instance, the tool is currently at version 1.4, and it appears that updates are released by the development team approximately every few months. Since the tool is an open-source plugin, you can use it and rely on other fixes to meet accessibility compliance even though it doesn’t have many functions.
Top Features:
- Allows you to add missing features
- Free Contrast Ratio Checker
Pricing:
free
5. Equalize Digital
Another reliable resource for assessing and improving accessibility is Equalise Digital. To comprehend WordPress website troubles, you can obtain its accessibility audit product for free or at a cost. Then, you and a developer can work together to fix those. Alternatively, Equalise Digital offers accessibility design remediation services that can help you bring your website up to par with different accessibility requirements.
Furthermore, because the scanning is done in real-time, you can continue installing plugins, changing themes, and uploading content because the program will continuously monitor any modifications made to the website.
Top Features:
- Accessibility Reporting
- Issue Scanning
Pricing:
| Personal | Professional | Small Business | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $144/year | $600/year | $1800/year |
6. WP Accessibility
With the WP Accessibility plugin, you can unleash the potential of inclusion and accessibility on your WordPress website. This all-inclusive accessibility WordPress plugin can significantly improve the experience of users with impairments by providing several useful features.
Long descriptions for photos are essential for users who are blind or visually impaired. You can enter lengthy explanations that screen readers read aloud in the Description box of WordPress accessibility. Encouraging visually impaired persons to explore with ease.
Top Features:
- Removes Tabindex
- Add languages and text attributes
Pricing:
free
7. WP Accessibility Helper
A WordPress plugin called WP Accessibility Helper can assist in improving the usability of your website for all visitors. Numerous aspects of the plugin handle typical accessibility issues. First of all, it lets you change the font size and contrast on your website. Users with visual impairments who might have trouble reading small or low-contrast writing will benefit from this feature.
Additionally, the plugin assists you in making sure that every element on your website has the proper aria-label tags and titles. For people who use screen readers to browse the internet, these tags are crucial.
Top Features:
- HTML Validation
- Add Language Attributes
Pricing:
| WAH Pro | WAH Pro 2 | WAH Pro 5 | WAH Pro 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $249/year | $490/year | $1200/year | $2400/year |
8. WP ADA Compliance Check Basic
The WP ADA Compliance Check Basic plugin is among the best accessibility plugins for WordPress. It is the most complete accessibility solution for WordPress and thousands of government agencies, small enterprises, and educational websites rely on it.
Your WordPress process will be smoothly integrated with this plugin. In other words, it checks your website for accessibility problems as soon as you post material.
It also comes with 79 error checks that scan any material on a website for issues related to online accessibility. As a result, you’ll be able to recognize a variety of accessibility problems, such as differences in font size, color contrast, alt text for photos, and more.
Top Features:
- Identifies Untagged PDF
- Auto Correct
Pricing:
free
9. Accessibility Widget
By adding a sidebar widget, users of your plugin can alter the font size on your website. simplifying reading for those who are blind or visually impaired. Furthermore, it’s very easy to use.
After installing the plugin, all you need to do to get the widget to work is add it to your sidebar or bottom. Then, to adjust the font size to the desired value, simply click on the widget.
Top Features:
- Customizable Settings
- Added Simple Toggle
Pricing:
free
Conclusion
In conclusion, inclusivity depends on making sure your website is usable by everyone. Making your website more accessible to individuals with disabilities can be done in large part by using WordPress accessibility plugins. You can improve your website’s overall accessibility and give users a better browsing experience by installing these plugins.
Recall that accessibility is a means of making the internet a more inviting place for everyone, not just a feature. To increase your website’s accessibility and attract more visitors, take a look at these top accessibility plugins for WordPress.
FAQ
Can WordPress accessibility plugins guarantee 100% compliance with accessibility standards?
While accessibility plugins significantly aid in enhancing a website’s accessibility, achieving 100% compliance might vary based on factors like website complexity, content updates, and specific user interactions.
These plugins serve as tools to assist in compliance but might require manual adjustments and regular monitoring for full adherence to standards.
Do accessibility plugins for WordPress slow down website performance?
The impact on website performance varies depending on the plugin and its configurations. Some plugins might slightly affect performance due to additional scripts or functionalities.
However, reputable accessibility plugins are optimized to minimize any significant impact on website speed.
How do I choose the right WordPress accessibility plugin for my website?
To select the best plugin, consider your website’s specific accessibility needs, the level of customization required, user reviews, plugin compatibility with your WordPress version, and ongoing support and updates.
Testing different plugins or consulting accessibility experts can help in making an informed decision tailored to your website’s requirements.
