Last reviewed: October 16, 2026
We compete with accessiBe
The short answer
The main accessiBe alternatives fix the store itself instead of adding a toolbar: code-fix apps that change your theme, a manual audit by a specialist, or free scanners plus your own fixes. People look for them after the FTC's April 2025 order against accessiBe, and because widgets do not stop lawsuits on their own.
Why people look for accessiBe alternatives
Store owners give a few reasons, all of them public:
- The FTC order. In 2025 the Federal Trade Commission ordered accessiBe to pay $1 million over claims about what its product could do (details below).
- Widgets do not stop lawsuits. EcomBack found 983 of the 3,948 ADA website lawsuits in 2025 (24.9%) were against sites that already had an accessibility widget.
- What reviewers say. On October 16, 2026, accessiBe's Shopify App Store listing had a 3.5 star rating from 17 reviews. Low-star reviews mention a second lawsuit after installing, a refund dispute (September 2026) and slower pages (July 2026).
- Price. Its Shopify plans were listed at $59, $179 and $479 a month on that date.
An overlay adds a toolbar and scripts on top of your store. It does not change your theme or your product data, so most barriers stay where they were. Our page on why we do not use a widget explains this in more detail.
What the FTC order says
On January 3, 2025 the FTC announced a proposed complaint and order against accessiBe. The Commission approved the final order on April 22, 2025 (Docket C-4817). The order:
- requires accessiBe to pay $1,000,000
- bars it from claiming its automated products can make any website WCAG compliant, or keep it compliant over time, without competent and reliable evidence
- bars it from presenting paid reviews or articles as independent opinions
- lasts 20 years
The FTC alleged that accessiBe said its accessWidget could make any website WCAG compliant when it could not, and that it formatted third-party articles and reviews to look independent. On October 16, 2026 its Shopify listing described the app as supporting WCAG “alignment”, while the listing title still used the word “Compliance”.
Where accessiBe may fit
To be fair, there are cases where accessiBe can make sense:
- You want a shopper-facing toolbar with display options such as text size and contrast, and you are fixing the store itself in parallel.
- You want one vendor for several things. Its higher Shopify plans list a dedicated case manager (Growth), and manual testing and fixes (Scale).
- You value an established company. accessiBe's Shopify app has the Built for Shopify badge, which only 16 of the 172 accessibility-related apps we found had.
Its Growth and Scale plans also list “litigation support” with a $15,000 or $20,000 “pledge”. Read the terms carefully. A pledge is not the same as fixing the barriers a lawsuit is about.
accessiBe alternatives compared
App ratings and review counts are from the Shopify App Store on October 16, 2026. Some newer apps describe themselves as code-fix tools but also include a widget, so read the listing. For the full picture of app types, see our guide to Shopify accessibility apps.
What to look for in any alternative
- It changes your store, not only a layer on top of it.
- It says which checks it cannot do, such as screen reader and keyboard tests, and helps you do them.
- You review changes before they go live, and you can undo them.
- It never promises compliance or protection from lawsuits.
- It keeps a dated record of what was found and fixed.
Automated checks find only part of the problems: about 57% of issues by volume in Deque's 2021 study of its own audits. Any honest tool will say so.
Switching from a widget on Shopify
Fix or plan fixes before you remove anything
Run a scan and a keyboard test first, so you know what is broken in the store itself. Removing a widget does not add or remove any real fix.Turn off the app embed
Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize > App embeds and switch the widget off. Check your store on a phone and a computer.Uninstall the app and check billing
Uninstall it from Settings > Apps and sales channels. If you paid the vendor directly rather than through Shopify, cancel with the vendor too.Look for leftover code
Some widgets were added by pasting a script into theme.liquid. On a duplicate theme, open Edit code > layout/theme.liquid and search for the vendor's name.Update your accessibility statement
Remove any mention of the widget, and say what you are fixing and how customers can reach you.
Questions store owners ask
What is accessiBe?
accessiBe is a company that sells accessWidget, an accessibility overlay. An overlay adds a toolbar and scripts on top of a website. Its Shopify app was listed on the Shopify App Store on October 16, 2026, with plans from $59 to $479 a month.
Did the FTC fine accessiBe?
Yes. On April 22, 2025 the Federal Trade Commission approved a final order requiring accessiBe to pay $1 million. For 20 years it may not claim its automated products can make a website WCAG compliant without competent and reliable evidence.
What is the best accessiBe alternative for Shopify?
It depends on your budget and how much you can do yourself. Code-fix apps change your theme. A manual audit finds what tools miss. Free scanners and your own fixes cost only time. Pick one that changes the store and says plainly which checks need a person.
Is there a free alternative to accessiBe?
Yes. Free browser tools such as WAVE from WebAIM and the axe DevTools extension find many problems, and you can fix alt text and colours yourself in the Shopify admin. Some Shopify apps also have free scan plans.
Are accessibility overlays illegal?
No. The FTC order is about advertising claims, not about the product itself. The legal risk for a store is relying on a widget instead of fixing real barriers: EcomBack found 24.9% of 2025 ADA website suits were against sites that already had a widget.
Will removing a widget get me sued?
Removing a widget does not change your store's code, so it does not add or remove barriers. What matters is whether shoppers can use the store. Fix the real problems, keep a dated record, and speak with a lawyer if you have received a letter.
This page compares products using public listings and FTC records as of October 16, 2026. It is not legal advice. For advice about your business, speak with a lawyer.