Not every website needs a complete redesign to become accessible. Some quick adjustments can make your website more user-friendly for everyone immediately.
<nav>, <main>, <footer>Accessibility widgets promise quick help: a small snippet of code, an icon on the edge of the screen — and the website should be more barrier-free. Sounds good? It is indeed. But every tool has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Here is a clear overview of three of the most popular solutions:
UserWay is one of the most well-known providers worldwide. No Wonder: The widget delivers over 100 functions, with which you can certainly raise the bar for your websites accessibility.
Plus, the integration is super easy: Install script, activate, done. For many CMS — such as WordPress — there are ready-made plugins, which makes the setup almost “plug & play”.
UserWay is strongly aligned with international standards such as WCAG, ADA, and Section 508. This makes the widget well suited for websites that have visitors from different countries — especially if the US is part of your target market.
UserWay's great strength is also its weakness: The enormous range of functions. More than 100 options sound great, but many people quickly feel lost in such a cluttered interface. Therefore often, only 3 to 5 functions are used in the end — the rest remain somewhat unclear “nice to have” features.
In addition, UserWay is very US-centric in terms of language, law, and orientation. For Europe, there is sometimes a lack of clear statements on practical implementation—especially with regard to EN 301 549 or national laws such as the BFSG.
As with most widgets, it is an overlay. That means: This means that it can make usage easier, but it cannot resolve structural barriers in the code — and that's exactly where many accessibility problems arise.
And when it comes to data protection, it's also important to take a close look. UserWay is not a European service. If sensitive data is involved, you should check where the data is being transferred to.
AccessiWay is heavily based on artificial intelligence. The tool automatically audits your website, detects barriers and tries to correct them — for example with automatic alt texts for images or improvements to the structure.
It is particularly exciting that AccessiWay not only provides the widget, but also an analysis software in the background. This combination of widget + automatic correction makes AccessiWay a technically advanced tool.
The Widget itself provides a wide range of helpful functions: Enlarging text, changing contrast, stopping animations, highlighting links, line focus, and more. For people who need individual settings, this is a real help.
It is also easy to use: The platform offers lots of information, explanations and a clear overview of what the tool can do — and what not. That is not always the case in this market.
AccessiWay also has the Europe bonus: The company comes from Europe (with locations in Italy, Germany, France) and is therefore very familiar with the requirements of many European markets. At the same time, the tool is used worldwide and supports multiple languages. This makes AccessiWay a solution that understands European standards, but can operate internationally. An advantage that many US-focused providers do not have.
AccessiWay itself made the statement, that the widget alone doesn't guarantee full accessibility. It improves your site, but it doesn't replace thorough work on code or content. Many features are overlay-based, which means that the tool puts a layer on top of your website without fixing any real problems.
As with UserWay, the bisg range of functions of AccessiWay can also be quite complex. Small website owners sometimes feel overwhelmed by this or end up paying for features they don't even use.
Another point: AI always involves data processing. AccessiWay explains how their data is handled, but especially in sensitive areas (health, finance, public authorities), it is important to take a really close look.
AccessGo has a completely different mindset than many international widgets. For them it's not about packing as many functions as possible into a colorful multi-tool, but about: “How do I meet the legal requirements as simply, comprehensibly and reliably as possible? ” And that is exactly what makes AccessGo extremely powerful.
The widget was developed primarily for the German and European markets. This means it is suitable for all websites that must comply with WCAG, EN 301 549, and European accessibility laws. This naturally also includes the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), which came into effect in 2025.
This is where AccessGO really shines: it translates complicated legal requirements into simple, clear language and ensures that you quickly understand what you need to do. This takes a lot of pressure off — especially as the topic often seems complicated.
What's more, AccessGO is developed and hosted in Germany. That means no detours via US servers, no legal uncertainties, and no complicated additional contracts. For many people, that's a real selling point.
In short, AccessGO gives you a streamlined, easy-to-understand, and highly effective system if you're based in Europe.
AccessGO is very clearly focused on “fulfilling obligations” and “avoiding risks.” This is good for legal certainty, but less emotional. If you want to communicate accessibility as a “passion project” you may need additional features.
Like all widgets, AccessGO is no magic button that suddenly turns a poor website into a perfect, accessible site. It provides significant assistance with technical issues, performs regular checks, and offers sound explanations — but some barriers still need to be addressed directly in the design or code.
In addition, the tool is aimed more at traditional or smaller websites. Highly complex apps or special solutions require additional accessibility concepts of their own.
All tools make your site more accessible, but none of them replace the basics of true accessibility.
For sustainable, legally compliant accessibility, you need:
A widget is a Booster, not a substitute.
Many browsers come with built-in accessibility features by default. For these to work optimally, your website needs:
<meta> tagsrole="main” or Aria labelThese measures improve screen reader compatibility without additional tools.
Before you start optimizing, you should know where you stand. There are a variety of tools for this — some free, some extremely comprehensive. An audit clearly shows you the barriers on your website and how you should prioritize removing them.
SEMrush provides a dedicated accessibility app, which was developed specifically for accessibility checks.
What it can do:
Many providers — e.g. AccessiWay — offer additional free scanners or quick checks.
That means:
These scans are often sufficient for an initial review, but should be supplemented by a ful hands-on audit — especially if you need to comply wth legal requirements.
Accessibility is not a "nice to have" but a must-have – and it also brings you better usability, better SEO and more satisfied users. With targeted immediate measures, a suitable accessibility widget and a thorough audit, you can quickly make your website fit for the future.
