Costs for accessibility on websites (audit & implementation)

As a customer, the costs for accessibility are an important factor in choosing an agency to review the website and resolve the identified issues. Therefore, I would like to provide insight into the prices we can expect for optimizing websites according to WCAG requirements at Agentur für Barrierefreiheit. For one thing became clear to us in light of our competitors: the new mandatory requirements present a nice subsidy program for agencies, allowing them to make a substantial profit from companies that have virtually no choice.

What does accessibility for websites cost?

Before I present our calculation basis, which will pleasantly surprise you (see below), I would like to provide an overview. For this, I asked ChatGPT and also Gemini: What do agencies charge for making websites accessible in general?

Both AIs initially differentiate according to the following project steps that arise in the optimization of websites for accessibility:

• Quick checks/Short audits
• Analysis: Comprehensive audits for all subpages
• Implementation and optimization/adaptation of the website
• Content adjustments (also PDF, video with subtitles)
• Tools, monthly maintenance/monitoring

What does the accessibility audit cost at other agencies?

Already in the short audits and also in comprehensive analyses, the costs are already relatively high according to the assessment of the AI tools ChatGPT and Gemini:

ChatGPT – Pure Analysis (without implementation)

• small agencies or freelancers:
  approximately 400–800 € for an analysis report (without measures)
• larger agencies, specialized accessibility providers:
  €1,000–2,000 just for an inventory, often a 50+ page analysis report, sometimes unnecessarily inflated

Gemini – Quickchecks / Preliminary Audits:

For an initial assessment and a list of measures, the audit costs can start at around €750 to €2,500. These often include an examination of the homepage and important elements.

Gemini – Comprehensive Audits / WCAG Tests:
A detailed test that analyzes every page type and all relevant WCAG criteria is significantly more expensive. Here, you can expect to pay between €2,500 and €10,000 for simpler websites and up to €30,000 or more for complex projects (e.g., online shops).

Our opinion: These figures do indeed match the price quotes from some agencies that charge four-digit amounts solely for the auditing. Here are two examples of agencies that appear in Google ads for the search term Accessibility Agency. These are classic web agencies for websites, online shops, etc. The screenshots were taken on June 21, 2025. The test or audit costs at least 2,500 euros for both.

Fun Fact 1 of 2: Both agencies are relatively large on one hand and are located in the same city in Bavaria on the other hand. There are coincidences in pricing …

I take the same services as the two agencies in the screenshot, because for the audit it is actually more or less identical.

✔️ We specifically assess the website for WCAG compliance.
✔️ We export an audit with clear and actionable recommendations that truly enhance accessibility and user-friendliness.
✔️ We provide concrete advice on which measures are sensible and important. Prioritized, understandable, feasible.
✔️ Clients receive a tailored action plan that fits their technology, CMS, and website.

What exactly do we do about it? We enter the client’s domain into the commercial, professional tool at accessibilitychecker.org and let it crawl all subpages in a full scan, outputting problems and issues according to the WCAG. We conduct another test with AccessScan because it also includes some additional points and, based on our experiences, is stricter. Furthermore, we review the images to see if they contain text elements. In a final check through Seobility, we verify whether PDF files, video files, and alt texts for all images are present, as there are usually problems there, such as PDF files not being tagged, videos lacking subtitles, or no output for alt texts programmed for images on the website (we’ve seen it all!). But generally, a friendly note when delivering the report that action is still needed at this point is sufficient. Our effort for the initial analysis (including communication): 20 to 30 minutes.

What costs do we charge as an agency for the accessibility audit or the initial analysis?

0 Euro. Because it is primarily automated, data-driven tests that check the requirements of the WCAG. I don’t know what kind of hocus pocus the other agencies are doing, but we need very little time for this evaluation. Clients will also receive a cost framework for the adjustment of the website with the audit, which may vary depending on the CMS/shop software, the range of page types, and the type of issues.

What does the implementation of accessibility on websites by agencies cost?

Again, here is what the AI tools say in advance.

Gemini says: The actual adjustment of the website according to the audit results is the biggest cost factor. The range is very broad and depends on how many changes need to be made. Offers can range from €4,900 (for minor adjustments) to over €14,500 (for extensive projects or the conversion of existing shops).

The complexity of the website is also crucial according to Gemini:

• Number of pages: The more pages a website has, the more complicated the review and adjustment is.
• Dynamic content: Websites with many dynamic elements, forms, interactive features, or complex processes require a higher level of review and adjustment effort.
• Existing Website vs. New Development: Making an existing website accessible retrospectively can be more complex than integrating accessibility directly into a new development.

ChatGPT views it a bit more relaxed. The costs start at 500 euros but remain in the four-digit range for most types of websites… even if additional features like a plugin are used or simple language is added as a subpage. Here is the screenshot from ChatGPT:

It is also interesting to note that agencies charge well for monitoring. In a way, this makes sense. A client of ours with a very actively maintained blog also received training from us on how the content needs to be adjusted in the future and what to pay attention to. Whether 300 euros per month for monitoring is justified can be doubted. The domain is simply entered into the tool, and a weekly automated scan occurs with an email notification if something stands out.

What do we calculate as an accessibility agency during our optimizations?

The costs really depend on the scope of the site, the number of issues, the technical condition (including the type of CMS), and the current status. When it comes to the scope of the pages, it is not about the number of pages themselves, but about the number of page types and implemented sections, because the optimizations are usually “inherited” to every page type and section. Our project TutKit.com, for example, has over 390,000 subpages, but in comparison, “only” a few dozen page types.

Based on our previous projects, the following time periods are a realistic calculation basis (at our current hourly rate of 120 Euros net):

• Onepager: 3 to 7 hours → 360 to 840 euros net
• Corporate website with a variety of different page types and sections: 6 to 15 hours → 720 to 1,800 euros net
• Online shops and larger platforms: 10 to 24 hours → 1,200 to 2,400 euros net

The time estimates also include the creation of customized content for Easy Language and for the Accessibility Statement. With a few exceptions, these have so far only been customer projects that we developed ourselves at the time and that already had a high technical standard overall. Technical Debt or a website with already unfavorable OnPage factors could slightly increase the time required (such as the example above with the missing output of existing alt texts for images). Even if PDFs need to be newly created or videos need to be provided with subtitles, the prices mentioned above cannot be maintained. However, the costs mentioned above are indeed the values that we have charged for previous technical adjustments for accessibility for our clients.

Pros and Cons: The Plugin/Widget for Accessibility for Quick Results

Many agencies or service providers offer pure analysis packages that, as we see, are often supposed to cost four figures. Unfortunately, that alone helps you little, because in the end, someone actually has to address the barriers.

Plugins alone (Accessibility Widgets) are a good addition, but not a complete solution. They do not replace a legally secure result.
The law (BFSG) requires genuine accessibility of the page structure and content, not just overlay functions.

We also use plugins when it is necessary for adjusting color contrasts, as otherwise the fixed colors of the corporate design would have to be changed. Here is an example from one of our projects, where an accessibility icon is placed at the top. When clicked, a toolbox slides into view with additional features such as contrast enhancement, text enlargement, or underlining links.

For addressing the other issues, a plugin solution will not be sufficient. If you rely on that, make sure to validate with a test using AccessibilityChecker or AccessScan. You will see that the problems are not resolved. The legal risks remain. Additionally, you have a plugin that needs to be loaded, which consequently also has its negative impact on your PageSpeed.

We focus on our accessibility approach:

• Real technical and content optimization
• Understandable documentation
• Traceable implementation
• Measurable result, verifiable for example in the AccessibilityChecker or AccessScan.
• Certificate from AccessibilityChecker only with 100% compliance fulfillment

This is how you get:

• higher legal certainty
• better usability
• positive user signals (also SEO-relevant)
• a real added value for your visitors

Fun Fact 2 of 2: Agencies are not compliant themselves.

Regarding AccessScan… out of curiosity, I ran the two major Bavarian agencies that charge at least €2,500 for their audits through AccessScan. Result: Both websites currently fail even with AccessScan. Perhaps they should first optimize within their own house… or at least be honest with the clients about where the prices come from.

Conclusion: What does it really cost — and what do you get from us?

Accessibility is not rocket science. And it should not be an excuse to quickly turn an obligation into a highly subsidized agency business.

With us, you get:

• free audit & clear assessment
• implementing timelines (and no artificially inflated reports)
• genuine accessibility on the site, verifiably tested and certified by a professional testing tool
• and above all: no legal risk due to “alibi” solutions in plugin form

Our honest assessment:

Websites barrierefrei machen can be managed with a manageable effort… and done correctly. And: If someone continues to maintain the content sensibly from then on, there’s no need for overpriced ongoing monitoring for €300/month.

My recommendation: Clean it up right away. Have the page scanned by us for free. Then we will decide together which measures make sense for you.

Simple. Fair. Compliant. Also see our landing page for Barrierefreiheit für Websites.

Test your website yourself at AccessibilityChecker.org or AccessScan.

And when you know what is pending, get in touch with us. You will receive the full scan, a clear cost estimate, and, if desired, the implementation at an honest price from us. No hocus pocus. With results.

Get in touch with us today at Kontakt or write directly via email: info@4eck-media.de