As a customer, the cost of accessibility is an important factor when choosing an agency to check the website and rectify the issues. I would therefore like to provide an insight into the prices that can be expected from us as an accessibility agency for the optimization of websites in accordance with the WCAG requirements. Because one thing has become clear to us in view of our competitors: the new mandatory requirements represent a nice subsidy program for agencies to make a big splash with companies that have virtually no choice.
What does website accessibility cost?
Before I show you our calculation basis, which will pleasantly surprise you (see below), I would like to give you an overview. I asked ChatGPT and Gemini: What do agencies generally charge for making websites accessible?
Both AIs differentiate between the following project steps that are involved in optimizing websites for accessibility:
- Quick checks/short audits
- Analysis: Comprehensive audits for all subpages
- Implementation and optimization/adaptation of the website
- Content adaptations (also PDF, video with subtitles)
- Tools, monthly maintenance/monitoring
What does the accessibility audit cost at other agencies?
According to the AI tools ChatGPT and Gemini, the costs are already relatively high for short audits and comprehensive analyses:
ChatGPT - Pure analysis (without implementation)
- Small agencies or freelancers:
approx. 400-800 € for an analysis report (without measures) - Larger agencies, specialized accessibility providers:
1,000-2,000 € just for an inventory, often 50+ pages of analysis report, sometimes unnecessarily bloated
Gemini quick checks / pre-audits:
For an initial assessment and a catalog of measures, audit costs can start at around €750 to €2,500 . These often include a review of the start page and key 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 stores).
Our opinion: These figures are actually in line with the prices quoted by some agencies, which charge four figures for auditing alone. 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 stores etc. The screenshots were created on 21.06.2025. The test or audit costs from 2,500 euros for both.
Fun fact 1 of 2: Both agencies are relatively large and are located in the same city in Bavaria. There are coincidences when it comes to pricing ...
I use the same services as the two agencies in the screenshot, because for the audit it is actually more or less the same:
✔️ We specifically check the website for WCAG compliance.
✔️ We export an audit with clear and actionable recommendations that really improve accessibility and user-friendliness.
✔️ We provide specific advice on which measures are sensible and important. Prioritized, understandable, feasible.
✔️ Customers receive a customized catalog of measures from us that is tailored to their technology, CMS and website.
What exactly do we do? We enter the customer's domain into the commercial, professional tool from accessilitychecker.org and have all subpages crawled in a full scan and output according to the problems and issues according to WCAG. We carry out a further test with AccessScan because it also contains some additional points and, in our experience, is stricter. The images are also checked to see whether they contain text elements. In a final check via Seobility, we also check whether PDF files, video files and also the alt texts are present for all images etc., because problems usually lurk there too, because PDF files are not tagged, videos do not contain subtitles or no output for the alt texts has been programmed for images on the websites (we've seen it all before!). But basically, a friendly hint when delivering the report that there is still a need for action at this point is enough. Our effort for the initial analysis (incl. communication): 20 to 30 minutes.
What do we charge as an agency for the accessibility audit or initial analysis?
0 euros. Because these are mainly automated, data-driven tests that check the WCAG requirements. I don't know what mumbo-jumbo the other agencies are up to, but we need very little time for this analysis. Customers then also receive a cost framework for the adaptation of the website with the audit, which can vary depending on the CMS/shop software, the scope of the page types and the nature of the issues.
How much does it cost for agencies to implement accessibility on websites?
Again, let's see what the AI tools say in advance.
Gemini says: The actual adaptation of the website according to the audit results is the biggest cost factor. The range here is very broad and depends on how many changes need to be made. Quotes can range from €4,900 (for minor adjustments) to over €14,500 (for extensive projects or the conversion of existing stores).
Complexity of the website is also crucial according to Gemini:
- Number of pages: The more pages a website has, the more complex it is to check and customize.
- Dynamic content: Websites with many dynamic elements, forms, interactive functions or complex processes require more testing and customization.
- Existing website vs. new development: Making an existing website accessible at a later date can be more time-consuming than integrating accessibility directly into a new development.
ChatGPT takes a more relaxed view. The costs start at 500 euros, but remain in the four-digit range for most website types ... even if additional features such as a plugin are used or easy language is placed as a subpage. Here is the screenshot of ChatGPT:
It is also interesting to note that agencies pay well for monitoring . In fact, it makes sense to a certain extent. One of our clients with a very actively maintained blog also received training from us on how to adapt content in future and what to look out for. It is doubtful whether 300 euros per month for monitoring is justified. The domain is simply stored in the tool and the automated scan takes place weekly with e-mail notification if anything is noticed.
What do we charge as an accessibility agency for our optimizations?
The costs actually depend on the size of the site, the number of issues, the technical status (including the type of CMS) and the current status. The size of the pages is not about the number of pages per se, but about the number of page types and implemented sections, because the optimizations are then usually "inherited" to each page type and each section. Our TutKit.com project, for example, has over 390,000 subpages, but "only" a few dozen page types in comparison.
Based on our previous projects, the following time periods are a realistic basis for calculation (at our current hourly rate of 120 euros net):
- One-pager: 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 stores and larger platforms: 10 to 24 hours → 1,200 to 2,400 euros net
The time figures also include the creation of customized content for plain language and for the accessibility statement . With a few exceptions, we have only worked on 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 on-page factors could increase the time required (such as the example above with the missing output of the existing alt texts for images). Even if PDFs have to be recreated or videos have to be subtitled, the prices mentioned above cannot be maintained. But the costs mentioned above are actually the values that we have charged our customers for the technical adaptations for accessibility to date.
Pros and cons: The accessibility plugin/widget for quick results
Many agencies or service providers offer pure analysis packages which, as we can see, often cost four figures. Unfortunately, this alone is of little help, because in the end someone has to actually remove the barriers.
Plugins alone (accessibility widgets) are a good addition, but not a complete solution. They are no substitute for a legally compliant result.
The law (BFSG) requires real accessibility of the page structure and content, not just superimposed functions.
We also use plugins if there is no other way to adapt the color contrasts, because otherwise the fixed colors of the corporate design would have to be changed. Here is an example of one of our projects, where an icon for accessibility is placed at the top. With a click, a toolbox slides into the image with additional features such as contrast enhancement, text enlargement or link underlining.
A plugin solution will not be enough to solve the other problems. If you are relying on this, make sure you do a test with AccessibilityChecker or AccessScan. You will see that the problems are not gone. The legal risks remain. In addition, you have a plugin that has to be loaded and therefore also has a negative effect on your PageSpeed.
We start with our accessibility approach:
- Genuine technical and content optimization
- Comprehensible documentation
- Comprehensible implementation
- Measurable result, verifiable e.g. in AccessibilityChecker or AccessScan
- Certificate from AccessibilityChecker only for 100% compliance fulfillment
This is how you get
- greater legal certainty
- better usability
- positive user signals (also SEO-relevant)
- real added value for your visitors
Fun fact 2 of 2: Agencies are not compliant themselves
Speaking of AccessScan ... out of curiosity, I had the two large Bavarian agencies that charge at least €2,500 for their audits tested by AccessScan. Result: Both websites currently fail even AccessScan. Perhaps they should first optimize in-house ... or at least tell their customers honestly 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 shouldn't be an excuse to quickly turn an obligation into a highly subsidized agency business.
With us, you get
- free audit & clear assessment
- Fair implementation times (and no artificially inflated reports)
- real accessibility on the site, comprehensibly tested and certified by a professional test tool
- and above all: no legal risk due to "alibi" solutions in plugin form
Our honest assessment:
Making websites accessible can be done with a manageable amount of effort ... and it can be done properly. And: If you continue to manage your content properly from then on, you don't need overpriced permanent monitoring for €300/month.
My recommendation: Clean it up right away. Let us scan your site free of charge. Then we'll decide together which measures make sense for you.
Simple. Fair. Compliant. See also our landing page on accessibility for websites.
Test your website yourself now at AccessibilityChecker.org or AccessScan.
And if you know what needs to be done afterwards, get in touch with us. We will provide you with a full scan, a clear estimate of the work involved and, if you wish, implementation at an honest price. Without hocus-pocus. With results.
Get in touch with us today or write to us directly by email: info@4eck-media.de