Honest comparison
reala11y vs AudioEye
AudioEye is a hosted accessibility platform that combines an automated JavaScript layer with managed services and expert human audits. reala11y is a WordPress plugin that writes code-level fixes into your site — no widget, no subscription to a hosted layer. Here is an honest, fair comparison of where each one fits.
| Feature | reala11y Free (Pro from $10/mo for agencies) | AudioEye From ~$49/mo (approx.); managed plans higher |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress code-level plugin AudioEye is a hosted SaaS, not a WP plugin | ✓ | — |
| Automated layer modifies source HTML AudioEye automated remediation is client-side JS | ✓ | — |
| Includes human / managed remediation AudioEye offers paid expert audits — a real strength | — | ✓ |
| Floating accessibility widget | — | ✓ |
| Self-serve WCAG 2.2 scanner | ✓ | Yes |
| Code-level auto-fixes you control | 10 | Managed |
| BYOK AI — you own the key We never resell AI quota | ✓ | — |
| Open source / GPL | ✓ | — |
| Entry price reala11y Pro starts at $10/mo, for agency multisite networks | Free | From ~$49/mo (approx.); managed higher |
Sources: AudioEye public product, services, and pricing pages. AudioEye offers both automated and managed/human services; tiers and pricing change — verify on the vendor's site. Checked May 2026.
Give credit where it's due: the managed side
Unlike pure overlay vendors, AudioEye sells human expertise — expert audits and managed remediation — alongside its automated tooling. For a large organization or a high-risk property with budget for a managed program, that human involvement is valuable and worth considering. We will not pretend otherwise.
The architecture difference still matters
AudioEye's automated remediation runs as a JavaScript layer in the browser. As with any client-side layer, screen readers, crawlers, and audit tools generally evaluate the original HTML your server sent. reala11y instead writes skip links, focus outlines, landmark roles, target-size padding, and noopener attributes into the rendered page itself — visible to every visitor and every tool, with one-click rollback.
Two different products
AudioEye is a hosted SaaS billed per domain, with managed tiers that scale into the hundreds of dollars per month. reala11y is a WordPress plugin that is free on WordPress.org — the full scanner, auto-fix engine, and bring-your-own-key AI included. The one paid product, reala11y Pro (from $10/month), adds cross-site management for agencies running a WordPress multisite network. If you want a managed program with humans in the loop, AudioEye is built for that. If you want code-level fixes you own and control on your WordPress site, that is reala11y.
What neither tool can do
No automated layer makes a site "WCAG compliant." By criteria, automation detects roughly 30–40% of WCAG failures; the rest needs human review. reala11y is honest about this — we never claim full conformance, and we help you prepare documentation rather than promise a guarantee.
FAQ
Is AudioEye just an overlay?
Not entirely. AudioEye is a hybrid: it ships an automated JavaScript layer (overlay-style) and also sells managed services and expert human audits in higher tiers. The managed/human side is a genuine strength for organizations that want done-for-you remediation. The automated layer, however, is still applied client-side and does not change your source HTML.
When does AudioEye make more sense than reala11y?
If you want a managed service with human auditors handling remediation across a large or high-risk property and you have the budget for it, AudioEye is built for that. reala11y is a self-serve WordPress plugin: it writes code-level fixes you control, free on WordPress.org, with bring-your-own-key AI. Different tools for different needs.
Can reala11y replace a human accessibility audit?
No — and neither can any automated layer. Automated tooling detects roughly 30–40% of WCAG failures by criteria. reala11y fixes common code-level issues and prepares documentation; a qualified human review is still needed for full conformance. We are honest that automation is a complement, not a replacement.
Can I run reala11y alongside AudioEye?
You can, but the automated layers operate differently and may conflict. If your goal is fixes written into your WordPress HTML that you own and control, reala11y does that on its own without a widget.