Accessibility service providers charge anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a small consultation to $30,000 or more for enterprise-level audits and remediation programs. Pricing depends on the asset being evaluated, the standard applied (WCAG 2.1 AA or WCAG 2.2 AA), the deliverable expected (audit report, ACR, remediation guidance), and the experience level of the provider. Independent consultants typically charge less than agencies, and freelancers often price by the hour while established firms quote fixed project fees. Costs scale with the number of pages, screens, or user flows in scope.
| Service | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Website accessibility audit | $1,500 to $15,000 depending on page count and complexity |
| Web app or SaaS audit | $3,000 to $25,000 based on user flows and unique screens |
| Mobile app audit | $2,500 to $15,000 per platform (iOS or Android) |
| VPAT / ACR preparation | $1,500 to $10,000 when paired with an audit |
| Remediation guidance or fixes | $100 to $250 per hour, or fixed project fees |
| User evaluation with people with disabilities | $1,500 to $5,000 per session series |
| Training and workshops | $1,000 to $7,500 per session or course |
| Hourly consulting | $100 to $300 per hour |
What drives the price of accessibility services?
The biggest cost driver is scope. An audit covering 10 unique page templates costs far less than one covering 50 unique screens across a SaaS product with authenticated flows.
Complexity matters next. Static marketing sites are quicker to evaluate than interactive web apps, dashboards, or ecommerce checkouts with dynamic content. Mobile apps add another layer because each platform (iOS, Android) is evaluated separately.
The standard being applied also shifts pricing. WCAG 2.2 AA covers more success criteria than 2.1 AA, and some providers charge slightly more to evaluate against the newer version. Section 508 and EN 301 549 work add scope when government or European procurement is involved.
Audit pricing across provider types
Independent consultants and small firms typically price small business websites between $1,500 and $5,000. Mid-sized agencies handling ecommerce or SaaS audits often quote $5,000 to $15,000. Enterprise accessibility companies regularly quote $15,000 to $50,000 or more for the same scope of work.
The price difference does not always reflect a quality difference. Thorough, fully manual audits can be delivered at a fraction of enterprise quotes. A skilled auditor identifies the same WCAG issues regardless of the size of the company behind them.
What you are paying for at the higher end is often overhead, sales staff, account management, and brand premium, not deeper technical work.
How much do VPATs and ACRs cost?
A VPAT is the template. The completed document is the ACR. Pricing depends on whether the provider conducts an audit first or fills in the template based on information you supply.
Standalone ACR preparation, paired with an audit, typically runs $1,500 to $10,000. Some providers bundle the audit and ACR together. Others charge separately. For SaaS companies entering procurement, the WCAG edition is usually the right starting point.
An ACR without a real audit behind it is a red flag. Procurement teams reading these documents look for evidence of evaluation, not just filled-in cells.
What do remediation services cost?
Remediation pricing varies widely because the work itself varies. Some providers offer fixed-fee remediation packages tied to specific issue counts. Others bill hourly at $100 to $250 depending on seniority and specialization.
When a development team applies fixes internally using audit guidance, the cost is mostly internal engineering hours. When the provider does the coding, expect higher fees but faster turnaround. Validation, where the auditor confirms fixes resolved the original issues, is sometimes included and sometimes priced separately.
Hourly rates and consulting fees
Hourly rates for accessibility consultants range from $100 to $300 per hour. Entry-level practitioners and freelancers tend to sit at the lower end. Senior consultants with certifications like CPACC, WAS, or DHS Trusted Tester often charge $200 or more per hour.
Project-based pricing is more common for defined deliverables (audits, ACRs, training). Hourly billing is more common for ongoing advisory work, code reviews, and ad-hoc support.
How do you know if a quote is fair?
Compare quotes across at least three providers. Ask each one how the audit is conducted, who performs it, whether it is fully manual, and what the deliverable looks like. A provider quoting $25,000 for the same scope another quotes at $5,000 should be able to explain the difference clearly.
Be cautious of any provider claiming AI alone can conduct a conformance audit. Automated scans flag approximately 25% of issues. The rest requires human evaluation. Any price that depends on skipping that step is mispriced for what conformance actually requires.
Are accessibility services worth the cost?
For most organizations, yes. The cost of an audit and remediation is consistently lower than the cost of defending an ADA lawsuit, losing a procurement deal over a missing ACR, or retrofitting accessibility after launch. Catching issues early costs less than fixing them at scale.
Do accessibility service providers offer payment plans?
Some do, particularly for larger remediation programs or ongoing monitoring contracts. Smaller audit and ACR projects are usually billed in one or two installments. Ask during the quote stage if budgeting matters.
Why are some accessibility audits 10x more expensive than others?
Mostly overhead and sales structure, not deeper expertise. Large agencies carry larger teams and pricing reflects that. A skilled auditor at a smaller firm or working independently can deliver the same audit quality at a significantly lower price.
What is the most affordable way to get an accessibility audit?
Working directly with an independent auditor or a smaller specialized firm is typically the most cost-effective path. Make sure the audit is fully manual, covers the WCAG version that matches your needs, and produces an actionable report.
Pricing is one input. Quality of the deliverable, accuracy of the findings, and the auditor’s track record matter more in the long run.
Contact us through the Accessibility Base directory to find vetted accessibility service providers matched to your project.