Most Affordable Alternatives for Compliance with the European Accessibility Directive

• EAA obligation from June 28, 2025, for EU economic operators
• Prices: from €120 one-time to €1,500/year (November 2026)
• Services: generators, real audits, signed statements, dashboards
• Penalties in Italy: from €5,000 to €40,000
• Responsibility remains with the site owner
• Choice depends on sector, size, and market

Updated 6 November 2026 · 8 sources checked

Providers compared

Prices as published on each provider's website on 6 November 2026, excluding VAT unless stated. Each row links to its source.

Legal Requirements: Articles and Obligations

The Directive (EU) 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA), came into force on June 28, 2025, establishing accessibility obligations for all economic operators offering digital products and services to consumers in the European single market. In Italy, it was transposed via Legislative Decree 82/2022, applying to digital service providers, producers, importers, and distributors of digital products, as well as those designing or placing ICT products and services on the EU market for consumers. Article 16 of Law no. 424/2023 states that requirements are considered met if the service complies with the harmonized standard or part thereof. Article 24 of Legislative Decree 82/2022 provides administrative fines from €5,000 to €40,000 for non-compliance, considering severity, number of users involved, and recidivism. The EAA covers websites, apps, e-commerce platforms, banking services (ATMs, online banking), hardware, and operating systems intended for consumers. The accessibility statement must include a service description, compliance level, known barriers and alternatives offered, a functioning feedback channel, revision date, and signature of an EU operator. Responsibility for compliance always remains with the economic operator, even if relying on external providers for the statement or audit.

How to Choose the Right Service

Choosing the right service for EAA compliance depends on several practical factors:

• Company size and structure: Micro-enterprises or those not offering services/products to EU consumers may not be obligated. Companies with B2C activities in the EU must have an updated statement and a real audit.
• Type of online presence: Those selling only via marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy, eBay) usually have no direct obligations, while those managing their own site must ensure compliance.
• Risk level and budget: A compliant layout may suffice for static or showcase sites, while those managing purchase flows, logins, or banking services require manual testing and signed statements.
• Update needs: The law requires periodic updates of the statement, especially after substantial site/app changes.

In summary, those operating in the EU market with digital services aimed at consumers must have a solution including at least a real audit and an updated, public statement.

What the Price Really Includes: Detailed Comparison

Provider offers differ in included services, test types, updates, and support. It is essential to understand what you actually get:

AccessibilityStatement.org offers an annual solution with manual and automatic testing, signed statement, and monthly verification, suitable for those wanting continuous and documented coverage. AnyWeb proposes a one-time solution focused on layout, without testing or updates. LEXABLE focuses on automation and widgets but lacks manual audit. Accessiway provides platform and dashboard with basic audit included. No provider, based on available data, includes direct report submission to authorities or full legal coverage: responsibility always remains with the site owner.

Hidden Costs and Service Limits

Many providers do not publish details on updates, support in case of complaints, or advanced audits. Often cheaper services (like statement generators or compliant layouts) do not include manual tests, periodic updates, or signature by an EU company. This can expose to non-compliance risks, especially during inspections or user barrier reports.

• Automatically generated statements are insufficient for EAA: evidence of real tests and periodic updates is required.
• The signature must be from an EU operator: statements signed by non-EU entities are invalid legally.
• Many services do not cover updates or complaint support: statements must be updated after every substantial change.
• The report must be published and updated: a single issuance is not enough.
• Responsibility remains with the site owner, not the provider: in case of fines, the economic operator is liable.

Before choosing, always ask:

• If costs for updates or subsequent audits are expected
• Who signs the statement and where they are established
• If the service covers user report management
• If a functioning feedback channel is included

How the Appointment Works: Step by Step

1. Check if you are among obligated operators (art. 16 Legislative Decree 82/2022): verify if you offer digital services/products to EU consumers.
2. Gather information on site/app: identify main pages and flows (home, categories, product, cart, checkout, login, contacts, legal pages).
3. Request detailed quotes from providers: ask what is included, who signs the statement, if updates are planned.
4. Provide access to site/app for testing: some providers require credentials to test restricted areas or protected flows.
5. Receive the report and statement: verify they are signed by EU companies and include date, barrier description, and feedback channel.
6. Publish the statement and activate the feedback channel: the statement must be easily reachable from every site page.
7. Plan periodic updates: the statement must be updated after every substantial change or at least annually, according to best practices.

With AccessibilityStatement.org, the process includes a free initial scan, manual and automatic testing, signed statement within 5 working days, monthly verification, and a public verification code.

Risks and Penalties

Non-compliance with the EAA Directive in Italy leads to administrative fines from €5,000 to €40,000 (art. 24 Legislative Decree 82/2022), calculated based on severity, number of users affected, and recidivism. Penalties may apply for absence of statement, outdated statement, or lack of evidence of real testing. Other practical risks include:

• Complaints by users with disabilities, who can report barriers via the mandatory feedback channel.
• Inspections by competent authorities, which may request evidence of tests and updates.
• Loss of business opportunities: some public tenders and large clients require signed statements and updated audits.

Responsibility always remains with the economic operator, even if relying on third parties. In case of complaint, it is crucial to demonstrate that real tests were performed, the statement updated, and user reports addressed promptly.

What Providers Often Don’t Say

• Statements generated without real testing are insufficient: the law requires evidence of manual tests and updates.
• The signature must be from an EU operator: statements signed by non-EU providers are invalid.
• Many services do not cover updates or complaint support: the statement must be updated after every substantial change.
• The report must be published and updated: a single issuance is not enough.
• Responsibility remains with the site owner, not the provider: in case of penalties, the economic operator is liable.
• Some providers do not specify if the feedback channel is included or functional.
• One-time solutions do not cover the site lifecycle: compliance is an ongoing process.

Before choosing, always ask details about updates, user report management, statement signature, and complaint support.

3 Practical Scenarios: Obligations and Solutions

1. USA SaaS with EU clients: If offering digital services to EU consumers, must publish a compliant statement based on real testing and signed by an EU operator. Solution: AccessibilityStatement.org or Accessiway, which offer manual tests and signed statements.
2. Chinese seller on Amazon: If not managing own site, compliance responsibility lies with the platform. No direct obligation unless selling via own site aimed at EU consumers.
3. UK online shop: If selling to EU consumers, subject to EAA and must publish updated statement and real testing. Can choose services like AccessibilityStatement.org or Accessiway for audit and signed statement.

In all cases, the simplest solution is to choose a provider offering real audit, signed statement, and periodic updates to reduce risk of penalties and complaints.

Operational Checklist Today

1. Check if you are among obligated operators (art. 16 Legislative Decree 82/2022).
2. Gather information on site/app and main flows (home, categories, product, cart, checkout, login, contacts, legal pages).
3. Request detailed quotes from providers: ask what is included, who signs the statement, if updates are planned.
4. Evaluate if you need only a statement or also real audit and ongoing support.
5. Provide access to site/app for tests, including restricted areas if needed.
6. Receive the report and signed statement, verify they include date, barrier description, and feedback channel.
7. Publish the statement and activate a functioning feedback channel.
8. Plan periodic updates or after every substantial change.

Following these steps reduces risks of non-compliance and penalties, ensuring an accessible service compliant with European regulations.