A WAVE Alternative with Plain-English Fixes & Client Reports
WAVE, by WebAIM, is a brilliant free way to see accessibility issues on a page. Loupe takes a different path: a one-click overlay that explains every issue in plain English, maps it to WCAG, and exports white-label reports for clients. Free, in Chrome & Edge.
Plain-English fixes · WCAG mapping · runs locally
WAVE, made by WebAIM, is one of the most loved accessibility tools on the web — and deservedly so. It layers little icons over your page to flag errors, alerts, contrast problems and structure, all for free, and it's quietly taught a lot of people accessibility over the years. So if you're hunting for a WAVE alternative, let's be honest up front: WAVE is genuinely good, and plenty of pros keep it in their kit. Where Loupe differs is the engine underneath, how the issues are explained, and what you can do with the results once you have them.
Different engines, so let's be honest about detection
WAVE runs WebAIM's own evaluation engine. Loupe runs axe-core, Deque's open-source rules engine. Because they're built differently, they'll never surface an identical list — each one phrases, groups, or weights some things the other doesn't. That isn't a knock on either tool; it's exactly why some people run both. What sets Loupe apart isn't a claim of finding "more" issues. It's the workflow around them: every finding in plain English with a fix, mapped to its WCAG criterion, and a report you can hand a client.
Put simply: WAVE's icon overlay is wonderful for seeing and learning. Loupe leans toward here's the issue, here's the fix, here's the report.
Where Loupe is different
A workflow aimed at fixing and communicating, not just surfacing:
- Plain English, not icons to decodeLoupe lists each issue with the element highlighted and the fix in normal language — instead of icons you hover over and interpret one at a time.
- Forward it straight to a clientBecause every issue reads in plain language, you can paste findings to a client or teammate without translating accessibility jargon first.
- White-label client reportsExport a branded PDF with your own logo — built for freelancers and agencies delivering audits as a service. Pro
- Full-site crawl in one reportScan many pages into a single combined report, rather than evaluating one page at a time. Pro
- Every issue mapped to WCAGSee the exact success criterion behind each finding (e.g. 1.4.3, 4.1.2) right in context.
- Runs locallyStaging sites and pages behind a login scan fine, and nothing leaves your browser.
Loupe vs WAVE, side by side
| Loupe | WAVE | |
|---|---|---|
| Detection engine | axe-core (Deque) | WebAIM's own engine |
| How results show | Plain-English list + the fix | Icons layered on the page |
| Made for | Devs, designers, QA, agencies | Devs, designers, learners |
| White-label client PDF | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Full-site crawl in one report | Yes (Pro) | One page at a time |
| WCAG criterion per issue | Yes, in context | References WCAG |
| Runs locally (staging, behind login) | Yes | Yes (extension) |
| Price | Free to scan · Pro $19/mo or $190/yr | Free |
WAVE is free and made by WebAIM, a non-profit; WebAIM also offers a paid API for bulk testing. This compares the everyday browser tools.
Which should you actually use?
Honestly, both are good. Reach for WAVE when you want a free, visual way to inspect a page and learn accessibility — its icon overlay is one of the best teaching tools out there, and it's from WebAIM, who set the standard for a lot of this. Reach for Loupe when you want each issue explained in plain English with the fix, mapped to WCAG, and a branded report at the end — without piecing it together yourself.
Plenty of people use both: WAVE to see and understand what's on a page, Loupe to fix it and hand a client something finished. And whichever you reach for, the honest rule holds for every automated checker — it's a strong first pass, not full WCAG conformance on its own.
See the issue, in plain English, with the fix
Add Loupe, open any page, and click once. Every accessibility issue explained in normal language, mapped to WCAG — and a client-ready report when you need one.
Add Loupe to Chrome — freeFree forever for scanning. Pro ($19/mo or $190/yr) adds full-site crawl, AI explanations, saved projects, and white-label PDF reports.
FAQ
Is Loupe a good WAVE alternative?
Yes, if you want plain-English fixes and client-ready reports. WAVE, by WebAIM, is an excellent free tool that shows issues as icons on the page. Loupe runs the axe-core engine, lists each issue in plain English with how to fix it, maps it to its WCAG criterion, and can export white-label PDF reports. Scanning is free in Chrome and Edge.
Does Loupe use the same engine as WAVE?
No. WAVE uses WebAIM's own evaluation engine, while Loupe runs Deque's open-source axe-core. They detect overlapping but not identical issues, which is why some people run both — the bigger difference is how results are presented and what you can do with them.
Is Loupe free like WAVE?
Scanning is free in Chrome and Edge, and WAVE is free too. Loupe Pro ($19/mo or $190/yr) adds full-site crawl, AI explanations, saved projects, and white-label PDF reports, aimed at freelancers and small agencies.
Can I export client reports with Loupe?
Yes. Loupe Pro exports white-label PDF reports with your own branding and can crawl multiple pages into one combined report. WAVE focuses on single-page visual evaluation and doesn't produce branded client reports.