CWAC review
A focused, free CLI for site-wide accessibility scans with practical visual checks.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
CWAC, or Centralised Web Accessibility Checker, is an open-source command-line tool from New Zealand Government’s Web Standards team. It is designed for organizations monitoring accessibility across many websites, with a particularly good fit for Python teams that want focused site scans. CWAC accepts lists of base URLs, crawls discovered pages, runs automated axe-core audits, and exports results to CSV. Its site-level scope and WCAG 2.2 positioning make it suited to repeatable technical checks across a defined set of websites rather than a broader accessibility management program.
The standout feature is the combination of automated audits and targeted page checks. Alongside axe-core, CWAC checks keyboard focus indicators, tests page reflow at a 320px viewport, audits page titles and selected HTML elements, and captures screenshots for visual review. These checks give teams more context than an accessibility scan limited to rule violations alone. Python and Selenium integrations support scripted workflows, while Chrome for Testing provides the browser environment used by the tool. CSV input and output also fit teams managing several site entry points or reviewing results outside the command line.
CWAC follows an open-source model rather than paid tiers, and it is distributed as a repository-based command-line tool instead of a hosted commercial service. That makes it a practical choice for technically capable teams that want control over scanning and reporting without a subscription. It is less suitable for organizations seeking verified scheduling, an API, CI/CD integration, browser-based workflows, manual accessibility review, or built-in remediation guidance. Those needs call for a broader platform, while teams prioritizing focused crawling, automated checks, screenshots, and CSV exports may find CWAC a strong fit.
CWAC pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Crawls discovered pages and accepts CSV lists of base URLs
- Combines axe-core audits with focus and 320px reflow checks
- Exports CSV results and captures screenshots for review
- Where it doesn't
- Repository-based CLI requires technical setup and operation
- No verified scheduling, API, or recurring scan service
- Does not provide manual review or remediation guidance
CWAC fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update