Functional Accessibility Evaluator review
A focused, self-hosted evaluator for teams checking whole websites against WCAG 2.0 rules.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Functional Accessibility Evaluator (FAE) is an open-source web application for analyzing individual pages and entire websites against accessibility requirements. It is designed for teams that want to evaluate a site through a configurable crawler and host the application on a Linux server. The evaluator uses rules based on WCAG Success Criteria, WAI-ARIA, WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices, and the HTML Standard, giving it a broad automated checking scope within its supported standards.
FAE’s strongest feature is site-wide evaluation control. Teams can set a starting URL, crawl depth, domain, and path constraints before scanning, then review page-level results alongside aggregated website summary reports. JSON evaluation result files provide a structured output option for workflows that need machine-readable findings. This combination suits open-source teams that need more than a single-page checker, particularly when self-hosting and configurable crawling matter more than a broad integration ecosystem.
The tradeoff is a focused, standards-based evaluator rather than a complete accessibility program. The published positioning does not include verified scheduling, integrations, or manual review capabilities, so teams seeking recurring scan orchestration, connected development workflows, or human assessment should consider an alternative. FAE is also centered on WCAG 2.0, which limits its fit for teams requiring coverage mapped to newer WCAG versions. Its project is listed as archived, while repository and Illinois documentation remain available. Choose FAE for open-source, Linux-hosted site evaluation; choose another tool for managed automation, integrated workflows, or newer standards coverage.
Functional Accessibility Evaluator pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Crawls entire websites with configurable depth, domains, and paths
- Combines page results into website summary reports
- Checks WCAG 2.0, WAI-ARIA, and HTML accessibility practices
- Where it doesn't
- Does not provide verified scheduling capabilities
- Does not include integrations or manual accessibility review
- Coverage is based on WCAG 2.0 rather than newer WCAG versions
Functional Accessibility Evaluator fact sheet, pricing and score →
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