Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner)
Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner): A free desktop scanner for detailed local audits of complex websites. Ranked #1 of 129 in Website Accessibility Tools by our editors (9.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for auditors scanning complex websites locally.
At a glance
- Editor score9.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forAuditors scanning complex websites locally
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- WCAG versionWcag 2.2
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Crawls full domains, accepts sitemaps, and targets specific URLs
- Replays authenticated journeys and scans dynamic content, frames, and PDFs
- Creates interactive HTML and CSV reports with screenshots and guidance
Where it doesn't
- Desktop-only, with support limited to Windows and macOS
- No browser extension or CI/CD workflow is described
- No recurring scan schedule or scan/results API is described
Our verdict on Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner)
Octopus Scanner, formerly A11y Scanner, is a desktop application for automated website accessibility auditing. It is aimed at accessibility specialists, developers, and designers who need to examine more than a set of manually selected pages. The tool can crawl a full domain, take sitemap input, or scan targeted URLs. Its local scanning and reporting make it a fit for auditors who want to inspect complex sites on Windows or macOS without sending scan work to a hosted service.
Its breadth is the main distinction: users can record and replay authenticated journeys, scan dynamic content, Shadow DOM and embedded frames, and audit linked PDFs. Checks use axe-core and cover WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2; scans can include mobile, tablet, and desktop viewports. Interactive HTML and CSV reports include screenshots and remediation guidance, giving teams material to review and share. This is a strong match for detailed audits across varied page states, rather than a lightweight browser-extension workflow.
The pricing is straightforward: the “Name your own price” plan is a free download with an optional one-time contribution to support the developer. The product is closed source, and support is offered by email. Its scope is centered on local desktop auditing; a CI/CD workflow and recurring scheduled monitoring are not part of the described offering. Teams that need those capabilities as part of a continuous testing pipeline should look elsewhere. For auditors who value broad scan coverage and report detail in a free local tool, Octopus Scanner is a practical candidate.
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Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) pricing
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Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| WCAG version | Wcag 2.2 |
| Scan scope | Site |
| Scan limit | Not verified |
| Scheduled scans | Not verified |
| Browser extension | No |
| CI/CD integration | Not verified |
| API access | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | lachie1999.itch.io |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner)
- WAVEA flexible accessibility suite spanning free page checks, browser extensions, APIs, and CI workflows.9.1
- IBM Equal Access Accessibility CheckerA technically focused toolkit for browser, batch, and CI/CD accessibility checks.9.0
- Level Access PlatformA broad accessibility program platform for teams managing web, mobile, and software assets.8.8
See all Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) alternatives →
Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) vs the competition
- Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) vs WAVE
- Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) vs IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
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- Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) vs Axe DevTools
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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner) for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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