PAC review
A focused, free validator for PDF/UA and WCAG checks on Windows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PAC is a free Windows desktop application for people and organizations creating or reviewing accessible PDF documents. It checks PDF files against PDF/UA and WCAG requirements, combining automated technical tests with semantic and manual inspection tools. The application runs locally and offline, and its scope is centered on validating document accessibility rather than providing a full remediation workflow.
Its strongest feature set is the breadth of document-structure review. PAC checks titles, language attributes, headings, bookmarks, alternative text, links, lists, tables, and notes. AI-assisted semantic checks cover headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, figures, and related structures. Reviewers can inspect the logical structure and tag tree, use a screen-reader preview to assess reading order, and produce summary or detailed validation reports. Exportable PDF test reports support documentation of review results. The vendor states that technical tests are based on WCAG 2.1 while PAC also checks WCAG 2.2 content requirements, with human checks still needed for requirements that automation cannot assess.
The platform fit is deliberately narrow: PAC is documented for Windows 10 and Windows 11, with no Mac version, no mobile testing, and no CI/CD integration. That makes it a practical choice for Windows-based accessibility validation of individual PDF documents or review workflows that benefit from local, offline processing. Organizations seeking browser-based, cross-platform, automated pipeline coverage, or a broader remediation environment should look elsewhere. Choose PAC when free PDF/UA and WCAG validation, semantic inspection, and report generation are the priority; avoid it when platform breadth or integrated delivery workflows matter more.
PAC pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free PDF/UA and WCAG validation with automated technical checks
- AI-assisted semantic checks plus structure and tag-tree inspection
- Screen-reader previews and exportable detailed PDF reports
- Where it doesn't
- Windows 10 and 11 only, with no Mac version
- Focuses on validation rather than document remediation
- No mobile testing or CI/CD integration
PAC fact sheet, pricing and score →
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