Axe vs ConformPilot
axe-core is a powerful developer library. ConformPilot is a complete accessibility auditing platform. Here is how they compare — and when you need both.
axe-core
axe-core is an open-source accessibility testing library by Deque Systems. It is designed for developers who want to integrate automated accessibility checks into their CI/CD pipeline, test frameworks, or browser extensions. It is excellent at catching code-level violations during development.
- ✓ Free and open source
- ✓ Integrates with Jest, Cypress, Playwright
- ✓ Browser extension available
- ✗ No VPAT generation
- ✗ No multi-page crawling
- ✗ No enterprise reports
ConformPilot
ConformPilot is an enterprise accessibility auditing platform that uses axe-core, Pa11y, and Lighthouse together. It is designed for accessibility teams, compliance officers, and enterprises that need VPAT reports, multi-page audits, and professional documentation — without writing code.
- ✓ Uses axe-core + Pa11y + Lighthouse
- ✓ Generates VPAT 2.5 Word documents
- ✓ Multi-page site crawling
- ✓ Authenticated scanning
- ✓ WCAG 2.2, Section 508, EN 301 549
- ✓ No coding required
Axe vs ConformPilot — Side by Side
| Feature | axe-core | ConformPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility Engines | axe-core only | axe-core + Pa11y + Lighthouse |
| VPAT 2.5 Generation | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Automatic VPAT 2.5 Word doc |
| Multi-page Crawling | ✗ Single page only | ✓ Full site crawl |
| Authenticated Scanning | ✗ Requires custom scripting | ✓ Built-in auth support |
| WCAG 2.2 Mapping | Partial (violations only) | ✓ Full criterion mapping |
| Section 508 Mapping | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included in VPAT |
| EN 301 549 Mapping | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included in VPAT |
| Word Document Export | ✗ JSON output only | ✓ Professional DOCX export |
| No-code Setup | ✗ Developer library | ✓ No coding required |
| Enterprise Reporting | ✗ Raw data only | ✓ Branded enterprise reports |
| Pricing | Free (open source) | Free trial + paid plans |
Axe or ConformPilot — Which Do You Need?
Use axe-core when…
- • You are a developer integrating accessibility into CI/CD
- • You want to catch violations during unit or integration testing
- • You are building a custom accessibility testing workflow
- • You need a free, open-source solution for code-level checks
Use ConformPilot when…
- • You need to generate a VPAT 2.5 for government procurement
- • You need to audit an entire website, not just one page
- • You need to scan authenticated pages behind a login
- • You need professional Word document reports for stakeholders
- • You need WCAG 2.2, Section 508, and EN 301 549 coverage
Axe vs ConformPilot — Common Questions
What is axe-core?
axe-core is an open-source JavaScript accessibility testing library developed by Deque Systems. It runs automated accessibility checks in the browser and is widely used by developers to catch WCAG violations during development. It is available as a browser extension, CLI tool, and npm package.
What is the difference between axe and ConformPilot?
axe-core is a developer-focused testing library that identifies accessibility violations in code. ConformPilot is a complete accessibility auditing platform that uses axe-core as one of its engines alongside Pa11y and Lighthouse, and adds VPAT 2.5 report generation, multi-page crawling, authenticated scanning, and enterprise Word document exports.
Can axe generate a VPAT report?
No. axe-core does not generate VPAT reports. It outputs a list of violations in JSON format. ConformPilot takes axe-core results, maps them to WCAG 2.2 and Section 508 criteria, and generates a complete VPAT 2.5 Word document automatically.
Does axe support authenticated scanning?
axe-core itself does not handle authentication. It must be integrated into a test framework that manages sessions. ConformPilot has built-in support for authenticated scanning using browser sessions, form login, and basic auth — no custom scripting required.
Is ConformPilot better than axe for enterprise use?
For enterprise accessibility auditing, ConformPilot is more complete. It combines axe-core, Pa11y, and Lighthouse into a single platform, supports multi-page crawling, generates VPAT 2.5 reports, and exports professional Word documents — all without requiring developer setup.
Does ConformPilot use axe-core?
Yes. ConformPilot uses axe-core as one of its three scanning engines alongside Pa11y and Lighthouse. This means you get the full power of axe-core plus additional coverage from two other industry-standard engines in a single scan.
Go Beyond axe-core
ConformPilot uses axe-core plus two additional engines, adds VPAT generation, and delivers enterprise-grade reports — all without writing a single line of code.