Octopus Scanner (formerly A11y Scanner)

Overview

Formerly called A11y Scanner, Octopus Scanner goes beyond a single-page check by recording and replaying authenticated flows such as logins and checkouts without code. That makes it a stronger fit for sites where important content appears after sign-in or interaction than for readers who only need a quick check of a public page.

Scanning, analysis, and reporting stay entirely local, a useful safeguard when auditing private or authenticated sites. The trade-off is that Octopus Scanner is a desktop application rather than a browser extension. It combines browser automation with axe-core auditing and supports setup for WCAG 2.2, Section 508, and EN 301 549.

Key features

• Recorded user journeys: Capture and replay flows such as a login or checkout without writing code. This helps assess accessibility beyond the first page, though it does not replace human evaluation.
• Dynamic interface coverage: Audits dynamic content, Shadow DOM, embedded frames, and dark mode. That breadth suits modern, layered interfaces better than a tool limited to basic page content.
• Linked PDF checks: Performs structural accessibility checks on PDFs linked from a site, extending an audit beyond HTML pages.
• Useful outputs: Each scan produces an interactive HTML report and a complete CSV companion. The two formats support both exploring findings and working with the results as tabular data.
• Local, configurable workflow: Configurations can move between machines or team members, and HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxies route scanned-site traffic through the proxy. Optional updates are checked against official checksums and signatures and can be reverted.

Pricing

Octopus Scanner is free to download, with no required payment. The “Name your own price” option is free; optional support contributions are available in amounts including $1, $2, $5, and $10. Donations are not required, so there is no paid feature tier to weigh against the free version.

No scan or usage cap is stated for the free software. That makes it a straightforward choice for individual auditors or teams seeking a no-cost desktop workflow, but the software is marked beta. No trial or refund policy is stated.

Platforms

Octopus Scanner is available for Windows and macOS, but the downloads target different architectures: Windows is 64-bit and macOS is ARM64. Check that your device matches the relevant download before choosing it. There is no browser extension, so it is not the right fit for someone seeking an in-browser checker.

Who it's for

Choose Octopus Scanner if you need to audit authenticated user journeys, dynamic interfaces, or linked PDFs while keeping scan data local. Its exportable configurations and proxy support also suit teams that want to share a desktop scanning setup. Look elsewhere if you need a browser extension, a different platform, or a release not marked beta.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Local scanning, analysis, and reporting keep site data from being transmitted externally, valuable for private or authenticated audits.
• Pro: Journey replay, dynamic-content coverage, and linked-PDF checks reach beyond a basic page scan.
• Pro: Free software has no stated scan or usage limit, and optional contributions are not required.
• Con: The listed version, 5.0.9.8, is marked beta, which may give pause to users who need a non-beta tool.
• Con: Windows and macOS downloads have distinct architecture requirements, and no browser extension is available.

Alternatives

For a broader mix of platforms and a browser extension, consider WAVE; its API plan starts at 10.00 USD per month with a 250-credit minimum purchase. If you want a free extension for one-page-at-a-time checks, Axe DevTools offers that option, while its Pro extension has AI-enhanced features and Intelligent Guided Testing.

Pope Tech is another freemium option: its free plan covers 25 pages, two users, one website, and one group. AccessLint is a freemium alternative with a free plan and trial. For no-login webpage testing across desktop platforms, A11yInspect has a free plan and trial.

If you prefer a free API-based option with a stated monthly allowance, ADA Scanner offers 25 scans a month, with paid plans starting at 9.00 USD per month. AccessMonitor is a free web-based alternative with online validation and a Chrome browser extension. For web-based checks limited to one page or URL at a time, Free Website Accessibility Checker has a free plan; its Small Site plan is 9.00 USD per month for 100 pages. Browse Website Accessibility Tools for more options.

Verdict

Octopus Scanner is a strong choice for individuals and teams who need free, local audits that cover authenticated journeys, dynamic content, and linked PDFs. Its main advantage is the breadth of that desktop workflow without required payment or external data transmission. Choose another tool if you need a browser extension, a different download architecture, or a release that is not marked beta.