A Comprehensive Review Of User1st for Web Accessibility

Founded with the purpose of making the internet a more accessible place for all, User1st provides one of the most advanced web accessibility solutions on the market.

This ADA compliance solution is deployed across a variety of industries worldwide, including financial services, retail, government, education, and healthcare.

A global leader in digital and web accessibility, User1st helps organizations advance their missions, improve the user experience, and meet web accessibility standards and guidelines by opening their digital content up to the largest audience possible.

Background of User1st

Founded in 2012, User1st is a Washington-based organization with a diverse team of digital and development specialists. User1st is solely focused on making digital assets ADA compliant to create a barrier-free society for all, regardless of ability.

The brand is trusted by leading businesses, including iRobot, Lightico, and American Century Investments to name a few. 

User1st Services and Features

Compliance

User1st services ensure your website is compliant with the following legislation:

• ADA Title 3
• Section 508
• WCAG 2.1

Pricing Model

User1st has a custom pricing model. This is largely because the service they provide is of a semi-manual nature, and websites and apps have different requirements. Organizations generally require different manual remediation of certain elements, documents, or multimedia.

In order to get a quote, you have to contact the company and explain your company’s / project’s needs.

Platform Compatibility

Since User1st is applied using a line of code, the solution is compatible with all major CMS systems. It can also be applied to websites that were coded from scratch. Unfortunately, there are no widgets or plugins available, so you will need to contact the User1st team about installation.

Technology & Features

User1st offers two solutions for website owners, the first of which is uRemediate.

With the help of the User1st team, you will install a line of code on your site to start using the custom accessibility overlay on your website. This overlay offers a number of accessibility-related customization options across both mobile and desktop.

Disabled users can now customize their experience to suit their needs by adjusting the following features on your site:

• Color contrast
• Fonts
• Navigation options
• Animation functionality
• Forms

You can also take things one step further by working with the User1st team to audit your website using AI technology for more detailed results and fixes. Combining automated testing with manual checks is the best way to attain full compliance.  

The second solution offered by User1st is called Check1st. 

This tool is designed to assist businesses with ongoing testing and site monitoring, ensuring long-term compliance. Check1st reports can be used by your developers to make the necessary changes to your site. 

User1st provides training and support for Check1st users, ensuring you know exactly how to use and make the most of this tool.

Customer Support

Chat Support – Does not exist

Tech Support ★★★★☆

Account Management ★★☆☆☆

User1st Pros & Cons

How does User1st compare to competitors?

User1st is certainly not the only web accessibility solution available on the market, so let’s look at how it compares to other brands.

One of the first things you will notice about User1st is that unlike many other solutions, it doesn’t allow you to scan your website for free – you need to enter your details to use this functionality and wait for a report. 

In fact, User1st takes a completely hands-off approach to web accessibility overall, at least in the beginning anyway. Auditing and remediating your site is done in conjunction with the User1st team. This might appeal to website owners who would prefer as much assistance as possible during the compliance process, but it won’t appeal to all.

Even their accessibility monitoring and maintenance tool isn’t something you can simply download and start using – you need to submit a request first. 

This isn’t necessarily a con, but most website owners would prefer a solution they can start using as soon as possible. 

On the plus side, you will be able to customize the User1st interface to match your site, which is not offered by all accessibility tools and solutions. 

Unfortunately, there is no way to compare the price of this solution to competitors because User1st doesn’t share any pricing on their website. Again, you would first need to contact them to discuss your specific requirements. 

Our Verdict

So, is User1st a good web accessibility solution? Yes. Is it the best option? It depends.

User1st can help make your site accessible and compliant with WCAG and ADA regulations and requirements. However, unless you combine the overlay with manual adjustments, your site won’t be fully compliant. 

If you would prefer a solution that you can download and learn to use in a few hours, User1st might not be for you. But, if you prefer a more personalized experience and require hands-on assistance from an expert, User1st could be perfect. 

Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to compare the cost of this solution to other leading tools and start this process until you speak to someone directly at User1st.