Audit and remediate PDFs for accessibility – automatically
Accessful uses AI to add tags, establish the correct reading order and generate alt text in line with PDF/UA-1 and 2 as well as WCAG 2.2 – typically in seconds rather than weeks. Process anything from a single document to an entire collection through the web app, API or your own infrastructure.
Organisations that work with Accessful
Manual PDF remediation does not scale
Making a single PDF accessible requires specialist knowledge of tags, reading order and alt text – and a lot of time. With hundreds or thousands of documents, manual processing becomes a bottleneck: expensive, slow and difficult to keep consistent.
Accessful automates this process. Its AI understands text, layout and visual content, adds the missing document structure and provides an audit report for every document. You retain control wherever human judgement remains important, such as subject-matter approval.
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Seconds instead of weeks
Results are typically available in seconds – even for large document volumes.
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All common documents, over 110 languages
Works with all common document types and understands content in over 110 languages.
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Layout remains unchanged
Only the structural layer is expanded - appearance and content remain identical.
Accessible PDF in four steps
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Submit PDF
Load documents into the web app using drag-and-drop or submit them automatically via the API – individually or in batches.
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Analyse document
The AI understands text, layout and image content and recognises missing structure: tags, reading order, alt text, tables and lists.
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Remediate barriers
Accessful adds the structural layer automatically while leaving the layout and content unchanged.
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Receive the accessible PDF and audit report
You will receive the accessible PDF including an audit-ready report – as proof of audit and compliance.
Everything an accessible document needs
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Document structure & tags
Headings, paragraphs, lists and tables are tagged correctly in the PDF – the foundation screen readers rely on.
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Reading order
The AI determines the correct reading order automatically, including for multi-column layouts and complex pages.
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Alt text
Images, graphics and diagrams receive precise alt text - the AI recognises the visual context.
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Tables & lists
Table headers, cell associations and list structures are tagged with the correct semantics.
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Audit reports
Every document receives an audit-ready report - traceable and verifiable at any time.
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Batch processing
Thousands of documents in one run - with live status in the dashboard or via webhook notification.
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REST API
Upload, status query, download and deletion as documented endpoints – for integration into your systems.
View API & Integration -
On-Premises
Operation completely in your infrastructure – air-gapped if desired, with your own AI models behind your firewall.
Explore on-premises deployment
BFSG, EAA, BGG, BITV 2.0, WCAG and PDF/UA – how they fit together
BFSG & European Accessibility Act
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) establishes accessibility requirements across the EU. In Germany, it is implemented by the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG). Since 28 June 2025, the requirements have applied to many companies, including electronic documents such as PDFs.
Understanding BFSG for PDFsBGG & BITV 2.0
For federal public-sector bodies, the BGG establishes the obligation to provide accessible information technology, while BITV 2.0 defines the detailed requirements. State and local authorities are subject to corresponding state legislation. The requirements also cover PDFs on websites and in digitally supported administrative processes.
Understanding BITV 2.0 for PDFsWCAG & EN 301 549
The WCAG define what “accessible” actually means. The European standard EN 301 549 refers to these criteria for documents and is the technical benchmark behind BFSG and BITV.
WCAG for PDF documentsPDF/UA
PDF/UA (ISO 14289) is the technical standard for accessible PDFs: correct tags, reading order and metadata. Accessful remediates according to PDF/UA-1 and 2 and documents the result in the audit report.
Understanding PDF/UANote: This content provides general information about legal requirements and does not constitute legal advice.
Accessibility directly in your workflows
Process documents automatically from document management, CRM, contract management, archive systems or web portals. The REST API handles upload (as a file or via URL), asynchronous processing with status query, download of results and deletion - webhooks notify your systems about each processing step.
- Authentication with an API key
- Webhooks with HMAC signatures and automatic retries
- Batch processing of entire document collections
POST /api/v1/upload-service/pdf/upload
X-API-Key: your-api-key
→ one caseId per document
GET /api/v1/upload-service/job-status/{caseId}
→ processing status (queued, running, completed …)
GET /api/v1/upload-service/download/{caseId}
→ accessible PDF (PDF/UA)Your infrastructure, your data
For organisations with the strictest requirements, Accessful runs entirely in your own environment – optionally air-gapped and using your own AI models behind your firewall. Documents remain within your organisation, with no reliance on external cloud services.
Alternatively, we operate Accessful for you in a GDPR-compliant manner on German infrastructure in ISO/IEC-27001-certified data centres.
For regulated companies, authorities and agencies
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Insurance
Make policies, terms and customer correspondence accessible – automatically, across entire document collections.
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Banking & financial services
Remediate account statements, product information and contracts for accessibility – supporting your BFSG compliance directly from your systems.
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Government & public sector
Make official notices, forms and publications accessible in line with BITV 2.0 and EN 301 549.
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Higher education
Provide accessible course materials, regulations and administrative documents for every student.
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Energy utilities
Make invoices, tariff information and contract documents accessible – even at high volumes.
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Healthcare
Make patient information and forms accessible, with the option to process sensitive data entirely within your own infrastructure.
Accessful compared with editing tools and agencies
| Criterion | Editing tools | Agencies | Accessful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per PDF page | Software licence, training and ongoing staff time | Typical range: €15–€150 per page, depending on complexity and scope | €2.00–€2.50 per page in the standard packages, with no per-user licences |
| Setup and training | Training in the tool and PDF/UA, plus ongoing skills development | Agency selection, briefing, secure data transfer and coordination | Ready to use in the browser; no installation or PDF/UA training required |
| Workflow for each document | Check status → download file → remediate manually → validate → upload again | Bundle documents → commission and transfer → answer queries → review and upload the result | Check accessibility for free → upload PDF → follow live status → download the remediated PDF and audit report |
| Time and coordination required | Repeated manual work and internal quality assurance for every document | Repeated quotations, handovers, queries, approvals and invoice reviews | Automated batch processing through the web app or API, with a consistent audit report |
| Ongoing effort over one year | Every new or revised PDF must be remediated manually | Every new version or document requires a new agency assignment | Monitoring and automated remediation can be integrated into the publishing workflow |
| Scalability | Limited by specialist availability and staff time | Limited by capacity, coordination and budget | REST API, webhooks, on-premises operation |
Agency prices are typical market ranges and may vary with document complexity, quality assurance and scope.
Remediation guarantee
If a document remediated by Accessful is not recognised as accessible during an accessibility audit, we will remediate it free of charge - quickly, easily and at no additional cost.
Frequently asked questions about accessible PDFs
How much does it cost to correct PDFs?
Accessful is billed through prepaid page packages, with no per-user licences or fixed term. Packages start at €1,950 excluding VAT for 780 PDF pages. With larger packages, the price falls to as little as €2.00 per page. See the Pricing page. You can check your PDFs free of charge beforehand.
Will the layout of my documents be retained?
Yes. Accessful does not change the layout or content. Only the structural layer that is necessary for accessibility is added: tags, reading order and alt text. The appearance of the document remains identical.
Which standards are supported?
Accessful audits and remediates according to PDF/UA-1 and 2, WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549 and thus supports you with the requirements of the BFSG and the European Accessibility Act. An audit-ready report is created for each remediated document.
Can large PDF quantities be processed?
Yes. Accessful is designed for batch processing and also processes thousands of documents automatically - via web app or directly from your systems via the API.
Is there an API?
Yes. The REST API offers upload via file or URL, status queries, download of the remediated PDFs, delete functions and webhooks for asynchronous processing. All details are in the API documentation.
Is there an on-premises version?
Yes. If desired, Accessful can run completely in your own infrastructure - on request also air-gapped, with its own AI models behind your firewall. More about this on the page On-Premises.
Are my documents saved?
Processing takes place on German infrastructure in ISO/IEC-27001-certified data centres. You can use the API to delete individual processes or entire inventories at any time. When operating on-premises, your documents remain within your organisation.
How long does processing take?
Results are typically available in seconds, even for extensive documents. Large document collections are processed asynchronously. You can track progress in the dashboard or through API status queries and webhooks.
Which document types are supported?
Accessful processes PDF documents of all kinds - from marketing documents to contracts to forms - and understands content in over 110 languages.
What cannot an automatic check detect?
Some criteria require human judgement - for example whether an alternative text perfectly matches the technical context or whether the order of content makes sense for your readers. Accessful reliably detects and corrects typical, machine-testable barriers and documents the results in the audit report so that targeted editorial approvals remain possible.
Check your PDFs for accessibility – free of charge.
Upload a document and receive a result in seconds - without registering. Or let us show you Accessful in person.