A new report on website accessibility has revealed surprising results among content management systems (CMS) and website-building platforms. WordPress, often criticized for accessibility limitations, scored well in this study, but the ultimate winner might catch you off guard.
The HTTP Archive Report
The findings come from the HTTP Archive, a community-driven project that tracks web performance and design data. This report used Google’s Lighthouse Accessibility Audit to rank 20 CMS and website platforms based on accessibility. Lighthouse is a powerful tool integrated into Chrome DevTools and PageSpeed Insights that evaluates website performance, SEO, best practices, and accessibility.
Data Sources: The WebAim Million and Tranco List
The research relied on data from the WebAim Million study, which assesses the accessibility of the top one million website homepages. This list is generated using the Tranco List, a ranking system combining data from six sources, including Cisco Umbrella, Majestic, and the Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX), to ensure accuracy and resist manipulation.
The Tranco List highlights the importance of reproducible, reliable rankings, which makes it a trusted source for large-scale web analysis.
Traditional CMS Accessibility Scores
The study ranked traditional CMS platforms, revealing that closed-source systems tend to perform better. Here’s how they scored:
- Adobe Experience Manager – 87%
- Contentful – 87%
- Sitecore – 85%
- WordPress – 85%
Other notable platforms like Drupal and TYPO3 hovered around 84%. The dominance of closed-source CMSs, often used by resource-rich corporations, suggests better handling of issues compared to open-source alternatives like WordPress.
Website Building Platforms: The Accessibility Leaders
When it comes to website builders, private platforms had the edge due to their ability to control variables and streamline user experiences.
Top Accessibility Scores by Platform:
- Wix – 94%
- Squarespace – 92%
- Google Sites – 90%
- Duda – 87%
- Weebly – 86%
Notably, Wix outperformed every platform and CMS, setting a new benchmark in accessibility standards.
Why Accessibility Matters for SEO and Business
Website accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it has direct and indirect benefits for businesses and SEO. With 4.5% of users experiencing color blindness and many others facing disabilities, prioritizing accessibility ensures a broader reach and better user experience.
Platforms like Wix and Squarespace are leading the charge, showing how strong accessibility can align with goodbusiness practices. For other CMS and platforms, the message is clear: Accessibility is no longer optional—it’s essential for success in 2024 and beyond.
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