Scrutia vs Lighthouse
Google Lighthouse is built into Chrome DevTools and provides an accessibility score from 0 to 100. It's a popular tool but only tests a fraction of real accessibility criteria. Scrutia offers a complete audit of 106 RGAA criteria (mapped to WCAG 2.1 AA) with dynamic tests and code fixes. Here's why the Lighthouse score is not enough.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Lighthouse | Scrutia |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | axe-core (partial) | RGAA 4.1.2 (106 criteria) |
| Criteria tested | ~35 rules | 106 complete criteria |
| Keyboard navigation | ✕ | Real Tab navigation |
| Keyboard traps | ✕ | Automatic detection |
| Visible focus | Partial | Automatic verification |
| ARIA components | Basic attributes | APG pattern testing |
| Menus, modals, tabs | ✕ | Dynamic interaction |
| Contrasts | Partial | All combinations |
| Corrective code | ✕ | HTML/CSS/JS per criterion |
| PDF report | HTML report | 20+ detailed pages |
| Reliable score | Misleading score (~35 rules) | Based on 106 criteria |
Detailed comparison
The Lighthouse score trap
Scrutia evaluates each of the 106 RGAA criteria and provides a score reflecting the real compliance of your site. Each non-conformity is documented with its impact, location and corrective code. The Scrutia score is a reliable measure of your accessibility level.
Lighthouse displays a score out of 100 based on ~35 rules. A site can score 95/100 on Lighthouse while being inaccessible by keyboard, having failing ARIA components, and containing keyboard traps. The Lighthouse score gives a false sense of compliance.
Test coverage
Scrutia tests all 13 RGAA themes: images, frames, colors, multimedia, tables, links, scripts, mandatory elements, structure, presentation, forms, navigation and consultation. Each theme is evaluated in depth.
Lighthouse uses a reduced subset of axe-core rules. It checks for missing alt text, basic contrasts, form labels, but does not test keyboard navigation, interactive ARIA components, keyboard traps, or reflow.
Interaction tests
Scrutia launches a real browser and simulates user interactions: complete keyboard navigation, testing dropdown menus, modals, tabs, accordions. It verifies that each interactive component is usable without a mouse.
Lighthouse analyzes the page's HTML/CSS statically. It doesn't click anything, doesn't navigate by keyboard, and doesn't test JavaScript components. A menu completely inaccessible by keyboard will still get a good Lighthouse score.
Purpose and usage
Scrutia is a dedicated accessibility audit tool. Its sole purpose is to verify your site's WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and provide the necessary fixes. The report is designed to be actioned immediately.
Lighthouse is a general-purpose web audit tool covering performance, SEO, best practices and accessibility. The accessibility section is a secondary component that lacks the depth of a dedicated tool.
Our verdict
Lighthouse is useful as a quick first indicator, but its accessibility score is misleading. A score of 90+ does not mean your site is accessible. For a serious accessibility audit covering WCAG 2.1 AA — with keyboard navigation, ARIA components and code fixes — Scrutia is the tool to use. Do not rely on the Lighthouse score for your regulatory compliance.
Try Scrutia for free
106 RGAA criteria, keyboard navigation, ARIA components, code fixes. Results in 5 minutes.
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