Website Platform Accessibility Comparison Study: Comprehensive Analysis

Executive Summary

A thorough accessibility audit was conducted across five major website building platforms: Shopify, Squarespace, Webflow, Wix, and Showit. The evaluation combined live testing sessions, backend discovery, and a detailed matrix assessment covering essential accessibility features. The platforms ranked as follows, based on percentage of passed accessibility checks:

1. Shopify: 82.19%

2. Squarespace: 71.60%

3. Webflow: 62.50%

4. Wix: 57.83%

5. Showit: 28.38%

Methodology

The assessment was conducted through:

• Live testing sessions (documented in video)

• Backend discovery examining platform settings and capabilities

• Comprehensive matrix evaluation across multiple component categories

• Testing of specific accessibility features using screen readers and keyboard navigation

• Zoom testing at 200% and 400% magnification

Key Component Analysis

Skip Links

• Shopify and Squarespace demonstrated proper skip link implementation

• Wix included skip links but implemented them incorrectly as buttons

• Webflow and Showit completely lacked skip link functionality

Navigation Structure

Strong implementations:

• Shopify: Excellent primary navigation with proper ARIA attributes

• Squarespace: Strong keyboard accessibility and zoom compatibility

• Webflow: Good dropdown implementation with ARIA support

Notable issues:

• Showit: Severe structural issues with improper nav tag placement

• Wix: Problems with mobile navigation and zoom behavior

• Multiple platforms showed labeling deficiencies

Form Implementation

Strengths:

• Shopify: Comprehensive form accessibility features

• Squarespace: Strong error handling and screen reader support

Common issues:

• Missing autocomplete attributes

• Inconsistent error handling

• Poor success message implementation

• Label association problems

Video Implementation

Platform capabilities:

• All platforms handled YouTube embeds relatively well

• Platform-hosted videos showed significant variations in accessibility

Common problems:

• Limited caption support

• Inconsistent reduced motion support

• Focus management issues

• Autoplay control deficiencies

Carousel Implementation

Notable implementations:

• Shopify: Best overall carousel accessibility

• Squarespace: Strong semantic structure

• Webflow: Good ARIA implementation

Recurring issues:

• Hidden content management

• Focus control problems

• Missing pause controls

• Reduced motion support lacking

Platform-Specific Findings

Shopify (82.19%)

Strengths:

• Comprehensive skip link implementation

• Strong form accessibility

• Excellent carousel implementation

• Proper document structure

Areas for improvement:

• Secondary navigation structure

• Form feedback mechanisms

• Caption support

Squarespace (71.60%)

Strengths:

• Strong accordion implementation

• Robust form features

• Good document structure

Areas for improvement:

• Navigation labeling

• Video caption support

• Mobile menu interaction

Webflow (62.50%)

Strengths:

• Proper navigation structure

• Strong ARIA implementation

• Good zoom compatibility

Areas for improvement:

• Skip link implementation

• Form labeling

• Keyboard trap issues in accordions

Wix (57.83%)

Strengths:

• Basic skip link presence

• Form field labeling

• Color contrast compliance

Areas for improvement:

• Content structure

• Keyboard navigation

• Video player accessibility

• Zoom behavior

Showit (28.38%)

Significant issues across most areas:

• Missing fundamental accessibility features

• Improper semantic structure

• Poor keyboard accessibility

• Inadequate form implementation

• Limited ARIA support

Technical Recommendations

Critical Priorities Across Platforms

1. Implement proper semantic structure

2. Improve navigation labeling

3. Enhance form error handling

4. Add comprehensive caption support

5. Fix keyboard interaction issues

6. Improve focus management

7. Implement proper reduced motion support

Enhancement Opportunities

1. Standardize skip link implementation

2. Improve mobile menu accessibility

3. Enhance success message handling

4. Add proper autocomplete attributes

5. Improve color contrast implementation

The analysis reveals significant variations in accessibility implementation across platforms. Shopify and Squarespace demonstrate strong foundational accessibility support, while Webflow and Wix show moderate implementation with notable gaps. Showit requires substantial improvement across all areas.

Most platforms excel in certain aspects while struggling with others, suggesting that achieving comprehensive accessibility requires attention to both basic and advanced features. The study highlights the need for improved standardization of accessibility features across website building platforms and demonstrates that even the best-performing platforms have room for enhancement.

For users requiring high levels of accessibility compliance, Shopify and Squarespace currently offer the most robust solutions, though careful attention to specific component implementation remains necessary. Users of other platforms, particularly Showit, may need to implement significant custom solutions to achieve adequate accessibility standards.