PDFix
PDF accessibility tagging, validation and remediation (PDF/UA, WCAG) that runs on-premises on Windows, macOS and Linux
Quick Overview
| Company | PDFix s.r.o. |
|---|---|
| Category | Web Accessibility |
| Headquarters | Stupava, Slovakia |
| Founded | 2016 |
| EU Presence | EU (Slovakia) |
| Data Location | On-premises: documents are processed locally on the user's machine or network, no cloud upload (per vendor FAQ) |
| Open Source | No |
| Compliance | Member of the PDF Association (per vendor about page); validation built on veraPDF |
| Pricing | PDFix Desktop Lite is free (no time limit, no registration). PDFix Desktop Pro is €350 per user per year (AI auto-tagging and full remediation; the pricing page also shows $599 USD/year). PDFix Desktop Enterprise is €1,000 per user per year (adds batch processing and command-line automation). PDFix SDK and PDFix Services (managed remediation) are quote-based, depending on deployment scale and document volume. |
| Free Option | Permanently free Desktop Lite checker and a free SDK tier (per vendor pricing page) |
| Replaces | Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools, CommonLook |
Detailed Review
PDFix covers a different part of accessibility work than most tools in this category. Where Eye-Able, Silktide, AccessiWay or Wawsome scan and assist on live web pages, PDFix works on the documents: it tags, validates and repairs PDFs against PDF/UA (ISO 14289) and WCAG. For organisations whose compliance gap sits in annual reports, invoices, forms and downloads, that is exactly the missing piece.
The product line is a free Desktop Lite validator built on veraPDF, paid Desktop Pro and Enterprise editions with AI-assisted auto-tagging and batch actions, and an SDK with bindings for Python, C#, Java, C++ and Node.js. Everything runs on-premises on Windows, macOS or Linux, and the vendor states that documents are not uploaded to a cloud, which suits banks and public bodies.
The trade-off is scope. PDFix does not scan websites, monitor pages or offer a user-facing widget, so it complements rather than replaces a site scanner. Remediation still needs human review, and the vendor says so itself. Its closest peers are axes4 (PAC, a freeware checker), Recite Me (which includes PDF remediation inside a broader platform) and SensusAccess (conversion service). Pricing is public for the desktop editions, unlike most peers.
What PDFix does well
- Public euro pricing for Desktop Pro and Enterprise
- Free permanent PDF/UA and WCAG validator (Desktop Lite)
- On-premises processing, no document upload to a cloud
- Windows, macOS and Linux support plus SDK for pipelines
- Slovak company contracting under EU terms
Where PDFix falls short
- No website scanning, monitoring or user-facing widget
- Manual review still needed after auto-tagging
- SDK and managed services are quote-only
- Marketing is aimed strongly at US rules (ADA, Section 508), with a US sales office
Standout feature. A PDF-only specialist that pairs a free veraPDF-based validator with on-premises auto-tagging and a developer SDK.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Public euro pricing for Desktop Pro and Enterprise
- Free permanent PDF/UA and WCAG validator (Desktop Lite)
- On-premises processing, no document upload to a cloud
- Windows, macOS and Linux support plus SDK for pipelines
- Slovak company contracting under EU terms
Cons
- No website scanning, monitoring or user-facing widget
- Manual review still needed after auto-tagging
- SDK and managed services are quote-only
- Marketing is aimed strongly at US rules (ADA, Section 508), with a US sales office
Alternatives to PDFix
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PDFix?
PDFix covers a different part of accessibility work than most tools in this category. Where Eye-Able, Silktide, AccessiWay or Wawsome scan and assist on live web pages, PDFix works on the documents: it tags, validates and repairs PDFs against PDF/UA (ISO 14289) and WCAG. For organisations whose compliance gap sits in annual reports, invoices, forms and downloads, that is exactly the missing piece.
Where is PDFix based?
PDFix operates from Stupava, Slovakia, which places it under EU (Slovakia). Compliance: Member of the PDF Association (per vendor about page); validation built on veraPDF.
What does PDFix cost?
PDFix Desktop Lite is free (no time limit, no registration). PDFix Desktop Pro is €350 per user per year (AI auto-tagging and full remediation; the pricing page also shows $599 USD/year). PDFix Desktop Enterprise is €1,000 per user per year (adds batch processing and command-line automation). PDFix SDK and PDFix Services (managed remediation) are quote-based, depending on deployment scale and document volume.. Permanently free Desktop Lite checker and a free SDK tier (per vendor pricing page).
Who is PDFix best for?
Teams remediating PDFs for PDF/UA and EAA. A PDF-only specialist that pairs a free veraPDF-based validator with on-premises auto-tagging and a developer SDK.
What are the drawbacks of PDFix?
No website scanning, monitoring or user-facing widget. Manual review still needed after auto-tagging. SDK and managed services are quote-only. Marketing is aimed strongly at US rules (ADA, Section 508), with a US sales office.
Is PDFix a good alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools?
PDFix is built as a European alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools: PDF accessibility tagging, validation and remediation (PDF/UA, WCAG) that runs on-premises on Windows, macOS and Linux. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does PDFix compare to other Web Accessibility tools?
PDFix is one of several European Web Accessibility tools we cover. It is most often compared with Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools, CommonLook.