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Is there a free PDF accessibility checker and fixer?
Short answer: Free checkers exist and are good: PAC (Windows) and veraPDF test PDFs against the PDF/UA rules software can check, and NVDA is a free screen reader for manual testing. Free fixing is more limited: you can re-export from Word with accessibility tags, use open-source auto-tagging such as OpenDataLoader PDF if you are technical, or use the small free monthly allowances some services offer, including 5 free pages a month from us.
Free checkers
| Tool | Platform | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| PAC | Windows | Checks PDF/UA and WCAG-related machine tests; shows a screen-reader preview of the structure |
| veraPDF | Windows, macOS, Linux, command line | Open-source validator from the PDF Association community; checks PDF/UA-1 machine-testable rules |
| NVDA | Windows | Free screen reader: listen to the PDF in Acrobat Reader to test it as users do |
| Our free check | Web browser | Upload a PDF, get the failing rules grouped in plain language; no account |
Free ways to fix
- Fix the source. If the PDF came from Word, fix the Word file (heading styles, alt text, table header rows), run Review › Check Accessibility, and export again with document structure tags enabled. This is free and gives the best result.
- Open-source auto-tagging. In April 2026 Hancom released AI auto-tagging in OpenDataLoader PDF under the Apache 2.0 license. It turns untagged PDFs into tagged PDFs; it does not by itself produce fully PDF/UA-conformant files and requires technical setup.
- Free allowances. Some services offer a small free allowance each month. We give 5 free pages a month, enough for a typical agenda or a short policy.
What you cannot get free
A dependable fix for hundreds of documents, alternative text for images, and heading and table review all take either staff time or a paid service. See what remediation costs.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Adobe Acrobat Reader fix PDFs?
- No. The free Reader can display tags but not edit them. Fixing tags in Acrobat requires Acrobat Pro.
- Is PAC free?
- Yes. PAC is a free Windows application from the PDF/UA Foundation.
- Does passing PAC mean the PDF is compliant?
- No. PAC and veraPDF test what software can test. A person still has to check that image descriptions are accurate, headings make sense and the reading order is logical.