Online store accessibility (WCAG / EAA)
Updated: 2026-06-16
Online stores are explicitly covered by the EAA — since June 2025 the whole purchase process must be accessible to people with disabilities.
Why e-commerce is covered by the EAA
The EAA lists electronic commerce among the services subject to accessibility obligations. This covers the full journey: from the homepage, through the product page, to payment.
The microenterprise exemption applies to services — but many online sellers exceed the micro threshold.
The highest-risk areas
The most common and most serious barriers are an inaccessible cart and checkout, forms without labels, filters and product variants operable only with a mouse, and weak contrast on prices and buttons.
These are critical because they block sales and are the first thing a user reports.
A checklist for your store
Check: full keyboard operation of checkout, labels and error messages in forms, accessible names for “add to cart” buttons, alternative text for product photos, and contrast.
Remember notifications (e.g. “added to cart”) announced to screen readers.
Platforms and implementation
On Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop or Magento, many barriers come from the theme and plugins. An audit pinpoints the exact spots, and fixes go into the template, not an overlay.
EAAsy scans the store, prioritises issues and suggests source-code fixes — ready for your team or agency to ship.
Related articles
- What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
- The EAA across EU countries: laws, authorities, penalties
- The accessibility statement — what it must contain
- Why accessibility overlays don't ensure compliance
- How to test your website's accessibility — a step-by-step guide
- What the EAAsy scanner detects — and what automation cannot cover
- Violations vs recommendations — what you must fix, and what's worth fixing
- WCAG 2.2 AA checklist — an accessibility checklist
- Penalties for inaccessibility (EAA) — enforcement and sanctions