Guides › Alternatives
Self-service alternatives to PDF remediation services
Short answer: Self-service remediation tools let staff upload PDFs and download fixed, validated files in minutes at well under $1 to about $2 per page, instead of sending files to a vendor at about $4 to $11.50 or more per page and waiting days. They work well for text documents and clean scans; forms and designed layouts still benefit from a vendor or manual work.
Vendor vs self-service
| Aspect | Remediation vendor | Self-service tool |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | Days, depending on volume | Minutes |
| Price | About $4 to $11.50+ per page; more for forms | About $0.45 to $2 per page |
| Procurement | Often a quote, contract or purchase order | Card payment, small amounts |
| Quality on text documents | High | High, with a spot-check |
| Quality on forms and designed layouts | High | Lower; review needed |
| Human review | Included | Not included |
When self-service makes sense
- You publish agendas, minutes, reports and notices every week and need them accessible the same day.
- You have a backlog of mostly text documents.
- Your budget does not cover several dollars per page for everything.
When to keep a vendor
- Fillable forms that residents submit.
- Long legal or financial documents where an error matters.
- Designed publications such as annual reports.
A setup that works for small teams
- Use a self-service tool for routine documents.
- Keep a vendor (or one trained staff member with Acrobat Pro) for forms and complex files.
- Keep the validation reports with the files.
- Publish a contact for requesting accessible versions.
Frequently asked questions
- Do we need a contract?
- Not with us: page packs are bought by card and never expire. Other self-service tools vary.
- Who checks the output?
- You do. Self-service tools validate automatically; a staff member should spot-check with a screen reader, especially image descriptions and headings.