From free automated tools to consultants charging hundreds, here's what you actually get at each price point — so you can choose based on what you need, not just price.
The cheapest audits — free automated tools — are good at catching objective, rule-based issues: missing alt text, slow load time, broken links. What they can't do is exercise judgement about whether your specific messaging is actually clear, or whether your specific trust signals are well-placed for your specific industry.
Consultants charging several hundred to over a thousand are, in effect, selling that judgement — a human who's seen many sites and can spot patterns a rules-based tool can't. The tradeoff is time (days to weeks for a full engagement) and cost.
AI-powered audits sit in a genuinely new middle ground: judgement-based analysis (not just rule-checking) at a fraction of consultant pricing and turnaround time. Worth knowing this category exists distinctly from both ends, rather than assuming your only choice is free-and-shallow versus expensive-and-slow.
Yes, for catching objective technical issues — but it typically won't judge whether your messaging or trust signals are actually working, which is where paid, judgement-based options add value.
Mostly turnaround time and depth — a consultant spending days on a bespoke review costs more than an AI-powered report generated in under a minute, though both can be genuinely useful for different needs.
Starting free is usually sensible — it tells you whether there's enough found to justify paying for deeper findings, rather than committing upfront.
Not necessarily — it depends on whether you need bespoke strategic advice (favouring a consultant) or a fast, evidence-based diagnostic (favouring an AI-powered option).
The SiteMedic team can implement every recommendation for you. Send us your results and we'll quote the fix.
Get it fixed →