Need Free Alternative to Ally by Elementor (Formerly One Click Accessibility)

  • Imageip00

    (@ip00)


    7 months, 1 week ago

    I have used the One Click Accessibility plugin for years to provide a basic accessibility toolbar on a WordPress website. Although it wasn’t actively maintained over the last year or two, it continued to serve me well.

    Recently, the plugin was acquired by Elementor, rebranded as Ally, and heavily reworked. While this sounded promising at first, unfortunately it introduced significant changes:

    • The plugin is no longer fully free.
    • You must now create an Elementor account to use it.
    • There are new usage caps based on visitor numbers, tied to subscription plans.

    Previously, Elementor representatives had stated in the WordPress.org forums that the plugin would remain free, but they have since reversed that position.

    Because of this, I am now looking for an alternative that is truly open source and free — something aligned with WordPress community values.

    I have tried a few accessibility plugins from WordPress.org, but most of the experiences were underwhelming: many plugins lacked essential features, had outdated interfaces, or felt too bloated for the simple use case I’m aiming for.

    What I’m looking for:

    • A lightweight, reliable accessibility toolbar (font resizing, contrast toggles, etc.)
    • Open source, GPL-licensed, and free to use without account requirements or visitor limits
    • Clean, user-friendly, non-bloated

    I believe that the core of accessibility should be handled at the development level — through proper semantic HTML, good structure, and real accessibility testing — but a basic toolbar is still a helpful tool for visitors.

    If anyone knows of a project that fits, or if there’s an open source effort starting/existing, I’m happy to contribute:

    • Feedback and bug testing
    • UI/UX design
    • General usability advice

    Thanks for your suggestions!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • ImageBrandon Zhang

    (@heybran)

    5 months, 1 week ago

    Hi,

    Is this something you’re looking for?

    Demo: https://accessibility-widget.pages.dev/
    Source Code: https://github.com/bennyluk/Sienna-Accessibility-Widget

    Although it’s not a WordPress plugin, so you would need to add the script yourself. The author has provided instruction to do that: https://accessibility-widget.pages.dev/#setup

    ImageBrandon Zhang

    (@heybran)

    5 months, 1 week ago

    Sorry, I just found out from this issue https://github.com/bennyluk/Sienna-Accessibility-Widget/issues/30 that the widget itself is not accessible, it is using div as button instead of real semantic html button element. So I probably won’t recommend it.

    Imageibraham14

    (@ibraham14)

    6 days, 6 hours ago

    I totally understand your frustration — the shift from a fully free, no-account plugin to a subscription-based model with visitor caps is a big change, especially for something as fundamental as accessibility.

    If you’re looking for a lightweight, GPL-licensed alternative, a couple of options might fit your needs:

    1. WP Accessibility (free & open-source)
    It doesn’t include a full toolbar by default, but it offers essential accessibility enhancements without bloat. It’s actively maintained and fully GPL.

    2. AccessibleWP Toolbar
    A simple, clean accessibility toolbar with contrast modes, font sizing, and basic utilities. It’s open source and doesn’t require accounts or usage limits.

    3. Pojo Accessibility (legacy but stable)
    It’s another lightweight option. Not as modern, but still functional and fully free.

    You’re absolutely right that true accessibility comes from good development practices, but a small, unobtrusive toolbar can still be valuable for users who rely on it. If you’re open to contributing, checking GitHub for small accessibility-focused WP projects might be worthwhile — some maintainers would likely appreciate help with UX and testing.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

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