Document titles
Watch at 1:31Inkable Docs explains that the duplicate-title issue came from an empty paragraph styled as a title and fixes it directly.
The best Grackle Docs alternatives in 2026
Four ways to check and fix Google Docs for WCAG 2.1 AA and PDF/UA compliance, compared on how they fix issues, what they cost, and what their users report.
Last updated . Written by the Inkable Docs team, so we list our own product; ratings and reviews come from public Marketplace listings.
Quick comparison
Grackle Docs is included as the baseline. Marketplace figures were checked on November 9, 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Fixes the Google Doc | Pricing | Marketplace rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inkable DocsOur recommendation | Teams that want issues fixed, not just reported, plus accessible PDF exports | Yes, fixes are applied in the Google Doc | Free with paid features; plans published on the pricing page | 5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, 45K+ installs |
| Microsoft Word Accessibility Checkerby Microsoft | Teams whose final deliverable is a Word file | No, fixes apply to the Word copy | Included with Microsoft Word | Not a Marketplace add-on |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility toolsby Adobe | Specialists remediating final PDFs by hand | No, repairs apply to the PDF only | Paid Acrobat Pro subscription | Not a Marketplace add-on |
| Accessibility Checker for Docsby Lovely API | A quick spot check of basic document settings | Not described in the listing; it reports checks | Not listed on the Marketplace listing | 1.83 out of 5 from 6 ratings, 210K+ installs |
| Grackle DocsBaseline | Teams that also want remediation services from the same vendor | Guided, step-by-step fixes made by the author | Free with paid features; paid pricing by quote request | 3.55 out of 5 from 82 ratings, 8M+ installs |
Who this comparison is for
- Accessibility and disability services teams reviewing Google Docs at scale
- Instructional designers and faculty preparing course materials
- School district and university procurement evaluating document tools
- Current Grackle Docs users who spend most of their time on manual fixes
Why people look for a Grackle Docs alternative
Fixes are mostly manual
Grackle guides authors through each issue step by step, but the author still makes most changes by hand, one image or heading at a time.
Checks based on rules, not meaning
A recent three-star review reported missed heading, table, and contrast issues. In our test, Grackle passed a heading order that did not match the document's structure and missed an equation.
Install and permission problems
Several reviews from 2024 and 2025 describe the add-on being greyed out for an organisation, not appearing after install, or returning permission errors.
Pricing requires a sales conversation
Grackle's paid pricing is not published. Its pricing page is a request form that asks for your organisation and phone number.
What Grackle Docs does well
A long-established Google Docs add-on with 22 automated checks, guided step-by-step fixes, and tagged PDF export. GrackleDocs also sells Grackle PDF, PDF remediation services, consulting, and training.
- Works in
- Google Docs (separate Slides and Sheets add-ons)
- Fixes the Google Doc
- Guided, step-by-step fixes made by the author
- Pricing
- Free with paid features; paid pricing by quote request
- Marketplace rating
- 3.55 out of 5 from 82 ratings, 8M+ installs
- Best for
- Teams that also want remediation services from the same vendor
Pros
- Large install base (8M+) and a long track record
- Tagged PDF export with reading order and table tagging tools
- Alt text library for reusing image descriptions
- Broader vendor offering: PDF software, remediation services, training
Cons
- Paid pricing is not published; the pricing page is a quote form
- Fixes are guided but largely made by hand
- Recent reviews report install and permission problems in organisation accounts
What Grackle Docs reviewers report
- October 2026Reported that it misses issues with headings, tables, and color contrast, and cannot tell whether headings are properly nested.
- June 2025Installed the add-on but it did not appear in Google Docs as an add-on or extension.
- April 2025The add-on was greyed out for every user after installing it for their organisation, and support did not respond.
- October 2024Praised table tagging as the only way they had found to tag tables in Google Docs.
- July 2024Reported a permission-denied error when trying to use it.
- January 2024Two reviewers praised the step-by-step instructions, regular updates, and support.
Grackle Docs alternatives compared
Ranked by how well each option fixes accessibility issues for authors working in Google Docs.
1. Inkable Docs
by Inkable Docs LLCOur recommendationA Google Workspace add-on that checks Docs and Slides against WCAG 2.1 AA and PDF/UA, explains each finding in plain language, and applies fixes in the source document, including AI-generated alt text and heading corrections.
- Works in
- Google Docs and Google Slides
- Fixes the Google Doc
- Yes, fixes are applied in the Google Doc
- Pricing
- Free with paid features; plans published on the pricing page
- Marketplace rating
- 5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, 45K+ installs
- Best for
- Teams that want issues fixed, not just reported, plus accessible PDF exports
Pros
- Applies fixes in the document, including bulk AI alt text
- Judges headings, lists, and titles by meaning, not only sequence
- Detects and describes equations
- Published pricing and direct access to the founders
Cons
- Newer, with a smaller install base (45K+) than Grackle
- AI-generated alt text and fixes should still be reviewed by the author
- Does not remediate existing PDFs; it fixes the source and exports a new PDF
Google Workspace Marketplace listing, captured November 9, 2026. Learn more about Inkable DocsWhat Marketplace reviewers report
- June 2026A school district reviewer uses it for documents posted to the district website and said the team made a change they requested.
- April 2026A university instructional design team piloted it on online course documents and reported it performed reliably.
- December 2025A college professor said it finds errors, suggests fixes, and updates the document, unlike another add-on they had tried.
- July 2025A former Grackle user preferred the AI-assisted approach and called the product a work in progress with a responsive team.
2. Microsoft Word Accessibility Checker
by MicrosoftDownload the Google Doc as a .docx file and run Word's built-in checker, which lists errors and warnings with explanations and fix suggestions.
- Works in
- Microsoft Word, after downloading the file
- Fixes the Google Doc
- No, fixes apply to the Word copy
- Pricing
- Included with Microsoft Word
- Marketplace rating
- Not a Marketplace add-on
- Best for
- Teams whose final deliverable is a Word file
View Microsoft Word Accessibility CheckerPros
- No extra cost if you already have Microsoft 365
- Mature checker with explanations for each issue
- Word can export tagged PDFs
Cons
- Fixes do not flow back to the Google Doc
- Every edit in Google Docs means downloading and checking again
- Leaves the Google Docs collaboration workflow
3. Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools
by AdobeExport the Google Doc as a PDF, then run Acrobat Pro's accessibility check and repair tags, reading order, and alt text in the PDF.
- Works in
- Adobe Acrobat Pro, after exporting a PDF
- Fixes the Google Doc
- No, repairs apply to the PDF only
- Pricing
- Paid Acrobat Pro subscription
- Marketplace rating
- Not a Marketplace add-on
- Best for
- Specialists remediating final PDFs by hand
View Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility toolsPros
- Full control over PDF tags and reading order
- Widely used for PDF/UA remediation
- Produces an accessibility report for the PDF
Cons
- Requires a paid Acrobat Pro licence and PDF expertise
- Repairs are lost when the PDF is exported again from Google Docs
- Does not help authors fix the source document
4. Accessibility Checker for Docs
by Lovely APIA lightweight Google Docs add-on that runs a short list of pass/fail checks: document language, title, text contrast, image alt text, and a few others. Lovely API also publishes versions for Sheets and Slides.
- Works in
- Google Docs (separate Sheets and Slides add-ons)
- Fixes the Google Doc
- Not described in the listing; it reports checks
- Pricing
- Not listed on the Marketplace listing
- Marketplace rating
- 1.83 out of 5 from 6 ratings, 210K+ installs
- Best for
- A quick spot check of basic document settings
Pros
- Simple, single-purpose sidebar with pass/fail results
- Large install base (210K+)
- Versions for Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Cons
- Lowest Marketplace rating of the add-ons compared (1.83 out of 5)
- Reviewers report it running without results
- Findings do not say which image or element is affected
- No fixes, guidance, or PDF export described
Google Workspace Marketplace listing, captured November 9, 2026. View Accessibility Checker for DocsWhat Marketplace reviewers report
- October 2026One-star rating left without a written comment.
- November 2024Wrote that it “simply does not work” and would have given zero stars.
- July 2021Flagged missing alt text in a 200-page document with many images without identifying which image or how to fix it.
- February 2021Pressing the check button produced no results, including on documents known not to be accessible.
How to choose a Grackle Docs alternative
Use these criteria to evaluate any Google Docs accessibility tool, including ours.
Fixes, not only findings
Check whether the tool applies corrections in the source document or only lists issues for an author to resolve manually.
Structure judged by meaning
A heading sequence can be valid and still wrong. Look for checks that evaluate whether headings, lists, and titles match the document's content.
Explanations authors can act on
Findings should state the cause, why it affects assistive technology users, and where the content is in the document.
Coverage of STEM content
Equations and complex images are common in course materials. Confirm the tool detects them and produces usable descriptions.
Evidence for WCAG and PDF/UA
Compliance teams need reports and accessible PDF exports that map back to WCAG 2.1 AA and PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1).
Published pricing
Public pricing shortens procurement and lets a department trial the tool before a sales conversation.
Inkable Docs vs. Grackle Docs on the same document
We ran Inkable Docs and Grackle Docs on the same Google Doc and recorded six checks so you can verify each finding.
Image alt text
Watch at 2:15Inkable Docs checks whether alt text is meaningful, not merely present, and can generate descriptions for multiple images at once.
Equations
Watch at 3:58Grackle reports no equations in the test document; Inkable Docs detects the equation and generates an accessibility description.
Heading structure
Watch at 4:35Inkable Docs evaluates the heading’s place in the document and recommends changing a heading from Heading 1 to Heading 2.
Lists
Watch at 6:12Inkable Docs recognizes manually typed numbers as a list and converts them into a native numbered Google Docs list.
Color contrast
Watch at 7:23Both tools identify the contrast issue, while Inkable Docs suggests a replacement color that stays close to the original design.
| Capability | Inkable Docs | Grackle Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Primary workflow | Checks the document and applies fixes in place | Checks the document; guided fixes are made by the author |
| Image alt text | Reviews alt text quality and generates descriptions in bulk | Flags missing alt text; descriptions are written one by one |
| Heading structure | Evaluates heading level against document meaning | Evaluates heading sequence |
| Equations | Detected and described in the test document | Not detected in the test document |
| Manually typed lists | Converted to native Google Docs lists | Passed the list check in the test document |
| Color contrast | Flags the issue and suggests a close replacement color | Flags the issue |
| Pricing | Published on the pricing page | Quote request |
Watch the full comparison video or read Inkable Docs vs. Grackle Docs: Accessibility Comparison.
How to evaluate Inkable Docs alongside Grackle Docs
- 1
Install the add-on
Install Inkable Docs from the Google Workspace Marketplace. It runs alongside Grackle Docs, so you can compare both on the same file.
- 2
Run both tools on one representative document
Use a document with images, headings, lists, and an equation. Compare what each tool finds and how long remediation takes.
- 3
Apply fixes and export
Apply Inkable Docs' suggested fixes, re-check the document, and export an accessible PDF for your records.
- 4
Roll out to your team
For departments and institutions, the Ink Team plan adds organization-wide administration and usage visibility.
How we compared these tools
Marketplace ratings, install counts, and pricing labels were taken from each public Google Workspace Marketplace listing on November 9, 2026. Review summaries cover the written US reviews shown on each listing; we paraphrase them, leave out reviewer names, and skip reviews unrelated to the product.
Inkable Docs and Grackle Docs were tested side by side on the same document in a recorded video. Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Lovely API's checker are described from their official documentation and listings. Inkable Docs published this page.
Sources
- Grackle Docs on the Google Workspace Marketplace
- GrackleDocs pricing page
- Inkable Docs & Slides on the Google Workspace Marketplace
- Accessibility Checker for Docs on the Google Workspace Marketplace
- Lovely API Accessibility Checker
- Microsoft: Improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker
- Adobe: Create and verify PDF accessibility in Acrobat Pro
Google Workspace accessibility hub
Connect Google Docs accessibility checks to the full Workspace workflow
See how Inkable Docs supports Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, and accessible PDF export from one Google Workspace accessibility workflow.
Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets accessibilityFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about how Inkable Docs checks, fixes, and documents accessibility across authoring tools, LMS course materials, and PDF workflows. Need more help? Reach out to support@inkabledocs.com.
Compare results on your own documents
Install Inkable Docs next to your current tool and run both on the same file, or talk to us about an institution-wide evaluation.