comparison
WCAG 2.1 vs RGAA
WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Global, 2018) and RGAA (Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité, France, 2009) are two of the most-referenced accessibility frameworks in digital compliance. This guide compares them side by side — jurisdiction, scope, conformance approach, penalties, and how a single audit can cover both simultaneously.
What is WCAG 2.1?
WCAG 2.1 is the World Wide Web Consortium's accessibility standard published June 2018, adding 17 success criteria to WCAG 2.0 — primarily addressing mobile, low vision, and cognitive disabilities — and currently referenced as the conformance baseline by the European Accessibility Act and most procurement frameworks.
Maintainer
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Jurisdiction and enforcement
Global. Referenced by EN 301 549 (current EU baseline) and many national laws.
What is RGAA?
France's Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité (RGAA) is the French government's national web accessibility methodology, currently at version 4.1, that operationalises EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA with 106 control tests and is mandatory for public-sector and (since the EAA transposition) large-private-sector French websites.
Maintainer
DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique)
Jurisdiction and enforcement
France. DINUM; ARCOM for audiovisual.
WCAG 2.1 vs RGAA — the key differences
The principal difference is jurisdictional: WCAG 2.1 applies in Global, while RGAA applies in France. WCAG 2.1 is maintained by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C); RGAA is maintained by DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique). The standards differ on scope, conformance grading, and penalty structure — but a well-designed accessibility programme can satisfy both simultaneously by adopting the strictest applicable requirement and cross-mapping findings.
Scope
WCAG 2.1 covers: Web content, Mobile web, Web applications. RGAA covers: Public-sector websites, Large private-sector websites (under EAA transposition).
Penalties
WCAG 2.1: Same as WCAG 2.2 — penalties are downstream of the national law citing WCAG. RGAA: Up to €50,000 administrative fine.
How to comply with both at once
Adopt the stricter applicable conformance level — typically WCAG 2.2 Level AA — as your engineering baseline. Audit against that baseline once, then cross-map findings to both WCAG 2.1 and RGAA specific requirements. A single Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) using VPAT 2.5 INT can document both.
When you might need just one
If you operate exclusively in Global and have no cross-border procurement exposure, you may only need WCAG 2.1. The same applies in reverse for RGAA. For organisations selling cross-border, into the EU or US public sector, the safer default is to plan to both simultaneously.
Sources
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 — W3C
- RGAA 4.1 — DINUM
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Is WCAG 2.1 stricter than RGAA?
Neither standard is uniformly "stricter" — they cover different regulatory domains. WCAG 2.1 is more prescriptive about web content; RGAA about public-sector websites. For organisations exposed to both, a unified WCAG 2.2 AA baseline typically satisfies the technical requirements of both.
Can a single audit satisfy WCAG 2.1 and RGAA?
Yes. Both standards ultimately reference WCAG-aligned criteria. A combined audit with cross-mapped findings can produce documentation acceptable to both regulators.
Which jurisdictions enforce WCAG 2.1?
Global. Referenced by EN 301 549 (current EU baseline) and many national laws.
Which jurisdictions enforce RGAA?
France. DINUM; ARCOM for audiovisual.
What happens if I am not compliant with WCAG 2.1?
Same as WCAG 2.2 — penalties are downstream of the national law citing WCAG
What happens if I am not compliant with RGAA?
Up to €50,000 administrative fine
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