HubSpot CMS is a marketing-focused content management system that lets teams build and update websites without developer involvement. Its drag-and-drop editor, HubL templating language, and module marketplace make it powerful for marketers - but accessibility is rarely a priority in marketing-driven workflows. Under the EAA, HubSpot CMS sites providing services to EU consumers must meet EN 301 549 requirements.
Common HubSpot CMS accessibility issues
Drag-and-drop editor produces non-semantic structure
HubSpot's visual editor lets marketers build pages by dragging modules into layout columns. The resulting HTML uses HubSpot's grid system which produces deeply nested divs without semantic meaning, and marketers choose modules based on visual appearance rather than document structure.
Marketplace modules have no accessibility standard
HubSpot's module marketplace lets developers sell pre-built components. There is no accessibility requirement for marketplace modules, so sliders, accordions, tabs, and form modules frequently lack keyboard support, ARIA attributes, and screen reader compatibility.
HubSpot forms lack proper error handling
HubSpot's native form builder creates forms with validation, but error messages are not always properly associated with their input fields via aria-describedby. Error states may rely on colour alone without text alternatives, failing WCAG 1.4.1.
Blog and landing page templates ignore heading hierarchy
HubSpot templates frequently use heading levels inconsistently - h1 for the company name, h3 for the page title, h2 for sidebar widgets. Marketers adding content within these templates compound the problem with arbitrary heading choices in rich text modules.
CTAs and smart content lack accessible alternatives
HubSpot's CTA (call-to-action) tool creates buttons rendered as images or styled divs rather than native button or link elements. Smart content that changes based on visitor persona can produce different experiences with different accessibility characteristics.
Video embeds without captions or transcripts
HubSpot makes it easy to embed videos from HubSpot Video, YouTube, and other providers. These embeds rarely include captions or transcripts, and HubSpot doesn't prompt users to add them - a direct failure of WCAG 1.2.2 and 1.2.3.
How Lumi works with HubSpot CMS
Lumi scans your HubSpot CMS site across all page types - website pages, landing pages, blog posts, and system pages. Our five engines detect issues in HubSpot's template markup, module output, form implementations, and CTA elements. Monitor continuously to catch regressions from template updates, module changes, and content publishing.
HubSpot CMS-specific WCAG gotchas
Marketing teams publish without accessibility review
HubSpot CMS is designed for marketing autonomy - teams publish pages, landing pages, and blog posts without developer review. This speed-to-publish means accessibility issues reach production immediately with no gate.
Smart content creates variant testing challenges
HubSpot's smart content shows different content based on visitor lifecycle stage, list membership, or device type. Each variant needs accessibility validation, but most teams only check the default version.
HubSpot tracking scripts and chat widget
HubSpot automatically injects tracking JavaScript and optionally a chat widget. The chat widget overlay can create keyboard traps and focus management issues that are outside the content team's control.
Scan your HubSpot CMS site for free
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Frequently asked questions
Is HubSpot CMS accessible?
HubSpot has made some accessibility improvements and provides alt text fields and heading controls, but the platform does not enforce WCAG compliance. Most HubSpot CMS sites have accessibility issues stemming from template design, module choices, and content authoring practices.
Does the EAA apply to HubSpot marketing sites?
If your HubSpot CMS site provides services to EU consumers - including lead generation, e-commerce, or content access - the EAA likely applies. Marketing sites that collect personal data or offer commercial services are in scope.
Can I fix accessibility issues in HubSpot CMS?
Content-level issues (alt text, heading structure, link text, colour contrast) can be fixed in the editor. Template-level and module-level issues require a developer to modify HubL templates and module HTML. Some platform-level issues (like the chat widget) require HubSpot to fix.
How do I handle accessibility for HubSpot landing pages?
Landing pages are often the most problematic because they're built quickly for campaigns with minimal review. Apply the same accessibility standards as your main website: proper heading hierarchy, descriptive alt text, accessible forms, sufficient colour contrast, and keyboard-navigable CTAs.
Related resources
Last reviewed: April 2026. Content is reviewed quarterly for accuracy.