Accessibility Testing Tools
Comprehensive directory of tools for testing website accessibility. Combining automated and manual testing is essential for WCAG compliance.
Testing Best Practice
Automated tools can detect only 30-40% of accessibility issues. Combine automated scanning with manual testing, keyboard navigation, and screen reader testing for comprehensive coverage.
Browser Extensions (Free)
Install these browser extensions for quick accessibility checks during development:
WAVE
Developer: WebAIM
Visual feedback tool that identifies accessibility errors, alerts, and features directly on the page.
- Contrast checker
- Structure analysis
- Error identification
axe DevTools
Developer: Deque Systems
Powerful automated testing tool integrated into browser developer tools. Industry-standard rules engine.
- WCAG issue detection
- Intelligent guided tests
- Issue impact ratings
Accessibility Insights
Developer: Microsoft
Comprehensive testing tool with FastPass for quick checks and Assessment mode for detailed audits.
- Tab stop visualization
- Headings analysis
- Landmarks view
Lighthouse
Developer: Google
Built into Chrome DevTools. Provides accessibility score and actionable recommendations.
- Performance combined with a11y
- CI/CD integration
- Accessibility score
Automated Testing Platforms
Enterprise-level tools for scanning entire websites:
| Tool | Type | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deque axe Monitor | Enterprise SaaS | Large sites, continuous monitoring | $$$$ |
| Siteimprove | Enterprise SaaS | Content + accessibility monitoring | $$$$ |
| Level Access AMP | Enterprise SaaS | Compliance tracking, reporting | $$$$ |
| Pope Tech | SaaS | Education, mid-size orgs | $$ |
| Monsido | SaaS | Mid-size sites, quality assurance | $$$ |
| ANDI | Free Bookmarklet | Quick checks, government use | Free |
Screen Readers for Testing
Test with the screen readers your users actually use:
Windows
- NVDA (Free)
- Most popular free screen reader. Excellent for testing. Download from nvaccess.org
- JAWS (Paid)
- Industry-leading commercial screen reader. Many enterprise users. Available from Freedom Scientific.
- Narrator (Built-in)
- Windows built-in screen reader. Good for basic testing. Press Win+Ctrl+Enter to start.
Apple
- VoiceOver - Mac (Built-in)
- Excellent screen reader. Press Cmd+F5 to start. Safari testing recommended.
- VoiceOver - iOS (Built-in)
- Essential for mobile app testing. Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver
Android
- TalkBack (Built-in)
- Android's built-in screen reader. Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack
Linux
- Orca (Free)
- Linux screen reader. Included in many distributions. Works with Firefox and LibreOffice.
Color & Contrast Tools
WebAIM Contrast Checker
Enter foreground/background colors to check WCAG contrast ratios.
Colour Contrast Analyser
Desktop application with color picker for testing any application.
Color Blindness Simulators
NoCoffee, Sim Daltonism - simulate color vision deficiencies.
PDF Accessibility Testing
Tools for PDF Accessibility:
- Adobe Acrobat Pro: Built-in accessibility checker and remediation tools
- PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker): Free tool for PDF/UA validation
- CommonLook PDF Validator: Detailed PDF accessibility testing
- axesPDF: Automated PDF accessibility checking
Mobile App Testing
- Accessibility Inspector: Xcode tool for inspecting accessibility properties
- VoiceOver: Built-in screen reader testing
- Dynamic Type: Test text scaling
- Accessibility Scanner: Google app for automated checks
- TalkBack: Built-in screen reader testing
- Switch Access: Test switch control navigation
Testing Approach Recommendations
Comprehensive Testing Strategy:
- Automated Scan: Run axe DevTools or WAVE on every page
- Keyboard Test: Navigate entire site using only Tab, Enter, Arrow keys
- Screen Reader Test: Use NVDA/VoiceOver to complete key user flows
- Zoom Test: Verify content at 200% and 400% zoom
- Color Test: Check contrast ratios, color independence
- Mobile Test: Test on actual mobile devices with AT
Important
Automated tools find only 30-40% of issues. Always combine with manual testing, keyboard navigation, and screen reader testing.
Recommended Start
- Install WAVE extension
- Install axe DevTools
- Download NVDA (free)
- Learn keyboard testing