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Accessibility Testing Tools

Full List

There are several excellent accessibility testing tools available, each catering to different aspects of web accessibility.

I'll mark my ones I use everyday in my role as a UX Designer as "Recommended". You don't need all of these tools to make a website accessible—just a combination of a few that fit your workflow.

Here are some of the most popular and widely used tools:.

Automated Accessibility Testing Tools

  1. axe DevTools (by Deque)
    • One of the most popular tools for accessibility testing.
    • Browser extension and integrations with frameworks like Selenium and Cypress.
    • Provides detailed guidance on fixing accessibility issues.
  2. WAVE (by WebAIM) RECOMMENDED
    • Browser extension and online tool for quick visual feedback on accessibility issues.
    • Highlights WCAG violations directly on the page.
  3. Lighthouse (by Google)
    • Built into Chrome DevTools.
    • Tests performance, SEO, and accessibility, providing an overall score.
  4. Pa11y
    • Open-source CLI tool for automated accessibility testing.
    • Can integrate with CI/CD pipelines.

Screen Reader Testing

  1. NVDA (Windows)
    • Free and open-source screen reader used widely by accessibility testers.
    • Helps test how visually impaired users interact with a website.
  2. JAWS (Windows)
    • One of the most widely used screen readers for professional accessibility testing.
  3. VoiceOver (by Apple) RECOMMENDED
    • Built-in screen reader for Apple devices.
    • Essential for testing accessibility on Mac and iOS devices.

Color Contrast & Visual Testing

  1. Contrast Checker (by WebAIM) RECOMMENDED
    • Tests color contrast for WCAG compliance.
    • Helps ensure readable text against background colors.
  2. JAWS (Windows)
    • One of the most widely used screen readers for professional accessibility testing.

Code & Development Integration

  1. Accessibility Insights (by Microsoft)
    • Browser extension for automated and guided accessibility tests.
    • Offers detailed guidance for developers.
  2. W3C Validator
    • Checks for compliance with web standards, including accessibility-related issues.

Each of these tools serves a unique purpose. If you're doing quick audits, use axe, WAVE, or Lighthouse. For detailed screen reader testing, try NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver. If you need continuous testing in development, integrate Pa11y, Cypress-Axe, or Playwright.

Practical Approach

You don't need all of these tools to make a website accessible—just a combination of a few that fit your workflow.

Basic Accessibility Testing Stack

  • If you're just starting or need a quick audit:

    • Axe DevTools (for automated issue detection)
    • Lighthouse (for an overall accessibility score)
    • WAVE (for visual feedback and color contrast checks)

Intermediate Testing (Devs & Designers)

  • For more thorough testing:

    • Accessibility Insights (for guided testing)
    • NVDA or VoiceOver (for screen reader testing)
    • Color Contrast Checker (to ensure readable text)

Advanced & Continuous Testing (Dev Teams)

  • For integrating accessibility into the development pipeline:

    • Pa11y or Cypress-Axe (for automated testing in CI/CD)
    • Playwright Accessibility Testing (for end-to-end validation)
    • Manual testing with screen readers (for real-world usability)

You can get 80% of the way there with automated tools, but manual testing is key—especially with screen readers and keyboard navigation.

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