15 Web Accessibility Testing Tools & How to Choose One
15 Web Accessibility Testing Tools & How to Choose One
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Choosing an accessibility testing tool can feel overwhelming — especially considering how many are on the market today. Below, we’ll look at 15 tools (both paid and free) and how each one improves accessibility.
From missing alt text and low color contrast to non-descriptive links and inaccessible forms, a lot goes into making a website accessible. The best place to get started is with accessibility testing tools.
Accessibility testing tools (also called web accessibility evaluation tools) are solutions that ensure digital content and applications can be used by people of all abilities — particularly those with disabilities. These tools test digital content against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and identify violations.
More simply, these tools look for accessibility barriers that might hinder usability for people with disabilities. For example, both manual and automated accessibility testing tools can determine whether your digital content is compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers. Or whether your navigation is optimized for keyboard users.
Each of these tools helps developers and designers find and fix accessibility barriers on both web and mobile applications, enabling organizations to create a more inclusive digital environment.
The popularity of accessibility testing tools has risen over the years, saturating the market with dozens of solutions. Each is designed to increase accessibility for individuals with disabilities and include a number of tools to streamline and enhance accessibility testing and compliance.
Below, we’ll look at 15 of the most popular accessibility testing tools as well as their top features.
Top 15 Accessibility Testing Tools
To help you pick the right accessibility testing tool — one that meets your specific needs and business goals — we’ve broken down the top 15 accessibility testing tools into paid and free platforms.
Paid Platforms
AudioEye
AudioEye is a digital accessibility platform that takes a hybrid approach to accessibility testing. We start with a free accessibility scan that identifies common accessibility errors, including missing alt text, lack of video captions, poor color contrast, and lack of support for assistive technologies. AudioEye supplements this testing with Expert Audits performed by a team of experts as well as individuals from the disability community. The comprehensive approach enables organizations to create digital content that is compliant, accessible, and inclusive.
UsableNet
UsableNet is an accessibility platform that includes a toolkit for testing digital content for WCAG conformance and compliance with accessibility laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It includes tools for both automated and manual testing as well as accessibility remediation and reporting and analytics.
Level Access
A unified software platform, Level Access features both expert managed services and training solutions for sustainable digital accessibility. The platform can be embedded into existing workflows to help digital content creators build more accessible digital content. Additionally, Level Access includes reporting and analytics features for a deeper understanding of how accessible your existing content is.
Silktide
Silktide is a website quality management platform that includes tools for SEO, content, user experience, and accessibility optimization. Its accessibility offerings include solutions for automated accessibility testing, manual audits, training programs, and consultancy services. Together, the tools help you gain visibility into existing accessibility barriers so you can prioritize your efforts to remove them.
UserWay
UserWay is a digital accessibility compliance platform that includes an Accessibility Widget, Accessibility Scanner, and Accessibility Audits. It also includes UserWay for Microsoft Office and PDF. The tools test against WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 accessibility standards and see how accessible your content is with WCAG guidelines. The suite of tools helps you create a user experience that is accessible, inclusive, and compliant.
Siteimprove
Siteimprove is a platform comprising digital accessibility and governance, digital experience analytics, performance and search marketing, and cross-channel campaign management tools. The collection of web-based tools are designed to improve website function for all user types, including those with disabilities. Siteimprove’s digital accessibility solution features solutions for automated accessibility testing that measure compliance with accessibility laws such as the ADA and Section 508.
accessiBe
accessiBe is an AI-powered web accessibility solution that includes accessWidget, an accessibility testing solution, and accessFlow, a platform for developers to test, monitor, and remediate accessibility issues. Using these tools and testing processes, organizations can test various user interface components to determine how accessible and usable they are for individuals with disabilities.
SortSite Desktop by PowerMapper
SortSite Desktop is a one-click web testing tool. The platform automatically scans your digital content for WCAG 2.X violations as well as compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards. SortSite can also check for accessibility problems, including broken links, browser compatibility with assistive technologies, spelling errors, and more.
Accessibility Checker by Intopia
Intopia includes a number of tools for auditing and reporting on web accessibility issues. Accessibility Assessments, for example, provide organizations with an in-depth analysis of their digital products and identify issues that impact individuals with disabilities. Intopia also helps with accessibility monitoring and pulse checks to enhance accessibility.
Deque
Deque features a number of accessibility tools and apps, including axe DevTools. The accessibility testing library includes open-source tools for manual and automated accessibility testing, WCAG audits, and monitoring and reporting tools that provide an accessibility status for organizations. Deque is designed to help organizations create and maintain accessible digital experiences while meeting compliance standards.
Free Tools
WAVE
WAVE is a collection of accessibility evaluation tools designed to assist web developers or authors in improving content accessibility by identifying and addressing WCAG errors. Available as a browser extension, WAVE allows organizations to perform accessibility testing directly within a web browser. The solution also supports the evaluation of intranet sites, password-protected pages, dynamically generated content, and sensitive web pages. This allows organizations to enhance accessibility across their entire website.
DigitalA11y Color Contrast Validator
DigitalA11y's Color Contrast Checker is a Chrome extension that helps you determine whether your color palettes are accessible to individuals with visual disabilities or impairments (e.g., low vision or color blindness). The tool carefully tests various color combinations against WCAG’s guidelines and suggests alternative color palettes.
Google Lighthouse
Google Lighthouse is an open-source, automated tool that helps improve the quality of web pages. The platform can be run on any webpage and gives organizations a score for overall accessibility, performance, SEO ranking, and more. Scores are shown in a pass-or-fail format and clearly show businesses where WCAG violations might exist. Human testers supplement this testing further, identifying more complex accessibility issues like missing ARIA roles, focus order, logical tab order, and more.
TPGi’s ARC Platform
TPGi’s ARC Platform is designed to eliminate inconsistent results around accessibility testing. It features simple reporting features, allowing businesses to identify, manage, remediate, and create inclusive, accessible user experiences. The platform tests digital content for compliance with the ADA, Section 508, and EN 301 549 and conformance with WCAG accessibility standards.
Testsigma
TestSigma is an end-to-end testing platform that enables businesses to perform end-to-end accessibility testing automatically across platforms. Using TestSigma, organizations can write custom accessibility tests without writing any code and run them with ease. The platform provides detailed reports and analytics, helping users understand the test results and where to improve accessibility.
What to Look for In Web Accessibility Testing Tools
The platforms above are by no means an exhaustive list of accessibility testing tools. There are dozens of solutions available — both paid and free — that provide a deeper understanding of the accessibility of your site. Because of the sheer number of tools available, it can be difficult to choose one that’s best for your organization. Below are a few things to consider when evaluating platforms:
- Integration capabilities: Consider how well the accessibility platform can integrate with your existing tools — specifically your development and testing workflows. You don’t want a tool that complicates your CI/CD pipelines, project management tools, or design or development tools, as this can create extra work for teams.
- Automation vs. manual testing: Because automation can’t identify every accessibility issue, look for a platform that includes both automated and manual testing. Doing so can help you find and fix more accessibility issues and enhance the experience of your digital content.
- Support options: Look for platforms with a team of human experts who can further audit your content for more complex accessibility issues or provide guidance on legal matters.
- Accessibility features: Whatever accessibility testing platform you choose should include a myriad of accessibility features, such as a color contrast checker or tools to test for assistive technology or keyboard navigation compatibility. Some tools only focus on specific parts of accessibility, which can limit your site's overall accessibility.
- Training and resources: Because the digital accessibility industry is constantly changing, consider platforms that provide access to learning materials for the platform or training courses for digital accessibility as a whole. Not only can this help your team better understand how to use the platform, but also understand digital accessibility best practices.
Unlock the Benefits of Accessibility Testing with AudioEye
Accessibility testing isn’t just something that can help you comply with legal requirements — it can unlock significant economic and moral benefits as well.
From an economic standpoint, creating a more accessible website can help you widen your audience reach. With 1.3 billion people worldwide having a disability, you can tap into a larger audience base, which can help boost your sales and brand loyalty. Plus, accessible websites improve the user experience for everyone — not just those with disabilities. This can result in longer visit durations, lower bounce rates, and higher conversions.
Most importantly, finding and fixing accessibility issues on your site shows your commitment to inclusivity and social equity. More simply, it shows you value all your users, regardless of their abilities. That commitment turns into more trust and loyalty among your customers — enhancing your overall brand image.
Regularly testing and auditing your digital content for accessibility enables you to unlock not just these benefits but so much more. And with AudioEye, getting started with accessibility testing is easy. We take a hybrid approach to accessibility testing, using both automated and expert testing to embed accessibility into every part of your digital content. Our Automated Fixes resolve common accessibility issues on your site while our team of human experts test your content for more complex barriers. The end result? An accessible website that’s compliant with accessibility laws and that provides a seamless, inclusive experience.
Ready to take the first step toward enhancing your website’s accessibility? Use our free Web Accessibility Scanner below to get started, or schedule a demo to see how AudioEye’s solutions work.
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