23 Best Web Accessibility Checking Tools for Compliance
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Web accessibility is one of the most crucial digital concerns that are being confronted by organizations of all sizes today, from sole proprietorships to multinational corporations. Companies are being pushed toward website accessibility checkers in order to ensure that their websites are providing inclusive experiences, meeting the ever-evolving and complex WCAG success criteria, and are in compliance with global accessibility regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Before we begin, a few definitions:
WCAG stands for what, exactly? The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the organization that is responsible for publishing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines are meant to set regulations that make the internet accessible to persons who have disabilities.
What exactly is meant by the term “web accessibility checker”? Checkers and tools for web accessibility are computer programs that evaluate a website to determine whether or not it complies with accessibility standards.
In this post, we will present a list of website accessibility tools that have been built to assist make the internet accessible to everyone. These tools were developed to help make the internet more accessible to people with disabilities. But before we get into the various kinds of tools, let’s take a look at the growing significance of web accessibility and the risk that it poses to your firm.
Why is it so vital that websites be accessible?
The internet has rapidly grown to become one of the most important and widely utilized resources in the entire world. It has permeated almost every facet of our day-to-day existence, and the degree to which individuals and the larger society are dependent on it grows everyday. We put technology to use in a variety of contexts, including education, entertainment, work, governmental services, medical treatment, and so on. Equal access and opportunity should be provided on the internet in the same way that we strive to provide equal opportunity to people with disabilities in all aspects of day-to-day life, from washrooms to public transportation. In the same way, we should provide equal access and opportunity to the internet.
Failure at the Top: The Websites of Some of the Largest Companies in the United States Have Accessibility Problems, Putting Them at Risk of Being Sued and Losing Market Share Have a look at the report.
Compliance with WCAG standards was prompted by laws and policies enacted by governments in numerous places all over the world. And further bolstered by the ensuing public awareness of litigation risk from major media headlines such as “Supreme Court hands victory to blind man who sued Domino’s over site accessibility.” In the United States of America, website accessibility compliance has been largely driven by the increase in accessibility lawsuits against corporations. The lawsuit involving the pizza company was just one of dozens that have occurred in recent years. In 2019, there were 2,250 cases related to WCAG, while in 2017, there were just 800 of them.
How to determine whether or not a website is accessible to the public
It can be intimidating to test the accessibility of a website in its whole, therefore in order to make the process more manageable, we are going to split it down into more manageable portions. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are also known as ISO 40500 or EN 301 549, are the primary standard for web accessibility that must be adhered to (European standard). The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are designed to help businesses provide access to the widest possible range of users and ensure that their customers’ experiences are compatible with a wide variety of assistive technologies, both now and in the future. These four main principles are as follows:
Information and user interface components have to be presentable to users in a way that allows them to perceive the information and components.
User interface components and navigation are required to have operable functionality.
It is imperative that both the information and the functionality of the user interface be easily understood.
Robust: The content must be robust enough to be reliably interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technology. This includes a wide range of user agents.
Even though these four guidelines cover a lot of ground, we have three really straightforward tests that might help you get a better grasp on how website accessibility testing works. You can run any of these tests on a website to determine whether or not it satisfies the fundamental accessibility requirements:
Capabilities derived from using a keyboard
Please unplug your mouse or switch off your trackpad and give yourself a moment. Are you only able to use the keyboard to navigate the page that you are currently viewing? You should be able to navigate between the various aspects of the website by using the tab key. You should also be able to tell very clearly whatever part of the website you are dealing with through some kind of visual signal, and this should be extremely obvious to you. This accessibility to the keyboard is especially crucial for users who are blind, have impaired eyesight, or have disorders that affect their ability to control their muscles.
Mode with high contrast
Make sure your computer is set to high contrast by going into its settings and selecting that option. It will appear as though your computer has lost its ability to display a full spectrum of colors and is only able to show things in shades of black, white, and yellow to the majority of its users. Nevertheless, you should take note of the fact that all of your text and icons, which represent essential sources of information, stand out against the background. People who have low vision or are sensitive to light are able to perceive what is being displayed on the screen and interact with online pages because to this feature.
A screenshot of a computer screen with the contrast setting set to high.
Captioning as well as transcriptions
You can evaluate a website’s accessibility with this test, which is one of the simplest available options. Examine the multimedia that is presented on the page and check to see if there are any form of word descriptions, such as captions, subtitles, or anything else. If it isn’t clear right away, check to see if the media player you’re using has an option to toggle the captions on and off.
These tests, despite the fact that they are really fundamental in their nature, are some of the most essential checks that an accessibility solution for a website would undertake. That brings us to the next issue on our agenda, which is the accessibility checking tools in and of themselves.
Accessibility testing software for the web
Anyone who is interested in bringing their website into compliance with ADA and WCAG can choose from a wide choice of accessibility checking tools that are readily available online. Nevertheless, these tools are available in a wide variety of forms, including add-ons for web browsers, online services, and software applications, amongst others. The following is a curated list that we have compiled of readily available web accessibility evaluation tools, listed in no particular order:
1. WAVE
WAVE is for Web Accessibility Evaluation Framework, and it is a set of tools that was developed by WebAim to evaluate the accessibility of web content for people who have various types of disabilities. It is one of the tools that is utilized the most frequently and offers a graphical depiction of accessibility concerns that are present on a web page. Accessibility issues including images, headings, labels, and color contrast are especially addressed in this section. You can make use of WAVE by inputting the address of a website when you are connected to the internet, installing the browser extension, or utilizing the API service.
Plugin and Application Programming Interface
Services offered online including hosted services, online checkers, and server installations
Type of License: Open source software
2. AChecker
AChecker is a free and open-source web accessibility checker that was developed to assist web content developers in ensuring that their websites are accessible and do not include any accessibility issues. Entering a site address, uploading an HTML file, or pasting in the whole HTML source code from a web page are all valid ways for users to review HTML material with AChecker, which gives users the ability to create their own standards for evaluating HTML content.
Online tool as the type of instrument
Online Service: Online checker
Type of License: Open source software
3. Crownpeak
Crownpeak has developed its very own Digital Quality Management (DQM) tool, which can assist you in locating online accessibility issues, SEO errors, broken links, and other problems that are lowering the overall quality of your website. We provide a free scan that is accompanied by a free report that details the problems with your website as well as the solutions to those problems. A solution for paid enterprise web accessibility is also provided by us, and it comprises the following:
Monitoring of the website, including in-depth scanning and reporting on accessibility and other aspects
Assessing relative performance across a number of different web properties, as well as demonstrating improvement, falls under the purview of reporting, analytics, and benchmarking metrics.
Compliance with Global Accessibility Standards
Testing, consulting, and correction are all part of the WCAG Manual Testing.
a snapshot of the DQM product
Online tool as the type of instrument
Checker and hosted service offered through an online platform.
Free URL scans, premium services, and enterprise licenses are available.
4. Pa11y
Pa11y is a collection of web accessibility tools that are open-source and free to use. These tools are intended to assist web designers and developers in testing and improving accessibility. The Pa11y dashboard is capable of automatically testing and monitoring web pages on a daily basis for accessibility issues, and it can also provide graphs that can assist in tracking improvements and regressions over time.
API is the Type of Tool
Checker and server installation available through an online service.
License Type: Open source
5. IBM
It is possible that the news that IBM has built an open-source browser extension for web developers will come as a surprise to you. However, as you can see, IBM has developed such an addition. This accessibility assessment tool for websites makes use of IBM’s rule engine in order to identify problems with website accessibility. The checker is compatible with the Firefox and Chrome web browsers, and IBM provides plug-ins for Node.js and Karma for users that desire a more comprehensive integration.
It is important to note that while the checking tool itself does not cost anything, IBM’s premium services, which may be added on top of the checking tool, do cost money.
The Kind of Tool Is a Plugin
Software with no license restrictions and open source
6. Tota11y
Tota11y is an informative and user-friendly internet accessibility tool that was developed by Khan Academy. It was installed as a plugin to enable users spot accessibility problems directly on the web page.
The Kind of Tool Is a Plugin
License Type: Open source
7. A11y
A11y offers a cost-free online accessibility test for websites, and one of its tests examines color contrast. It includes recommendations to conform with the WCAG 2.1 AA Sc 1.4.3 Test for Color Contrast and assists in the identification of color combinations that do not pass contrast checkpoints. By inserting site addresses into an online form, validating web pages is a simple process.
Online tool as the type of instrument
Online Service: Online checker
Type of License: Open source software
8. Tanaguru
As was discussed earlier in this article, the majority of WCAG compliance is driven by rules and policies established by the government. As a consequence of this, each nation will have its own set of regulations that websites are required to follow. Tanaguru, for instance, provides two open-source online accessibility checking tools that can audit your website in accordance with WCAG and RGAA standards (the French General Accessibility Reference Frame work for Administrations). Tanaguru Contrast Finder is used to assess color contrast, while Tanaguru Engine is used to automatically run accessibility audits across all of the pages of a website.
Online tool as the type of instrument
Services offered online including hosted services, online checkers, and server installations
License Type: Open source
9. TAW
Because English is the language most commonly used in worldwide business and trade, we frequently make the mistake of assuming that the majority of content on the internet is written in English. On the other hand, there are a great many other languages that are spoken by more people than English is. Taw is here to lend a hand with the accessibility testing of websites geared at the Spanish-speaking globe. You won’t have to pay to utilize their accessibility checker for their online tools, but they do charge for their training and certificates.
Online tool as the type of instrument
Online Service: Online checker
Type of License: Open source software
10. UBK Accessibility Kit
This accessibility testing tool for the web was developed specifically for developers working on iOS. You won’t have to go through the trouble of inspecting each component using Xcode because it gives you the ability to test the apps you’ve developed directly on an iOS device. Due to the fact that it was developed by the iOS app team at UBank, this accessibility testing tool is likely to be among the best free solutions available for iOS developers (AUS).
Installation is the type of tool.
License Type: Open source
11. HTML Codesniffer
Whether or not you are aware of it, practically every website that you visit was built using HTML. This is true regardless of whether or not you are familiar with HTML. As a result of this, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that HTML Codesniffer is a tool for assessing the accessibility of websites. This tool searches through the HTML of a website to look for problems related to accessibility. Any website may be checked with the help of this auditing tool to ensure that it complies with WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 of the law in the United States.
Plugins and online tools are the types of tools available.
Checkers, hosted services, and server installations are all examples of online services.
License Type: Open source
12. Axe
Axe is an online accessibility evaluation tool that is designed for use in enterprise settings. It is a reliable toolkit that is utilized by industry-leading digital companies for the purpose of accessibility auditing and monitoring. DevTools, Auditor, and Monitor are some of the Axe tools, and there is also a free Accessibility Browser Extension.
Plugins and online tools are the types of tools available.
Hosted services and server installations are examples of online services.
License Type: Commercial, enterprise
13. ChromeLens
More than 280 million people all around the world are affected by some form of visual impairment. That is around 4% of the total population of the world. ChromeLens’ mission is to make the internet accessible to individuals who do not currently have it through the development of a variety of web accessibility solutions. Their tools are as follows: Filters, which allow users to experience a website as someone who is colorblind; Scanners, which allow users to audit the accessibility of a website; and Trackers, which display tab and shift-tab keyboard navigation.
The Kind of Tool Is a Plugin
License Type: Open source
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14. Accessibility Developer Tools
Google Chrome is the internet browser that has the most users, despite the fact that Microsoft pre-installss Internet Explorer and Edge when you first install Windows. As a result of this, the fact that a significant number of accessibility tools are Chrome plugins should not come as a surprise to anyone. One example of a Chrome web accessibility assessment tool is the extremely sophisticated ADT (Accessibility Debugger Tool). It is equipped with 17 audit rules right out of the box and has a debugging information sidebar pane.
The Kind of Tool Is a Plugin
License Type: Open source
15. Tingtun
The Tingtun accessibility checker is a free and open-source software application that identifies obstacles to web content accessibility for those who have physical or mental impairments. Documents written in HTML as well as PDF can be validated with the assistance of this program. In addition to this, Tingtun provides users with the option to manually assess accessibility in accordance with particular WCAG 2.0 requirements.
Checker available online as a type of tool
Hosted service and server are both types of online services.
License Type: Open source
16. Asqatsun
Asqatsun was initially a straightforward open-source project; nevertheless, throughout the course of its development, it has grown into the most popular open-source software for evaluating the accessibility of websites. This software was initially designed as an accessibility tool for business websites, but it was later made available for free and its source code was made public. Because of its origins in the commercial sector, it is equipped with a great deal of pre-programmed automated operations and is able to solve problems relating to search engine optimization.
Online tool as the type of instrument
Server for the online service
License Type: Open source
17. Bookmarklets
Bookmarklet for Accessibility Testing is just one of the many accessibility tools that Paul J. Adam has developed over the years. Paul is an experienced web and mobile accessibility consultant who works in the state of Texas. He created Bookmarklet to highlight roles, states, and properties of accessibility elements on the web page using JavaScript. The tool is open source, accessible to screen reader users, and work on any browser.
The Kind of Tool Is a Plugin
Software with no license restrictions and open source
18. Accessibility Check
Description: Accessibility check by Experte is a free online tool that crawls a website or a list of URLs to check for accessibility issues. The checker can test up to 500 URLs at a time and examines 41 different web features relating to navigation, aria, contrast, audio & video, and labels.
Online Service: Online checker
License Type: Free software
19. Cynthia Says
Description: CynthiaSays offers free WCAG 2.0 and/or Section 508 Web Accessibility scans for personal and non-commercial use. The online checker identifies errors in web content and provides feedback in an easy-to-understand report to your email.
Type of Tool: Online tool
Online Service: Online checker
License Type: Free software
20. aDesigner
Description: aDesigner is an open-source disability simulator that helps designers create accessible content specifically for the visually impaired. It can check for accessibility issues on web pages, PDF documents, and Flash content.
Type of Tool: Desktop application
License Type: Open source
21. Accessible Email
Description: You probably receive tons of emails every day, but are they accessible? This web-based WCAG and ADA testing tool has been developed to help promote email accessibility in the email marketing community. It will run through the HTML code of your campaign, and provide you with a free accessibility report.
Type of Tool: Online tool
Online Service: Online checker
License Type: Free software
22. Aditus Button Contrast Checker
Description: Aditus is an online contrast accessibility checker that was built with one goal – to test the accessibility of the buttons and links on your page. This might seem a little silly, but buttons and links are really the backbone of any website. Without them, everything falls apart. Aditus will vet your website and ensure your buttons are WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline compliant.
Type of Tool: Online tool
Online Service: Online checker
License Type: Free software
23. WhoCanUse
Description: WhoCanUse is an ideal web accessibility testing tool for web designers who love picking the perfect color schemes for their sites. This online checker has a great user interface that let’s you select a text color and corresponding background color by using a sliding gradient or entering a hex color code. It will then highlight which specific vision types your color scheme will not work for, as well as their respective percentage representation in the world population.
Type of Tool: Online tool
Online Service: Online checker
License Type: Open source
Honorable accessibility tool mentions
While we would love to recommend every web accessibility checking tool, some tools are clearly better than others. The curated list we provided, gave you the crème de la crème, but there are some tools that still deserve an honorable mention:
Quick Accessibility Page Tester: https://accessify.com/tools-and-wizards/accessibility-tools/favelets/quick-page-test/
Web Accessibility Toolbar: https://developer.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat/
Image Alt Test: https://seositecheckup.com/tools/image-alt-test
Colour Contrast Check: https://snook.ca/technical/colour_contrast/colour.html#fg=33FF33,bg=333333
Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool: https://trace.umd.edu/peat/
Dead Link Checker: https://www.deadlinkchecker.com/
YouTube Closed Captions: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2734796?
hl=en
NVDA Screen Reader: https://www.nvaccess.org/download/
Understanding Web Accessibility: Opportunities – and Costs of Non-Compliance. Get the ebook
What you don’t get from free tools
Free website accessibility tools can be an ideal solution for small businesses that are starting up and looking for a quick and easy way to see if their website is generally WCAG compliant. However, these tools have obvious limitations that make them unsuitable for larger corporations or enterprises looking to properly manage their digital presence:
Many free website accessibility tests have limited functionality and will only be able to find the basic compliance issues.
For example, free web accessibility tools will most commonly be able to find missing alt text, color/contrast issues, and identify text misalignment. However, these tools typically don’t have the built-in functionality to evaluate screen reader performance and keyboard navigability. These two issues actually make up the majority of accessibility issues online.
Aggregating test results from multiple free testing tools and compiling actionable insight can be challenging.
Limited confidence that free, third- party solutions will be up-to-date on latest compliance guidelines.
Most free tools are offered on-demand and often limit you to testing one URL/page at a time. Accessibility compliance is an on-going initiative that requires active, sitewide monitoring.
Free tools are not adequate to support the global, multi-jurisdiction compliance needs of large corporations.
As such, large corporations looking to provide accessible websites should avoid free tools and look towards more comprehensive and robust paid solutions.
What enterprises should look for in an accessibility tool/suite
As mentioned in the previous section of this blog post, businesses should be looking for enterprise-grade web accessibility solutions and consultation from leading vendors. Top-tier solutions deliver important benefits beyond accessibility compliance. What does this mean? We previously talked about how WCAG compliance often overlapped with good website development practices, quality management, and search engine optimization – a couple topics that any complete suite should also vet for you. When deciding on a vendor, you should see if they offer the following:
White-glove customer success support
Custom checkpoints
Brand compliance
Editorial standards and quality assurance
Privacy and regulatory compliance
UX/UI standards
Multi-lingual spell check and broken link monitoring
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Refined user control interface
Coverage for JavaScript websites
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