What is a website accessibility tool?
Web accessibility tools are software programs or online platforms that help website owners scan and identify most accessibility errors and determine whether the website complies with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and resolve these identified errors in the website content. It helps developers, designers, and content creators build websites that are inclusive, compliant with global standards, and usable by everyone, regardless of ability.
Many accessibility tools suggest remediation for accessibility errors. Accessibility testing tools have multiple types that include browser extensions, online services, standalone software, and mobile accessibility checkers. Browser extensions are popular for quick scanning, dedicated software and online services provide detailed analysis & automated reporting, and mobile accessibility checkers are used to ensure that the mobile applications meet accessibility standards across different devices.
Through accessibility scans of web pages, developers and designers can identify the errors that require improvement to make digital content inclusive for people with disabilities. This not only reduces the risk of legal actions but also enhances usability and functionality for all users.
Why Use a Web Accessibility Tool?
A web accessibility tool is not for compliance only, but also for creating an inclusive & better digital experience for everyone. The key reasons are:
- Check Inclusivity & Equal Access: Accessibility tools help website owners identify whether the website provides additional options for users with disabilities, such as visual, hearing, motor, cognitive, etc., to use the website or not. The tool results consist of multiple errors from text alternatives, captions, audio/video, color contrast, etc., keyboard users need proper navigation, and many more. Using such tools helps a website achieve digital inclusivity, which means attracting more website users.
- Legal Compliance: Web accessibility not only creates digital inclusivity but also helps website owners avoid legal actions. Nowadays, many countries have strict web accessibility laws, such as the ADA in the USA, the Equality Act in the UK, and so on. Failing to comply with such a law or having a non-compliant website can make a website owner face lawsuits from people or organizations, which may cost millions of dollars. Accessibility tools help test and meet WCAG 2.1 guidelines, which eventually reduces legal risks.
- Better User Experience (UX): An accessible website not just helps the users with disabilities, but also makes it way easier for all users to use the website and have a smooth user experience. A website with clear headings, readable texts, good color contrast, and easy navigation improves usability.
- Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Having accessibility features in a website surely helps it rank higher on search engines like Google, Bing, etc. When the bots of the search engines crawl to rank websites, they usually tend to prioritize those websites that consist of alt text for images, clean HTML structure, proper headings, and faster load times. Having an accessible website helps improve SEO.
- Wider Audience Reach: Having an accessible website means having more traffic on the site. Accessibility opens a website to a much larger audience. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people live with some form of disability worldwide. Accessible websites also help aging populations who may face vision, hearing, or mobility challenges. A website accessibility tool can detect all the issues of a website, which may make the owner take further steps to reach a wider audience by resolving those issues.
- Brand Reputation & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): An accessible website clearly shows your brand is responsible towards an inclusive society and diversity. It builds brand loyalty, trust, and goodwill with customers. A website accessibility tool can help you achieve all these by detecting accessibility errors in your website and recommending that you resolve the errors immediately.
Why Use Free Accessibility Testing Tools?
Web accessibility testing can be done in two main ways:
- Automated Testing: These tools scan websites for accessibility issues without any human touch.
- Manual Testing: It is done through human testing for screen readers, keyboards, and real-life scenarios.
Manual testing is very crucial for a website since it involves more human interaction and detailing, but it is time-consuming and requires expertise. On the other hand, automated testing involves free automated tools that provide quicker and easier testing results. Free tools are the perfect starting point for building an accessible website.
Benefits of Using Free Accessibility Testing Tools
- Cost-effective: Fixing accessibility issues early with tools is cheaper than redesigning later. Ideal for startups and small businesses.
- Beginner-friendly: If a website owner is new to accessibility issues or has no deep technical knowledge, using free accessibility testing tools is the best approach to take. Automated testing tools are very easy to use; you don’t need to be a tech-savvy person to use these accessibility tools.
- Immediate feedback: Accessibility tools provide quick audits, reducing time and resources spent on manual testing. The results detect errors on the website and recommend improvements required.
- Educational: Helps developers and designers learn best practices while building or designing a website, application, or any other digital product or service.
WCAG Principles (POUR)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide the international standard for accessible design. They are built on four key principles:
- Perceivable: Content must be presented in ways users can perceive. Example: Images should have alternative (alt) text for screen readers.
- Operable: The interface must be usable. Example: All functions should work with keyboard navigation.
- Understandable: Information should be clear. Example: Avoid overly complex instructions or jargon.
- Robust: Content must be compatible with different assistive technologies. Example: Websites should work with screen readers.
The Best Free Website Accessibility Testing Tools
Among all the free tools available in the market, let’s explore the most reliable free tools, including browser extensions, screen readers, and design checkers:
Webmax(Website Accessibility Checker)
- What it is: AI-powered widgets that provide web accessibility solutions.
- Features:
- Identifies all the detailed errors of the website.
- Increases the accessibility score of a website using widgets.
- Automated daily scanning and remediation suggestions.
- Monitors the website on a daily basis.
- Offers manual auditing of the website.
- Complete accessibility repair support for the website.
WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
- What it is: A browser extension and online tool developed by WebAIM.
- Features:
- Highlights accessibility errors directly on the page.
- Offers color-coded icons for quick identification.
- Explains issues and suggests fixes.
axe DevTools (by Deque Systems)
- What it is: A Chrome and Firefox extension that scans pages for WCAG issues.
- Features:
- Integrates with developer tools.
- Provides detailed reports with code references.
- Can be automated into CI/CD pipelines.
Google Lighthouse
- What it is: A free tool built into Chrome DevTools.
- Features:
- Audits accessibility, SEO, and performance.
- Generates numeric accessibility scores.
Accessibility Insights (by Microsoft)
- What it is: An open-source accessibility testing tool.
- Features:
- FastPass: Quick automated test.
- Assessment: Step-by-step manual + automated testing.
- Integrates with GitHub and Azure pipelines.
accessiBe
- What it is: Offers AI-powered tools to make websites accessibility compliant.
- Features:
- Text resizing, contrast adjustments, and font changes.
- Keyboard navigation support.
- Screen reader compatibility improvements.
- Automated daily scanning and remediation suggestions.
Siteimprove Accessibility Checker (Free Chrome Extension)
- What it is: A browser extension for on-page accessibility checks.
- Features:
- Provides immediate WCAG analysis.
- Explains issues in plain language.
Free Tools for Designers & Content Creators
Accessibility is not just a developer’s job; designers and content creators play a huge role.
- Contrast Ratio Checkers: Ensure text is legible.
- Accessible Color Palette Generators: Create inclusive branding colors.
- Heading Checkers: Tools like “HeadingsMap” validate semantic structure.
- Alt-text Validators: Encourage descriptive text for images.
Final Thought
Accessibility is about building a web that is accessible to everyone. With millions of users depending on assistive technologies, accessibility is not just a “nice-to-have”; it’s essential. Free tools like Webmax, WAVE, axe, Lighthouse, Accessibility Insights, NVDA, and Colour Contrast Analyser make accessibility checks achievable for businesses, educators, and independent creators alike.
Of course, free tools have limitations, and true accessibility requires a blend of automation, manual testing, and inclusive design practices. But these tools are the foundation of starting your journey of web accessibility testing. By focusing on accessibility, you are not only complying with legal standards but you are reaching a wider audience, improving user experience, boosting SEO, and most importantly, creating a more inclusive digital world.
So why wait? Install the free accessibility tool of Webmax today, run your first test, and start building a website that welcomes everyone.
