Ready to see where your website stands? Here are free tools you can use right now—no technical expertise required.
Automated Testing Tools
WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
Website: wave.webaim.org
Enter your URL and get a visual report showing errors, alerts, and structural elements. Perfect for a quick overview of obvious issues.
Limitation: Only checks one page at a time.
Google Lighthouse
Built right into Chrome (right-click → Inspect → Lighthouse tab).
Runs an accessibility audit along with performance and SEO checks. Great for technical users who want detailed recommendations.
Limitation: Requires some technical knowledge to interpret results.
axe DevTools
Browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.
Scans your page and lists violations with explanations. Best for developers who want to fix issues as they build.
Accessibility Insights for Web
Browser extension from Microsoft.
Offers both quick scans and guided manual testing. Best for thorough testing combining automated and manual checks.
Color Contrast Checkers
WebAIM Contrast Checker
Website: webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker
Enter your foreground and background colors. Shows whether you pass WCAG AA and AAA requirements.
Coolors Contrast Checker
Website: coolors.co/contrast-checker
Visual, user-friendly interface. Lets you adjust colors until you find accessible combinations.
Screen Reader Testing
Want to experience your website the way a blind user would? Try these free screen readers:
- NVDA (Windows) — Free, open-source, widely used
- VoiceOver (Mac/iOS) — Built into Apple devices (Settings → Accessibility)
- TalkBack (Android) — Built into Android devices
Even 10 minutes of navigating your own website with a screen reader can be eye-opening.
Important: Tools Don't Catch Everything
Here's the honest truth: automated tools typically find only 25-35% of accessibility issues.
They're great at catching:
- Missing alt text
- Color contrast problems
- Missing form labels
- Incorrect heading structure
But they can't evaluate:
- Whether alt text is actually helpful (vs. just present)
- Whether content is written clearly
- Whether keyboard navigation makes logical sense
- Whether error messages are helpful
Automated testing is a starting point, not the finish line.
For a complete picture, you need manual testing and, ideally, testing by actual users with disabilities.
Your Quick-Start Testing Plan
- Run WAVE on your homepage and top 5 pages
- Check color contrast on your most important text
- Try keyboard navigation — can you Tab through your entire site?
- Spend 10 minutes with a screen reader — you'll learn more than any tool can tell you
Document what you find, prioritize the fixes, and tackle them one by one.