Accessibility Testing Tools Comparison: Finding the Right Fit for Your Workflow
Web accessibility isn't just about following guidelines—it's about making sure everyone, regardless of ability, can use your website without barriers. Testing is a crucial step in this process. While manual checks are important, accessibility testing tools help developers catch common issues faster and build more inclusive products.
In this post, we'll compare some of the most widely used accessibility testing tools, explore their strengths and weaknesses, and show where tools like paletteIO fit into the workflow.
Why Accessibility Testing Tools Matter
Even experienced developers can miss accessibility issues. Tools provide:
- **Speed** – Quickly scan pages for errors like missing alt text or low color contrast
- **Consistency** – Apply the same checks across all pages
- **Education** – Many tools explain why something is an issue and how to fix it
- **Integration** – Automated testing can be added to CI/CD pipelines, ensuring accessibility remains part of development, not just an afterthought
Popular Accessibility Testing Tools
1. WAVE (WebAIM's Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
**Best for**: Beginners and quick checks
**How it works**: Browser extension or online input. Highlights errors visually on the page.
**Strengths**: Easy to use, beginner-friendly explanations
**Limitations**: Doesn't always catch more advanced WCAG failures
2. axe by Deque Systems
**Best for**: Developers integrating accessibility into code workflows
**How it works**: Browser extension and a powerful API for automation
**Strengths**: Strong documentation, widely trusted, integrates with Jest, Cypress, Selenium
**Limitations**: Can overwhelm new users with technical reports
3. Lighthouse (by Google)
**Best for**: Performance + accessibility overview
**How it works**: Built into Chrome DevTools. Provides an accessibility score out of 100
**Strengths**: Easy to access, great for quick audits
**Limitations**: Only checks a subset of WCAG, so you'll still need deeper tools
4. NVDA & VoiceOver (Screen Readers)
**Best for**: Real-world experience testing
**How it works**: Screen readers simulate how blind users navigate your site
**Strengths**: No automated tool can replace testing with assistive tech
**Limitations**: Higher learning curve for developers unfamiliar with screen readers
5. paletteIO (Color Contrast Checker & More)
**Best for**: Ensuring readable color choices
**How it works**: Quickly checks contrast ratios between text and backgrounds, helping you meet WCAG AA or AAA standards
**Strengths**: Practical, visual, and especially helpful for designers choosing palettes. It's not just for people with disabilities—better contrast also helps users in bright sunlight, on older screens, or with age-related vision changes
**Limitations**: Focused on contrast, so it should be combined with broader accessibility tools
👉 If you're designing with colors in mind, paletteIO is the fastest way to make sure your choices are accessible.
Choosing the Right Toolset
No single tool covers everything. The best approach is to combine tools:
- **Use WAVE or axe** for quick issue spotting
- **Use Lighthouse** for overall health checks
- **Test with screen readers** for real-world insights
- **Use paletteIO** to ensure your design system's colors meet accessibility standards
Building Your Testing Workflow
Here's a practical approach to integrating these tools:
1. Development Phase - Use paletteIO when choosing colors for your design system - Run axe-core tests in your unit tests to catch issues early - Use browser extensions (WAVE, axe) for quick manual checks
2. Pre-Release Testing - Run Lighthouse audits on key pages - Test with screen readers on critical user flows - Verify color contrast across different devices and lighting conditions
3. Continuous Integration - Integrate axe-core into your CI/CD pipeline - Set up automated accessibility testing with tools like Pa11y or Playwright - Monitor accessibility scores over time
Final Thoughts
Accessibility testing isn't about picking just one tool—it's about creating a workflow that balances automation, manual review, and real-user testing. By combining general-purpose checkers with specialized tools like paletteIO, you'll catch more issues, build more inclusive designs, and improve user experience for everyone.
Start with one or two tools that fit your current workflow, then gradually expand your testing approach as your team becomes more comfortable with accessibility practices. Remember: the best accessibility tool is the one your team will actually use consistently.
Ready to improve your color accessibility? Try paletteIO's contrast checker and make it part of your design workflow today.