Quick picks
Don't want to read the whole comparison? Here are our recommendations:
Best Free Browser Extension
Visual, beginner-friendly
Best for Developers
Integrates with dev workflow
Best for Manual Testing
Guided assessments
Best Free Screen Reader
Full-featured, Windows
UA Enterprise Tool
Site-wide monitoring
Browser Extensions (Automated Testing)
Quick scans that catch 30-40% of accessibility issues. Essential first step, but not comprehensive.
| Tool | Price | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAVE wave.webaim.org |
Free | Beginners, content authors | Visual overlay shows issues in context; explains errors clearly; works offline | Can be overwhelming on complex pages; no CI/CD integration |
| axe DevTools deque.com/axe |
Free(Pro version paid) | Developers, QA | Industry standard engine; integrates with CI/CD; detailed remediation guidance | Pro features cost money; less visual than WAVE |
| Accessibility Insights accessibilityinsights.io |
Free | Manual + automated testing | Guided assessments; FastPass for quick checks; Tab stops visualizer | Chrome/Edge only; more complex UI |
| Lighthouse Built into Chrome |
Free | Developers (quick check) | Built into Chrome DevTools; includes performance + SEO; CI/CD friendly | Less comprehensive than axe; fewer explanations |
| ANDI ssa.gov/accessibility/andi |
Free | Government/508 testing | Bookmarklet works anywhere; focuses on 508; shows accessible name calculation | Dated interface; less intuitive |
Our recommendation
Start with WAVEfor visual feedback and learning.Add axe DevToolsif you're a developer integrating into your workflow. UseAccessibility Insightswhen you need guided manual testing.
Screen Readers
Manual testing with screen readers catches issues automation misses. Test with at least one.
| Tool | Platform | Price | Best Paired With | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA nvaccess.org |
Windows | Free | Firefox, Chrome | Most popular free screen reader. Excellent for testing. Our primary recommendation. |
| JAWS freedomscientific.com |
Windows | $1,000+UA Licensed | Chrome, IE/Edge | Industry standard in enterprise. More features than NVDA. UA has licenses available. |
| VoiceOver Built into macOS/iOS |
Mac, iPhone, iPad | Free | Safari | Built into all Apple devices. Essential for iOS testing. Use with Safari only. |
| TalkBack Built into Android |
Android | Free | Chrome | Built into Android. Essential for Android app testing. |
| Narrator Built into Windows |
Windows | Free | Edge | Improving rapidly. Good for quick tests, but NVDA/JAWS more representative. |
Our recommendation
Windows:Install NVDA (free) and test with Firefox or Chrome.Mac:Use built-in VoiceOver with Safari.Mobile:Use VoiceOver (iOS) or TalkBack (Android) with the default browser.
Enterprise / Site-Wide Monitoring
Scan entire websites and track accessibility over time. Used by central IT and communications teams.
| Tool | Price | Key Features | UA Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiteImprove siteimprove.com |
Enterprise | Full site scanning, content quality, SEO, analytics integration, CMS plugins | UA Licensed— Contact accessibility@arizona.edu for access |
| DubBot dubbot.com |
Enterprise | WCAG testing, broken links, spelling, site-wide dashboards, higher-ed focused | UA Licensed— Contact accessibility@arizona.edu for access |
| Deque axe Monitor deque.com/axe/monitor |
Enterprise | Continuous monitoring, trend tracking, same engine as axe DevTools | Not currently licensed; contact accessibility team if interested |
| Pope Tech pope.tech |
Enterprise | WAVE-based scanning, higher-ed pricing, LMS integration | Not currently licensed |
Access at UA
UA has enterprise licenses forSiteImproveandDubBot. Contactaccessibility@arizona.eduto get access for your department or college.
Color & Contrast Tools
| Tool | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| WebAIM Contrast Checker webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker |
Web app | Quick checks, paste hex codes |
| Colour Contrast Analyser tpgi.com/color-contrast-checker |
Desktop app | Pick colors from anywhere on screen |
| Stark getstark.co |
Figma/Sketch plugin | Designers working in design tools |
| Colorblindly Chrome extension |
Browser extension | Simulate colorblindness on any page |
PDF & Document Tools
| Tool | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | SubscriptionUA Licensed | Full PDF remediation—tagging, reading order, OCR |
| PAC 2024 (PDF Accessibility Checker) pdfua.foundation |
Free | Checking PDF/UA compliance; detailed reports |
| Microsoft Accessibility Checker | Free(built-in) | Checking Word, PowerPoint, Excel before export |
| Grackle Docs grackledocs.com |
Freemium | Google Docs/Slides accessibility checker |
Recommended Testing Approach
No single tool catches everything. Use this combination:
- Automated scan:WAVE or axe DevTools (catches ~30-40% of issues)
- Keyboard testing:Tab through the page manually
- Screen reader:NVDA or VoiceOver (catches semantic issues)
- Visual check:Zoom to 200%, check contrast, color-only indicators
- Enterprise scan:SiteImprove/DubBot for ongoing monitoring