Top Accessibility Testing Tools for Web Applications: Ensure Compliance and Improve UX

Everyone loves a smooth, seamless app — until someone can’t use it. Accessibility issues are like invisible potholes: you don’t notice them until a user hits one. For people relying on screen readers or other assistive technologies, these barriers can make simple tasks frustrating—or impossible.

If you’re developing web applications, accessibility isn’t optional — it’s a legal requirement. According to law firm Seyfarth Shaw, ADA accessibility lawsuits have increased 320% since 2013.

Most lawsuits allege that websites or mobile apps violate Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation (and yes, websites count). These cases can be costly, even if a business doesn’t settle, since courts require defendants to cover litigation costs unless claims are deemed “frivolous.”

Organizations can reduce legal risk with regular web accessibility testing. The Department of Justice (DOJ) recommends testing against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the international standard for digital accessibility.

The challenge? Hundreds of accessibility testing tools exist, but not all can handle rich, complex content — especially web apps with desktop-like functionality.

Below, we’ll explore the best tools for accessibility testing for web applications, answer common WCAG questions, and share strategies for long-term ADA compliance.

What are Accessibility Testing Tools for Web Applications?

Accessibility testing tools evaluate websites, web applications, mobile apps, and other digital products to ensure that they’re usable by people with disabilities. These tools typically test content against WCAG, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). 

WCAG is organized into three levels: Level A (least strict), Level AA, and Level AAA ( most strict). Most websites and web applications should meet (or conform to) all Level A and Level AA requirements to provide users with a reasonable level of accessibility. 

Accessibility testing falls into three general categories:

• Automated accessibility testing tools scan through code and markup to identify common accessibility issues. They’re most useful for finding simple issues that can be tested with basic “pass-or-fail" rulesets.

• Expert testing (or manual testing) involves a human tester interacting with the digital product, often using assistive technologies such as screen readers. This method is more thorough than automated testing, providing key insights about the user experience. However, it requires more time and resources from teams.

• Hybrid accessibility testing combines automated checks with expert evaluation. This “best-of-both-worlds” approach that streamlines ADA compliance efforts while ensuring that each accessibility fix (or remediation) but also ensures that each accessibility fix meaningfully improves experiences for real users.

Both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the W3C recommend a hybrid approach for optimal accessibility outcomes. The DOJ’s ADA Title III compliance guidance specifically highlights hybrid testing as a best practice for organizations aiming to provide accessible digital experiences.

Key Features to Look for in Accessibility Testing Tools

To quickly recap: You should test your web application with automated tools while also performing manual tests. That’s the best practice for any type of website, but it’s especially important when the content relies on complex user interactions. Web applications often feature dynamic content, complex user flows, and component-based architectures that can create challenges for accessibility testing. Tools designed for static content might not be prepared for those challenges.

Look for these features when evaluating your options: 

• Comprehensive scanning and reporting: The tool must be able to analyze content rendered client-side, or it won’t be effective for Single-Page Applications (SPAs). Avoid tools that only test for a single issue (such as missing alternative text) or that claim to handle all accessibility fixes automatically. 

• WCAG and ADA compliance coverage: No automated tool can guarantee complete compliance with accessibility laws, but if you’re concerned about reducing your legal risk, test against recognized standards. Look for tools that explicitly test against the latest WCAG standards. 

• Integration with development workflows: Accessibility must be a sustainable part of your team’s processes — not an afterthought. Look for solutions that can be added to a Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline to allow developers to find (and fix) accessibility bugs as early as possible.

• Actionable dashboards and insights: An accessibility platform should offer trend analysis over time, the ability to filter issues by severity or component, and role-based views for different stakeholders. 

• Multi-platform and assistive technology support: Your tool must validate accessibility across different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox), device viewports (desktop, mobile), and with common assistive tech like screen readers. Remember, you want all users to have a consistent and functional experience — regardless of how they access your web application.

Note: You might need to use several testing tools to manage all of these priorities.

A person typing on a desktop computer, with different elements of a webpage highlighted.

Top Accessibility Tools for Web Applications

AudioEye

AudioEye is a comprehensive accessibility platform that combines automated scanning with manual testing and remediation performed by certified experts. 

Our tools are particularly well-suited to dynamic web applications: AudioEye’s AI-driven technology continuously monitors for changes and identifies accessibility issues in real-time, including on sites with complex or dynamic content. Automated Fixes can address many common WCAG failures, while our detailed reporting provides guidance for fixing issues that require human intervention.

We’ve also developed flexible developer tools that make testing easier and more effective during the early stages of development — empowering developers to address barriers before they impact real users. Additionally, human experts are available to provide guidance and feedback, helping you further accessibility.

WAVE

Developed by WebAIM, WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) is a suite of accessibility evaluation tools that test for common WCAG errors. It’s available as a browser extension, which is useful for on-the-spot checks when developing web applications. WebAIM also offers a WAVE API for automated accessibility analysis and a standalone Testing Engine for regularly scheduled audits. 

Google Lighthouse

Google Lighthouse is an open-source, automated tool built directly into the Chrome DevTools. It provides audits for performance, progressive web apps, SEO, and accessibility. 

For developers, the main benefit is convenience — you’re probably already using DevTools, and the accessibility audit feature is adequate for testing common WCAG violations such as missing alternative text and empty hyperlinks. Lighthouse isn’t intended as a comprehensive solution for WCAG conformance, but it’s useful as a first-pass tool. 

Accessible Name and Description Inspector (ANDI)

The Accessible Name and Description Inspector (ANDI) is a free accessibility testing bookmarklet created by the U.S. Social Security Administration. 

It’s designed for testing conformance with WCAG, and commonly used for testing compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. ANDI is suitable for testing web applications, which often rely on complex ARIA widgets to create interactive elements. 

ANDI reveals what a screen reader will announce for buttons, links, and forms, which can help developers ensure that interactive components are properly implemented. As with Lighthouse, ANDI is best used as a first-pass tool for evaluating live content. 

Pa11y

Pa11y is an open-source suite of accessibility tools that can be run from the command line. It’s a useful option for integrating accessibility testing directly into the CI/CD pipeline. 

Pa11y can be configured to automatically run against a web application with every code commit, preventing new accessibility issues from being introduced into production. It can also be scripted to test user flows that require multiple steps (for example, completing a form or a checkout process).

Microsoft Accessibility Insights

Microsoft Accessibility Insights is a free, open-source tool available as a browser extension and desktop application. It offers two main features: "FastPass" and "Assessment." FastPass is a quick, automated check that detects many common accessibility issues in seconds. The Assessment feature provides a more thorough, step-by-step process that walks testers through a series of manual checks against relevant WCAG criteria, complete with instructions on how to test each one. 

Selenium WebDriver

While not a dedicated accessibility tool on its own, Selenium WebDriver is a popular open-source framework for automating web browser interaction. If your development and Quality Assurance (QA) teams are already using Selenium for functional testing, you can extend its capabilities to include accessibility. By integrating an accessibility scanning engine into their Selenium test scripts, teams can create automated end-to-end tests that check for accessibility violations during critical user journeys.

DYNO Mapper

DYNO Mapper is a web-based tool that specializes in creating visual sitemaps and conducting site-wide content and accessibility audits. After crawling a web application, it provides a comprehensive inventory of all pages, images, and documents, along with a report of WCAG issues found on each page. 

Open laptop showing a man wearing glasses; a magnifying glass over an error icon is in the upper left-hand corner and a gear shaft with the accessibility symbol is in the bottom right-hand corner.

How to Choose the Best Accessibility Testing Tools for Your Web Applications

Accessibility is a core part of the user experience. If your web application works well with assistive tech, there’s a good chance that it works better for every user — and the business benefits of accessible design are strong. Following WCAG limits your legal exposure, but it can also improve search engine optimization (SEO), promote engagement, and help you build brand loyalty.

With that in mind, cost shouldn’t be your only concern when choosing an accessibility testing tool: Accessibility is an investment, and the right tools can give you a better return on that investment.

Keep these tips in mind when evaluating your options:

• Make sure your testing tools can integrate with existing development workflows and QA processes. 

• Adopt a strategy that combines automated and manual testing. A hybrid approach produces sustainable results — and optimizes compliance with laws like the ADA. 

• Plan for regular testing cycles. Don’t wait until the end of development to run your first audit; the earlier you start testing, the fewer resources you’ll need to dedicate to remediation. 

• Consider your organization’s resources and current level of accessibility expertise. If you don’t have an on-staff accessibility specialist, expert guidance can be essential for building your team’s knowledge of WCAG.

Remember, your goal is to build a sustainable culture of accessibility within your organization. Your accessibility platform will help you build that culture by empowering developers, designers, and content creators with the tools they need to make accessibility part of your development cycle. 

Make Your Web Applications Accessible and Compliant with AudioEye

For feature-rich web applications, accessibility testing isn’t optional — it’s essential.The right platform helps development teams save time, reduce legal risks, and ensure compliance with ADA and WCAG standards — while delivering a seamless experience for all users. 

AudioEye delivers this and more. Our three-pronged approach combines AI-powered automation with Expert Audits performed by accessibility experts, giving teams the guidance and support needed to build accessible, ADA-compliant web applications that stand the test of time. 

Ready to streamline compliance and build a better web application for all users? Schedule a demo today.