Accessibility testing tools play a critical role in making the web usable for everyone. These tools help ensure websites and applications comply with standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and Section 508, identifying issues that prevent users with disabilities from engaging fully with digital content.
In this blog, we’ll explore what accessibility testing is, why it matters, and the top tools every developer and QA team should consider—including how Keploy.io fits into your broader quality assurance workflow.
Why Accessibility Testing Is Important
Accessibility testing ensures that your app or website is usable by people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, cognitive, motor, and speech impairments. Here's why it’s crucial:
- Legal Compliance: Laws like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the EU Accessibility Act mandate inclusive digital experiences.
- Expanded Audience: Making your product accessible opens it to a larger, often underserved user base.
- Better UX: Accessibility best practices—like clear headings, keyboard navigation, and alt text—improve usability for everyone.
- SEO Benefits: Accessible websites often have better semantic structure, which can enhance search engine performance.
Now, let’s dive into the tools that make this process more efficient.
- Keploy.io
While Keploy isn't a traditional accessibility checker, it plays a critical role in the quality assurance pipeline—including integration, regression, and end-to-end testing. Keploy automatically converts real API calls into test cases and mocks, helping teams detect accessibility-related regressions and other failures earlier in the development process.
???? Key Features:
- Auto-generates tests and mocks from API traffic
- Works with CI/CD tools to ensure consistent, automated testing
- Reduces reliance on manual scripting for regression testing
- Complements accessibility checks by catching failures during functional tests
Best For: Teams who want to maintain high accessibility and functional test coverage across APIs and backend systems.
Bonus: Keploy integrates well with accessibility-focused frontends by ensuring that any change in the backend doesn't break the accessible user experience.
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- WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
Developed by WebAIM, WAVE provides a visual representation of accessibility issues directly on the page. It’s available as a browser extension or via the WAVE online interface.
???? Key Features:
- Inline annotations of errors and suggestions
- Great for visual learners and manual testing
- Highlights structure, contrast, and missing labels
Best For: Designers and QA testers doing visual reviews and audits.
- Lighthouse by Google
Lighthouse is a Chrome DevTools feature that provides performance, SEO, and accessibility audits. It assigns an accessibility score and offers improvement suggestions.
???? Key Features:
- Built into Chrome
- Gives numeric scores for accessibility
- Offers actionable tips and insights
Best For: Quick, comprehensive audits during development or testing.
- Tenon
Tenon is an API-based accessibility testing platform that supports integration into various tools and workflows. It offers detailed reports with contextual help.
???? Key Features:
- REST API for testing via CI/CD
- Checks against WCAG 2.0/2.1 standards
- Supports static and dynamic content
Best For: Teams with automated pipelines and enterprise needs.
- Pa11y
Pa11y is an open-source, command-line tool that automates accessibility testing across web pages. It also offers a dashboard for monitoring accessibility over time.
???? Key Features:
- CLI for quick checks and automation
- Supports headless browsing
- Can be scheduled for routine tests
Best For: DevOps teams and backend developers who prefer terminal-based workflows.
- Axe by Deque Systems
Axe is a powerful, open-source accessibility testing library. It can be used as a browser extension, integrated into CI/CD pipelines, or run within development frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, or Jest.
???? Key Features:
- Instant WCAG 2.1 audits
- Highlight issues directly in the browser
- Useful for devs, testers, and automation pipelines
Best For: Development teams looking for fast, code-level insights and automated testing.
- NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows that allows developers and testers to experience their applications as visually impaired users do.
???? Key Features:
- Reads web pages aloud
- Simulates real-world user experience
- Works with all major browsers
Best For: Manual screen reader testing and empathy-driven QA.
8. Tota11y by Khan Academy
Tota11y is a bookmarklet that adds a visual accessibility overlay to web pages. It helps teams understand the structure and potential issues without diving into code.
???? Key Features:
- Shows visual feedback on headings, labels, and contrast
- Great for education and quick checks
- Simple and intuitive
Best For: Designers, product teams, and developers new to accessibility.
Conclusion: Make Accessibility a Priority, Not a Patch
Accessibility isn't just about checking boxes—it’s about creating equal digital opportunities for everyone. With the right mix of tools, teams can detect accessibility violations, prevent regressions, and ensure inclusive design is a default, not an afterthought.
Use tools like Axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse for accessibility-specific checks. Combine them with Keploy.io to ensure your backend and APIs are also robust, stable, and regression-free—creating a seamless and inclusive experience for all users.
Read more on https://keploy.io/blog/community/best-practices-for-using-accessibility-testing-tools