Automated accessibility testing tools help you quickly identify common accessibility issues on individual web pages. They can flag issues like:

• missing alt text
• poor color contrast
• bad heading structure
• form labeling problems 

While automated tools cannot catch every accessibility issue, they are a fast and reliable way to check for many of the most common problems before your content is published.

WebAIM WAVE Tool

What it does: WAVE provides a visual overlay on your web page, highlighting errors, alerts, and accessible features.

• Red icons indicate errors such as missing alt text or empty links.
• Yellow icons are alerts, which are items to check manually.
• Green icons show features that improve accessibility, like labeled form fields.

How to use it: Install the WAVE browser extension (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) or visit the WAVE homepage to test a live page without having to install a browser extension.,

Tip: WAVE works best on publicly accessible pages; intranet or password-protected pages require the browser extension.

Siteimprove Accessibility Checker

What it does: This free browser extension scans your page for common accessibility issues and organizes results by category, such as:

• Contrast problems
• Missing or vague link text
• Heading structure and ARIA issues
• Form field labeling

How to use it: Install the Siteimprove Accessibility Checker extension (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) then click the icon in your browser toolbar to run a scan on any page.

Tip: The extension provides plain-language explanations for each issue, making it easy for non-technical users to understand and fix problems.

ANDI (Accessible Name & Description Inspector)

What it does: ANDI is a lightweight bookmarklet that helps check for common issues as well as:

• Keyboard focus and navigation order
• Accessible names and roles for links, buttons, and form fields
• Image descriptions and ARIA labeling

How to use it: Add the ANDI bookmarklet to your browser bookmarks, then click it on any page to inspect accessibility. The tool overlays a small toolbar with options for analyzing different page elements.

Tip: ANDI is especially useful for testing keyboard navigation and how a screen reader will interpret page elements.

What Automated Tools Can and Cannot Do

Automated checkers are excellent for catching many common issues quickly, including:

• Missing or empty alt text for images
• Low contrast between text and background
• Incorrect or missing heading structure
• Unlabeled form fields or buttons
• Duplicate or vague link text

However, these tools cannot replace human review. They cannot judge:

• The clarity or usefulness of alt text or link text
• Logical reading order or page layout comprehension
• Quality of video captions or audio description
• Whether your content well organized and easy to understand

Tip: Use automated tools as a first step, and pair them with a manual review to ensure your content is fully accessible.