Free Accessibility Checker - Complete Website Accessibility Testing Tool

Legal Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Website accessibility lawsuits have increased dramatically in recent years. In the United States alone, ADA-related web accessibility lawsuits have grown from just a handful in 2013 to thousands annually. Organizations face significant financial penalties, legal fees, and reputational damage when their websites fail to meet accessibility standards.

Our free accessibility checker helps you identify potential compliance issues before they become legal problems, protecting your organization from costly litigation while ensuring you meet federal and state accessibility requirements.

Expanding Your Audience Reach

Approximately 16% of the global population experiences some form of disability. By making your website accessible, you're not excluding a significant portion of potential customers, users, or constituents. Accessible websites deliver better user experiences for everyone, including:

• People with permanent disabilities (blindness, deafness, mobility impairments)
• Individuals with temporary disabilities (broken arm, eye infection, temporary hearing loss)
• Users with situational limitations (bright sunlight on screens, noisy environments, slow internet connections)
• Older adults with age-related impairments
• People using assistive technologies like screen readers, voice recognition software, or alternative input devices

SEO and Technical Benefits

Search engines and accessible websites share common goals: clear structure, semantic HTML, descriptive text, and logical navigation. When you improve accessibility, you simultaneously enhance your search engine optimization:

• Better semantic markup helps search engines understand your content hierarchy
• Alt text for images provides context for both screen readers and search engine crawlers
• Descriptive link text improves both user experience and SEO value
• Video captions and transcripts create indexable content and improve engagement
• Mobile responsiveness and keyboard navigation align with Google's ranking factors
• Faster load times benefit users with cognitive disabilities and improve Core Web Vitals

Comprehensive Automated Testing

Our accessibility checker performs automated scans that evaluate hundreds of accessibility checkpoints across multiple standards:

Real-Time Reporting

Once your scan completes, our free accessibility checker generates a detailed, prioritized report that includes:

• Executive Summary - Overall accessibility score and compliance level
• Critical Issues - High-priority barriers that severely impact users
• Warnings - Potential problems requiring manual review
• Best Practice Recommendations - Suggestions for enhanced accessibility
• Code-Level Details - Specific HTML/CSS locations and fix instructions
• Impact Analysis - Which user groups are affected by each issue

User-Friendly Interface

No technical expertise required. Simply enter your URL, and our checker handles the rest. Results are presented in clear, actionable language with:

• Visual indicators (passed, failed, warning)
• Plain English explanations
• Code snippets showing the problem
• Step-by-step remediation guidance
• Priority rankings for efficient fixing

Multi-Standard Compliance Testing

Unlike basic checkers that focus on a single standard, our tool evaluates your website against:

• WCAG 2.1 Level A, AA, and AAA - The international standard for web accessibility
• ADA Title III - US federal law requiring accessible digital spaces
• Section 508 - US federal accessibility requirements for government agencies and contractors
• EN 301 549 - European accessibility standard
• AODA - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Page-by-Page and Site-Wide Analysis

Test individual pages for quick checks or run comprehensive site-wide audits to:

• Identify consistent accessibility patterns across your entire website
• Discover template-level issues affecting multiple pages
• Prioritize fixes based on page traffic and importance
• Track accessibility improvements over time
• Generate reports for stakeholder review

Mobile Accessibility Testing

With over 60% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, mobile accessibility is critical. Our checker evaluates:

• Touch target sizes (minimum 44x44 pixels)
• Mobile screen reader compatibility
• Responsive design implementation
• Mobile keyboard alternatives
• Gesture-based interactions
• Orientation adaptability

Color Contrast Analysis

Color contrast is one of the most common accessibility failures. Our tool:

• Checks all text against WCAG contrast requirements (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
• Identifies problematic color combinations
• Suggests accessible alternatives
• Tests contrast for interactive elements and UI components
• Evaluates non-text contrast for icons and graphical objects

Keyboard Navigation Testing

Many users cannot use a mouse and rely entirely on keyboard navigation. We verify:

• Tab order follows logical reading sequence
• All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
• Focus indicators are clearly visible
• Keyboard traps don't prevent navigation
• Skip links allow bypassing repetitive content
• Keyboard shortcuts don't conflict with assistive technologies

Screen Reader Compatibility

Screen readers are essential tools for blind and visually impaired users. Our checker examines:

• Proper heading structure (H1-H6 hierarchy)
• ARIA labels and descriptions
• Form input labels and instructions
• Link text meaningfulness
• Image alt text quality and appropriateness
• Table header associations
• Landmark regions for navigation

Missing Alternative Text

Images without alt attributes create information gaps for screen reader users. Our checker identifies:

• Images lacking alt attributes entirely
• Empty alt attributes on meaningful images
• Redundant or uninformative alt text ("image of image")
• Alt text exceeding recommended length
• Complex images missing long descriptions

Impact: Screen reader users cannot access visual information, losing critical content, context, or functionality.

Insufficient Color Contrast

Low contrast between text and background strains users with low vision, color blindness, or age-related vision changes. We detect:

• Text failing WCAG contrast ratios
• Buttons and interactive elements with poor contrast
• Hover and focus states that reduce visibility
• Contrast issues in different viewport sizes
• Color-only information conveyance

Impact: Content becomes difficult or impossible to read, especially in bright environments or on lower-quality displays.

Keyboard Accessibility Problems

Users who cannot use a mouse depend on keyboard navigation. Common issues include:

• Interactive elements unreachable via keyboard
• Illogical or confusing tab order
• Missing or invisible focus indicators
• Keyboard traps that prevent progression
• Custom widgets without keyboard support
• Modal dialogs that don't manage focus properly

Impact: Keyboard-only users cannot access core functionality, effectively excluding them from your website.

Form Accessibility Errors

Forms are critical interaction points but frequently inaccessible. We identify:

• Input fields without associated labels
• Missing or unclear error messages
• Required fields not programmatically identified
• Unclear form instructions
• CAPTCHA without alternatives
• Submit buttons without descriptive text

Impact: Users cannot complete essential tasks like registration, checkout, contact forms, or account management.

Heading Structure Issues

Proper heading hierarchy is crucial for navigation and comprehension. Problems include:

• Missing H1 headings
• Skipped heading levels (H1 to H3)
• Multiple H1 headings causing confusion
• Headings used for styling rather than structure
• Non-descriptive heading text

Impact: Screen reader users cannot efficiently navigate content or understand document structure and relationships.

Link Accessibility Problems

Links must be distinguishable and meaningful. We catch:

• Links with non-descriptive text ("click here," "read more")
• Links not distinguishable by color alone
• Adjacent links pointing to same destination
• Broken or ambiguous link purposes
• Links that open new windows without warning

Impact: Users cannot predict link destinations or navigate efficiently through content.

Video and Audio Accessibility

Multimedia content requires multiple accommodations:

• Videos without captions or subtitles
• Audio content without transcripts
• Missing audio descriptions for visual information
• Autoplaying media without user control
• No mechanism to pause, stop, or adjust volume

Impact: Deaf and hard-of-hearing users miss audio content; blind users miss visual information; users in quiet environments cannot access media.

Dynamic Content Issues

Modern websites use JavaScript extensively, creating accessibility challenges:

• ARIA roles and properties implemented incorrectly
• Live regions not announced to screen readers
• Focus not managed during content updates
• Lack of keyboard support for custom widgets
• Inaccessible single-page applications

Impact: Screen reader users don't receive updates; keyboard users cannot interact with dynamic features; users with cognitive disabilities struggle with unexpected changes.

Semantic HTML Foundation

Use HTML elements according to their intended purpose:

• Structure content with proper heading levels
• Use <nav> for navigation, <main> for primary content, <aside> for supplementary information
• Implement lists (<ul>, <ol>) for grouped items
• Use <button> for actions and <a> for navigation
• Utilize <table> only for tabular data with proper headers

Meaningful Alternative Text

Craft alt text that conveys the purpose and content of images:

• Describe informational images concisely (typically under 150 characters)
• Use empty alt="" for decorative images
• Provide context-appropriate descriptions
• Avoid redundant phrases like "image of" or "picture of"
• For complex graphics, provide detailed long descriptions

Robust Form Design

Create forms that are clear, predictable, and accessible:

• Associate every input with a <label>
• Group related inputs with <fieldset> and <legend>
• Provide clear instructions before form fields
• Identify required fields programmatically
• Display error messages clearly with suggestions for correction
• Ensure form validation is accessible to screen readers

Responsive and Flexible Design

Build interfaces that adapt to user needs:

• Support browser zoom up to 200% without horizontal scrolling
• Use relative units (em, rem) instead of fixed pixels
• Design for various screen sizes and orientations
• Allow text spacing adjustments
• Provide sufficient touch target sizes (minimum 44x44 pixels)

Clear and Consistent Navigation

Help users understand and predict website structure:

• Maintain consistent navigation across pages
• Provide multiple ways to find content (search, sitemap, navigation)
• Use breadcrumbs for deep hierarchies
• Implement skip links to bypass repetitive content
• Ensure focus order matches visual layout

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA)

When HTML alone isn't sufficient, use ARIA appropriately:

• Use ARIA roles to define widget purposes
• Implement ARIA states and properties correctly
• Use aria-label or aria-labelledby for non-visual labels
• Announce dynamic content with aria-live regions
• Don't override native HTML semantics unnecessarily

E-commerce and Retail

Online stores must be accessible to all shoppers. Accessibility issues create barriers during:

• Product browsing and search
• Shopping cart management
• Checkout processes
• Account creation and management
• Customer service interactions

Inaccessible e-commerce sites lose revenue and face legal risks. Studies show that accessible websites can increase market reach by up to 20% while reducing cart abandonment rates.

Education and E-learning

Educational institutions and online learning platforms have legal obligations under laws like Section 504 and Title II. Accessibility ensures:

• All students can access course materials
• Learning management systems work with assistive technologies
• Videos include captions and transcripts
• Assessments accommodate diverse needs
• Interactive content supports keyboard navigation

Healthcare and Medical Services

Healthcare websites handle sensitive information and critical services:

• Patient portals for medical records
• Appointment scheduling systems
• Telehealth platforms
• Health information and resources
• Prescription management

Accessibility in healthcare is both a legal requirement and ethical imperative, ensuring equal access to vital health information.

Government and Public Services

Government websites must comply with Section 508 and provide equal access to:

• Public information and documents
• Online services and applications
• Emergency notifications
• Voting information
• Community resources

Inaccessible government sites create barriers to civic participation and essential services.

Financial Services and Banking

Banks and financial institutions must ensure accessible:

• Account management interfaces
• Transaction processing
• Mobile banking applications
• Financial calculators and tools
• Educational resources

Financial accessibility ensures everyone can manage their money independently and securely.

Media and Publishing

News organizations, publishers, and content platforms should provide:

• Accessible article layouts
• Captioned videos and podcasts with transcripts
• Accessible interactive graphics and data visualizations
• Readable typography and adequate contrast
• Alternative formats for complex content

Technology and Software

Software companies, SaaS providers, and technology platforms must ensure:

• Accessible user interfaces
• Documentation that works with screen readers
• Keyboard-navigable features
• Clear error messages and help systems
• Inclusive design in product development

Step 1: Enter Your Website URL

Simply paste the URL of the page you want to test into our checker. You can test:

• Individual pages for quick assessments
• Landing pages before launching campaigns
• Newly developed features
• Frequently updated content areas
• High-traffic pages prioritized by impact

Step 2: Run the Automated Scan

Our accessibility checker analyzes your page within seconds, examining:

• HTML structure and semantics
• CSS styling and presentation
• JavaScript interactions and dynamic content
• Images, videos, and multimedia elements
• Forms and interactive components
• Navigation and page structure
• ARIA implementation

Step 3: Review Your Accessibility Report

Receive a comprehensive report organized by:

• Priority levels: Critical, serious, moderate, and minor issues
• WCAG success criteria: Specific guideline references
• User impact: Which disabilities are affected
• Element locations: Precise code locations
• Remediation guidance: Step-by-step fix instructions

Step 4: Fix Issues Systematically

Tackle accessibility improvements strategically:

• Address critical issues first (blocking barriers)
• Fix widespread template-level problems
• Resolve issues on high-traffic pages
• Implement best practices for future content
• Establish accessibility guidelines for your team

Step 5: Retest and Monitor

Accessibility is an ongoing commitment:

• Retest after implementing fixes
• Check new content before publishing
• Monitor site-wide accessibility trends
• Schedule regular accessibility audits
• Stay updated on evolving standards

Creating an Accessibility Policy

Document your commitment to accessibility:

• Define accessibility standards and goals
• Establish testing and review processes
• Assign accessibility responsibilities
• Create remediation timelines
• Provide user feedback mechanisms

Training and Education

Build accessibility awareness across your organization:

• Train content creators on accessible content practices
• Educate developers on accessible code patterns
• Teach designers inclusive design principles
• Create accessibility champions within teams
• Stay current with evolving standards

Continuous Monitoring

Accessibility isn't a one-time fix:

• Integrate accessibility into development workflows
• Test during design and development phases
• Review content before publication
• Monitor third-party components and plugins
• Track accessibility metrics over time