WAVE
Checks web pages for WCAG issues while supporting manual review.
WAVE is a web accessibility evaluation suite from WebAIM that scans pages for accessibility problems and presents results in a way meant to support human judgment. It can be used from a web form, browser extensions, or API/testing engine options for broader or private-page testing workflows.
Why it stands out
- Combines automated issue detection with cues intended to guide manual accessibility review.
- Browser extensions make it usable on pages that ordinary remote URL scanners cannot reach.
- API and stand-alone engine options support large-scale or private-environment testing.
- AIM reports add human-tested impact context rather than relying only on rule counts.
Good to know
- Automated WAVE findings do not replace full manual accessibility evaluation.
- The online checker is primarily for individual pages; larger site monitoring requires API, reporting, or enterprise tools.
- Private, local, or highly dynamic pages generally require the browser extension or stand-alone/API setup rather than the public URL form.
Under the radar: For authenticated web apps, navigate to the exact logged-in state you want to test first, then run the browser extension instead of submitting a URL to the online checker.
Photos
Web authors, QA testers, and accessibility specialists can quickly find WCAG-related issues on individual pages before publishing or auditing. Check a public webpage by entering its URL into the online evaluator. Test logged-in, local, or highly interactive pages from Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Collect accessibility test data across many pages for reporting or CI workflows. Use AIM reports when a site needs both automated results and expert manual review.
Online URL-based page checker; Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser extensions; subscription API and stand-alone testing engine; support for intranet, secure, and CI testing workflows; AIM assessment reports with WAVE data, an impact score, and manual testing results.
Technical Notes
- Subscription API and stand-alone WAVE API/testing engine are offered for collecting accessibility test data across many pages.
- The stand-alone engine can be integrated into internal infrastructure, including testing of intranet, secure, non-public pages and CI processes.
Alternative listings
A free desktop checker for WCAG color contrast in visual designs.
Accessibility & assistive technology resourcesColour Contrast Analyser is a free Windows and Mac app for testing foreground and background color combinations against WCAG contrast requirements. It can sample colors from the screen, accept pasted color values, preview text and non-text contrast, and simulate several types of color vision deficiency.
0 votesVisit siteChecks color pairs against WCAG contrast thresholds for text and UI.
Accessibility & assistive technology resourcesAccessible Web’s Color Contrast Checker is a free browser-based tool for testing foreground and background color combinations against WCAG contrast requirements. It reports the contrast ratio and pass/fail results for AA and AAA levels across small text, large text, and non-text interface components.
0 votesVisit site
Similar sites elsewhere
- axe DevTools — deque.com/axe/devtools
- Accessibility Insights — accessibilityinsights.io
- Pa11y — pa11y.org
- Google Lighthouse — developer.chrome.com/docs/lighthouse
1 of 3