WCAG checker for web pages
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) defines how content should work for people with disabilities. Automated tests cannot cover every success criterion, but they catch a large share of technical failures—missing labels, contrast problems, incorrect ARIA, and broken document structure.
Run a free scan
Scan a staging or production URL. Use the report to prioritize fixes that map to WCAG-oriented rules.
Why WCAG still matters in 2026
Regulations often reference WCAG-style expectations even when they do not cite a specific version verbatim. Teams that align to WCAG 2.1 Level AA ship experiences that work better for keyboard users, screen reader users, people with low vision, and many cognitive access needs.
Your design system, component library, and CMS templates should encode WCAG habits: visible focus, logical headings, text resizing without loss of function, and captions or transcripts where media appears.
What automated WCAG testing catches well
Tools excel at programmatically testable rules: color contrast for plain text, presence of accessible names on controls, duplicate IDs, valid ARIA attributes, form labels, and image alternative text when the image is exposed to the accessibility tree.
They also surface many “probably wrong” patterns—positive tabindex values, empty buttons, links without discernible text—so you can fix them before they reach users.
What still needs humans
Meaningful sequence, timing adjustments, and some keyboard operations require judgment. Multimedia needs accurate captions and described video where appropriate. Legal teams may interpret obligations beyond technical pass/fail.
Use automation to shorten the checklist, not to replace inclusive design conversations with real users when stakes are high.
Workflow for teams
Designers export contrast tokens; developers wire labels and roles; content editors write descriptive links and alt text. Run the WCAG checker on each major template after changes, then spot-check critical journeys manually.
Store public report links in tickets so QA can verify fixes and product can track trend lines over sprints.
Related reading on TestAccessibility
Browse our issue pages for individual rules—contrast, alt text, headings—and share them with collaborators who need concrete examples. Combine scans with a short “keyboard only” pass before launch.
Questions people ask
- Is WCAG a law?
- WCAG is a technical standard. Laws vary by country; many reference similar expectations. Consult counsel for legal advice.
- Does a scan prove WCAG compliance?
- It helps but does not certify compliance. Some criteria need manual verification.
- Which WCAG version?
- Our explanations emphasize 2.1 patterns aligned with common axe rules; always confirm your own policy targets.
- Can I test SPAs?
- We load the URL you provide; dynamic apps may need additional state testing beyond one page load.