axe DevTools

Automated Accessibility Testing Browser Extension

Industry Standard Automated Testing

Free browser extension with Pro features available

Free/Pro

Pricing

Browser

Extension

WCAG 2.2

Compliance

What is axe DevTools?

axe DevTools is a browser extension developed by Deque Systems that provides automated accessibility testing directly in your browser. It's built on the open-source axe-core engine, which is the industry standard for automated accessibility testing and is used by millions of developers worldwide.

The extension integrates seamlessly into Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers, allowing developers and testers to scan web pages for accessibility issues in real-time. It identifies WCAG violations, provides detailed explanations, and suggests remediation guidance for each issue found.

axe DevTools is available in both free and Pro versions. The free version provides comprehensive automated testing for WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA violations, while the Pro version adds advanced features like guided testing, impact analysis, and team collaboration tools.

Unlike manual testing tools, axe DevTools can scan entire pages in seconds, identifying up to 57% of accessibility issues automatically. It's particularly effective at catching common issues like missing alt text, color contrast problems, missing form labels, and ARIA misuse.

Key Features

Automated Scanning

Scans entire pages in seconds for WCAG violations
Tests WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 Level A and AA success criteria
Identifies up to 57% of common accessibility issues automatically
Real-time testing as you browse

Detailed Issue Reporting

Clear descriptions of each accessibility violation
WCAG success criteria references for each issue
Code snippets showing the problematic HTML
Remediation guidance and best practices

Visual Highlighting

Highlights issues directly on the page
Color-coded severity levels (critical, serious, moderate, minor)
Inspect element feature to see exact code causing issues
Filter by issue type, severity, or WCAG level

Pro Features (Paid)

Guided testing workflows for manual testing
Impact analysis showing user impact of issues
Team collaboration and issue tracking
Advanced reporting and analytics

How to Use axe DevTools

Getting started with axe DevTools is straightforward:

Install Extension: Install axe DevTools from Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, or Edge Add-ons. It's free to install and use.

Open DevTools: Navigate to the page you want to test, then open browser DevTools (F12) and click on the "axe DevTools" tab.

Run Scan: Click "Scan" to analyze the page. axe DevTools will scan the entire page for accessibility violations.

Review Issues: Review the list of issues found. Each issue shows severity, WCAG criteria, description, and remediation guidance.

Inspect Elements: Click on any issue to highlight it on the page and see the exact HTML causing the problem.

Fix and Re-scan: Fix the issues, then re-scan to verify the fixes. Export reports for documentation.

What Issues Does axe DevTools Find?

axe DevTools can automatically detect many common accessibility issues:

Common Violations:

✓ Missing or empty alt text on images
✓ Insufficient color contrast
✓ Missing form labels
✓ Missing page titles
✓ Improper heading hierarchy
✓ Missing ARIA labels
✓ Keyboard accessibility issues
✓ Missing landmarks

ARIA Issues:

✓ Invalid ARIA attributes
✓ Missing ARIA required properties
✓ ARIA misuse (e.g., role conflicts)
✓ Missing ARIA labels on interactive elements
✓ Incorrect ARIA states
✓ Live region issues

Note: axe DevTools finds about 57% of accessibility issues automatically. Manual testing with screen readers is still essential for comprehensive accessibility testing.

Pricing and Versions

Free Version

✓ Automated WCAG 2.1/2.2 testing
✓ Issue detection and reporting
✓ Visual highlighting
✓ Remediation guidance
✓ Export reports
✓ Basic scanning features

Pro Version

✓ Everything in Free version
✓ Guided testing workflows
✓ Impact analysis
✓ Team collaboration
✓ Advanced analytics
✓ Priority support

The free version is sufficient for most developers. Pro version is ideal for teams and organizations needing advanced collaboration features.

Integration with CI/CD

axe DevTools can be integrated into automated testing pipelines using axe-core (the open-source engine):

axe-core npm package: Use in Jest, Cypress, Playwright, or Puppeteer tests
GitHub Actions: Integrate accessibility testing into CI/CD pipelines
Automated Testing: Run axe tests as part of your test suite
Fail Builds: Configure to fail builds when critical accessibility issues are found

Best Practices

Use Early and Often: Run axe DevTools during development, not just before release
Fix Critical Issues First: Prioritize critical and serious violations before moderate or minor ones
Combine with Manual Testing: Use axe DevTools alongside screen reader testing for comprehensive coverage
Test Dynamic Content: Re-scan after interactions that change page content
Export Reports: Document findings by exporting reports for stakeholders
Integrate into Workflow: Add axe-core to your automated test suite for continuous accessibility testing

Find Jobs Using axe DevTools

Looking for accessibility jobs that require axe DevTools? Browse our latest opportunities.

Last Updated: January 2025