A11yInspect vs axe-core

A11yInspect is a browser extension that works with the Inspect tool in DevTools to assess web-page accessibility against WCAG 2.2. Automated checks cover more than 600 issues across 30 Success Criteria, with a stated false-positive rate below 1%. Results classify findings as Fails, Validates, or Suggestions and map them to criteria and severity. Supported standards include WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, GIGW 3.0, and IS 17802. Manual review tools include bookmarklets for headings, tab order, grayscale, target size, text spacing, and forms, as well as a color contrast checker. The extension is available for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox and can examine a page or a specific element. Pages can be tested in any language, although the interface is English-only; the extension is for desktop browsers and cannot be used on mobile. The Free plan allows unlimited webpage testing without login or a credit card. Pro costs $120.00 per year and includes a 30-day trial without a card; users move to Free if they do not subscribe when it ends.

axe-core is a free, open-source accessibility testing engine for websites and other HTML-based interfaces. It is designed to run beside functional tests in unit, integration, browser, and other testing environments. Its rules cover WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 at A, AA, and AAA levels, along with additional best practices. Deque says automated checks find an average of 57% of WCAG issues, while uncertain findings are marked for manual review. Installation is documented through npm or pnpm, with tests calling the axe.run() API. The API lists Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari; Internet Explorer 11 is deprecated. Chrome and Firefox are tested on every pull request. JSDOM support is limited, and color-contrast checks do not work there. axe-core uses the Mozilla Public License 2.0. Security updates are available for minor lines up to 18 months old. Vulnerabilities are requested by email, with a stated 24-business-hour response and no bug bounty.