Top Accessibility Tools for UX Designers in 2025 (Because Good Design is for Everyone)

Ah, 2025—where hoverboards are still a dream, but at least accessibility tools for UX designers have seriously leveled up! We’ve come a long way from the days of “accessibility” feeling like a nice-to-have feature, like a cupholder in a bike. Now, it’s essential. (And not just because you want to keep your website off of legal radar.)

By 2025, inclusive design is not only a UX requirement, but it’s a mark of good design. Every user, regardless of ability, should be able to engage with your website or app. Accessibility tools can help you get there faster—and hey, they’ll save you a ton of headaches along the way.

So, ready to check out the best accessibility tools in 2025? Let’s dive in and make sure your designs don’t just look good, but that they’re accessible to all. Because honestly, what’s the point of a beautiful design if only half your audience can use it?

Why Accessibility Matters More Than Ever

Once upon a time, accessibility was like flossing—you knew you should do it, but it often fell to the bottom of the priority list. Fast-forward to 2025, and it’s now a non-negotiable for UX designers.

Why? First, users expect it. In a world where tech is everywhere, nobody wants to feel excluded from a digital experience because of poor design. Secondly, laws and regulations are tougher than ever. You’re not just making your site inclusive; you’re making sure it’s legally compliant (and avoiding any surprise lawsuits). Plus, accessibility boosts SEO and user retention.

With the right tools, creating an accessible design can be as easy as… well, creating any good UX design. So, let’s check out the top tools that will save you time, effort, and ensure your design is the superhero of accessibility.

Top Accessibility Tools for UX Designers

1. WAVE Accessibility Checker

Think of WAVE as your accessibility Swiss Army knife. It’s a comprehensive tool that evaluates your site for accessibility issues, highlights what needs fixing, and provides useful suggestions. It continues to evolve, staying up-to-date with the latest WCAG standards, meaning you’ll always be on top of compliance. Plus, it’s free (we love that).

2. Stark

Stark is like the ultimate wingman for your design tools. Integrated with Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD, Stark helps you check contrast, test colorblindness scenarios, and export accessibility reports—all without leaving your design software. Its seamless integration makes it easier to bake accessibility into your designs from the get-go, so you don’t have to double back and fix everything later.

3. Axe Accessibility

For those who love a good developer tool, Axe is your go-to. This browser extension lets you test accessibility directly in your code, showing you what needs attention and how to fix it. Axe has a robust developer community and is constantly adding features to ensure your site stays accessible no matter how complex your codebase gets.

4. Color Oracle

If color contrast keeps you up at night (and it should), Color Oracle is a must. This tool simulates what your design looks like to those with color vision deficiencies. It’s still one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to ensure your designs are visually inclusive for everyone. Color Oracle provides simulations in real time, so you can adjust as you go.

5. VoiceOver & NVDA

For testing screen reader compatibility, you can’t go wrong with VoiceOver (for Mac) and NVDA (for Windows). Both are essential for making sure users who rely on screen readers can navigate your site with ease. While they’ve been around for a while, these tools continue to update and stay incredibly reliable for testing screen-reader friendliness, ensuring that your content is understandable to all users.

6. Lighthouse (Google Chrome)

Lighthouse is Google’s open-source tool that audits accessibility, performance, SEO, and more. With just a click, you can get a detailed report on what’s working—and what’s not. Lighthouse is as close as you can get to a one-stop shop for web optimization. Its easy-to-read reports and actionable advice make it perfect for UX designers who don’t want to dig through code to fix accessibility issues.

7. Tota11y

Don’t let the quirky name fool you—Tota11y is a powerful tool that offers a visual overlay on your site to highlight accessibility issues. It’s like having a visual checklist of what needs fixing. Its interactive features allow you to pinpoint issues quickly, making it ideal for real-time testing and adjustments on the fly.

8. Accessibility Insights

Created by Microsoft, Accessibility Insights helps you find and fix accessibility issues early in the design process. It’s particularly good at detecting issues across a variety of platforms, including web and mobile. Its intuitive interface and thorough testing capabilities make it a strong contender for developers and designers alike. Plus, it’s always adding new features to keep up with evolving standards.

9. UserWay

Last but definitely not least, UserWay is an AI-powered tool that automatically scans and adjusts websites for accessibility. It even offers an accessibility widget that can be added to your site to give users control over their experience. The AI magic means it’s faster and more accurate at identifying accessibility gaps than ever before, taking the guesswork out of compliance.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Needs

So many tools, so little time! But don’t worry, you don’t need to use all of them. The right tool depends on your specific design needs:

• For designers who want integrated tools, Stark is your BFF.
• For developers, Axe or Lighthouse will give you the technical firepower you need.
• For color contrast and visual accessibility concerns, Color Oracle or Stark should be your go-to.
• For screen reader testing, VoiceOver or NVDA are absolute essentials.

Mix and match tools based on your project requirements, and you’ll be golden.

Final Thoughts: Design for Everyone, Literally

In 2025, designing for accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it’s about inclusivity, SEO optimization, and offering a great user experience for every single visitor. With these top accessibility tools in your arsenal, you’ll be able to deliver designs that don’t just look beautiful but also work beautifully for everyone.

And let’s be real, the fewer times you have to go back and “fix” things later, the better. Happy (accessible) designing!