9 Best Color Contrast Checker Tools to Ensure WCAG Compliance

Explore the 9 best color contrast checker tools to boost visual accessibility and meet WCAG compliance. Improve your website's inclusivity today!

Why Color Contrast Isn’t Just Design - It’s Access

Have you ever visited a website and found the text hard to read because the background and font colors were too similar? That’s not just a design flaw, it’s an accessibility barrier.

Color contrast plays a huge role in ensuring visual accessibility, especially for users with low vision or color blindness. Poor contrast can make it difficult, or even impossible, for users to access your content, breaking your WCAG compliance and pushing users away.

In this blog, you’ll discover the best color contrast checker tools to improve accessibility, enhance user experience, and ensure your website meets WCAG 2.1 standards. Whether you're a designer, developer, or content creator, these tools will help you build an inclusive digital space.

What is a Color Contrast Checker Tool?

A color contrast checker helps verify if the contrast between two colors (usually text and background) is sufficient for readability and complies with accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

These tools typically:

• Accept color codes (hex, RGB)
• Evaluate compliance for AA and AAA standards
• Provide pass/fail results for normal and large text
• Suggest improvements

Pro Tip:
WCAG recommends a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

Top 9 Color Contrast Checker Tools for WCAG Compliance

Here’s a comparison table followed by detailed reviews of each tool.

Tool	Free	WCAG Compliance	Key Features	Website
WebAIM Contrast Checker	✅	AA/AAA	Simple, fast, WCAG grading	Link
Color Contrast Analyzer (TPG)	✅	AA/AAA	Desktop app, colorblind simulator	Link
Coolors Contrast Checker	✅	AA/AAA	Live preview, color picker	Link
Stark	Limited Free	AA/AAA	Plugin for Figma/Sketch/XD	Link
Adobe Color Accessibility Tool	✅	AA/AAA	Color wheel, harmony checker	Link
Axe DevTools	✅	AA/AAA	Browser extension, audit tool	Link
Contrast Ratio by Lea Verou	✅	AA/AAA	Minimalist, no install	Link
Tanaguru Contrast-Finder	✅	AA/AAA	Suggests color adjustments	Link
Accessible Colors	✅	AA/AAA	Suggests contrast fixes	Link

1. WebAIM Color Contrast Checker

Best For: Quick checks with minimal fuss
 WebAIM is a go-to choice for accessibility checks. Enter foreground and background colors, and it instantly displays your WCAG compliance status.

Features:

• AA/AAA grading
• Hex or RGB support
• Large vs. normal text assessment

Free | WebAIM

2. Color Contrast Analyzer (TPG)

Best For: Desktop power users
 Developed by TPGi, this tool allows for on-screen checks with real-time contrast detection.

Features:

• Works on Windows & macOS
• Simulates color blindness
• Screenshot support

Free | TPGi

3. Coolors Contrast Checker

Best For: Designers who love visuals
 Part of the Colors suite, this checker is interactive and user-friendly.

Features:

• Live color preview
• Pass/fail summary
• Hex color picker

Free | Coolors

4. Stark

Best For: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD users
 Stark integrates directly into design tools for on-the-fly accessibility checks.

Features:

• Contrast checker
• Colorblind simulation
• Built-in WCAG evaluator

Free (with premium plans) | Stark

5. Adobe Color Accessibility Tool

Best For: Color theory lovers
 Ideal for selecting harmonious palettes with accessibility in mind.

Features:

• Color wheel
• Preview for color blindness
• Pass/fail indicators

Free | Adobe Color

6. Axe DevTools

Best For: Developers doing audits
 Built for testing complex pages, Axe is powerful and code-friendly.

Features:

• Browser extension
• Contrast warnings
• Overall accessibility audit

Free | Deque Axe

7. Contrast Ratio by Lea Verou

Best For: Minimalists
 A clean, no-frills tool for quick checks.

Features:

• Instant ratio output
• Supports transparency
• No login or install

Free | Contrast Ratio

8. Tanaguru Contrast-Finder

Best For: Fixing bad color pairs
 It not only checks contrast but also suggests accessible alternatives.

Features:

• Suggests improved contrast
• AA/AAA checks
• Works with semi-transparent colors

Free | Tanaguru

9. Accessible Colors

Best For: Designers needing instant suggestions
 Quickly highlights failing contrast and proposes fixes.

Features:

• Color replacement suggestions
• Pass/fail display
• Customization options

Free | Accessible Colors

Note on WCAG Compliance

Color contrast is just one part of the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, but it's a foundational one. Always pair contrast tools with screen reader tests, keyboard navigation, and semantic HTML practices for full accessibility coverage.

“When we design for disability first, you often stumble upon solutions that are better than those when we design for the norm.”
— Elise Roy