Automated accessibility tools help teams find and fix barriers that might otherwise go unnoticed. But no single tool catches everything. That’s why pairing tools like WAVE and Lighthouse can provide a more complete, layered understanding of a website’s accessibility—and beyond that, its overall user experience quality.
WAVE and Lighthouse both scan web pages and identify issues, but they come from different angles and serve slightly different purposes. When used together, they offer a powerful combination: visual, contextual insight (WAVE) and performance-backed, audit-driven reporting (Lighthouse).
Accessibility Testing Tools
WebAIM WAVE
Developed as a free community service by WebAIM at Utah State University, WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) is a browser extension that overlays accessibility annotations directly onto live web pages. First released in 2001, WAVE has since evaluated millions of web pages.
- Visual markers identify missing alt text, contrast issues, heading structure problems, and more.
- Contrast checking tools highlight foreground/background color ratio failures.
- Semantic structure views help evaluate navigation landmarks, ARIA roles, and heading hierarchy.
- WAVE is ideal for designers and developers wanting to understand where and why something fails from a human-centric perspective.
Google’s Lighthouse
Lighthouse is an open-source automated tool built into Google Chrome DevTools. While it does include accessibility as one of its core categories, it also evaluates performance, SEO, best practices, and progressive web app readiness.
- Reports are presented as a scorecard with actionable recommendations.
- Accessibility section checks for issues like color contrast, label associations, tab order, and ARIA usage.
- Designed primarily for developers looking for fast, numeric insights that can integrate with CI/CD pipelines.
Key Differences Between WAVE and Lighthouse
| Feature | WAVE | Lighthouse |
| Developed by | WebAIM (Utah State University) | |
| Visual overlay | ✔️ Contextual annotations | ❌ Score-based reports only |
| Accessibility scope | Deep, visual, markup-level issues | High-level automated checks |
| Other metrics | ❌ Accessibility-only | ✔️ Performance, SEO, Best Practices |
| Ideal user | UX designers, accessibility auditors | Developers, performance engineers |
| Integration | Manual via browser extension | Built into Chrome DevTools, CI tools |
Why Use Both?
Each tool surfaces different layers of issues. Here’s how they complement each other:
- WAVE shows context — you see the issue in the actual layout. For example, a missing form label is flagged visually on the form.
- Lighthouse quantifies risk — you get an overall accessibility score and the ability to track improvements over time.
- WAVE is better for design-phase reviews, especially when iterating before development.
- Lighthouse is ideal during development and QA, especially when performance is also under review.
Practical Workflow Using Both Tools
Here’s how teams can use WAVE and Lighthouse together at different stages of the design and development lifecycle:
1. During Wireframe and Design Reviews
- Use WAVE to check for contrast issues, logical heading structure, and alt text placement on prototypes and live mockups.
- Share annotated screenshots with stakeholders or developers for clarity.
2. During Development
- Run Lighthouse audits in Chrome DevTools to flag accessibility violations automatically.
- Use the score to monitor progress over sprints or pre-launch QA cycles.
3. Before Launch
- Perform a WAVE review to confirm all visual/accessibility issues are resolved contextually.
- Run Lighthouse for a final automated score and documentation.
4. Post-launch Monitoring
- Schedule regular Lighthouse reports in CI/CD or use GitHub Actions to track regressions.
- Use WAVE as a manual QA spot check during site updates.
When One Isn’t Enough
Neither WAVE nor Lighthouse can replace manual accessibility testing with real users or full audits with screen readers. But they are excellent first lines of defense:
- WAVE excels in context and visibility, showing how an issue affects the actual interface.
- Lighthouse excels in breadth and automation, surfacing common violations at scale.
Together, they offer teams a low-barrier, high-impact way to catch critical issues early, communicate them effectively, and iterate toward more inclusive and user-friendly digital experiences.