Freedom251 › Accessibility Testing Software
AccessLens

What AccessLens is
AccessLens is a free, open-source platform for auditing and improving web accessibility. It runs self-hosted or on the web and checks interfaces against WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 at Levels A, AA, and AAA. Audits accept remote websites, pasted HTML or JSX, and uploaded HTML or text files. More than 22 automated rules cover keyboard navigation, semantic HTML, images, forms, headings, ARIA, and roles. A contrast studio evaluates AA and AAA ratios and suggests color fixes. A browser vision lab offers seven impairment filters and lets users edit HTML before rerunning audits. A 12-point assisted protocol guides human checks including reading order, focus visibility, keyboard traps, reflow, captions, and cognitive clarity. Optional server-side Gemini 3.7 Flash remediation generates code for React with TSX/Tailwind, vanilla HTML/CSS, and Vue 3. Reports export as styled HTML, Markdown, CSV, or JSON. History and regression comparisons use localStorage; local setup needs Node.js 18+ and npm 9+.
Who it suits
AccessLens suits developers, accessibility reviewers, and teams checking websites or interface code against WCAG criteria. It supports both automated scans and guided human review.
What it does well
- Free and open-source under the MIT License
- Audits websites, snippets, and uploaded files
- Provides contrast and vision simulation tools
- Includes a guided 12-point manual protocol
- Exports reports in four formats
What to know first
- Automated checks cover only an estimated 30–40%
- Human verification remains needed for 60–70%
- Local setup requires Node.js 18+ and npm 9+
- AI remediation requires an optional Gemini API key
Verdict
AccessLens combines automated WCAG checks with contrast analysis, vision simulation, manual review guidance, and report exports. It is free to use, but its own stated testing boundary means human verification remains essential.
Facts from AccessLens's own pages
- AI integration
- AI remediation uses a server-side Gemini 3.7 Flash integration to generate code for React with TSX/Tailwind, vanilla HTML/CSS, and Vue 3. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- AI remediation
- AI remediation uses a server-side Gemini 3.7 Flash integration and generates contextual code for React, vanilla HTML/CSS, and Vue 3. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Audit inputs
- It can audit remote websites, pasted HTML or JSX snippets, and uploaded .html, .htm, or .txt files. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Automated checks
- The README describes more than 22 automated rules covering keyboard navigation, semantic HTML, images, forms, headings, ARIA, and roles. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Automated scans
- Yes · github.com, 25 Sept 2026
- Contrast tools
- The contrast studio evaluates WCAG AA and AAA contrast ratios and suggests accessible color fixes. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The project documents local development and production build/start commands for an Express and Vite application. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · github.com, 25 Sept 2026
- Integration requirement
- The setup instructions say a GEMINI_API_KEY is optional for AI remediation features. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The README states the project is distributed under the MIT License. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Manual review tools
- Yes · github.com, 25 Sept 2026
- Manual testing
- A 12-point assisted protocol supports human checks such as reading order, focus visibility, keyboard traps, reflow, captions, and cognitive clarity. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- The README estimates automated checks cover 30–40% of testing scope and says 60–70% requires manual human verification. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- AccessLens is an open-source web accessibility auditing and remediation platform for checking interfaces against WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 Levels A, AA, and AAA. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Remediation guidance
- Yes · github.com, 25 Sept 2026
- Reports and history
- Reports can be exported as styled HTML, Markdown, CSV, or JSON, while audit history and regression comparisons are stored in localStorage. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The README describes a server-side proxy for remote audits with SSRF protections. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Setup
- Local setup requires Node.js 18.0.0 or higher and npm 9.0.0 or higher; a Gemini API key is optional for AI remediation. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Testing boundary
- The README estimates automated testing covers 30–40% of accessibility evaluation and says the remaining 60–70% needs human verification. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Vision simulation
- The in-browser vision lab offers seven impairment simulation filters and lets users edit HTML and rerun audits. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- WCAG coverage
- wcag 2.2 · github.com, 25 Sept 2026
Where AccessLens stands on Freedom251
- Accessibility Testing Software#76 of 169
- Website Accessibility Tools#71 of 133