Competition-Shattering Benefits of Mobile Accessibility Testing and How to Secure Them

Mobile accessibility testing seems to be looking at its breakthrough years. And your business’ response should be swift.

We’ve seen significant regulatory developments in EAA, ADA, and state-level legislation. Advances in AI and assistive technology mean there’ll be more opportunities for improvements. Big organizations setting trends (like Microsoft’s Copilot) will push accessibility into the mainstream. And customers’ growing awareness as well as tighter competition will drive the change.

In a nutshell, you should go user-friendly for all fast. There’s simply too much at stake.

So, let’s discuss how to do mobile accessibility testing so that people fall in love with your app.

Mobile App Accessibility Testing Fundamentals

The best way to start with accessibility testing for mobile apps is, of course, the official guidelines, such as WCAG. But since our team regularly works with them, we know that it can quickly get confusing or seem like too much. That’s why we’d suggest beginning with mobile specifics.

Nuances of Accessibility Testing for Mobile Apps

First, look at the obvious things: what makes a mobile app different from other types of applications? Cover the evident aspects first. Then, branch out into uncommon user scenarios. For example, a user with certain disorders might find your smooth and intuitive autoplay feature physically painful. If loud or flashing multimedia content suddenly comes up, the person might get confused, overstimulated, or even have a panic attack.

So, although you’re starting with fundamental accessibility issues, you definitely should broaden your accessibility testing on mobile devices. Here are some critical points to get you started.

Touch-based interactions:

• Ensure the app is easy to navigate through touch, gestures, and alternative input methods (e.g., switch controls).
• Offer size and grid customization (e.g., bigger buttons, shifted interaction area, such as to the right side of the screen).

Device orientation and responsiveness:

• Make sure your app doesn’t go haywire when people use portrait or landscape mode.
• Offer a few options for turning on those modes (turning the phone, pressing a specific button, or using voice commands).

Haptic feedback and vibration:

• Give users the option to turn off those features.
• Consider including personalization, such as one vibration for a successful transaction and two vibrations if there’s an error.

Motion sensitivity and device sensors:

• Present alternatives to functions that rely on motion sensors (such as shaking your phone to undo an action).
• Respect built-in features like “Reduce Motion” on iOS and Android.

System-wide accessibility features:

• Check that your app works with existing device tech, like text scaling or magnification.
• Make sure there are fail safes for when something goes wrong. For example, if a user accidentally scales their screen too much, the UI may shift beyond the grid and they won’t be able to press anything.

Don’t forget about general accessibility issues, either. Secure alt text presence, color contrast adjustments, and assistive tech compatibility. You can find out more on this in our website accessibility testing checklist.

Challenges in Accessibility Testing on Mobile Devices

Be prepared to tackle the difficulties of accessibility testing for mobile applications, too. You might need to obtain additional infrastructure or tools, work with external accessibility testing services, or hire particular specialists.

• There are a lot of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables. But there are even more screen sizes, orientations, OS, and their merged configurations.
• Platform-specific accessibility features may function differently. iOS’ VoiceOver and Android’s TalkBack are very similar. But they might cooperate distinctly with your app.
• Mobile accessibility testing tools may have limited functionality. For example, checking gestures or motion sensitivity can get tricky. Briefly, you’re very likely to need real devices.
• Accessibility features and assistive technologies may take a toll on users’ battery life. So, rather extensive optimization and performance testing are in order.
• Captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions may take quite a while to sort out as well.

To make the above not too taxing, you should make your testing more targeted. There are a few things that’ll help with that.

First, consider working with accessibility experts. They can help you organize your processes and secure niche mobile accessibility testing guidelines.

Second, collect customer feedback and include people with disabilities in user testing. There are platforms that specialise in this kind of service.

Third, keep up with accessibility trends and regulations to see what’s most important for consumers and compliance.

Differences Between iOS & Android Accessibility Frameworks

In this part of our mobile accessibility testing tutorial, we should also mention the differences between iOS and Android. They have distinct accessibility frameworks. And this, of course, will have an effect on your mobile app testing.

• iOS automatically makes UI elements accessible without much extra work.
• Android gives you more control. But it requires you to manually set things up for accessibility.
• iOS’ VoiceOver is built into every iPhone and works the same everywhere.
• Android’s TalkBack can be customized by phone manufacturers (so it might behave differently on different brands).
• iOS keeps accessibility features pretty locked down, so developers just follow Apple’s rules.
• Android lets developers create custom accessibility tools. But they have to do more work to make things accessible.

The two OS also have distinct native accessibility features and examination tools. In short, make sure your team is proficient in both operating systems and can account for the disparities when testing your app.

How to Do Accessibility Testing on Mobile Devices Meaningfully

Another important aspect of accessibility testing is not getting sucked into the tech side of things. Buttons, fields, screens—all that might make you overlook genuine human experiences. Automated accessibility testing for mobile apps can have a similar impact. Your process shouldn’t be going through the motions. There are actual people counting on your work. Over a billion of them.

Research published by Fable shows that most users don’t grapple with advanced accessibility issues. It’s the simplest mistakes that are very common.

• 60% of people noted unlabeled buttons or links as the most significant accessibility barrier on mobile devices.
• Small buttons or links and gesture-only interactions were highlighted by 35%.
• 30% were struggling with parts of the screen being blocked.
• 26% emphasized the absence of error messages.
• 22% noted not being able to resize text.
• And the inability to pinch and zoom was stressful for 21%.

These are, frankly, very simple to implement and fix. Yet, they are the most common issues users encounter to date.

So, prioritize actual consumer pain points. And don’t forget that no mobile app accessibility testing tools can replace human expertise and input. If manual testing services aren’t something you accounted for, consider adjusting your strategy or hiring an expert in the field.

Mobile Accessibility Testing Checklist

Let’s summarize what we’ve discussed so far by reviewing the must-haves on your accessibility testing checklist.

• Buttons should be at least 44x44px with enough spacing to avoid misclicks.
• Text should have enough contrast (4.5:1) for readability.
• Ensure all elements are labeled and readable by VoiceOver and TalkBack.
• Add meaningful descriptions for images, icons, and buttons.
• Allow full navigation without touch gestures.
• Provide on-screen buttons for swipe and shake actions.
• Use clear labels, readable error messages, and easy input methods.
• Ensure pop-ups and updates are screen reader-friendly and don’t interrupt users.
• Ensure users can navigate through elements in a logical sequence.
• Make sure buttons, links, and form fields have clear, meaningful labels.
• Provide captions for videos and transcripts for audio content.
• Verify that text scales properly when users adjust system font size.
• Ensure important information isn’t conveyed by color alone (e.g., errors should include text, not just red highlights).
• Prevent rapid flashing or animations that could trigger seizures.
• Allow users to pause autoplaying media, stop animations, and hide distracting elements.
• Ensure interface elements behave consistently across the app.
• Provide visual or audio feedback if the app relies on vibrations.
• Ensure key actions can be performed using voice commands where possible.

Accessibility testing tools for mobile apps can help you check a lot of the listed aspects. So, don’t get too nervous about the quantity of things to review. But also don’t underestimate manual software testing. Do believe us when we say that the time and effort put into it is beyond worth it. Better app quality, increased user satisfaction and loyalty, advanced reputation, and bumped-up revenue—all will come when you give accessibility testing proper care.

Mobile Accessibility Testing Tools

Speaking of tools, there are two things you should know.

First, learn what types of software are available. This will help you quickly figure out what options to use for what. For example, automatic scanners are great at locating surface-level issues. But when it comes to gesture responsiveness or alt text accuracy, manual checks are preferred.

Second, choose your tools based on factors relevant to your project, not just popularity or reviews. Our team likes to approach software selection with these points in mind:

1. How well does a tool cover your testing needs in terms of features, community support, and integrations.
2. How easy a tool is to use and learn. If its UX is wonky or it takes a while to figure out, it might not be the best option (especially if you’re low on time).
3. How much effort does a tool take to set up, scale, and maintain.

View mobile app accessibility testing tools’ selection as extensive research with direct impact on your product and crew. It’s definitely not a quick side-quest where your mission is to pick something and just start working ASAP.

Now, let’s take a look at what you’re likely to work with.

Platform-Specific Testing Tools

These are built-in tools from Apple, Android, Google, etc. They help identify accessibility issues directly on their platforms. Use them for checking platform-specific guidelines and getting quick, actionable insights.

Examples:

• iOS Accessibility Inspector.
• Android Accessibility Scanner.

Mobile Accessibility Testing Automation Tools

These tools scan your app for accessibility issues automatically. You can integrate them into your workflow to continuously look for errors. Use them for catching common problems early and ensuring consistency across updates.

Examples:

• axe DevTools Mobile.
• Pa11y.
• IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker.

Screen Readers

These tools let you experience your app the way visually impaired users do. They’re best for testing navigation, labels, and spoken feedback to ensure positive experiences for screen reader users.

Examples:

• VoiceOver.
• TalkBack.
• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access).

Simulation Tools

These tools mimic various impairments, such as color blindness, low vision, or motor disabilities. Use them to understand real user challenges and fine-tune your app for better usability.

Examples:

• Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA).
• NoCoffee Vision Simulator.
• Accessibility Scanner’s Simulation Features.

You can also use different assistive tech to test your product. And if you’re in the earlier stages of development, you might consider code analysis and linting tools. They scan your code to find accessibility issues like missing labels, poor color contrast, or incorrect UI element roles.

Building Mobile Accessibility Testing Strategy

Now, let’s chat about a few tips that helped our team secure better accessibility for clients’ projects.

Set Clear Accessibility Objectives & Success Criteria

Define what “accessible” means for your app. This could include meeting WCAG standards, ensuring compatibility with assistive tech, or improving usability for specific user groups. Such targeted testing will help better plan your processes and resources and assign experts.

You’ll also find it easier to work in installments. For instance, you can go from securing the basics to establishing compatibility with assistive technologies to working with more advanced scenarios.

Create Accessibility Requirements & Acceptance Criteria

Include accessibility in your user stories and test cases. Define what must be met before a feature is considered “done” (e.g., “All buttons must be accessible via keyboard”). If you think about accessibility as a separate “feature”, you’ll only end up with more work.

For example, say you’re done with your app’s UI. Then, you want to make sure that any user can enjoy it. But what if something breaks during the updates or clashes with other functionalities? You’ll basically have to do a lot to change a little.

Secure Close Collaboration & Proper Responsibility Assignment

Involve everyone in accessibility initiatives. Every stakeholder can contribute their perspectives and expertise, which will only refine your app.

• Product managers define accessibility as a product requirement from the start.
• Designers create inclusive UI/UX that considers users with disabilities.
• Developers implement accessible code, ensuring features work with assistive technologies.
• QA engineers verify that accessibility requirements are met through manual and automated testing.
• Content writers ensure text is clear, concise, and easy to understand for all users.
• Leadership supports accessibility as a priority and provides resources for training and tools.

Integrate Accessibility into Your Development Lifecycle

Make accessibility a core part of your development, not an extra task. Include it in every stage, from design to release, to implement consistent improvements and simplify daily tasks for the team.

• Designers should use accessible color contrasts, ensure proper text sizes, etc.
• Developers should write semantic code, include proper labels for screen readers, and keyboard compatibility.
• Engineers should run automated and manual tests, including screen reader testing and keyboard navigation checks.
• The crew should continuously monitor accessibility through updates, with regular audits and user feedback sessions.

You might also want to look into training and awareness to educate everyone about accessibility best practices. And you don’t want to overlook the impact of user testing. If you can include people with disabilities into checks and feedback gathering—definitely do it.

Benefits of Mobile App Accessibility Testing

Finally, we’d like to highlight what your mobile accessibility testing efforts lead to in the long-term. So, here are a few intriguing numbers.

• People with disabilities have collective disposable income of over \$1.2 trillion.
• Companies with inaccessible products lose nearly $7 billion annually as consumers turn to their competitors.
• Accessible products can quadruple your customer base.
• 94% of people consider accessibility a determining factor in what business to support.
• Organizations with developed accessibility practices are 70% more likely to increase their revenue.
• Almost 70% of consumers are ready to pay more to a business that has a positive social impact.
• And 92% favor companies that support people with disabilities.

Let’s summarize this. High-quality accessibility software testing services equal:

• Increased user reach.
• Advanced revenue.
• Minimized risk of lawsuits and legal troubles.
• Refined brand image and public perception.
• Higher chances of repeat purchases and recommendations.
• Greater customer loyalty.
• Competitive advantage.
• Better UX for all users.
• Polished searchability and app visibility (thanks to alt text and labels, which enhance SEO).

We’d say it’s all worth that extra effort with mobile accessibility testing. Wouldn’t you agree?

To Sum Up

Accessibility testing is often considered a separate QA practice. Much like cybersecurity, it’s highly specialized and needs precise skills to execute right. While this view is simpler, it’s also toxic. Neither cybersecurity nor accessibility should be detached from development. Because then, they become an afterthought, an extra task. And that robs your business and users of enjoying the benefits of a progressively secure and accessible product.

So, take accessibility seriously. Then, you’ll get some serious benefits as well.