Question 1

Is this contrast checker free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, completely — every feature on this page is free, including image sampling, the gradient/background scan, and link contrast mode. There's no sign-up, no watermark, and nothing held back behind a "Pro" tier, unlike some competitors tested for this tool.

Question 2

Do I need to download or install anything?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything runs in this browser tab — check a pair, sample from an image, or scan a gradient, and there's nothing to install and nothing left behind when you close the page.

Question 3

Does this tool upload my colors or images anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. Every color you check, sample, or save, and any image you upload for sampling or the background scan, is processed entirely in your browser. This tool doesn't even have a server to upload to, so there's nothing for your data to be sent to in the first place.

Question 4

What contrast ratio do I need to pass WCAG AA?

Accepted Answer

4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (18pt/24px, or 14pt/18.66px bold), and 3:1 for graphical objects and UI components like icons and form borders (WCAG SC 1.4.11). This tool checks all three automatically and shows a clear pass or fail for each.

Question 5

What contrast ratio do I need to pass WCAG AAA?

Accepted Answer

7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text. AAA is the stricter tier — most sites and legal requirements (ADA, Section 508, the European Accessibility Act) only require AA, but this tool shows both so you can aim higher where it matters.

Question 6

What's the difference between normal text and large text for contrast?

Accepted Answer

WCAG treats large text as easier to read at lower contrast, so it gets a lower bar: 18pt (24px) regular weight, or 14pt (18.66px) bold, counts as large text and only needs 3:1 for AA instead of 4.5:1. Anything smaller is normal text and needs the higher ratio.

Question 7

Does this check contrast for buttons, icons, and other non-text UI elements?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Graphical objects & UI components row checks your pair against the 3:1 ratio WCAG's SC 1.4.11 requires for things like icons, form field borders, and focus indicators, not just text. Only 2 of the 7 tools we tested building this one actually break this requirement out on its own.

Question 8

Can I check the contrast of a color from an image?

Accepted Answer

Yes — under "Sample a color from an image," upload, drag-and-drop, or paste (Ctrl+V/Cmd+V) an image, choose whether it's setting the text or background color, then click any pixel to sample its exact color.

Question 9

Can I check contrast against a gradient or background image?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that's what "Check against a gradient or image background" does. Instead of checking one flat color pair, it scans every pixel behind your text color across a two-color gradient or an uploaded image, finds the single worst-case contrast ratio, and highlights exactly where it fails. No competitor we tested building this offers that.

Question 10

Does this check link contrast against surrounding text?

Accepted Answer

Yes — turn on "Check link contrast" to add a surrounding-text-color field. It checks your link color against both the background and the surrounding text color, covering WCAG's guidance that a link needs to be visually distinguishable even without relying on color alone (SC 1.4.1).

Question 11

Is this tool compliant with ADA and Section 508?

Accepted Answer

This tool checks your colors against the WCAG 2.2 AA thresholds that ADA and Section 508 both point to as their accessibility benchmark, so a pair that passes AA here meets the underlying technical standard those laws reference. Neither law certifies individual tools, so use this to check your actual site's colors, not as a substitute for a full accessibility audit.

Question 12

Does this contrast checker help with BFSG or European Accessibility Act compliance?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Germany's Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), in force since June 2025 and implementing the EU Accessibility Act, references WCAG 2.1 AA / EN 301 549, whose contrast thresholds are identical to the ones this tool checks. Checking your colors here is a direct, practical step toward that requirement, alongside "BFSG-konform" phrasing on the German version of this page.

Question 13

Does this support APCA or WCAG 3 contrast?

Accepted Answer

Not yet, and honestly: as of this pass, WCAG 3's contrast algorithm is still undetermined — the working group moved visual-contrast work out for further evaluation, and Recommendation status isn't expected until 2028–2030 at the earliest. Shipping an "APCA score" today would imply conformance with a standard that doesn't formally exist yet, so this tool sticks to the current, legally-referenced WCAG 2.x ratio.

Question 14

Is this a Chrome extension or Figma plugin?

Accepted Answer

No — this is a website, not an installable browser extension or design-tool plugin, so there's nothing to add to Chrome, Figma, or anywhere else. The "Pick from screen" eyedropper covers the same cross-page color-checking job without installing anything.

Question 15

Can I pick a color directly from my screen?

Accepted Answer

Yes — click "Pick from screen" next to any color field and your cursor turns into an eyedropper you can move over any pixel on your entire screen, not just this browser tab, using the browser's native EyeDropper API.

Question 16

Why can't I use the eyedropper in Firefox or Safari?

Accepted Answer

That's a real limitation of those browsers today, not something left out here: the EyeDropper API is currently only implemented in Chrome, Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers. In Firefox or Safari, the button is hidden rather than shown as a dead control — type or paste the hex value instead, or use the image sampler.

Question 17

Does this work on mobile and in every browser?

Accepted Answer

The core checker — entering or pasting colors, link contrast mode, image sampling, and the gradient/background scan — works on any modern browser, desktop or mobile: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all handle it. "Pick from screen" is the one feature with narrower support (see the Firefox/Safari question above), since it depends on a browser API that isn't universal yet.

Link vs. background	6.29:1	Pass
Link vs. surrounding text	15.99:1	Pass

Contrast Checker

Sample a color from an image

Check against a gradient or image background

Check link contrast

Frequently asked questions

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