Free Pilestone Color Blind Simulator Alternative
Pilestone's Color Blind Simulator is part of the company's educational suite for understanding color vision deficiency. Pilestone primarily sells color blind glasses, and their free simulator helps users understand what types of color blindness exist and how they affect vision. The simulator is free and claims to protect your privacy, allowing you to upload images and see how they appear under various CVD types. While Pilestone's tool is useful, it's part of a commercial ecosystem designed to guide users toward purchasing their glasses. If you want a pure accessibility testing tool with no commercial angle, Fixie offers a focused, distraction-free alternative.
Try Color Blind Simulator Free →Color Blind Simulator vs Pilestone Color Blind Simulator
| Feature | Fixie Color Blind Simulator | Pilestone Color Blind Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free (part of glasses sales funnel) |
| Signup Required | No | No |
| Commercial Upsells | None — pure tool | Promotes color blind glasses sales |
| Processing Location | 100% client-side (browser) | Claims privacy protection (details unclear) |
| CVD Types Supported | 7 types (full + partial + Achromatopsia) | Red-blind, Green-blind, Blue-blind, Grayscale |
| Side-by-Side Comparison | Before/after slider + grid view | Single view per type |
| Color Picker Mode | Yes (test colors directly) | Image only |
| Download Simulations | Download individual or all at once | Download available |
Why Choose Fixie?
Pilestone is a respected brand in the color blind glasses market, and their simulator serves an educational purpose — helping people understand what color blindness looks like before deciding whether corrective lenses might help them. The tool is free and easy to use, with clear explanations of each deficiency type. For someone exploring whether they or a family member might benefit from color blind glasses, Pilestone's ecosystem (simulator + test + product catalog) provides a complete journey.
However, the simulator exists within a sales funnel. After simulating how colors appear, users are naturally funneled toward Pilestone's glasses, which range from around $100 to $300+. This isn't inherently bad — Pilestone is transparent about their business model — but it means the tool is designed to support a commercial goal, not purely to serve designers and developers testing accessibility.
Fixie's Color Blind Simulator has a different purpose: it's built for designers, developers, and content creators who need to verify their work is accessible to people with CVD. There are no product recommendations, no sales pitches, and no suggested next steps beyond testing your colors. The tool includes more detailed CVD types (distinguishing between complete and partial deficiencies like Protanopia vs Protanomaly), side-by-side comparison modes for faster audits, and a color picker for testing palettes without needing to create mockup images. Both tools are free and privacy-respecting, but Fixie is optimized for professional accessibility work rather than consumer education.
How to Use Color Blind Simulator
Step 1: Visit the Color Blind Simulator
Go to fixie.tools/color-blind — no signup, no product recommendations, just the tool. Works on desktop and mobile.
Step 2: Choose Image or Color Mode
Upload an image (design mockup, website screenshot, infographic) or use the color picker to test specific color combinations. Everything processes in your browser — no server uploads.
Step 3: Select Comparison or Grid View
Use the before/after slider to compare normal vision against a specific CVD type (great for presentations or documentation). Or switch to grid view to see all seven deficiency types at once (faster for audits).
Step 4: Download Results
Download individual simulations or click "Download all" to save every CVD type as separate files. Perfect for accessibility compliance reports or client deliverables.