Free TPGi Colour Contrast Analyser Alternative
TPGi's Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA) is a powerful free desktop application for Windows and macOS that helps designers and developers verify color contrast against WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 guidelines. It includes an eyedropper tool for selecting colors anywhere on your screen, vision deficiency simulation across eight different types, and advanced color format support (HEX, RGB, HSV, HSL). The desktop app is feature-rich and trusted by accessibility professionals worldwide. However, it requires downloading, installing, and maintaining desktop software. For quick contrast checks during web development, a browser-based tool can be more convenient.
Try Color Contrast Checker Free →Color Contrast Checker vs TPGi Colour Contrast Analyser
| Feature | Fixie Color Contrast Checker | TPGi Colour Contrast Analyser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free |
| Signup Required | No | No |
| Platform | Browser (any OS) | Desktop app (Windows/macOS) |
| Installation Required | No | Yes |
| WCAG 2.0/2.1/2.2 Support | Yes | Yes |
| Eyedropper Tool | Browser color picker | System-wide eyedropper |
| Vision Deficiency Simulation | Via companion tool | Yes, 8 types built-in |
| Color Format Support | HEX, RGB, HSL | HEX, RGB, HSV, HSL |
| Ads | None | None |
Why Choose Fixie?
TPGi's Colour Contrast Analyser is an excellent desktop application with professional-grade features. The system-wide eyedropper lets you pick colors from anywhere on your screen, not just web pages. Vision deficiency simulation shows how colors appear across eight different types of color blindness. Multiple color format sliders make it easy to fine-tune values. It's a comprehensive tool trusted by accessibility experts and recommended by organizations like WebAIM and Deque.
The trade-off is that CCA is desktop software. You need to download it, install it, keep it updated, and launch it separately from your browser. For accessibility professionals doing frequent contrast audits across multiple applications, this investment makes sense. But for web developers who primarily check contrast during front-end development, switching between browser and desktop app adds friction.
Fixie's Color Contrast Checker runs in your browser. No installation, no updates, no separate application. Paste colors or use the browser's built-in color picker, get instant WCAG AA/AAA pass/fail results, adjust lightness with sliders, and see live text previews. Need color blindness simulation? Click through to our companion Color Blind Simulator tool. Both are free with no signup. All processing happens client-side, so your color values never leave your device. Use TPGi CCA for system-wide color picking and comprehensive desktop workflows. Use Fixie for quick browser-based contrast checks during web development.
How to Use Color Contrast Checker
Step 1: Visit the Contrast Checker
Navigate to fixie.tools/contrast — no installation or download required, works in any modern browser.
Step 2: Select Foreground and Background Colors
Use the color picker or enter HEX, RGB, or HSL values for your text color (foreground) and background color.
Step 3: Check WCAG Compliance
The tool displays the contrast ratio and pass/fail indicators for WCAG AA and AAA levels for both normal and large text. Live preview shows exactly how the text will appear.
Step 4: Adjust for Compliance
If your colors don't meet requirements, use the lightness sliders to adjust either color until you reach your target compliance level.
Step 5: Verify Color Blindness Impact
Click through to the Color Blind Simulator to see how your final color pair appears under different vision types.