Storybook Accessibility Tests
Storybook Accessibility Tests is an addon for checking UI component accessibility in Storybook stories.
What Storybook Accessibility Tests is
Storybook Accessibility Tests is an addon for checking UI component accessibility in Storybook stories. It audits the rendered DOM using heuristics based on WCAG rules and other accepted accessibility practices, powered by Deque's axe-core library. Storybook says axe-core automatically catches up to 57% of WCAG issues. The Accessibility panel separates results into violations, passes, and incomplete checks that need human confirmation. Default rules draw on WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 Level A and AA guidelines, as well as best practices.
Teams can configure the DOM context, axe settings and options, and individual rules. A toolbar button simulates different vision impairments. The addon works with Storybook's Vitest addon so checks can run alongside component tests in Storybook and CI. Its `a11y.test` setting accepts `off`, `todo`, or `error`; CI errors require `error`. Some checks remain incomplete and need manual review, and asynchronous components may be checked before they finish rendering, leading to false negatives. Storybook positions automated accessibility checks as an initial QA step for clear violations, not a substitute for manual confirmation.
Good
- Groups findings into violations, passes, and incomplete checks.
- Configurable DOM context and accessibility rules.
- Can simulate different vision impairments.
- Vitest integration supports checks alongside component tests.
- Free to install as a Storybook addon.
Watch out
- Some checks require manual confirmation.
- Async rendering can lead to false negatives.
- CI errors require `a11y.test` set to `error`.
Who it suits
The addon suits developers checking the accessibility of UI components in Storybook stories. It is particularly relevant to teams running component tests in Storybook and CI.
Verdict
The addon provides configurable automated checks and integrates with component testing workflows. Incomplete results and asynchronous rendering limitations mean teams still need manual review.
Plans and prices
From Storybook Accessibility Tests's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Storybook Accessibility addon | Free | Install with `npx storybook add @storybook/addon-a11y`; Storybook docs provide no separate price for the addon |
| Chromatic Starter | $179 a month | Everything in Free · additional billed snapshots $0.008 · Safari, Firefox, and Edge testing · 35,000 billed snapshots |
| Chromatic Pro | $399 a month | Everything in Starter · custom domain · 85,000 billed snapshots |
| Chromatic Enterprise | Priced on request | Unlimited snapshots and TurboSnaps · unlimited accessibility usage · SSO and custom Git integrations · priority support and SLA |
| Chromatic Free | — | Chrome testing · unlimited projects, users, and collaborators · Git and CI integrations · 5,000 billed snapshots |
The facts
Each one read from Storybook Accessibility Tests's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Addon availability
- Storybook lists Accessibility Storybook Addon A11y under popular addons and describes it as testing UI component compliance with WCAG web accessibility standards.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Async rendering limitation
- For asynchronous components such as those using Suspense or React Server Components, checks can run before final rendering and produce false negatives.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Users can configure the DOM context, axe settings and options, and individual rules for accessibility checks.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Engine
- The addon is built on Deque’s axe-core library, which Storybook says automatically catches up to 57% of WCAG issues.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Manual review limit
- Some checks are incomplete and require manual confirmation, and Storybook describes automated checks as a first line of QA for blatant violations.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- The Accessibility addon audits a story’s rendered DOM against heuristics based on WCAG rules and other accepted accessibility practices.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Results
- The Accessibility panel separates results into violations, passes, and incomplete checks that need manual confirmation.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Rulesets
- By default, checks use rules based on WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 Level A and AA guidelines plus best practices.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Test behavior
- The `a11y.test` setting supports `off`, `todo`, and `error`; CI errors require the setting to be `error`.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Vision simulation
- The addon adds a toolbar button to simulate different vision impairments.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Vitest integration
- The Accessibility addon integrates with the Vitest addon so accessibility checks can run alongside component tests in Storybook and CI.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- Storybook presents accessibility testing as a way to check the accessibility of UI components in stories.checked 4 Oct 2026
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