Is axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing Safe? — Extension Safety Profile
Quick verdict: axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing earns a safety grade A, 80.4 out of 100, based on 5 of 5 dimensions.
80.4/100
Grade A · 5 of 5 checks
What we found
Automated safety profile from public signals (the extension's manifest & permissions, store listing, publisher, privacy policy). A full review hasn't been published yet.
What this safety grade means
axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing earns a safety grade of A (80.4/100), measured across 5 of 5 dimensions. Its strongest area is Maintenance & Ownership (100%). The weakest is Publisher & Identity (60%) — what holds its grade back the most.
On the public records we can check, axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing comes through cleanly. 400,000 active users/installs reported on the store. Store rating 3.2/5 from 131 user ratings. Last updated on the store 2026-10-15. This is an automated profile, not a hands-on review — so treat the grade as a starting point: open axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing's own store listing and privacy policy before installing, and weigh it against the other browser extensions we track below.
Safety Signals
Based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Bar | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 60% · 4.8/8 pts 2 of 5 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Permissions & Access | 83% · 20.8/25 pts 3 of 3 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Data & Privacy | 85% · 13.6/16 pts 4 of 5 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 100% · 7.5/7.5 pts 1 of 2 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Community Reputation | 68% · 6.8/10 pts 2 of 4 checks verified | Automated signals |
In-depth safety analysis
axe DevTools requests the "tabs" permission, which allows it to see URL and title information for open tabs—typical for an accessibility tool that needs to know what page is being tested. The "debugger" permission is more powerful; it lets the extension attach to pages to inspect their structure, styles, and accessibility properties, which is essential for its core auditing function. The "storage" and "unlimitedStorage" permissions enable it to save test configurations and results locally.
As a developer tool in the general browser extension category, users should know that accessibility checkers fundamentally require deep access to page content and structure to work. The "debugger" permission is particularly sensitive, as it can technically intercept network requests and modify page content, though in this case it is used for DOM inspection. A careful user would confirm this is the official extension from Deque Systems, as tools with such permissions can be attractive targets for impersonation.
The fact sheet shows strong Maintenance & Ownership at 100%, indicating the extension is actively updated and well-managed in the store. The weakest dimension is Publisher & Identity at 60%, which suggests there is less publicly available verification of the publisher's identity or track record, though this is not uncommon for specialized developer tools.
AI-assisted analysis of the documented signals above (permissions, store data, privacy practices) — explains what they mean and the risks typical for this category. Not a hands-on test.
What the store listing shows
Who's Behind axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing?
- Publisher Deque Systems Inc
Public records identify the publisher, but no individual founders or a separate registered company are named — which is what holds the Publisher & Identity score back. Less public information about who operates an extension means less you can verify about their long-term accountability.
How it compares
Among the 838 browser extensions we track, axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing scores higher on safety than 64% of them.
Computed from our own database of assessed browser extensions — updated as we track more.
Evidence on File (12)
axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing FAQ
- Is axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing safe?
- axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing earns a safety grade of A (80.4/100) on our evidence-based assessment, based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions we could verify from public records. This is an automated profile built from public records, not a hands-on review.
- Who is behind axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing?
- axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing is operated by Deque Systems Inc.
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