WhoCanUse review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

WhoCanUse is a free, web-based color contrast checker for people assessing how foreground and background colors may affect readability and accessibility. It calculates a contrast ratio and shows a WCAG grade for the selected combination, with text size and weight factored into the grading. Rather than treating a single score as the whole picture, it also lets users compare how colors and text settings appear under simulated visual conditions. That makes it relevant to designers, developers and other solo or small-team users reviewing text color choices, especially when low-vision perspectives are part of the evaluation.

The simulations are a central part of the tool’s focus. WhoCanUse includes color-vision deficiency views such as protanopia and deuteranopia, as well as simulations for cataracts, glaucoma and low vision. It also covers situational viewing conditions such as direct sunlight and night-shift mode. Users can adjust foreground and background colors, text size and weight to compare results. This breadth helps a reviewer look beyond whether a pair reaches a grade and consider how visual changes may affect the same content. It is a focused checker, not a general design suite: its purpose is to help assess color combinations through these contrast and simulation views.

The trade-off is that WhoCanUse does not provide color suggestions, and its checker handles a single color pair rather than batch comparisons. Teams that need recommendations for improving a failing pair or want to evaluate many combinations at once should look for a tool with those workflows. For users who want a free browser-based way to inspect one text color pairing at a time and explore simulated low-vision and viewing conditions, WhoCanUse is a close fit. It is less suited to teams seeking automated remediation or batch-oriented contrast review.

WhoCanUse pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Shows contrast ratio and WCAG grade while accounting for text size and weight
  • Simulates color-vision deficiencies, cataracts, glaucoma and low vision
  • Includes direct-sunlight and night-shift viewing simulations
• Where it doesn't
  • Does not suggest alternative colors
  • Checks one foreground and background pair at a time
  • Focused on text contrast rather than broader color-contrast modes

WhoCanUse fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 20 Oct 2026 · How we research and update