Guidepup

Visit Website

Introduction

Guidepup automates screen reader test workflows the same way you would automate mouse or keyboard scenarios. It supports NVDA on Windows, Orca on Linux and VoiceOver on macOS with a single API, and if a screen reader has a keyboard command, Guidepup supports it.

Because it drives real screen readers, you can assert on what users really do and hear, not just on markup. It is framework-agnostic: run it with Jest, with Playwright (there is a dedicated Playwright integration) or as an independent script. Machines need a one-time setup for screen reader automation.

Automated checks catch only part of accessibility problems. Combine tools like this with keyboard-only and screen reader testing, and with feedback from disabled users, before claiming conformance.

The source code is at guidepup/guidepup on GitHub under the MIT licence, with about 597 stars; the most recent commit was on 8 November 2026.

Features

1. Real screen readers: NVDA, Orca and VoiceOver.
2. Single API: Cross-platform.
3. Full keyboard control: Every screen reader command.
4. Spoken output assertions: Test what users hear.
5. Framework-agnostic: Jest, Playwright or scripts.

Pros

1. Unique capability: Rare open-source screen reader automation.
2. Free to use: Open source under the MIT licence, so the core tool costs nothing to use.
3. Actively maintained: The repository had commits as recent as 8 November 2026.

Cons

1. Machine setup: OS-level configuration required.
2. Slower tests: Real assistive technology runs.

Usage and Links (Example)

npx @guidepup/setup     # prepare the machine for screen reader automation
npm install @guidepup/guidepup

import { voiceOver } from "@guidepup/guidepup";
await voiceOver.start();
await voiceOver.next();
console.log(await voiceOver.lastSpokenPhrase());
await voiceOver.stop();

Resources:

• Guidepup website
• GitHub repository

Pricing

Guidepup is free and open source under the MIT licence.

Recommended for?

1. Accessibility engineers automating screen reader regression tests.

Conclusion

Guidepup is the leading way to automate real screen readers in JavaScript.

Start with a few critical flows.

On CheckOps, Guidepup is filed under the Accessibility and End-to-end & functional stages. Related tools listed here include axe-core, Playwright, jest-axe, cypress-axe, Accessibility Insights and Pa11y. Before standardising on one, compare recent maintenance activity, the pricing model as your usage grows, and the integrations you rely on today. Information on this page was verified against the official website, documentation and repository on 11 November 2026.