Favourite 8 Browser-Based Dev Tools (Network Debuggers, CSS Live Editors, Accessibility Checkers) That Web Designers Use Daily

Every web designer has a toolbox. And inside that toolbox? A bunch of browser-based dev tools that make life 100x easier. These little gems help you debug, test, tweak, and style websites without breaking a sweat. Let’s take a fun dive into the ones that designers keep opening every day.

TLDR:

Want to build better websites faster? These 8 browser-based tools are essentials for debugging code, editing CSS live, and checking accessibility. From Chrome DevTools to ColorZilla, each helps fix issues without ever opening your code editor. Web design just got smoother—and more fun!

1. Chrome DevTools – The All-in-One Swiss Army Knife

If you use Chrome, you’re already a few keystrokes away from your best friend. Just right-click any element and choose “Inspect”. Boom, you’ve entered the powerful world of Chrome DevTools.

Here’s what you can do:

• Check and tweak HTML and CSS in real time
• Debug JavaScript on the fly
• View network activity and API calls
• Simulate mobile devices

It’s like x-ray vision for your webpage. And yes, it’s free.

2. Firefox Developer Tools – The Stylish Cousin

Some devs swear by Chrome. Others? Firefox lets them feel fancy—and for good reason. Firefox’s Developer Tools come with some cool additions. For example, a dedicated Accessibility panel and a flexbox inspector that’s just *chef’s kiss*.

What makes it stand out?

• Live CSS Grid overlays
• Color contrast indicators
• Editable animations panel

So if you’re doing creative CSS magic, Firefox might just be your stage.

3. Polypane – Multi-Window Preview Heaven

Designing for every screen size is normally a pain. But Polypane changes that. This browser shows your site on multiple viewports at once. Side-by-side. Live.

No need to shrink windows or resize tabs over and over. Instead, you just watch your site react across sizes and devices right before your eyes.

Polypane also includes:

• Accessibility audits
• Live CSS editing
• Built-in performance testing

It’s not free, but many designers say it’s worth every penny.

4. VisBug – The Magic CSS Wand

VisBug is like using Google Docs for website tweaking. Install it as a Chrome extension and suddenly every website becomes editable—visually.

Just hover and click to:

• Move elements around
• Change padding and margins
• Edit text or colors in place

It’s like playing with Lego blocks, but for websites.

Designers love it for fast mockups. And developers love it for quick fixes during meetings.

5. WebAIM Wave – Be an Accessibility Hero

WAVE is a free tool that shows how usable your web page is for everyone—including people with disabilities. Plug in a URL, and WAVE gives you a color-coded overlay showing accessibility issues.

It points out:

• Missing alt text
• Low contrast text
• Broken ARIA labels

No guesswork. Just facts. If you care about inclusive design (and we all should), this tool is a must.

6. Ghostery – Tracker Reveal-o-Meter

Ever wonder what 3rd-party scripts are lurking in your site? Ghostery shows you tracker scripts, ad pixels, and other hidden tag goblins that slow your site down.

It’s great for:

• Finding unnecessary JS files
• Spotting trackers for privacy compliance
• Improving site performance

It’s also helpful when you inherit a messy website from a client—you can instantly see what’s under the hood.

7. ColorZilla – Color Picker Superpower

ColorZilla is what you get when an eyedrop tool meets a color scientist. Hover over any element on a webpage and *click*—you get its hex and RGB value instantly.

Best features?

• Gradient generator
• CSS color history
• One-click copy to clipboard

No more guessing or digging through inspector panels just to find the button color again.

8. WhatFont – Typeface Detective

You saw a beautiful font online and now you want it. WhatFont makes it easy. Hover over any text, and you’ll instantly see the font name, size, line-height, and more.

It even tells you:

• If it’s a Google Font or a self-hosted one
• The exact font weight
• CSS font family declarations

No more opening up 50 font sites trying to find a match. WhatFont is your shortcut.

Final Thoughts

There you go! These 8 browser-based dev tools are more than just accessories—they’re your daily design sidekicks.

To quickly recap:

1. Chrome DevTools – for everything you need, all in one place
2. Firefox Developer Tools – advanced and precise for finicky layouts
3. Polypane – perfect for responsive web design previews
4. VisBug – fun for quick UI experiments and edits
5. WebAIM Wave – your go-to for accessibility checks
6. Ghostery – detect sneaky scripts and speed up your site
7. ColorZilla – pick and copy any color in a flash
8. WhatFont – find the exact font that caught your eye

Which one’s your favorite? Or did we leave one out that you swear by? Either way, the right tools can make web design smoother, faster, and a whole lot more fun.

Happy designing!