NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
NVDA is a free, open-source Windows screen reader developed by NV Access. It is the most-used free screen reader and the second-most-used overall after JAWS.
Detailed explanation
NVDA is fully free for download and use, including in commercial settings. It supports Windows applications, web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Edge), Microsoft Office, and most modern web standards (ARIA, HTML5).
WebAIM's 2024 Screen Reader User Survey reported NVDA as the second-most-used primary screen reader (~35% of respondents). Web developers commonly use NVDA for testing because it is free and behaves similarly to commercial alternatives.
How this applies to Shopify stores
NVDA is the screen reader of choice for accessibility QA on Shopify storefronts. AccessComply's validation pipeline includes NVDA-equivalent checks (heading order, ARIA exposure, form-label association, focus-order consistency) automated via axe-core rules.
Primary source: nvaccess.org