Google Lighthouse

Website performance, accessibility, and SEO auditing tool

Google Lighthouse is a free, open-source tool developed by Google that helps organisations audit website performance, accessibility, and technical SEO. It runs automated checks and provides clear recommendations to improve website quality.

Website performance and technical challenges for nonprofits

Challenge

NGO websites may load slowly, especially on mobile or low-bandwidth connections.

Slow or inaccessible websites can reduce donor engagement and limit programme reach.

Accessibility gaps may prevent inclusive access for users with disabilities.

Technical SEO issues may reduce visibility in search results.

Organisations may not have the budget for professional website audits.

Solution

Tools like Google Lighthouse help organisations audit website performance, accessibility, and technical SEO.

It provides actionable recommendations to improve page speed, usability, and visibility.

Key capabilities of Google lighthouse

Performance audit

Measures page speed and identifies issues affecting load time.

Accessibility audit

Flags issues such as missing alt text, poor contrast, and navigation barriers.

SEO audit

Checks basic technical SEO elements like metadata, mobile friendliness, and crawlability.

Best practices audit

Identifies security and code quality issues.

Access options

Available in Chrome DevTools, PageSpeed Insights, and as a command-line tool.

Pricing for nonprofits

Free access

Google Lighthouse is completely free to use.
No account required.

Best suited for which organisations?

NGOs managing or maintaining their own websites

Organisations looking to improve website performance and accessibility

Teams with access to a developer or technical support

Similar tools

PageSpeed Insights

GTmetrix

WebPageTest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Google Lighthouse used for?

It is used to audit website performance, accessibility, and technical SEO, and provide recommendations for improvement.

Is Google Lighthouse free?

Yes, it is completely free and open-source.

Do nonprofits need technical expertise to use it?

Basic understanding helps, as implementing recommendations may require developer support.

Does Lighthouse improve SEO rankings directly?

No, it does not directly improve rankings but helps identify technical issues that affect SEO performance.

Can it be used for accessibility audits?

Yes, it identifies accessibility issues and suggests improvements.

Want to learn more?

Visit Google Lighthouse