Lingvano taught a lot of people their first ASL or BSL signs. The Duolingo-style format is approachable, the Deaf instructors are a genuine differentiator, and a 4.8 rating across 2.5 million downloads is hard to argue with. The problem shows up around chapter 3: that is where the free content ends and a subscription takes over for the rest of the curriculum. Beyond the paywall, reviewers consistently find that the content tops out around CEFR A1/A2. The app focuses on receptive skills, recognising signs when someone else makes them, but gives much less time to expressive practice, meaning signing yourself. The mirror mode exists, but no grading or feedback comes with it. If you want to progress past basic recognition, these Lingvano alternatives give you more room to grow.
Why people leave Lingvano
- Subscription required early. The free chapters cover the first few units. Progressing meaningfully requires a paid plan, and reviewers often find the price hard to justify given how quickly the content runs out.
- Content ceiling around A1/A2. The curriculum is well-structured for beginners, but intermediate and advanced learners report running out of new material. There is no clear path from beginner recognition to functional signing.
- Receptive-only emphasis. Most exercises ask you to identify signs shown on screen. Practice producing signs yourself, with feedback on handshape, motion, or palm orientation, is limited.
- No community or peer feedback. The app is self-contained. There is no forum, no signing partner matching, and no mechanism for a Deaf community member or instructor to correct your form.
- Mirror feature has no grading. You can use the front camera to practise alongside a lesson, but the app does not evaluate what you sign. You are essentially checking yourself.
Which sign-language app should you pick?
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The ASL App if you want curriculum built entirely by Deaf ASL educators. Lessons are structured around natural ASL conversation, not English-to-sign translation.
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Hand Talk Translator if you need a fast sign-language translator, not a structured course. The animated avatar translates typed or spoken Portuguese or English text into Libras or ASL signs in real time.
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Spread Signs if you want a sign-language dictionary spanning multiple countries. The video reference library covers ASL, BSL, and dozens of other sign languages in one place.
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ASL Bloom if you are a beginner who wants structured ASL lessons without paying upfront. The freemium model gives more breathing room than Lingvano before asking for payment.
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SignSchool if you want free, structured ASL lessons with no subscription at all. The platform is browser-first but the Android app covers the same content.
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Memrise if you already use Memrise for a spoken language and want to add ASL or BSL through the community-made sign-language courses available in the catalogue.
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Drops if you want to build ASL vocabulary in short daily sessions and prefer a visual, gamified format over structured grammar lessons.
Want more detail? Each app has its own breakdown below, with pricing, what it does well, and who it suits. Jump to the comparison table for a side-by-side view.
1. The ASL App, best for Deaf-led ASL curriculum
The ASL App was created by Deaf ASL educators, and that shows throughout the content. Lessons are built around authentic ASL grammar, spatial grammar, non-manual markers, classifier predicates, rather than mapping English words to signs one-to-one, which is the common shortcut many apps take. Every instructor on screen is a native or near-native signer, and the curriculum covers everything from the alphabet and basic vocabulary through multi-sign sentences and conversational ASL.
The focus is on expressive signing from the start. Lessons show signs from the signer’s perspective, slowed down and then at natural speed, with clear attention to handshape, movement, and palm orientation. That approach is more useful for actually communicating than apps that primarily test receptive recognition.
There are structured beginner, intermediate, and advanced topic sets, and the app adds new content regularly. It does not have a built-in camera-grading feature, so self-evaluation of your form still relies on mirroring what you see, but the breadth of content is significantly greater than Lingvano’s.
Pricing: Free tier with limited content; full access requires a subscription. Pricing is modest and billed through Google Play or the App Store, check the current rate at download.
Best for: Learners at any level who want ASL curriculum taught by native Deaf signers, from introductory vocabulary through conversational fluency.
Advantages:
- Curriculum built and performed by native Deaf ASL educators
- Teaches authentic ASL grammar, not signed English
- Covers beginner through advanced conversational content
- Regular content updates
Disadvantages:
- No camera-based grading of your signing
- No built-in community or peer feedback feature
- Full access requires a subscription
- Android app experience is more limited than the web version
Bottom line: The most educationally rigorous ASL app on Android. If learning real ASL, not a simplified English-mapped version, is the goal, this is the clearest path.
2. Hand Talk Translator, best for real-time sign-language translation
Hand Talk takes a different approach from every other app on this list. Rather than structured lessons, it offers a real-time translation tool: type or speak text, and an animated 3D avatar called Hugo renders the corresponding signs. The primary focus is Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), but the app also handles ASL, making it one of the few tools that can translate into more than one sign language.
The translation is genuinely useful for hearing people who need to communicate with Deaf or hard-of-hearing users in a pinch, and for learners who want to see how a specific phrase or sentence is signed without searching a dictionary. The avatar rendering is clear enough to identify handshapes and movement paths, though it cannot fully substitute for a human signer demonstrating natural rhythm and non-manual markers.
Hand Talk is not a curriculum app. There are no lesson sequences, no spaced repetition, and no progress tracking. Think of it as a visual dictionary and translation bridge rather than a course. For structured learning, pair it with The ASL App or ASL Bloom.
Pricing: Free tier with core translation features; a Pro plan unlocks additional features and removes limitations. Pricing is confirmed at download via Google Play.
Best for: Anyone who needs quick sign-language translation for Libras or ASL, and learners who want an interactive sign dictionary alongside a structured course.
Advantages:
- Real-time translation into Libras and ASL from text or speech
- Clear animated avatar with identifiable handshapes
- Free core feature set available without subscription
- Useful as a quick reference alongside a structured course
Disadvantages:
- Not a curriculum app, no lesson sequences or progress tracking
- Avatar signing lacks the natural rhythm of a human signer
- Non-manual markers (facial expressions, mouthing) are limited in the avatar
- Advanced grammar nuances can be missed in automated translation
Bottom line: The go-to choice for real-time sign-language translation and as a dictionary companion. Not a replacement for structured learning, but valuable alongside one.
3. Spread Signs, best for a multilingual sign-language dictionary
Spread Signs is not a course app. It is a searchable video dictionary that covers signs from more than 40 countries, including ASL, BSL, Auslan, and a wide range of European and Asian sign languages. Each entry is a short video of a native signer demonstrating the sign, filmed from a consistent angle so handshape and movement are easy to study.
The appeal for ASL or BSL learners is the ability to look up a specific concept and see how it is signed, instantly and for free. The multilingual coverage also means you can compare how the same concept is signed across different countries, which is genuinely useful for understanding regional variation and for learners who work across sign-language communities.
What it lacks is any structured curriculum. There are no lesson sequences, no review tools, no quizzes, and no progress tracking. Spread Signs works best as a reference library alongside a structured app or a class, not as a standalone learning tool.
Pricing: The app has a free tier covering the core dictionary; a paid version unlocks additional features. Check the current price at download.
Best for: Learners and practitioners who need a quick, reliable sign-language video dictionary across multiple sign languages and regions.
Advantages:
- Signs from 40+ countries in a single searchable library
- Native signer video for every entry
- Genuinely free core dictionary
- Useful for comparing regional sign variation
Disadvantages:
- No structured lessons, quizzes, or curriculum
- No progress tracking
- Primarily a reference tool, not a learning system
- Interface can feel dated on newer Android versions
Bottom line: The best sign-language reference dictionary available on Android. Use it alongside a structured course, not as a replacement for one.
4. ASL Bloom, best for freemium beginner ASL lessons
ASL Bloom targets absolute beginners who want structured ASL lessons without hitting a paywall after the first few units. The app follows a topic-based curriculum, greetings, family, colours, numbers, daily routines, with video lessons taught by Deaf instructors. Lessons are short, around five to ten minutes each, and include both receptive exercises (watching signs and identifying them) and some prompts to practise signing yourself.
The freemium model gives noticeably more free content than Lingvano before asking for a paid plan. That makes it a lower-commitment starting point for learners who are not yet sure whether they will stick with ASL long enough to justify a subscription.
The app is relatively new compared to rivals like The ASL App, and the content library is smaller as a result. Learners who move through the beginner material quickly may find themselves waiting for new content. There is no intermediate or advanced curriculum yet, so it functions best as an on-ramp rather than a long-term learning tool.
Pricing: Free tier with a meaningful amount of content; premium subscription unlocks the full curriculum. Pricing is confirmed at download via Google Play.
Best for: Complete beginners who want structured, Deaf-led ASL lessons and more free content than Lingvano offers before committing to a subscription.
Advantages:
- More free content before paywall than Lingvano
- Deaf instructors throughout
- Topic-based structure easy to follow for beginners
- Short lessons that fit into a daily routine
Disadvantages:
- Content library is smaller than longer-established apps
- No intermediate or advanced curriculum yet
- No community or peer feedback feature
- New platform means fewer third-party reviews to assess reliability
Bottom line: A solid freemium starting point for ASL beginners who want Deaf-led instruction without the early paywall. Expect to move on to another tool once the beginner content runs out.
5. SignSchool, best for completely free ASL lessons
SignSchool offers structured ASL lessons at no cost. The platform is primarily browser-based, but the Android app covers the same lesson content, including beginner vocabulary, the ASL alphabet, numbers, and topic-based sign sets. Each lesson uses video demonstrations and basic quiz formats to check comprehension. There is no subscription and no paywalled curriculum.
The structure is straightforward: units are grouped by topic, progress is tracked inside the app, and lessons build on earlier vocabulary. It does not have the depth of The ASL App or the polish of Lingvano, but for a learner who wants to explore ASL without any financial commitment, it is the most complete free option available.
The main limitation is depth. SignSchool covers beginner content well but does not extend into intermediate ASL grammar, classifiers, or conversational signing. It also lacks any expressive practice tools, there is no camera mode, no production feedback, and no community feature. For learners who progress quickly, the content ceiling appears early.
Pricing: Free. No subscription, no in-app purchases for the core curriculum.
Best for: Learners who want structured ASL lessons at no cost, and anyone testing whether ASL is worth a longer-term commitment before spending money.
Advantages:
- Completely free, no subscription for the core curriculum
- Structured topic-based lessons with progress tracking
- Good starting point for the ASL alphabet and basic vocabulary
- Works on Android and in the browser
Disadvantages:
- Content ceiling at beginner level
- No expressive signing practice or feedback
- No community, peer review, or instructor interaction
- Polish and production quality below paid alternatives
Bottom line: The best fully free option for structured ASL learning on Android. Use it to get started or to assess your interest, then move to a more comprehensive tool when you outgrow the beginner content.
6. Memrise, best for adding ASL to an existing language-learning routine
Memrise is primarily a spoken-language learning platform, but its community course system includes ASL and BSL content created by Deaf educators and experienced signers. If you already use Memrise for a spoken language and want to fold ASL or BSL into the same app and review schedule, this is the path of least friction.
The ASL and BSL courses on Memrise use the same spaced-repetition review engine as the official language courses, signs are presented as short video clips, and the app schedules them for review at increasing intervals. The quality of community-made courses varies, but the better ones are well-produced and cover vocabulary across dozens of topic categories.
What Memrise does not offer is a structured ASL grammar curriculum or Deaf-instructor-led lesson sequences equivalent to The ASL App. It is a vocabulary builder and review tool, not a comprehensive course. Learners who want structured grammar, sentence-level practice, or expressive training will need a dedicated sign-language app alongside it.
Pricing: Freemium. Core features and some content are free; a Pro subscription unlocks offline access, additional review modes, and the full community course catalogue. Pricing is confirmed at download.
Best for: Existing Memrise users who want to add ASL or BSL vocabulary to their current review routine without switching apps.
Advantages:
- Spaced-repetition review works well for ASL vocabulary retention
- Sign-language courses available alongside spoken-language content
- Freemium model allows meaningful free use
- Available on Aptoide, Google Play, App Store, and Samsung Galaxy Store
Disadvantages:
- ASL and BSL content is community-made, not official curriculum
- No structured grammar or sentence-level ASL lessons
- Quality varies across different community courses
- Not designed as a dedicated sign-language platform
Bottom line: Worth considering if you already use Memrise and want to build ASL vocabulary in parallel. Not the right primary tool if sign language is your main learning focus.
7. Drops, best for short daily ASL vocabulary sessions
Drops added ASL as one of its language options, which means you can spend five minutes a day building sign vocabulary using the same visual, gamified format it uses for spoken languages. The free tier caps sessions at five minutes per day, and the visual matching games are genuinely engaging. The ASL content covers signs presented as illustrated cards paired with short video demonstrations.
The limitation is scope: Drops is a vocabulary tool. It does not teach ASL grammar, sentence structure, classifier predicates, or any of the features that make ASL a distinct language rather than a system of word-for-sign substitutions. The spaced repetition is solid, and the session format is easy to maintain as a daily habit, but the ceiling appears quickly for anyone who wants to go beyond recognising individual signs.
Think of Drops as a warm-up or supplement to a structured course, not a standalone learning system. For a learner who has already covered the basics in another app and wants a low-friction daily review tool, it works well in that role.
Pricing: Freemium. The free tier limits sessions to five minutes per day. A Premium subscription removes the time cap and unlocks all content. Pricing is confirmed at download via Aptoide or Google Play.
Best for: Learners who want a quick daily ASL vocabulary habit alongside a structured course, or anyone who likes Drops’ visual format and wants to add sign language to their existing session.
Advantages:
- ASL available within the existing Drops format
- Five-minute sessions easy to maintain as a daily habit
- Visual and gamified format works well for vocabulary retention
- Available on Aptoide, Google Play, and App Store
Disadvantages:
- Vocabulary only, no grammar, sentence structure, or ASL-specific features
- Free tier limits sessions to five minutes per day
- Expressive practice and signing feedback are absent
- Not designed as a standalone sign-language learning system
Bottom line: A useful daily vocabulary habit tool, but only as a supplement. Pair it with a dedicated ASL course, The ASL App, SignSchool, or ASL Bloom, for real progress.
Quick comparison
| App | Type | Price model | Best level | Expressive practice | Deaf instructors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lingvano | Structured course | Freemium (paywall at ch. 3) | Beginner | Mirror only, no grading | Yes |
| The ASL App | Structured course | Freemium / subscription | Beginner–Advanced | Self-guided | Yes |
| Hand Talk Translator | Translation tool | Freemium | Any | No | No (avatar) |
| Spread Signs | Dictionary | Freemium | Any (reference) | No | Yes (video) |
| ASL Bloom | Structured course | Freemium | Beginner | Limited | Yes |
| SignSchool | Structured course | Free | Beginner | No | No |
| Memrise | Vocab / review | Freemium / subscription | Beginner–Intermediate | No | Varies by course |
| Drops | Vocabulary | Freemium (5 min/day free) | Beginner | No | No |
FAQ
Is Lingvano free?
Lingvano has a free tier that covers the first few chapters of its ASL or BSL curriculum. Content beyond the introductory units requires a paid subscription. The free content is enough to decide whether the teaching style works for you, but not enough to build working conversational sign language.
What is the best free sign language app?
SignSchool is the most complete free option for structured ASL lessons on Android, there is no subscription and no paywalled curriculum. Spread Signs offers a free multilingual sign-language dictionary. If you want more than beginner content at no cost, pairing SignSchool with Spread Signs covers vocabulary and basic lesson structure without any payment.
Can you really learn ASL from an app?
Apps are a practical way to build vocabulary, learn to recognise signs, and understand basic ASL grammar. The limitation is expressive feedback: no current Android app grades your handshape, movement path, or palm orientation in real time the way a Deaf instructor would. Apps are most effective as a structured introduction and a daily review tool, used alongside in-person classes, a Deaf community connection, or a qualified teacher when the goal is fluent, functional ASL.
Is The ASL App better than Lingvano?
For learners who want to go past the beginner level, The ASL App covers more ground and reaches further into intermediate ASL territory. Its curriculum is built around authentic ASL grammar rather than English-mapped signing, and the instructor roster is made up of native or near-native Deaf signers throughout. Lingvano has a more polished gamified format that some beginners find easier to start with, but it runs out of content faster and has a lower skill ceiling.
Does Duolingo teach sign language?
As of mid-2026, Duolingo does not offer an ASL or BSL course. The platform has discussed sign language as a future direction but has not launched a course. The apps in this guide, particularly The ASL App, SignSchool, and ASL Bloom, are the practical alternatives for anyone looking for a Duolingo-style approach to sign-language learning.
