Comparison

手話ステーション Lite vs SignTown Handbook

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

手話ステーション Lite

Learn Japanese sign language with this comprehensive app. It features animated videos and static images for thousands of words, categorized for systematic learning. Practice with example sentences and customizable playback options.

Highlights
  • Animated and static sign language videos
  • Extensive vocabulary (4000+ words)
  • Multiple search methods (alphabetical, category, text)
  • Categorized learning by theme
  • Favorite word registration
  • Example sentences for context
  • Adjustable playback speed and mirror display
Features
Read full description

【本格手話を身近に】 専門家が監修した日本語対応手話アプリです。 表示画面はできるだけ大きくアニメ表示し、その表現由来や動作指示などの説明を加えました。手話辞書として活用するだけでなく、表現の意味を理解しながら効果的に手話を習得することも可能です。 【いろいろな検索】 指文字と語句約400語をアニメ動画、残りの約4000語は静止画で表示します。 3種類(50音順、カテゴリ選択、文字列検索)から使用目的にあった方法を選択できます。カテゴリは3段階(大分類、中分類、小分類)に分類されていますのでテーマ毎に体系的に習得できます。  ※大分類の例 -> 「人」「コミュニケーション」「色・感覚」「身体・健康」「気象・自然」「食べる」など15分類  ※「食べる」の中分類 -> 「動作」「食事」「食べ物」「飲み物」「食材」「施設」 【語句登録機能】 お気に入りの語句を登録(マーク)しておくことができます。 1マークにつき最大50語、6マークまで登録可能です。 【例文サンプル】 文章作成では使用する語句と順番がわからないことがあります。例文を参考に使用語句と順番を表示します。 【優れた操作性】 アニメーションの再生は、自動再生とスライドバーによる手動再生の2種類で実行できます。自動再生の途中で止めたり再生したりが可能です。 【アニメ表示オプション】 左右反転表示と動画速度を設定でき、アニメを見ながらの練習に最適です。 【監修】 谷千春・NPO法人 江戸川手話通訳者協会

About

SignTown Handbook

This educational app uses AI and your device's camera to detect sign language gestures. It aims to advance technology for the Deaf community and increase awareness of Deaf Culture through helpful learning experiences.

Highlights
  • AI gesture detection
  • On-device machine learning
  • Privacy-focused (no video upload)
  • Educational content
  • Deaf Culture awareness
  • Webcam integration
Read full description

Project Shuwa is a collaboration between Google, Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Nippon Foundation and Kwansei Gakuin University, allowing us to work with native signers and academic researchers to authentically solve for the Deaf community. The mission of our project is to meaningfully advance technology for the Deaf community and sign language users, to increase awareness of Deaf Culture, and to create helpful, educational services and experiences along the way. We rely on breakthroughs AI technology to be able to detect sign language gestures using only a simple webcam and on-device machine learning. None of the video frames are sent through the Internet, which helps preserve user privacy.

Screenshots

手話ステーション Lite4 screens
SignTown Handbook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SignTown Handbook at 100% against 手話ステーション Lite's 0%. SignTown Handbook also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 12 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

手話ステーション Lite ships an update every 12 months, SignTown Handbook monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
手話ステーション Lite versus SignTown Handbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter手話ステーション LiteSignTown Handbook
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMDI Inc.BIT STUDIO COMPANY LIMITED

Customer experience

手話ステーション Lite

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

SignTown Handbook

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

手話ステーション Lite

No in-app purchases

None

SignTown Handbook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 手話ステーション Lite free?
手話ステーション Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SignTown Handbook free?
SignTown Handbook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do 手話ステーション Lite or SignTown Handbook have ads?
Neither 手話ステーション Lite nor SignTown Handbook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 手話ステーション Lite or SignTown Handbook?
手話ステーション Lite ships an update every 12 months, and SignTown Handbook monthly. Most recently, 手話ステーション Lite was updated on June 5, 2026 and SignTown Handbook on September 9, 2026.

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