Comparison

The ASL App vs ASL Basics

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

Head to head
About

The ASL App

Learn American Sign Language with this intuitive app designed by Deaf individuals. Master conversational ASL through organized phrases and signs, with features like adjustable playback speed, search, and a favorites folder for practice.

Highlights
  • Learn conversational ASL
  • Adjustable video playback speed
  • Searchable sign index
  • Slow-motion option
  • Favorites folder for practice
  • Share learned signs on social media
Features
Read full description

The ASL App is made by Deaf people for you! Learn conversational ASL right now, on the go, with all phrases and signs organized to make it easy for you to learn. The ASL App is designed to help you learn a new visual language in a way that is easy, intuitive, and well paced. You can drag your finger on the videos to control the speed - totally at your pace. There is a search index (when you need to know a sign right away), slow-motion option, info (tips), and a favorites folder. You can save the signs you want to review again in your own favorites folder where you can go back to it and practice more; and even better - you can upload different what signs you've learned to Twitter and Facebook. Share with your friends, make learning ASL fun, and progressive!! Get started NOW - download and get your first bundle of signs today! The ASL App Pack offers you everything - the entire collection - of current available bundles and future releases! Everything for $9.99. This also removes ads. Bundles: • Know Your ABCs - Learn the ASL alphabet (included, FREE!) • Know Your Numbers - Learn all the numbers (included, FREE!) • Universal Gestures - Review what you already know (included, FREE!) • Handshape Exercises - Warm up your hands, and get used to the different handshape positions. Get your muscles to become fluently aware. (included, FREE!) • The Basics! A good way to get started! (included, FREE!) • More Basic Signs! Again, a collection of more basic signs. (Paid) • Looking Good Today! A collection of signs that is related to looks, fashion, and different complimenting phrases. (Paid) • Mood Swings! A collection of signs for different moods, emotions, feelings. (Paid) • Life of the Party! A collection of signs/phrases designed to fit what will be said at social events, or at bars. (Paid) • Dining & Signing! Signs and phrases for eating out, for the restaurant industry. (Paid) • Foodies, Rejoice! Signs and phrases covering food, dishes, drinks, and different ways related to eating. (Paid) • The Wilderness Beckons! Different signs and phrases of our natural environment. Perfect if you like camping, hiking, or road trips a lot. (Paid) • Great Timing! Signs related to time, scheduling, calendars, days of the week, and more. (Paid) • Dollar and Signs! Everything related to money, budgeting, invoicing, making payments and so on. (Paid) • Country Name Signs! Learn the name signs of countries around the world. • Colors! Learn all the signs for colors with some phrases! (Free) •Nyle's Sampler! Features Nyle DiMarco, winner of American's Next Top Model and ABC's Dance With The Stars. (Free) • Sign That! with Nyle. Many fun signs and phrases you want to ask Nyle, or ask through social media! (Paid) • Celebrations! Nyle loves holidays and celebrations, especially Halloween and Valentine. He will teach you how to be festive in ASL! This bundle include a variety of signed words and beneficial phrases to help your season greetings look authentic. (Paid) • Family Signs! This bundle will teach you the signs for family members: immediate and extended, loved ones and even your nosy neighbors! • Family Milestones & Life Events! You'll learn signs for marriage, wedding, divorce, children, adoption, pregnancies, and much more! • Pop Culture and Social Media! What's current, popular and trending? Here, Nyle shows you the signs from 3D movies to buying tickets for Broadway! • Sign and Vote! Learn how to say "register to vote" and how to sign President, blue or red states, and many more! • All About Sports! Learn signs to use with your fellow sports fans! • Education & Higher Education! Learn all about those signs used in Education! • LGBT & Pride! Learn all about Pride and LGBT signs! • Emergency Signs! Learn signs to use in first responder or emergency situations. Got questions, comments, or ideas - contact us at hello@theaslapp.com! Start signing!

About

ASL Basics

Learn the American Sign Language alphabet and numbers with this educational application. It provides a straightforward way to begin your ASL journey.

Highlights
  • Learn ASL alphabet
  • Learn ASL numbers
  • Educational tool
Features
Read full description

"ASL Basics" app helps you to learn American Sign Language's alphabet and numbers.

Screenshots

The ASL App4 screens
ASL Basics3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: The ASL App at Free against ASL Basics's $0.99. The ASL App also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 60 months). ASL Basics's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

The ASL App is free to download; ASL Basics costs $0.99 up front. The ASL App sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. ASL Basics asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ASL Basics holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 850 and 2.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of The ASL App's written reviews are positive against 84% of ASL Basics's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The ASL App ships an update every 3 months, ASL Basics every 60 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
The ASL App versus ASL Basics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe ASL AppASL Basics
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating3.6 (850 ratings)4.7 (2.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews84.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8502.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 60 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size162 MB2 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperDeafDigits IncAlmas Daumov

Customer experience

The ASL App

All ratings838 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral10.6%
Negative27.9%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral13.9%
Negative26.8%

ASL Basics

All ratings2,152 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral4.0%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive84.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative8.0%

User reviews

The ASL App

From 850 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy and simple to learn
  • 👍 Engaging and fun videos
  • 👍 Variety of presenters and signing styles
  • 👍 Slow motion feature helpful for learning
  • 👍 Comprehensive curriculum covering many topics

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Inability to restore purchases on new devices
  • 🐛 Some incorrect or outdated signs
  • 🔒 Lack of customer support responsiveness
  • 💰 Limited free content, most features require payment

ASL Basics

From 2.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Helpful for learning ASL basics
  • 🚀 Quick and simple
  • 🤩 Enjoyable learning experience

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Limited content (only alphabet and numbers 1-9)
  • 📚 Lacks more advanced features like words and phrases
  • 🧠 Not enough details or instructions

Bugs and requests

The ASL App

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Bundles won't download after purchase
  • App crashes on startup or shortly after opening
  • Inability to restore previous purchases on new devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more advanced vocabulary and conversational phrases
  • Include religious and spiritual signs
  • Implement a flashcard or quiz mode for review
  • Allow users to create custom playlists
  • Add more categories like medical, sports, and hobbies
Show 1 more
  • Improve search functionality and organization of content

ASL Basics

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • No known bugs reported

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add more advanced ASL content like words and phrases
  • Include detailed instructions and tutorials
  • Expand number range beyond 1-9

In-app purchases

10 purchases

The ASL App

One-time10
  • The Basics!Free
  • Universal GesturesFree
  • Handshape ExercisesFree
Show 7 more
  • Colors!Free
  • The Nyle SamplerFree
  • Signs on Elections!Free
  • More Basic Signs$0.99
  • Meet and Greet with Nyle DiMarco!$0.99
  • Family Signs$0.99
  • The ASL App Pack$9.99
None

ASL Basics

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The ASL App free?
The ASL App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ASL Basics free?
ASL Basics costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, The ASL App or ASL Basics?
ASL Basics is rated higher. The ASL App averages 3.6 out of 5 from 850 ratings, while ASL Basics averages 4.7 from 2.2K ratings.
Do The ASL App or ASL Basics have ads?
Neither The ASL App nor ASL Basics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The ASL App or ASL Basics?
The ASL App ships an update every 3 months, and ASL Basics every 60 months. Most recently, The ASL App was updated on October 29, 2026 and ASL Basics on October 29, 2026.

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