InterSign ASL - Learn Now‪!‬ 4+

This app is so so good for people trying to learn sign language for free/low cost. It’s set up just like Duolingo and the lessons are comprehensive and progressive. They teach multiple variations of signs when they’re applicable, they teach grammar, and they use spaced repetition to keep old lessons fresh in your mind. They also have a handful of sign language instructors each with a slightly different style, so you get to see what different “accents” look like.

None of the lessons are locked behind a paywall, so if you can’t purchase a subscription, you’re not going to be forced to stop using the app. There are ads but they’re very very limited. One before and after each lesson, but they’re skippable after only 5-10sec so they’re super bearable. Aside from the lessons, there’s a dictionary/glossary tab which is super helpful if you’re looking for something specific.

The only two drawbacks I’ve found is that (1) the dictionary/glossary doesn’t have a section for ‘words you’ve learned in your lessons’ - sometimes I’d like to go and quiz myself on a list of all the words I know, but I can’t do that without individually searching every word. And (2) the end of every lesson takes you back to the home page, which you then have to click on a section and then click on the next lesson in order to keep going. I wish there was just a “next lesson” button once you’ve finished one so you didn’t have to go through the extra steps.

I’ve been hoping for a duolingo-esque ASL app and my prayers have been answered! I have yet to see a pay wall, there’s both videos and pictures, you can test up from subjects you already know, and there’s no cap on how many questions you can get wrong. I’m so thankful for this app already. The ONLY gripe I have is that the X out for some of the ads is nearly impossible to hit, so I have to exit out of the app when I finish a lesson, but that’s hardly anything.

Edit:
I hope in the future that there’s more lessons! This is a great learning system and I want to use it more. It would be great if they could put tips and tricks in (maybe with a little question mark on the questions after you get it right or wrong?) for why this sign makes sense (like water being a W tapped to your lips, to drink it. Or fruit being an F hand twisting at your mouth to signify eating)

TLDR: they have a hidden premium where they let you see all the perks of buying “premium” and then take them away, unless you give them money. They don’t tell you about premium until you’ve already done two lessons and invested your time

I don’t think I’ve ever felt this level of betrayal from an app before, i downloaded this under the impression I was going to get quality learning content, and you do but after chapter one lesson three you can no longer look at the side angles of each sign unless you buy the premium. You also still have to watch all the adds. I figured I would be fine watching ads Defoe and after every single lesson to help support them but to loose the sign angles which have always been something I’ve struggled with trying to learn SL from books and get told that they will remove ads , give you offline access, allow you to have angles again, and give you more games for 5 dollars a month, that add up to 60 usd a year, and that’s if you do the monthly one! Honey, I don’t have money to be spending on an app. I only downloaded this so I can talk easier with my deaf friends and family.