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SpreadTheSign
Örebro, Sweden
What it is
SpreadTheSign is a multilingual sign language dictionary built around video lookup. It contains more than 600,000 sign videos across 23 sign languages, including ASL and BSL. Users can search for words and sentence examples, compare how a word is expressed in different languages, and slow videos to follow the signing movements. The app also offers hand alphabets, fingerspelling, baby signs, and favorites for saving signs. It is available on the web, Android, and iOS. The maker describes it as a reference for sign language learners, families, educators, interpreters, and people who need to check a sign. A free plan is listed, and the iOS app listing shows in-app purchases, including a Pro Version for €599, paid once. The maker says new words, videos, and language coverage are added regularly, while content availability may vary by language. Google Play lists the developer-provided data safety disclosure as no data collected and no data shared with third parties.
For and against
For
- More than 600,000 sign videos across 23 languages.
- Searches include words and sentence examples.
- Compare expressions across sign languages.
- Videos can be slowed down.
- Includes fingerspelling, hand alphabets, and baby signs.
Against
- Content availability may vary by language.
- The iOS app has in-app purchases.
- Pro Version is listed at €599, paid once.
The verdict
SpreadTheSign combines video lookup with language comparison and reference tools. Its broad language coverage is accompanied by a stated variation in content availability by language.
Who it suits
It suits sign language learners, families, educators, and interpreters who need a video dictionary. It may also help people looking up an individual sign quickly.
Plans and prices
Free web access
Private-user viewing · browser dictionary access
Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Pro Version
Premium sentence search · profanity and slang sections · additional hand alphabets · slow playback
Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Free
iOS app listed as free · in-app purchases available
Read 5 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
On the record
- Alphabet tools
- The app includes hand alphabets and fingerspelling.play.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Android distribution
- The Android app has exceeded one million downloads according to AppBrain.appbrain.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Apple privacy disclosure
- Apple lists identifiers, usage data and diagnostics as potentially collected but not linked to the user.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The maker describes it as a reference for sign language learners, families, educators, interpreters, and people who need to look up a sign quickly.play.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Baby signs
- A dedicated baby-sign section is included.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Commercial licensing
- Private users can view the site free, while researchers, developers, universities and companies must purchase a licence.signlanguage.eu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company activity
- The centre says it has documented more than 500,000 sign-language words and works in more than 40 countries.signlanguage.eu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company type
- European Sign Language Centre is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Örebro, Sweden.signlanguage.eu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Compare languages
- Users can compare how the same word is expressed across different sign languages.play.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Coverage limit
- The maker says new words, videos, and language coverage are added regularly, and that content availability may vary by language.play.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Cross-language comparison
- A searched word can be compared across different sign languages.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The independent language-resource catalogue lists language inventories, word/sign-pair counts, linguistic fields, licence information and access method.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Favorites and offline
- Users can save signs as favorites and watch saved videos offline in the iOS app.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Fingerspelling
- The product includes hand alphabets and fingerspelling practice.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Founder and origin
- SpreadTheSign began in 2006 as a Swedish project by teacher Thomas Lydell, initially funded through the European Commission Leonardo programme.signlanguage.eu · read 15 Oct 2026
- iOS requirements
- The iOS app requires iOS 13 or later; its Mac version requires macOS 11 or later with an Apple M1 chip or newer.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Language coverage
- The app supports 23 sign languages, including BSL, ASL and LSE.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence restriction
- The dataset reference says videos and data cannot be downloaded or used, including for research, without explicit permission.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de · read 15 Oct 2026
