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SpreadTheSign

spreadthesign.com

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Spec score 8.5 #3 of 34 in Sign Language Apps

What it is

SpreadTheSign is a multilingual sign language dictionary that lets users look up signs through video. Its collection contains more than 600,000 videos across 23 sign languages, including ASL and BSL. Users can search for words and sentence examples, compare how the same word is signed in different languages, and slow videos to follow movements. The app also includes hand alphabets, fingerspelling and baby signs, and users can save signs to favorites. It is available on the web, Android and iOS, with video as its lesson format. The maker presents it as a reference for sign language learners, families, educators, interpreters and people who need to check a sign. The free plan is listed at free; the iOS app is free with in-app purchases, including a Pro Version for €599, paid once. New words, videos and language coverage are added regularly, though content availability can differ by language. The developer is Europeiskt Teckenspråkcenter, with an address in Örebro, Sweden.

Spec sheet

What it does
SpreadTheSign is a browser-based multilingual sign-language dictionary that shows signed words and sentences through videos.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
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.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Support
The app listing gives [email protected] as the support email.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Headquarters
Örebro, SwedenRead 28 Sep 2026 · spreadthesign.com
Maker
Google Play identifies the developer as Europeiskt Teckenspråkcenter and lists its address in Örebro, Sweden.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Alphabet tools
The app includes hand alphabets and fingerspelling.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Android distribution
The Android app has exceeded one million downloads according to AppBrain.Read 15 Oct 2026 · appbrain.com
Apple privacy disclosure
Apple lists identifiers, usage data and diagnostics as potentially collected but not linked to the user.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Baby signs
A dedicated baby-sign section is included.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Commercial licensing
Private users can view the site free, while researchers, developers, universities and companies must purchase a licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Company activity
The centre says it has documented more than 500,000 sign-language words and works in more than 40 countries.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Company type
European Sign Language Centre is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Örebro, Sweden.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Compare languages
Users can compare how the same word is expressed across different sign languages.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Coverage limit
The maker says new words, videos, and language coverage are added regularly, and that content availability may vary by language.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Cross-language comparison
A searched word can be compared across different sign languages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Documentation depth
The independent language-resource catalogue lists language inventories, word/sign-pair counts, linguistic fields, licence information and access method.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de
Favorites and offline
Users can save signs as favorites and watch saved videos offline in the iOS app.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Fingerspelling
The product includes hand alphabets and fingerspelling practice.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Founder and origin
SpreadTheSign began in 2006 as a Swedish project by teacher Thomas Lydell, initially funded through the European Commission Leonardo programme.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
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.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Language coverage
The app supports 23 sign languages, including BSL, ASL and LSE.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Licence restriction
The dataset reference says videos and data cannot be downloaded or used, including for research, without explicit permission.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de
Limit: coverage gaps
Reviewers mention missing regional vocabulary and request additional sign languages such as Afghan Sign Language.Read 15 Oct 2026 · justuseapp.com
Limit: paywall
Reviewers complain that many functions require the paid version and that the premium purchase adds less value than expected.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Limit: reliability
Users report loading errors, videos that fail to play, freezes and crashes on both app and website.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mwm.ai
Limit: usability
A review says beginners may struggle because videos can be too fast and the interface requires typing a letter or word to browse.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mwm.ai
Mobile launch
The Spread Signs mobile app launched in Sweden in 2011 for Android and iPhone.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Notable award
The project won the European Language Award Label in 2010 for innovation in language teaching.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Notable update
The iOS version history records version 2.2.12 on 20 July with bug fixes and performance improvements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Open-source status
Produced content and software are described as being under proprietary licences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Playback control
The app provides slowed video playback for examining signing movements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Praise: breadth
Independent review summaries repeatedly praise the extensive vocabulary, clear demonstrations and support for many sign languages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mwm.ai
Praise: educational usefulness
Reviewers describe the app as useful for ASL classes, teaching children and quick sign reference.Read 15 Oct 2026 · justuseapp.com
Privacy disclosure
Google Play lists the developer-provided data safety disclosure as no data collected and no data shared with third parties.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Quiz app
The maker also offers Spread Quiz, built from the dictionary videos and launched in 2016.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Rating on AppBrain
3.98 out of 5 from 6.3K reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · appbrain.com
Rating on Apple App Store
4.7 out of 5 from 57 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Google Play
3.8 out of 5 from 6.3K reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on JustUseApp
3.5 out of 5 from 50 combined reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · justuseapp.com
Rating on MWM
3.4 out of 5 from 360 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · mwm.ai
Saved signs
The app lets users save signs to favorites.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Search
The app supports searching for words and useful sentence examples.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Security statement
Google Play reports that the developer declares no data shared with third parties and no data collected.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Video controls
Users can slow down videos to follow the signing movements.Read 5 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Video corpus
The service advertises more than 600,000 sign videos.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Word search
Users can search words and useful sentence examples.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com

Plans and prices

Free Free iOS app listed as free · in-app purchases available Read 5 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Free web access Free Private-user viewing · browser dictionary access Read 15 Oct 2026 · signlanguage.eu
Pro Version $5.99, paid once one-time in-app purchase Premium sentence search · profanity and slang sections · additional hand alphabets · slow playback · baby signs Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Pro Version €599, paid once In-app purchase for the iOS app; other limits not stated Read 5 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com

Every SpreadTheSign plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • More than 600,000 videos across 23 sign languages
  • Searches words and sentence examples
  • Compare signs across languages
  • Videos can be slowed down
  • Includes favorites, fingerspelling and baby signs

Limits

  • Content availability may vary by language
  • iOS app has in-app purchases

Who it suits

It suits sign language learners, families, educators and interpreters, as well as anyone looking up a sign. It is available across web, Android and iOS.

Verdict

SpreadTheSign combines a large video dictionary with search, comparison and playback controls across three platforms. Language availability can vary, and the iOS app includes paid in-app purchases.

Where Specifiction places it

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