The ASL app
The ASL App, operated by DeafDigits Inc, is a Deaf-owned mobile platform teaching conversational American Sign Language through 2,500+ video demonstrations, serving casual adult learners, on-the-go users, and families across the US and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What The ASL app does
The ASL App is a mobile-first platform for learning conversational American Sign Language, operated by DeafDigits Inc, a Deaf-owned and Deaf-run US private company. The flagship app packages 2,500+ signs and phrases as on-demand video demonstrations from multiple signers, with one-handed navigation, slow-motion playback, tap/scrub video control, a favorites folder for personalized review, and a search index for quick lookup. The product is positioned for casual, on-the-go practice in social contexts such as restaurants, bars, public transit, and travel, with the explicit goal of enabling non-signers to initiate conversations with Deaf people.
The technology stack is intentionally lean: curated video libraries delivered through the Apple App Store and Google Play, with Firebase Crashlytics for diagnostics and Google Ads for free-tier monetization. The company operates a horizontal product line under DeafDigits Inc, extending the same core learning experience to App LSQ (Quebec Sign Language), The ÍTM App (Icelandic Sign Language), and ASL with Care Bears (a children's app with over 400 signs), alongside adjacent utility and content products such as ASL Stickers with Nyle, REACThat! Stickers, and CARDZILLA (a large-text silent-communication display).
The business model is product-led, freemium, and bootstrapped. The free tier is supported by Google-served advertising and includes basic bundles (alphabet, numbers, gestures, handshape exercises, basics, colors). Paid content is delivered via in-app purchases: individual themed bundles at $0.99 each across 25+ topics, or The ASL App Pack at $9.99 for perpetual access to all current and future bundles. Customer segments are horizontal — general adult learners, on-the-go social learners, and children/families — with primary markets in the United States and Canada and additional reach into Quebec and Iceland via the related sign-language apps.
The ASL app firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The ASL app
- Legal name
- DeafDigits Inc
- Website
- https://theaslapp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The ASL App, operated by DeafDigits Inc, is a Deaf-owned mobile platform teaching conversational American Sign Language through 2,500+ video demonstrations, serving casual adult learners, on-the-go users, and families across the US and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The ASL app industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Language Learning Apps
- NAICS
- Language Schools (61163), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)
Keywords
The ASL app business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Freemium with Advertising: Free app version displays ads served through Google Ads platform. Users can access basic signs and features at no cost, with advertising supporting the free tier.
- Individual Bundle Purchases: Individual sign bundles priced at $0.99 each. Users can purchase specific themed bundles (e.g., Dining & Signing, Family Signs, Sports) as one-time purchases for additional vocabulary.
- The ASL App Pack (Subscription Alternative): All-inclusive pack priced at $9.99 giving access to all 25+ current bundles plus all future bundles. This is a one-time purchase that includes all current and upcoming content.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Tier with Ads |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Individual Bundles |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | The ASL App Pack - Complete Bundle |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
The ASL app product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The ASL App is a mobile application that teaches conversational American Sign Language (ASL) through a video library of 2,500+ signs and phrases demonstrated by multiple Deaf signers. The app features slow-motion playback, favorites/practice folders, tap/scrub video navigation, and one-handed operation for on-the-go learning. Operated by DeafDigits Inc, a Deaf-owned and Deaf-run company, the app also offers related sign language learning apps for Quebec Sign Language (App LSQ) and Icelandic Sign Language (ÍTM App), plus children's, sticker, and large-text communication companion apps.
Product overview
The ASL App is a suite of mobile applications for learning sign languages, centered around The ASL App (for American Sign Language) with related products App LSQ (Quebec Sign Language) and The ÍTM App (Icelandic Sign Language). Additional products include ASL with Care Bears (for children), ASL Stickers with Nyle, REACThat! Stickers, and CARDZILLA (for silent communication). The core ASL App serves as the primary learning platform featuring video-based instruction with 2,500+ signs, while additional in-app purchases (The ASL App Pack bundles) provide topic-specific content. All products are developed and operated by DeafDigits Inc, a Deaf-owned and Deaf-run company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- App LSQ: Quebec Sign Language learning app made by Deaf people for learning conversational LSQ.
- The ÍTM App
- ASL with Care Bears
- ASL Stickers with Nyle
- CARDZILLA
- REACThat! Stickers
Products and services
- The ASL App The main mobile application for learning conversational American Sign Language, featuring 2,500+ signs and phrases with video demonstrations from multiple signers. Includes slow-motion playback, favorites/saved signs, tap-to-scrub navigation, and one-handed operation for on-the-go learning. For individuals wanting to learn ASL for personal enrichment, social connection, or communication with Deaf people.
- The ÍTM App A mobile application for learning conversational Icelandic Sign Language (ÍSM), sharing the same core learning experience as The ASL App with sign language-specific content. Operated by DeafDigits Inc for Icelandic-speaking users.
- App LSQ A mobile application for learning conversational Quebec Sign Language (LSQ), sharing the same core learning experience as The ASL App with sign language-specific content. Operated by DeafDigits Inc for French-Canadian users.
- ASL with Care Bears A mobile application designed for children learning American Sign Language, featuring over 400 signs and phrases related to feelings, hobbies, friends, family, and more. Includes sign names of Care Bears and the ASL alphabet with an English Read-Along feature.
- ASL Stickers with Nyle A sticker pack featuring ASL slangs, reactions, and expressions starring Nyle DiMarco for use in text messaging. Includes expressions such as 'Wow', 'LOL', 'OMG!', 'Love', 'COOL', and more.
- REACThat! Stickers A sticker collection featuring ASL phrases, expressions, gestures, slangs, and performances by Deaf performer Andrey Dragunov. Includes gestures such as blowing kisses, giving flowers, throwing ILY baseball, and playing Rock Paper Scissors.
- CARDZILLA A message display application that shows text in large format for communication across distances. Features automatic text resizing, no scroll design, automatic saving, favorite messages, swipe navigation, and shake-to-save functionality.
- The ASL App Pack (Sign Bundles) A bundle offering access to 25+ topic-specific sign bundles within The ASL App. Includes free bundles (ASL alphabet, numbers, basics, gestures, colors) and paid bundles covering topics such as dining, sports, family, holidays, emergency signs, and more. Purchasers receive all current and future bundles.
Companies that use The ASL app
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The ASL app technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
The ASL app partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The ASL app competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HandSpeak: Web and mobile ASL dictionary and learning platform with thousands of signs. Closely comparable in core function (ASL video reference + learning), competing for the same casual-to-intermediate learner segment.
- Lingvano: Mobile-first sign language learning app focused on British Sign Language with interactive lessons and structured curriculum. Comparable product format and target learner, but BSL-focused rather than ASL.
- Spread the Sign: Multilingual sign language dictionary covering dozens of national sign languages. Comparable content breadth across multiple sign languages and similar video-based reference model.
- Marlee Signs: ASL learning app co-created with Marlee Matlin. Direct competitor leveraging a celebrity Deaf signer and mobile video lessons, closely paralleling The ASL App's positioning.
- Lifeprint / ASL University: Free online ASL curriculum and video library run by Dr. Vicars. Directly comparable as a video-based ASL learning resource competing for the same learner audience, though delivered via web rather than mobile app.
Broad incumbents
- Babbel: Subscription-based consumer language-learning app with structured curriculum. Comparable mobile-first language learning business model; ASL is not a primary course but Babbel sets pricing and pedagogy benchmarks.
- Memrise: Consumer language-learning platform with user-generated and official courses including some ASL content. Comparable mobile-first language learning business model and target learner.
- Duolingo: Largest consumer language-learning platform. While it does not currently offer ASL as a core course, its brand, gamified pedagogy, and mobile distribution set the consumer benchmark ASL learners compare against.
Emerging players
- HandTalk: Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) translation and learning app with avatar-based translation. Comparable in combining accessibility, mobile delivery, and sign-language focus, though in a different national market.
- SignAll: Sign language recognition and translation technology company. Adjacent in the sign-language ecosystem and comparable in serving Deaf community needs, though focused on computer-vision translation rather than consumer learning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The ASL app social profiles
Digital presenceThe ASL app financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The ASL app leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The ASL app subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
The ASL app funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The ASL app M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The ASL app
What does The ASL app do?
The ASL App is a mobile application that teaches conversational American Sign Language (ASL) through a video library of 2,500+ signs and phrases demonstrated by multiple Deaf signers. The app features slow-motion playback, favorites/practice folders, tap/scrub video navigation, and one-handed operation for on-the-go learning. Operated by DeafDigits Inc, a Deaf-owned and Deaf-run company, the app also offers related sign language learning apps for Quebec Sign Language (App LSQ) and Icelandic Sign Language (ÍTM App), plus children's, sticker, and large-text communication companion apps.
Is The ASL app a public or private company?
The ASL app is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The ASL app founded?
The ASL app was founded in 2014.
How does The ASL app make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Freemium with Advertising is the primary driver. The others are individual Bundle Purchases and the ASL App Pack (Subscription Alternative).
Who are The ASL app's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HandSpeak, Lingvano, Spread the Sign, Marlee Signs and Lifeprint / ASL University. Broad incumbents are Babbel, Memrise and Duolingo. Emerging players are HandTalk and SignAll.
Does The ASL app have an API?
No public API is recorded for The ASL app.
What industry is The ASL app in?
The ASL app's product category is Mobile Language Learning Apps. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAFAM, Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.), with a secondary code of EDAFAKAC, Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription). Its NAICS code is 61163 and its SIC code is 8200.