How many people use sign language?

According to the Communication Service for the Deaf, around one million people use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary means of communication in the US and Canada. There are also approximately 16,000 people in the US who serve as interpreters with sign language.

Are there different types of sign language?

Yes, because there is no universal sign language. Even among countries where the same spoken language is used (like Australia, England, and the United States), sign language users from different nations may not understand each other. There are also three different primary forms of sign language within the US: ASL, Pidgin Signed English, and Signed Exact English, with ASL being the most commonly used.

How is sign language different from spoken English?

ASL has its own structure and is a language in its own right. The visual component of sign language means that the hands, arms, face and head are all used to convey meaning in ways that aren't an inherent part of spoken English. Also, many of the grammatical constructs common to English (like pluralized nouns and articles like "a" and "the") don't exist as words within American Sign Language.

How long will it take to become fluent in sign language?

You might think that sign language will be easy to learn quickly, because it seems similar to English. Experts say that's a misconception: expect it to take 2-3 years of regular study to get to an intermediate level of fluency, and an additional 2 years of interpretation training if you want to reach full fluency.

Is sign language only for deaf people?

No. Some people use sign language to teach basic words and concepts to their babies, like "more" and "all done", before the children are able to talk. Sign language can also be used by people who are non-verbal. And, many learners like studying ASL just for the enjoyment of it!

Why should I take sign language lessons online?

Finding a sign language class near you might be difficult. While there are often beginner courses taught at libraries and community centers, or offered by colleges and universities, you might not be able to find lessons near you - or ones that fit your schedule and budget. The nice thing about online sign language lessons is that you can learn at your own pace. Need to watch the instructor do each new word or phrase 20 times before you feel you've got it? No problem!

Are sign language lessons expensive?

Not necessarily. Some providers of ASL instruction charge a one-time fee for books, videos, and/or downloadable materials, while others operate on a month-to-month subscription basis for access to online coursework. Both approaches to sign language lessons are affordable, and are usually much less costly than paying for classes at a college or university.

Can I get a refund if I don't like the program I choose?

Sometimes. It depends on where you buy your sign language lessons. We recommend that you see what each course offers as a preview before you sign up, whether that's a demo lesson, downloads of sample coursework, or a free 7-day trial. The more you know about how the lessons are taught and what's covered beforehand, the easier it will be to determine which ASL coursework is right for you.

Best Sign Language Lessons for April 2026

Item: The Best Sign Language Lessons - Summary Reviews
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Wednesday, April 15th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Sign Language Lesson Reviews

What's the best place to find sign language lessons? Whether you have a friend or family member who is hard-of-hearing, or maybe you just want to expand your language horizons, starting off sign language lessons is a great way to level up your communication. Learning to sign is a fantastic way to be inclusive, allowing you to bridge communication gaps and build deeper connections with all individuals. Beyond the social benefits, it is also an essential skill for professionals in healthcare, education, or emergency services.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Start ASL

Cost from $37 to $77 per month
One-time fee for the offline version at $147
Options for families and homeschoolers

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EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Start ASL website

Start ASL is an online platform that offers a detailed path to reaching full fluency through its sign language lessons. There are three affordable versions of this program: two that include teacher-led lessons and feedback, and one that is fully offline to give you more flexibility. With tons of vocabulary, quizzes, and video lessons, this is one of the few programs in our review that actually delivers on fluency in ASL. Start ASL is an impressive option with its 30-day refund guarantee and earns our top spot in sign language lessons.

4.5

GREAT

Great

Gallaudet University

Cost from $990 to $2,403 per course
College credit available
Professor-guided program

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GREAT

4.5

On the Gallaudet University website

Gallaudet University offers an academic and immersive approach to sign language lessons. It has an online ASL Connect program that lets you earn official college credits (if you want them) or take ASL courses for professional development. Each level is structured like a traditional university class and includes live sessions with your instructor. While it's more costly than many self-guided programs, it's the top choice for those who want formal education in ASL and immersion in deaf culture.

4.0

VERY GOOD

Very Good

italki

Cost from $10 to $120 per hour
Instructor guided
One-on-one

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VERY GOOD

4.0

On the italki website

italki is a popular online marketplace-style site that connects language students with skilled tutors for personalized lessons. italki is known for its flexible options for price, learning style, and possible options for group lessons. It can take some trial and error to find the right fit, but italki offers refunds for trial lessons, so you don't have to worry about testing the waters with new tutors for sign language lessons. It earns good marks in our review as a cost-effective option if you want one-on-one training in ASL.

3.9

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Lingvano

Cost from $9.99 to $17.99 per month
Self-guided gamified lessons
Mobile app optimized

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VERY GOOD

3.9

On the Lingvano website

Lingvano is an app-based sign language lesson platform that teaches you ASL, BSL, and Austrian Sign Language with game-like lessons. It features short video clips taught by deaf instructors and a fun "sign mirror" tool meant to help you learn to match hand movements as you learn. The program is ideal for absolute beginners and focuses strongly on vocabulary and some grammar. With daily exercises, it's a fun way to dip your toes into sign language.

3.5

GOOD

Good

Sign It!

Costs $349.99 for full 20-lesson package
Self-guided video lessons
Cumulative work with some quizzes

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GOOD

3.5

On the Sign It! website

Sign It! is a site for learning American Sign Language, known for its featured deaf instructors and conversational fluency. The program is based on video lessons and quizzes, and includes 20 lessons for a fixed price. The site stands out for providing families with young deaf children the option to take the course for free, but the lack of customer reviews from verified students keeps this sign language lesson site from ranking higher.

3.4

GOOD

Good

Skillshare

Costs $167.88 per year
Self-guided video lessons
7-day free trial

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GOOD

3.4

On the Skillshare website

Skillshare is a broad-based platform for online learning of all kinds. For sign language lessons, it doesn't have a great variety, but it still gets praise from students who liked the clarity of the courses. Where Skillshare really shines is in its multi-topic approach. You can subscribe and take courses across multiple areas of interest throughout the year. However, for sign language lessons alone, it doesn't quite provide a full program, earning it a more average score in our review.

3.0

AVERAGE

Average

Rocket Languages

Cost from $99.95 one-time or $120 for 6 months
Self-guided video lessons
Cumulative

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AVERAGE

3.0

On the Rocket Languages website

Rocket Languages is a sign language lesson provider that focuses on ASL and building conversational skills through its video modules. The program stands out by offering a one-time access fee for the entire sign language lesson course, and the option to get discounted courses if you want to onboard other family members onto your account. Each lesson breaks down full sentences and parses out ASL grammar, but it's much more self-guided and missing some of the gamified fun of other language learning sites. For these reasons, and the lack of recent reviews, Rocket Languages earns an average score in our review.

2.9

AVERAGE

Average

Sign Language 101

Cost from $49.99 per course up to $149.99 for all
Self-guided video lessons
Workbooks offered

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AVERAGE

2.9

On the Sign Language 101 website

Sign Language 101 is an accredited course offering sign language lessons for both children and adults. It was founded by deaf experts and includes a mix of video lectures, quizzes, and physical workbooks. You can also access 30+ free sample lessons to try out the program. However, without any feedback from actual students, we're not sure how effective these sign language lessons are in practice. For these reasons, it's slightly below average, but still worth considering if you feel like checking out the free lessons.

2.5

FAIR

Fair

ASL Deafined

Cost from $12 to $39.99 per year
Up to 6 days free for trial
Self-guided curriculum

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FAIR

2.5

On the ASL Deafined website

ASL Deafined is an affordable self-paced subscription for sign language lessons designed to help you reach fluency through its cumulative program. However, the site has very few current reviews, and it doesn't have any feedback at all from trusted third-party review sites like Trustpilot. This might be worth a look with its free trial if you like self-guided work, but we'd like to see ASL Deafined receive more feedback before it ranks higher.

2.0

SUBPAR

Subpar

The ASL App

Costs $9.99 as a one-time fee
Options for families
Self-guided video lessons

Read Full Review

SUBPAR

2.0

On the The ASL App website

The ASL App is a budget-friendly option for sign language lessons designed for the deaf community to help beginner students learn conversational signing. While it provides a large library for low costs, the app is strictly self-guided and misses out on more advanced features like gamified elements or certifications. If you're a motivated student and looking for something affordable, this might be a good choice, but compared to some of the fantastic sign language lesson sites out there, The ASL App leaves something to be desired.

Continued from above...

What's the Best Place to Find Sign Language Lessons?

Whether you have a friend or family member who is hard-of-hearing, or maybe you just want to expand your language horizons, starting off sign language lessons is a great way to level up your communication. Learning to sign is a fantastic way to be inclusive, allowing you to bridge communication gaps and build deeper connections with all individuals. Beyond the social benefits, it is also an essential skill for professionals in healthcare, education, or emergency services.

But trying to find a local, in-person class that fits your schedule can be a hassle. So, what are your best options for sign language lessons?

You're in luck. In today's day and age, not only can you find fully online programs for sign language lessons, but you can also find a range of language-focused marketplaces to meet up with a local tutor if you'd prefer that face-to-face practice. In general, modern platforms give you everything you need right on your screen (whether that's your laptop or a mobile device). This way, you don't have to worry about long commutes or feeling bad about your work schedule changing and shifting your ability to attend synchronous classes. The best online platforms include high-def video tutorials that you can pause and rewind to practice new signs, and most of the sites and programs allow you to learn at your own pace.

Depending on which course or site you choose, you may find very different approaches, teaching methods, and curricula. Lessons will usually be organized by skill level and focus on conversational fluency. Whether you have quizzes, one-on-one online meetings with a teacher, or just watch pre-recorded videos (or maybe a combo of all of them), that will depend on the sign language lessons that you choose. The best part is, if you don't like one teaching method, you can try another option and see if their sign language lessons will align better with your learning style. Whether you're a fan of virtual learning or need an expert teacher to guide you, there's something out there for everyone.

Better still, many online sign language lesson programs and courses don't have to be something you do alone. Many sites offer different subscription plans, including family plans or group rates, so if you have multiple family members who want to support someone deaf or hard-of-hearing, you can all learn under the same subscription package without any hassle. Interestingly, you can also select options like regional dialects like learning ASL vs. BSL (American Sign Language vs. British Sign Language). No matter how you're hoping to take sign language lessons, there's a style out there just for you.

If you still aren't sure about where to jump into your new language skills, don't sweat. We've put together a quick checklist to help you narrow down the ideal sign language lessons for your needs:

Teaching style. To find the right sign language lessons for you, you'll want to check out the teaching style offered by the course or program you're looking at. Does the course offer in-person lessons or video calls with an expert? Is it based on recordings only? Does the program offer quizzes? There are lots of teaching methods; make sure your chosen course matches how you like to learn.
Trial. Does your chosen sign language lesson platform offer a free trial or free lessons to try out the course before you commit to a full payment or subscription? The best options will offer you a way to explore the curriculum before you decide.
Price. While we'd love to say that learning a new language is priceless (in terms of skills, it is), most courses are going to have a price tag. Keeping your budget in mind is a good way to narrow the options. For example, if you know you need a family plan, you're going to want to look for the sign language lessons that have the best family discount.
Reputation. At the end of the day, the reputation of your chosen sign language lesson is going to give you peace of mind about your decision. Check out your top picks on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot to see how other students and families like you felt about the language courses and their fluency results.

If you're ready to jump into a new language, sign language lessons are the way to go. We've done the heavy lifting, so to speak, to get you on the way to your course. To help you make the right choice for your learning style, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the best sign language lesson courses available today. This way, you can focus on your new language and enjoy communicating with deaf and hard-of-hearing friends and family!