Side by side
Auslan Signbank vs BSL SignBank
Both stand on sign language apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
Auslan Signbank is a searchable reference with videos, health vocabulary options and links to corpus examples. It is best treated as a dictionary and language resource, not a complete course.
Visit Auslan Signbank Free plan Web
Choose BSL SignBank to look up BSL signs with video, explore regional variants, or use its fingerspelling and quiz resources. Researchers can register to request advanced search features. Learners seeking a complete course should pair it with interaction with BSL users and/or a course.
Visit BSL SignBankThe facts
| Auslan Signbank | BSL SignBank | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | auslan.org.au | bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk |
| On sign language apps | #9 of 33 | #13 of 33 |
Auslan Signbank: what it does well
- Dictionary entries include videos of Deaf signers
- Search by English keyword, alphabetically, or by topic
- Dialect setting prioritizes a preferred dialect
- Links signs to corpus examples in context
- Visitors can report missing signs and suggest edits
What to know first
- Not designed as a stand-alone learning tool
- No individual technical support is available
- Site does not answer specific Auslan questions
BSL SignBank: what it does well
- Free access to a BSL dictionary and lexical database.
- Search by English keyword or browse alphabetically.
- Browse signs by handshape and/or location.
- Video clips show how signs look.
- Fingerspelling playback offers slow, medium and fast speeds.
What to know first
- No BSL-to-English search function.
- The corpus covers eight UK locations; other areas may be absent.
- Entries show signs without mouthing or particular facial expressions.
- The site is not intended as a stand-alone language-learning tool.
Alternatives to Auslan Signbank Alternatives to BSL SignBank The whole list