What are the best Android soft keyboards?

Question

32

Options
Considered

570

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Recs.

Oct 2, 2019

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

The Best 2 of 23 OptionsWhy?

Best Android soft keyboards	Price	Platforms	App Stores
94 SwiftKey	FREE	Android, iOS	Google Play, Apple/iTunes
91 Gboard - the Google Keyboard	FREE	Android, iOS, Android Wear	Google Play, Apple/iTunes
89 Fleksy	FREE	Android, iOS	Google Play, Apple/iTunes
82 Minuum Keyboard	$3.99	Android, iOS, Android Wear	-
-- Hacker's Keyboard	FREE	Android	Google Play, F-Droid

See Full List

Gboard - the Google Keyboard

Top Pro

100% free from Google

This keyboard is not a free trial nor will it hold back any new features to sell you a paid version. The keyboard is completely 100% free. See More

Top Con

Very little customization

Google Keyboard allows you to enable or disable vibrate on keypress sound on keypress popup on keypress double space period These are pretty useful basic settings but most other keyboards offer more options. Google also allows you to edit the personal dictionary. See More

ArtisticDemeter's Experience

No me gustó el teclado porque se trababa al escribir rápido, no es preciso en la auto corrección. See More

Specs

Platforms:Android, iOS, Android Wear

App Stores:Google Play, Apple/iTunes

Top Pro

Swipe support

The Google Keyboard supports swiping along the keyboard to spell out whole words. See More

Top Con

Horrible Word Prediction

Unable to remember frequently used words. See More

CoolBasamum's Experience

I love Google keyboard GBoard See More

Top Pro

Learns preferred words

After using a gesture a few times and clicking the correct word, Google Keyboard learns that the gesture should result in the word you've manually selected as the correct word. Swype doesn't seem to learn this, so even after 100 times clicking 'this' instead of 'thesis', it still produces 'thesis', where Google Keyboard learns that you meant to say 'this'. See More

Top Con

Typing is not always smooth

Sometimes typing lags. See More

UpbeatHymenaios's Experience

I use multiple keyboards (3 English Keyboards (IN, UK, and the US), French Keyboard) See More

Top Pro

Minimalistic design

While other keyboard options may be very functional, their visual design tends to differ from the rest of your Google device. The Google Keyboard was designed by Google and it looks like it. See More

Top Con

Restricted customization (few skins)

AdaptableFreyja's Experience

Worst Swype prediction I've ever used See More

Top Pro

Has built-in Google search

The keyboard has button that allows searching Google straight from the keyboard, and use the search results in the currently used app. See More

Top Con

Takes up a lot of storage

If you are using multiple languages and predictive text, the app can use up a lot of storage. See More

FerventIakhsari's Experience

auto correct is awful, terrible lag. Used to be great, wonder why google ruined it? See More

Top Pro

Material Design

Google Keyboard has material design themes the user can skin the keyboard with. See More

Top Con

Prediction isn't as good as SwiftKey

Top Pro

Emoji search

The GBoard has an emoji search that's very convenient, saves time looking for a specific one if you don't know/remember what category it's in. See More

Top Con

Uses a lot of RAM

Top Pro

Fast, low memory usage

Alternative keyboards tend to suck up system resources, often making them nearly unusable on older phones. Google Keyboard is very quick to open when typing and the keys rarely lag. See More

Top Con

Can't pop out keyboard

The keyboard can't float above an app and is instead docked to the bottom. Other keyboard apps allow for the keyboard to do this. See More

Top Pro

One-handed mode

Makes it easier to type with no more than a thumb. See More

Top Con

Symbol order is (slightly) different from full-sized QWERTY keyboard

Instead of the first four symbols being !@#$%^& (i.e. shift+1 through 7 on a QWERTY keyboard), they're @#$%&. This is fine if you know the symbols in your password, but if you're like me and you just hold the SHIFT key and type a long number, you'll have to consult a real keyboard to figure out your password. See More

Top Pro

Suggestions don't get worse over time

Google keyboard does not promise to be as "smart" as other keyboards besides offering a personalized dictionary. Surprisingly this is actually a good thing for some because with many "smart" keyboards predictions and corrections actually worsen over time. With Google Keyboard the experience will remain constant because it requires you to manually "touch again to save" before it changes your personal dictionary. This prevents mistakes from becoming part of your personal dictionary. See More

Top Con

Other languages not available in transliteration mode

Unlike Google Indic Keyboard where you can type by transliteration, compact, and handwriting, you only get the fixed layout for other languages. See More

Top Pro

Can use alternative layouts not just QWERTY

For those that are used to typing on a Dvorak keyboard or prefer not to need multiple key presses to access special symbols they can enable these as additional quick switch options. Using the English PC layout for example gives the user a number row. See More

Top Con

Only 26 languages

While a keyboard available in 26 languages is nothing to be ashamed of, other keyboard options simply offer more. SwiftKey is available in 61 languages and Swype is available in 71. Fortunately, if your language is one of the 26, you're good. See More

Top Pro

Swipe to punctuation

Hold down the key in the lower left hand corner and a keyboard if punctuation appears. Swipe over to the one you want, lift your finger, and the original keyboard pops back. It's very fast, and makes it much easier to spot the punctuation mark you want - instead of trying to squint at the secondary symbols in the keys. See More

Top Con

It doesn't have arrow keys

Several times it is much better to navigate through a long text using arrow keys than scrolling and tapping the place where you want the cursor to be. SwiftKey has arrow keys (via an option), Gboard has not. See More

Top Pro

Dynamic floating preview

The dynamic floating preview appears while gesture typing. Most gesture keyboards only show the preview above the keyboard in the suggested corrections. The dynamic floating preview is great because it makes it easier to gesture type by keeping your eyes focused on what you are typing. See More

Top Con

Google, via the keyboard app, might be collecting data on us that it then sells to third parties which in turn can use that data to influence us

Top Pro

GIF support

Top Pro

120 languanges support

Top Pro

Cloud backup

Top Pro

Pre-installed on most android devices

Most android devices have gboard installed. See More

See All

21 Other Options Considered

Fleksy

Top Pro

Personalization

Like other alternative keyboards Fleksy can personalize your predictions based on your social media, Gmail, SMS, and device dictionary. See More

Top Con

No swipe input

Fleksy does not use the popular swype function for typing. See More

UnderstandingBran's Experience

It was a bit difficult to use it at the beginning but after some days you save lot of time thank to Fleksy to write messages! See More

Specs

Platforms:Android, iOS

App Stores:Google Play, Apple/iTunes

Top Pro

Gesture system

The most unique aspect about Fleksy is it's gesture system. The middle row of keys that is grayed out serves as the gesture row. The gesture row uses swipes to input spaces, periods, and correction all while you are typing. Of course this new way of typing will definitely take some to get used to. See More

Top Con

only 4 Extension Slot for Free Users

ResourcefulAhti's Experience

Love the facilty of the keyboard. Switching between languages . Access to other apps from keyboard . See More

Top Pro

Type without looking at the keyboard

Fleksy is made by the creators of the alternative keyboard BlindType that was acquired by Google. As a result many of the technologies developed in BlindType are reinvented in Fleksy. The combination of accurate prediction and gestures allow you to focus on the text you are actually typing not the keyboard. See More

Top Con

42 Languanges Only

PreciseKulla's Experience

It's really unique and easy to use. Once you get used to the gestures, you miss them when using other keyboards. Plus the extensions are useful too, it has so many features. See More

Top Pro

Minimalist design

Top Con

Cloud Backup Not Supported

ArtisticDemeter's Experience

El mejor teclado para smartphones muy rápido y preciso. See More

Top Pro

Modern design

The Fleksy experience from the opening tutorial to the design of the keyboard is extremely well developed and very modern. Almost all reviews note the appearance as one of it's best features. See More

Top Con

Requires swiping to change the language

Requires swiping to change the language, making it difficult for users who mix multiple languages in their conversations. See More

SmartChalcon's Experience

I keep going back to Fleksy. See More

Top Pro

Smooth Popup keypress

Fleksy has a very smooth keypress. See More

Top Pro

"Mini" mode

Fleksy is able to offer a "mini" sized keyboard that is shorter in height because the whole row of keys with the spacebar is hidden. Fleksy is able to do this because spaces, periods, and corrections can all be performed with simple gestures. "Mini" mode can be accessed at any time by swiping the keyboard down with two fingers. "Mini" mode saves critical screen real estate. See More

Top Pro

Extremely accurate autocorrect

Fleksy uses a very accurate auto correct that has allowed the app to break the speed typing record on a mobile keyboard as well as allow users to type without even looking at the screen. See More

Top Pro

Light, dark, and blue themes

The Fleksy themes can be changed in the look feel section of the settings. See More

Top Pro

Holds world record for fastest typing on a touchscreen

Fleksy broke the world record by typing "The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human." The record holder typed this message in just 18.19 seconds, beating the old record by 1/4 of a second. See More

Top Pro

Support extensions

Extensions enable user to customize the keyboard according to their need. See More

Top Pro

Emoji support

Fleksy features over 800 emoji that the user can use when typing. See More

Top Pro

Private by design

Fleksy is completely private and never mines people personal data - www.fleksy.com/privacy/ See More

Top Pro

Invisible mode

Fleksy has an extension that makes the whole keyboard transparent, useful when you can already blind type with it. See More

Top Pro

Works on Gear 2 smartwatch

Fleksy is able to be installed on Gear 2 watches, making for a whole new way to type to ones phone or tablet. See More

Top Pro

Good support for more then one language

Offers strong auto-correct in a lot of languages. See More

See All

Minuum Keyboard

Top Pro

Uses less than half the vertical space

All three rows are smashed into a single row, with prediction driving the typed words. Uses gestures to complete space, backspace, and return for even more space saving. This design is great for devices with smaller screens. See More

Top Con

No longer updated

Hasn't recieved significant updates since 2016. See More

Specs

Platforms:Android, iOS, Android Wear

Top Pro

Full keyboard when needed

Swiping two fingers up will open the full keyboard when more precision is need or when Minuum does not know the word you need. See More

Top Con

Can't type URLs

Sloppy typing only works on words in its dictionary. You can't enter words without a space between them, because it wants to "correct" the first word you have already accepted. This makes it impossible to type many URLs, unless you do it letter-by-letter, or go back and erase the spaces, which is tedious. See More

Top Pro

Hover mode

Has a mode where you can move the keyboard around across the screen. See More

Top Con

Only major languages

Only supports the most used languages at the moment. See More

Top Pro

Easy access to emoji

Bonus panel lets you get easy access to your most frequently used emoji. See More

Top Con

Difficult learning curve

Takes a while to get used to, if used while minimized. See More

Top Pro

Easy to use UI

Easy access to cursor movement keys, cut/copy/paste, share and more. See More

Top Pro

Customizable keyboard colors

Minuum Keyboard has a chameleon feature where the user can change the color of the keyboard. This allows for users to match their devices color, case or wallpaper. See More

Top Pro

Multiple Languages

Works in 13 languages. See More

Top Pro

Smartwatch support

With the small size of the Minuum keyboard it makes and ideal use case for smartwatches, due to their limited screen real estate. See More

See All

Hacker's Keyboard

Top Pro

Open source

Hacker's Keyboard is an open source project meaning that anyone can use the available code for free. See More

Top Con

Poor auto correction

The auto correction on Hacker's Keyboard does not work that great, especially when compared to other offerings on Android. See More

Specs

Platforms:Android

App Stores:Google Play, F-Droid

Top Pro

Supports a lot of keyboard layouts and dictionaries

Hacker's Keyboard support 31 different languages and many different layouts such as AZERTY and QWERTZ. See More

Top Pro

Mimics the look of a desktop keyboard

Including punctuation, arrow keys, special chars (tab, esc), etc. Also gives access to Ctrl, Shift, etc. Particularly suited to terminal applications. See More

See All

TouchPal Emoji Keyboard

Top Pro

Great integration between slide and predict

Other keyboards do one thing well, or predict or slide, touchpal integrates both very well See More

Top Con

Many ads

There are ads on the lock screen, pop-up "bubble" ads on the homescreens, full page ads, notification panel ads, "Daily summary" popup (which can be disabled) which is basically a full screen excuse to show more ads, "Boost charge" which shows ads when charging (again can be disabled) and many complain that once they have purchased the full version, it still has ads. See More

Top Pro

Fast

Touchpal offers a very smooth and speedy UI, something quite noticeable over some of the other more popular keyboards on Android. See More

Top Con

Settings and setup do not work in landscape on tablets

When accessing settings or setup on a tablet the UI is only oriented for landscape, forcing the user to rotate their device to read them if they are in landscape. See More

Top Pro

Comprehensive dictionaries

Touchpal offers many regional dictionaries, some are free and some cost money. The extra dictionaries can be convenient for those that do not wish to have the keyboard learn words from their usage or wait . See More

Top Pro

Great support for gesture to input numbers and symbols

See All

Grammarly

Top Pro

Spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization suggestions

MessagEase

Top Pro

You can type almost everything a regular keyboard can

This keyboard has up, down, right, left, copy, paste, select all, hide keyboard, tab. And they're all one swipe on the main screen. And you can easily type things that usually require either a bunch of shifts, or are impossible, like ôǒöòó¿¡°[]{}1¹2²3³. See More

Top Con

Breaks habits, needs some training

It is not a keyboard for everybody, it needs some efforts and training to be efficient. Still, it is relatively intuitive: my 11 years old son used it without asking first how to use it. It as a comprehensive help, lot of settings, and has a companion game to train in a playful way. See More

Specs

Platforms:iOS, Android, Android Wear

Top Pro

Fast input, quick full access to all symbols

Your hand(s) will memorize the gestures and soon you will reduce the information displayed (some make it blank). The number of combinations of the gestures allows a direct access to nearly all usual symbols (punctuation, accented letters, etc.). See More

Top Pro

Easy to type with one hand

Because the buttons are big, it's easy to type with one hand while holding it. That is, unless you have a giant phone or tablet. There aren't many keyboards that you can easily type with one hand unless it's lying flat. See More

Top Pro

Supports lot of keyboard layouts and dictionaries

Keyboard layouts are adapted to each language, as they are based on the frequency of letters in this language. Beside, it allows reconfiguration of the keys to better fit your preferences. It also has good word prediction / correction. You can configure several keyboard configurations (advice: better stick to one, the one you will use the most, as speed is based on hand memory) and several dictionaries, and you can switch with a simple gesture. See More

Top Pro

Highly customizable

You can choose your color (can depend on language), the rounding of keys, the position of characters, the size and disposition of the keyboard, etc. See More

Top Pro

Support of clipboard, macros, editing keys

Macros: define frequently typed sentences associated to an abbreviation. Type the abbreviation, the macro is listed in the word prediction area. Tap-Drag-Go: on a gesture (hold on Num key, Tap), it displays icons on which you can move (Drag) and release (Go). It inserts a predefined sentence, like macros, but with a faster, more visual interface. Clipboard: cut, copy, paste, select all Android commands available with a swipe. It has a memory of the last 10 clipboard contents. Editing keys: swiping on the space bar allows to move the caret left, right, up or down. Swipe and return move by word. Swipe and return on the backspace key allows to delete a word on left or right. See More

Top Pro

Exists on lot of devices

Including iPhone, smartwatches, car navigation systems, etc. See More

See All

Graffiti Pro for Android

Add Video or Image

MOX Words

Top Pro

Indian languages supported

New layouts, MOX Saral. See More

Adaptxt Keyboard

Top Pro

Location based suggestions, correction and predictions

Adaptxt has location based functions in that it can correct, suggest and predict based off of the users location, making for a seamless change in user customized help. See More

Dasher

Add Video or Image

SwiftKey Neural

Top Con

Experimental and in Alpha

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