When comparing Swype vs Gboard, the Slant community recommends Gboard for most people. In the question“What are the best third-party keyboards for iOS?” Gboard is ranked 3rd while Swype is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Gboard is:
There is a Google search button on the keyboard, which has a built-in GIF and emoji search feature.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Personal language model
Swype learns the way you type as you use it. Eventually Swype will create a personal language model based on your methods of typing. This model will even be maintained across all your Android devices.
Pro Swype gestures
Swiping from the question mark, comma, period, or other punctuation to the space key will enter the punctuation and a space at the same time
A swipe from the Swype key in the bottom left corner to "a" will select all, "x" will cut, "c" will copy, and "v" will paste
A swipe from the Swype key to the "5" will open the dedicated number keypad
A swipe from the Swype key to the space key will switch to the last language used
Pro Living Languages and Hotwords (opt in)
Swype's dictionary is continually evolving by crowd sourcing the hottest words and phrases from its over 250 million users. With Swype's Living Language you won't have to stop Swyping and type just to use that new phrase.
Pro Very accurate recognition
Some other keyboards can swype now, but Swype still does it best.
Pro Cloud syncing dictionary
Swype saves all of your corrections and improved predictions to the cloud so whenever you switch the experience will remain the same.
Pro Gesture typing, tap typing, and suggested words
Swype allows you to easily change between swyping and tap typing depending on the situation.
Pro Dedicated Emoji prediction bar, with a much broader selection of predictions.
Pro 71 Languages and 20 Dialects
Swype features on of the largest collections of languages and dialects out of all of the more popular keyboards for mobile.
Pro Keyboard themes
Swype allows you to customize the look of your keyboard with themes and color choices.
Pro Able to search directly from the keyboard
There is a Google search button on the keyboard, which has a built-in GIF and emoji search feature.
Pro Glide typing
Cons
Con Big privacy concerns
The cloud support does who knows what with private data. The licence terms are quite clear with this: "You understand that through your use of the Software and the Service you consent to the collection and use as set forth herein of Speech Data and Licensing Data, including the transfer of both to the United States and/or other countries for storage, processing and use by Nuance and third party partners."
Also, this keyboard has a high GPS usage, for some unkown reason (the support wouldn't elaborate on this problem).
Con Very, very slow update pace
If there is any bugs, it will take very long time for the developer to issue another update to fix it.
Con Lag as a result of update issues
An abnormal amount Google Play reviewers are complaining of lag and memory problems that they never experienced with previous versions of Swype.
Con Can't change tap sound
You cant change tap sound volume or enable vibration
Con Language switch is bad
Hard way to use pop up language menus and Sayles feature are not good enough.
Con Dragon voice dictation
The Dragon voice dictation included in Swype is not as developed as Google's voice recognition software.