Best custom keyboards for iPhone and iPad

By Allyson Kazmucha
last updated

Whether you want to swipe your way to faster messaging, access GIFs right from your keyboard, or just want to add a little flair to your keys, there are quite a few options to choose from. We've gone through most of them to pick our favorites, and these are the ones we think deserve your attention!

SwiftKey

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Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: SwiftKey

SwiftKey is one of the best-selling Android keyboard apps of all time — and for good reason. Not only does SwiftKey come with a great text-prediction engine, SwiftKey Flow on the iPhone lets you swipe your way through words in a snap. And if you use multiple devices, you can use SwiftKey Cloud to sync everything SwiftKey has learned about your typing style along with all your custom dictionary data.

If swiping is your thing and you frequently spend time on multiple devices, look no further than SwiftKey.

TextExpander 3 + custom keyboard

Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: TextExpander 3

TextExpander is a wonderful little utility that lets you store custom snippets of text that you might use frequently. Before custom keyboards, TextExpander's capabilities were limited to its own notes app — but no longer. TextExpander 3's custom keyboard brings your snippets to the typing interface, allowing you to use them wherever you can pull up a keyboard. Just tap in your shortcuts and voila, TextExpander takes care of the rest.

If you work with a lot of templates or already use TextExpander elsewhere, TextExpander 3's custom keyboard is a no brainer.

Swype

Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: Swype

Swype, like SwiftKey, lets you use swipe gestures in order to make out words. Swype also comes with five different themes, if you're into color customization. Unique to the keyboard is a traditional number pad, which some users may particularly appreciate; you toggle it by pressing the number key. Like many of the other keyboard options, Swype gets smarter the more you use it and learns words as you use them more and more often.

If you want custom themes and a dedicated number pad for faster number entry, check out Swype.

Fleksy

Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: Fleksy

Fleksy does a great job of combining traditional tapping with intuitive gestures. For example, if Fleksy predicts something incorrectly, you can reverse swipe anywhere on the keyboard. To toggle between predictions, just swipe up and down. You can also change themes in the Fleksy app itself, including options for smaller and more compact on-screen keyboards.

For a completely customizable and unique way of typing, be sure to give Fleksy a try.

Minuum

Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: Minuum

Minuum offers a great predictive engine in an easy-to-use and sleek keyboard. You can even swipe down to make the interface even more compact. This mode scrunches letters together, but still manages to predict what you're typing with surprising accuracy. In its full-size version, Minuum displays a consistent experience that's similar to the default iOS keyboard, but also shows offers prediction suggestions.

For a minimal keyboard that gets out of the way while still offering up more predictions than its competitors, Minuum is the keyboard you want.

Slated

Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: Slated

Slated attempts to break down language barriers, allowing you to communicate in well over 30 languages instantaneously. Start typing in English, then choose your target language. You'll see the translation appear right below what you're typing. When you're happy with what you've typed, just tap on the translation and hit send.

If you face a language barrier either in personal or professional situations, you need Slated on standby.

Themeboard

Best custom keyboards for iOS 8: Themeboard

Themeboard by Taphive is the first of its kind and lets graphic designers from all over the world share their keyboard creations in one place. Find a theme you like, download, and apply it. Simple as that. The layout of Themeboard is extremely similar to the stock iOS keyboard and contains a lot of the same features you already enjoy, along with a few other neat keyboard tricks.

If theming is your number one priority, there's no app better than Themeboard.

Your vote for best custom keyboard?

If you've been playing around with third party keyboards from the App Store, what ones have been your favorites and why? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

(Note: Originally published, September 2014. Updated, December 2014.)

Allyson Kazmucha
Allyson Kazmucha

iMore senior editor from 2011 to 2015.

146 Comments
  • When I was an Android user, I swore by SwiftKey and now on iOS it looks like it's going to be the same. The standard iOS keyboard has served me well for the past year but things like multiple language support without having to switch keyboards is heaven-sent. SwiftKey has a long way to go to match functionality with our Android brethren but it'll get there and its already off to a great start.
  • While I liked Swiftkey on Android and it was the one that I first used I actually started to use the google Version more and more and it was a nice keyboard with less quirks like its inane desire to autocorrect my password to whatever it felt it should be rather than what it actually was. I'm going to give it a go and see how it does but also downloaded Swype . If Google were to release their version I suppose I would give that a try.
  • Unbelievable,best keyboard here : http://swipekeys.com/
  • I have installed SwiftKey, but it keeps defaulting back to the regular keyboard. I have moved SwiftKey to the top of the list in the keyboards, but it still goes back to the default keyboard. Anyway to change that?
  • I deleted the English keyboard and now I just have SwiftKey
  • Yeah that happens to me too. Hope they fix that bug.
  • You have to remove the stock keyboard Sent from the iMore App
  • Delete the other keyboards Sent from the iMore App
  • Mostly a big bug. Sent from the iMore App
  • Same here. No matter what I do it keeps defaulting back to the stock keyboard. Is this normal behavior on how third party keyboards are going to work? Do you have to use the globe icon and cycle through the keyboard each time you need to use it? I sure hope not. Sent from the iMore App
  • You can hold down the globe icon glide your finger up to swift key and let go to go directly to that keyboard. Not the best answer but still better than cycling through. Sent from the iMore App
  • You need to change the order/default keyboard in keyboard settings. Go into Settings -> General -> Keyboard and click edit.. it will let you drag the keyboards from top to bottom.. Put the one you want first at top. I had to reboot my phone to take effect. Then from that point on.. default SwiftKey.. or whatever you're using.
  • Awesome tip. Thanks. Thought I was the only one. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • Try moving your keyboard of choice so that it is at the top of the list. No matter what though, Apple defaults back to a basic keyboard for passwords and secure information so that the details cannot be pulled by a 3rd party keyboard and stored on that 3rd parties servers.
  • I'm having the same issue as others on my iPads and iPhone 5. Need to be able to set a 3rd party keyboard as default or they are too much of a pain to deal with. Posted via the Android iMore App!
  • You can set it default.. see my comment above..
  • I'm using Fleksy, I just like the look & feel of this keyboard. An absolute pleasure to use! Sent from the iMore App
  • Enjoying swiftkey. Anything is better than the default crapfest that had me constantly hitting the return or period key. We've cone a long way since hoping for mere copy and paste people. :)
  • I've always been between SwiftKey and swype. I haven't tried swype on my iPhone yet but SwiftKey is doing my justice. One of the reasons I came back to iPhone was because of the larger screen and because of custom keyboards so anything is a blessing to me.
  • All of these keyboards suck. None of them have access to your keyboard shortcuts that you set up. That is just simply annoying.
  • That really is annoying. Sent from the iMore App
  • That's not the fault of the keyboards Posted via iMore App
  • That's a limitation of iOS though
  • Which makes that aspect of ios suck, not the keyboards. Posted via iMore App
  • Sure is. Sent from the iMore App
  • What about TextExpander? You'd have to migrate your shortcuts but it's the same functionality, right? And potentially more power if you needed it. Sent from the iMore App
  • If you link Dropbox, and have your TE shortcuts saved there, you're good to go Sent from the iMore App
  • They also don't give you access to Siri dictation, which I use often.
  • ios 8 keyboard support seems a little buggy still. sometimes keyboards won't open at all, or open up as a grey rectangle. that said: i have been switching between swype, swiftkey, and the default apple keyboard, which at this point still knows me best in terms of common words.
  • Buggy is an understatement. It's terrible. Sent from the iMore App
  • apple should have done a better job to enable the options from within the app, and not require the app developer to write up rather verbose set instructions how to enable this. A simple in app settings would be great with a system prompt to enable it system wide - perhaps with a TouchID, for confirmation. Short of this the Keyboards Preferences / Settings should have a url schema that the app developer could open via a button to let the user enable the feature.
  • Why make it sound (you implied it) that the iPhone version has some special add on that allows you to swipe for words... It's IDENTICAL to the Android version. We've been swiping on it for a long time... How do you think I wrote this? Posted via iMore App
  • I think he means within ios, I have an android phone and an ipad air and I love SwiftKey, on my iPad it doesn't include flow. It is only on the iPhone version. I am also having a problem with it sometimes switching back to the regular keyboard. Posted via the Android iMore App!
  • No. I said iphone version because the iPad does not support flow.
  • My bad... I must have lumped you (wrongly I might add) into the same category I reserve for people like Rene... Posted via iMore App
  • Extremely attractive extremists? Posted via iMore App
  • He has become a parody of himself Like Samuel L Jackson Posted via the Android iMore App!
  • I love Fleksy. I have it on my S3. I will buy it once I get my iPhone 6. I will purchase it for my iPad. I hope I can still long press for alternate keyboard buttons.
  • I use none, because there is always a second of lag before the 3rd party keyboard, in this case SwiftKey, comes up. Sent from the iMore App
  • Same here. I wanted to use Fleksy but I couldn't stand the annoying lag. Sent from the iMore App
  • Yeah, that's been bothering me also. Funny thing is, that I don't mind the iOS 8 keyboard. For some reason I have amazingly high accuracy when I stop looking at the keys and just tap away. I want my keyboard to support all the features of the OS. It'd be nice if they could allow dictation and custom shortcuts throughout the third party keyboards.
  • FYI: Making your keyboard Default. You need to change the order/default keyboard in keyboard settings. Go into Settings -> General -> Keyboard and click edit.. it will let you drag the keyboards from top to bottom.. Put the one you want first at top. I had to reboot my phone to take effect. Then from that point on.. default SwiftKey.. or whatever you're using.
  • That only works for a while. It reverts to the stock keyboard eventually.
  • Ally, did you try Text Expander's keyboard for awhile or just quickly? I want to buy it, but it's reviews aren't very good so far.
  • I did. I never consider something as best unless I test it fairly thoroughly. I think there are some layout glitches on the iPhone 6 and 6+ that need to be addressed. Other than that it's a solid option.
  • Is there any keyboard with cursor keys? Prediction is never perfect and it's a pain to have to point to move the cursor when a few taps on a cursor key would do it much quicker. A gesture to go back a character or a word would work too.
  • Fleksy does all this
  • I just picked up an iPhone 6 yesterday, and the first thing I did was download SwiftKey. Sadly, it's not nearly as good as it was on my Samsung Note 2. I had the pay version, but you could hold on letters and get numbers, and the ? and ! were easier to use. I wish you could get the same exact SwiftKey as you can get on Android. I would definitely pay for it.
  • That's an ios limitation. They can't have pop-up that go past the set size of the keyboard Posted via iMore App
  • Thank you. Then SwiftKey needs to redesign it's app to work with IOS8.
  • I believe they rushed it to meet launch day. Expect regular updates to fix bug, add features, and increase speed. SwiftKey is no Facebook with their change logs. You get to see what they add and what not. Although I doubt that feature you want will show up for sometime. The pop-ups on my Nexus S, and Shield tab just go past the word suggestions when I use the top row.
    (And they may not be able to give access to special figures regardless. I don't know about this though) Posted via iMore App
  • Are there no full-QWERTY notebook style keyboards for iOS 8? With iP6+ and iPad, I'm happy to devote more screen real estate to a more robust keyboard. Certain apps gave these.
  • In order for Swiftkey to work you have to allow "full access". If you toggle this, here's the message you get: "Full access allows the developer of this keyboard to transmit anything you type, including things you have previously typed with this keyboard. This could include sensitive information such as your credit card number our street address.".
    Am I the only one who has major concerns about this??
    Having said that, I'm using swype, that I used in my Android days and I love it. It has a few minor issues that will be sorted out I'm sure. Other than that, it works great!
  • Unless you specifically remove it, your street address is already online with a picture of your house on Spokeo.com Posted via iMore App
  • Yup, I was a bit concerned about that which is why I clicked no, rendering the app useless. Don't like the idea of my credit card details being broadcast. Do the other apps have the same warning/issue? Sent from the iMore App
  • Broadcast where? The communication, as explained by Swiftkey everywhere (two seconds on Google will get you there), occurs only between the keyboard and the app on your dashboard (due to the way iOS is built), unless you have cloud enabled, in which case it's all encrypted from beginning to end. Please read the notes on iossupport.swiftkey.com and read the privacy policy. You dont have to believe them, but then again you dont have to believe what Google, Apple or Facebook say they do with your data. No need for unnecessary panic. Dont enable cloud support and dont always believe iOS messages about third party apps. Besides, your credit card details and address are most likely out there already on much less secured servers.
  • Add your 3rd party keyboard, move it to the top of the list. Move your emoji to 2nd on the list. Then delete all other keyboards. That will keep your keyboard from changing. Hold the globe down and select your keyboard.
  • Fair enough but what about credit card numbers?
  • Basically it's a warning that if you're allowing full access, key strokes "could" be recorded, including cc numbers. That doesn't mean they are. Services like SwiftKey transmit info to offer better predictions etc. but they also encrypt your info. I find it unfortunate how apple chose to word that popup. Sent from the iMore App
  • I don't find it unfortunate. As privacy disintegrates before our very eyes I think every little detail matters. Better to err on the side of caution ... For Apple's sake, and ours.
  • Well, it scares people away from something that isn't phishing for data. But I'm used to it because the warning is the same on Android. *off topic*
    Can someone tell me how 8 runs on a 5s? I've been reluctant to update until the first patch, but I'm curious.. Posted via iMore App
  • I've been running iOS 8 on a 5s, 5, ipad2, and iPad air. (Used the 2 as a tester lol) the only thing I notice occasionally is the 4 finger swipe up doesn't work. And in Facebook tapping the top sometimes doesn't quick scroll to the first post. Other than that, no issues.
  • SwiftKey is the keyboard to roll with. Sent from the iMore App
  • No one else is worried about giving them full access and the keyboard app sending everything you type to the developer?
  • So download a major keyword that is being watched by others. Smart Android users don't download that stupid "cute" third party keyboard and we're fine. So iOS users should do the same. Every keyboard on her list has been active for years, and as such, should be safe enough. DON'T DOWNLOAD THE STUPID THIRD PARTY KEYBOARDS THAT SERVE NO PURPOSE! Posted via iMore App
  • This guy gets it. ಠ益ಠ
  • i tried both swiftkey and swype. the both did what they are supposed to do. both had a few bugs that i am sure will get worked out. but swiftkey wanted to be allowed to know everything that i typed (very intrusive). swype did not and that is what is on my iphone. btw @diante//i totally agree.
  • All keyboards have that. Just use the main ones, that are trusted. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • When I was on Android I used swift key and I loved it. I was so excited when I heard it was coming to iOS! Sent from the iMore App
  • Any keyboards that have number rows on top? Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • I second this. I love having a fixed number row. I'm using SwiftKey on my Nexus 5, and it's really disappointing that the iOS 8 version is so limited - no number row, no long press for alternative characters. Without these things I may as well stay with the stock keyboard. Posted via iMore App
  • I totally agree. This SwiftKey is worthless, without number options, and long press for special charcters like Android. Very disappointing. This is my first iPhone, and the keyboard situation is enough to turn me off.
  • iKeywi adds an extra row of keys which I believe defaults to numbers but can be customized from there. It also allows its users to swipe the keyboard to move the cursor.
  • I'll have to look into iKeywi. Thanks.
  • I too agree. I'd willingly pay for a keyboard like this. Not going to say how much I'd pay, but for that row alone I'd drop a few dollars.
  • I find it really unfortunate how SwiftKey requires authorization to go beyond the protective sandbox that Apple places it in. They say that this is only to make the keyboard less memory intensive by letting the app do all the work... And that all the data stays in your phone unless you use their cloud service. But if you check your data use, you can see SwiftKey uses more and more data the more you type. Unfortunately until this blatant disrespect for user privacy is fixed, I won't be using this keyboard and hope that you with this knowledge seek to do the same.
  • So Apple's severs are somehow better than SwiftKey/other major Keyboards? Android includes the same wrinkle for security *gasp* and most people ignore it with the likes of SwiftKey and Flesky. I notice it's rather fast switching Keyboards on iOS8... So switch when you feel like you're typing sensitive information. SwiftKey's data usage grows as you use it more, because it's learning you better so it can work better. Turn off cloud service if it concerns you. You still get personalization, but it's limited to said device. *shameless plug inbound* And if your everyday life is all that private I suggest BB10 to you. One of the best software Keyboards, with market/mindshare so small as well as some of the best back end security in the mobile business (I might even say the best ;)) it's rarely if ever attacked (the same reason Macs used to almost never get bugs back in the day) the Z30 is a middle ground between the 6 and 6+ and still preforms very well. Posted via iMore App
  • You just don't understand how the app works.... ಠ益ಠ
  • Fleksy and Minuum are great. I could never quite adjust to SwiftKey's "flow" that made it worthwhile. I found gestures a lot more natural and, given my preference for minimalist aesthetics, Fleksy and Minuum where worthwhile purchases. I'm glad they made their way to iOS.
  • Yep, I'm right there with you. Disabled flow after a month of struggle. It's nice for tapping, I could never get used to opening the special key page to use punctuation on Flesky though. I keep coming back to it because I will learn it and I will own it ._. Posted via iMore App
  • Ally, which is YOUR favorite? I'm having a difficult time liking Fleksy. Seems a bit unintuitive. Maybe more practice is needed?
  • If I had to pick - my current favorite is Minuum and TE. I really only use TE if I'm typing long form and need snippets. If I don't, I'm really liking how barebones Minuum is. Sent from the iMore App
  • Tried Swype & SwiftKey, found that I prefer the new stock keyboard over either -- the new predictive keyboard is great, and remembers words I use often. I like that I can manually add shortcuts as before, and they work with the stock keyboard (they don't with 3rd party keyboards). The shortcuts I create sync to iCloud and between devices. I also like that what I'm typing doesn't need a data connection to be shared with 3rd parties -- not typing anything particularly important, but I'd rather it just stay between me and my device ;-)
  • While it certainly is nice to have these new keyboard choices available, iOS's improved voice dictation is my preferred text input method.
  • I have some concerns regarding the security level of these keyboards!
    IOS warns me that it may collect any kind of data!
    Can you briefly comment on that matter?
  • Check above a few comments :) Sent from the iMore App
  • Thanks a lot :D
  • I like the default keyboard but i will like a tweak we have in the jailbreak. Swipeselection it give the possibility to move the cursor in the text with your finger. Sent from the iMore App
  • Someone above stated that iKeywi provides that functionality as well as a 5th row for customization (such as numbers).
  • I had swiftkey on my note 2 and I have been chomping at the bit for this to come out on iPhone (especially since this is the only company phone I can have). I have thoroughly tapped through paragraphs on both the swiftkey and the new stock predictive keyboard. There is just no denying that at this point the stock is much better. I believe one of the critical features missing from swiftkey is the ability to choose predictive style. I always chose speed which was awesome at predicting and correcting as I typed. The stock does this better as it stands now. Very disappointing, however I know that (if allowed) swiftkey will make the tweaks necessary in the coming months. Their product on android is absolutely bullet proof. Sent from the iMore App
  • You said it perfectly. REALLY hoping SwiftKey can make their IOS version as good as Android.
  • This review and all of the comments and suggestions have been extremely helpful. Thanks iMore. For now I'm sticking with the native keyboard. It is vastly improved.
  • I found SwiftKey SUPER buggy. Deleted today and will await an update.
  • As a former Android user, i like the predictive text of Swiftkey.
  • I'm seeing lots of complaints in the App Store about 3rd party keyboards not always poping up when tapping on a text field. Just gives you a blank screen. Is this a glitch with ios8? Also, lots of privacy complaints about some keyboards needing Full Access and uploading everything you type to a server for improved prediction results. People are concerned passwords are being uploaded too. But other keyboards apparently don't require Full Access. Would love to see a write up about which ones do and don't require this and why. Additionally, none of the 3rd party keyboards seem to offer access to the microphone for dictation. Is this a limitation by Apple, or do some 3rd party keyboards integrate with this? (since Swype is now owned by Nuance I thought maybe they'd have dictation integrated, but I don't see it) Lastly, none seem to have shortcuts for long pressing letters or punctuation, such as inserting .com, etc.
  • Is there an "enter" or "go" key when doing a web search or trying to input a site in the address bar on Swiftkey?
  • I agree the new native keyboard is a nice improvement (except the emoji key that I kept hitting by mistake). But ever since I downloaded iaWriter on my iPad a couple of years ago, I assumed it would just be a matter of time before Apple bought or copied it. It's basically a simple (but nice and clean) text editor, but it's the keyboard that really shines. There's a bar at the top that allows you to move forward or backward through your text one space at a time, as well as jumping a whole word at a time in either direction. It also allows you to highlight a block of text, and either add parentheses or quote marks at both the beginning and end of the block with a single click. They've ve added the predictive text now too (but unfortunately also that emoji key - I'm sure a lot of people like it...). Move the emoji key to the top bar, and it's the perfect keyboard for me. I hope they, or someone else, release a standalone keyboard like this. I tried Swiftkey, but it didn't seem a great improvement over the built in keyboard for my taste. I just don't care about all the swiping functionality in any of the other apps - maybe I'm missing out.
  • I've been using iaWriter keyboard on the iPad and iPhone for some time and I agree the highlight of the app is its keyboard. Having the left and right cursor keys and punctuation keys like the comma is productive. I used to take notes with pen and paper at seminars. Now I use iaWriter on my phone. It would be awesome if the developer offers their keyboard as an app for iOS.
  • You forgot to mention quite a big swype app called 'Touchpal' (X') which is also free like SwiftKey. Unfortunately for me it doesn't support Dutch yet in the iOS version. Unfortunately none of the existings iOS8 swype keyboards have a support for Dutch (except for Fleksy and MyScript Stack, but those aren't 'real' swipe keyboard). I'm looking forward to the switch of an existing iOS7 app called Path Input which is already available for iPad and iPhone for years and will soon be upgraded to iOS8 keyboard. Path Input already supports Dutch in the current app and works great!
  • I like TouchPal on Android. On iPhone I've been switching between Swype, Minuum, and Fleksy. Right now it's Fleksy. The gestures feel natural and smooth. Sent from the iMore App
  • None of the above support bahasa Indonesia so, only default keyboard works for me. Sent from the iMore App
  • Why can't they just give us a keyboard with a number key row and basic punctuation?
  • There are a few 3rd party keyboards out there which show the number keys permanently: iKeywi, soon also AI.Type. Others have a quick feature to get the number keys: e.g. Touchpal, Swype, GO keyboard, One Keyboard.
  • My question is which of these don't require the full access that key logs things we type like credit card numbers, addresses, and other personal info? Looks like SwiftKey turns off features if you don't allow full access. Swype seems to work though. What do the folks at iMore think? Edit: went back through comments and saw these concerns have been expressed. Gonna try Swype instead of SwiftKey.
  • Still not 100 percent. It still has a problem remaining your keyboard. It switches back to the standard one. Sent from the iMore App
  • I have tried the top 5 and swype wins hands down in iOS8. And don't forget to set your preferred keyboard as the default in your settings. The only reason to keep the default keyboard would be to use voice dictation so if you do not use that feature just remove it altogether. Swype FTW! -Big Al. Sent from the iMore App
  • SwiftKey by a mile for me. Use it on my OPO, and my Retina Mini. Synced like a champ. Been using it for couple of years now so it has quite a history of me. Enjoy the new keyboards y'all. It's been a long time coming. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • Is there a "go" or "enter" button when typing in URL's manually? I can't find a way to go to the URL. Thanks.
  • My mileage varies on which app brings up my first choice keyboard (Swype) or the default one...
  • I will stick to the default keyboard on my iPad mini.
  • Something I realised from all the screenshots, there's no number rows or long press for other symbols. I could be wrong but it seems like Apple isn't allowing them to do that. Can it be coincident that not a keyboard has a number row or long press alternative symbols. Posted via the Android iMore App!
  • Maybe. But Fleksy supports long press on the enter key to initiate Emoji. Sent from the iMore App
  • SwiftKey keeps crapping out on my iPhone 5s. The cursor just blinks and it won't respond. I have to close the messaging app and restart for it to take. It seems kind of buggy. If this keeps up I'll just dump it until a new version is released.
  • anyone know if theres a way to get the dark stock keyboard thats used in spotlight . i honestly think Apples stock is the best keyboard but i was wondering if someone put the dark one in the app store
  • I like TextExpander 3 and Kuaiboard. Kuaiboard is great if you reuse text but don't want to have to remember a TextExpander abbreviation. I use both. Sent from the iMore App
  • Just an answer for people looking long press keys for additional characters, if you use Swype in Dark theme, it has long press punctuation and numbers. Not sure why it's only used in 1 theme but it works great. I've used both Swype and SwiftKey and have had the least amount of problems with Swype.
  • Stack is an interesting keyboard for handwriting recognition, which is great with a little stylus. While not my everyday keyboard, it is incredibly handy for mathematical algorithms (I am an Academic in IT/Comp Sci...)
  • SwiftKey is extremely fast and accurate and I love the excellent predictive typing suggestions it offers. However, it requires Full Access of all my typing data, which is alarming. Swype, on the other hand, never asks for Full Access however it's much less responsive, to be honest, it is very slow comparing with SwiftKey. However, SwiftKey does not support the iPad. Choices...
  • Hi Ally, have you come across a keyboard where the width is smaller so that you can reach across the keys easier when typing with one hand? I thought I saw this pictured on a iPhone 6 or 6 Plus a while back. It would be a nice feature to have.
  • SwiftKey seems good on my iPhone, but dictation is better for me . Where i would like to use it is on my iPad. Unfortunately it doesn't "flow" on the iPad, as yet.
  • I'm trying out Adaptxt right now, mainly for its shortcut feature (and the fact that it's free). Has anyone else used this one?
  • Probably the best keyboard for the iPhone 6+ is One Handed Keyboard
    http://appstore.com/OneHandedKeyboard
    here's why:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mc5dO1h-tg
  • Useful to have built-in one hand keyboard in iphone 6+
  • I've been having issues with Swiftkey. I know it's a third party app and it's prone to issues. This issue is that in certain apps (like Spotlight Search, and various apps and in Safari) it doesn't show you the text your typing in. I have to switch back to the stock keyboard and in some cases close and reopen the app (and use the stock keyboard) to get it to show me what I'm typing. Anybody have issues like this? Any way to fix this? I haven't deleted the stock keyboards yet.
  • I'm a SwiftKey fan, since it offers the best experience on iPhone. The iPad version doesn't have Flow features so I am thinking of trying out Fleksy for use on the iPad. Sent from the iMore App
  • Hey everyone, anybody interested in an iPad-specific keyboard?
    Have a look at Binary Keyboard (no, not the keyboard with one key):
    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/binary-keyboard/id928894379?mt=8&at=10l3Vy Would like to get some feedback on the idea/concept. Best regards, André
  • Fleksy by far has been the best iOS keyboard experience. It makes typing so easy and fluid. Regular swiping/flow/etc is honestly getting outdated! SwiftKey doesn't give many options on themes and is nice but very plain. Swype and touchpal act up all the time and others just seem gimmicky. I'm on beta teams for 3 keyboards. Fleksy has to be the most advanced. Minuum is second followed by the rest. Fleksy is currently public with 4.0.2 I believe but 5.0 is in beta and it takes iOS keyboards to a next level of innovation. I can't say much but it's exciting. All I can really say is the keyboard gets extended to open up its capabilities and themes! Also by far Fleksy and Minuum are trying to push out a ton of great themes for devices. Giving a reliable keyboard with great themes. SwiftKey swype text expender are restricted in themes and decent options. Usually all out theme keyboards then lack functionality and reliability typing. Fleksy definitely combines both into a great experience.
  • I love the option for the custom keyboards, have tried a few. However I keep running in to issues.
    1. I use a lot of short cuts and the third party keyboards don't seem to communicate with the iOS shortcuts I've created.
    2. It seems buggy, in that a couple times a day my iMessage app will freeze trying to load the Swype keyboard and I'll have to relaunch it.
  • Same. Sent from the iMore App
  • SwiftKey is highly overrated. I prefer the regular Google Keyboard to SwiftKey. Hopefully Google makes an iOS app out of that plus in the iPads swift flow doesn't even work on it which it ridiculous considering Swype works fine on my Air. SwiftKey attributes this to RAM or something when Swype can easily do it. My favorite keyboard is Fleksy. Now that's a really good innuative keyboard. Have it on my itouch 5 and on my Nexus 5 but it's kinda crammed in my itouch I just use the stock iOS keyboard which is a good keyboard than ever before in iOS 8 Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • I for one would not install a google keyboard on my iPhone. No trust. Just me. Sent from the iMore App
  • What no TouchPal!? By far my favorite because it has secondary keys enabled on main keyboard. This is such a beautiful feature that no one else on iOS can seem to figure out but is a standard on Android.
  • I recommend Nintype. Big, big learning curve and way too many settings but when you "get it" it is mind blowing what you can do. A game changer to those who stick with it.
  • I still love the stock keyboard!
  • They have a lot of work to do on the custom keyboards its a mess right now unfortunately. These keyboards are great though each in there very own way Sent from the iMore App
  • Hopefully someday someone will implement the Blackberry OS10 virtual Keyboard. By far the best KB out there !!!!
  • There is a new custom keyboard in the appstore as of yesterday. It's called Cliptomania and is just awesome!! It definitely belongs in the above list.
  • i don't really tend to use alot of alternative keyboards as i think 'will i actually use this' the case for most keyboards has been no. These all look really good but i don't want to have to tap 10 times to scroll through all my keyboards. I might get minuum and i already have swiftkey other than that and my gif keyboard i don't think i'll be doing get many others
  • Really dont think that translation screenshot in the Slated review does the product any good, cause the French that comes out of that English sentence is incorrect at best and would be meaningless for many :)) (native French speaker)
  • Searching all these comments and the web for any mention of cursor keys or arrow keys for iPads. I can't believe that others are not looking for this feature.
    Granted, stock iOS keyboard on the iPhone does have 2 of the 4 keys when you hold the keyboard in a horizontal manner, but only on an iPhone. I don't use an iPhone to read and respond to comments.
    Please! Any help getting a 3rd party keyboard with these keys on my iPad would be really appreciated.
    Any suggestions out there?
    TIA
  • But wait, you forgot one more app—Chars for iOS. It works totally different—it allows you to type different ★ special ♫ Unicode ♥︎ characters ✈︎ wherever you want in iOS: http://chars.cc
  • I use Nintype. It's really fast and has a lot of features like fast delete and it's really fast if I want fix typo ( just hold space bar and scroll).
  • SwiftKey is my default keyboard. It's smarter than the stock keyboard. And it has more features. I also use 2 utility keyboards. Kuaiboard and Symbols. Both have been very useful.
  • Also we built KeyReply as a custom keyboard with response templates saved on it - for teams. It allows you to manage your preset replies both on web and on the iOS app. Personally we'd love if we can also integrate some functionalities like Flexsy does, and that's probably going to be something in the future. Check out http://keyreply.com if you like how it sounds!
  • I've had the now apparently lost and gone Arrow Note keyboard app on my iPhone for about a year. Yesterday while pulling my phone out of my pocket, I somehow selected squigley delete mode and sent that app to the great beyond. What are the odds that I would delete the one app that is no longer available? It was much like the stock iPhone keyboard but it had 4 cursor arrows and a forward delete key. Apple really ought to make it an option to have as stock keyboard. Instead it has been dropped. Really annoying. It had its limitations, I would use it for longer compositions and then select it all and cut for pasting elsewhere. But at least I had the use of a flexible keyboard for longer stuff. I can hardly believe that this is not available. I mean, and I like my phone but the stock keyboard is weak. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get on my horse and go slay a windmill.
  • After almost 7 years away from iPhone, I'm so glad to read this article. I was wondering about keyboards and a feature I enjoyed on other platforms (swipe). This article (and one other) led me down the rabbit hole of custom keyboards. I am loving Microsoft Word Flow. Thanks for the tip!