Ditch the Standard Apple Keyboard for One of These Alternatives
In terms of functionality, Apple’s standard pre-loaded keyboard has certainly improved, but even after adding its own app store with stickers and apps, it’s still a little bland. What I love about Apple is that it supports third-party keyboards. You can opt out of the one-size-fits-all offering and download enough keyboards for every conceivable customization option you need.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to make a commitment. Don’t be afraid to install more than one keyboard! If I’m looking for a particular animated image, I’ll use the GIPHY keys more often than Gboard, but during normal texting hours or when typing in a note-taking app like Bear, I prefer swipe-friendly keyboards.
Gboard (Android, iOS)
Google Keyboard (available for iOS and Android) has enough features to be useful, but not too many to be unwieldy or unwieldy. I’ve chosen this keyboard since its debut due to its simple search integration: in true Google style, you can search from the keyboard itself and send links as well as descriptive cards to recipients. Its responsive swipe functionality is great for fading in and out where other keyboards I’ve tried in the past somewhat sluggishly recognizing my swipe as spelling.
You can pull images and GIFs from Gboard to send or save (although search results on desktop and Gboard are sometimes different). Sure, you can type on it like you would on a traditional keyboard, but Gboard also supports fluent typing – swipe your finger over the letters to spell words – just like Swype and Swiftkey, and it learns from your story to improve predictive search and suggestion. text without transferring personal data of the company.
If you’re on a larger phone, the combination of fluent typing and one-handed typing on Gboard is a godsend that makes texting easier and less stressful for your frail human form . Do you like talking on the phone? Gboard supports text dictation, just like the Apple keyboard. Gboard for Android includes several additional features than its iOS counterpart, including automatic language detection with auto-correct and suggested text, and live translation.
Word Flow (iOS)
Created by a team at Microsoft’s experimental Garage division, Word Flow is easy to use with one hand, allowing me to churn out text even while texting. Its outstanding feature is the curved keyboard mode: the keyboard sits in the corner of the screen and allows your thumb to easily reach every letter. You can even type smoothly while it is curved and see the suggested text (although curvature shrinks the selection list).
Bing’s built-in web search lets you copy and paste images and GIFs. If you’re having problems with your thumb while typing, or just want to reach the keys without two hands, then this keyboard is definitely worth checking out.
Swiftkey (Android, iOS)
Thanks to SwiftKey, Microsoft now has two different keyboards in the Apple App Store. Swiftkey has just received a much needed redesign that is more minimalistic and functional. It’s also more responsive than before, registering swipes quickly enough. It supports swipe typing like Gboard and Word Flow, as well as customizable themes in case you want to add color to your caps.
Connecting Swiftkey to your Facebook or Google account gives it access to your data (it is encrypted before it leaves your device, and Swiftkey does not have your login information), which it uses to personalize your autocorrect functionality, as well as text prompts with a prediction. It will even show you how it adjusts your typing style and how much time you save by not clicking on letters. It has a few tricks if you want to expand your language options – a recent update has increased support for over 100 languages.
GIPHY Keys (iOS)
I love gifs. You love GIFs. We all love GIFs. Why not use a GIF-enabled keyboard?
When it comes to typing, you won’t find anything revolutionary here. You will be tapping as before. Giphy Keys is not as full-featured as Gboard, nor does it have the fluent typing feature of Swype. That said, it’s cute – and in terms of GIF search functionality, it beats the competition by far. Giphy is the gold standard for Internet GIF integration, especially since it allows you to access Betaworks’ repository of both pop culture and original GIF content through a variety of categories – or you can search for them yourself from your keyboard.