Best Alternative Keyboard Apps for IPhone and How to Install Them
You might think that the keyboard is a fixed part of iOS that you can’t change, but the iPhone has actually supported third-party keyboards since 2014 and iOS 8 (if you have a good memory, you may remember Apple Music and the Health app ” were launched simultaneously).
So if you’re looking to replace the standard keyboard included with iOS, you have plenty of alternatives to choose from, and you’ll find some of the best options currently available listed below. If you want, you can install several at the same time, and switching between them is very easy.
You’ll find keyboards next to apps in the iOS App Store, and each one comes with instructions on how to set them up. If you have more than one app downloaded to your phone, touch and hold the globe icon in the lower right corner of the keyboard to choose the keyboard to use.
Meanwhile, the method for removing the keyboard is the same as for uninstalling an app: long press the keyboard shortcut icon on the home screen, then select Uninstall App and Uninstall App .
Microsoft SwiftKey
We previously wrote about the merits of Microsoft SwiftKey, which is now, as you would expect, complemented by the Copilot AI bot. This means familiar generative AI tricks are just a tap away, whether you need to write a block of text or change the tone of existing text. Language translation capabilities are also built into the app.
You get plenty of customization options, as well as several different themes to change the look of your keyboard (you can even create your own). AutoCorrect learns from your writing style, and the keyboard even provides statistics on how many words you’ve typed, how many typos you’ve made, and more.
Gboard
There’s no need to look at your Android friends with envy because Google’s Gboard keyboard is available on iOS. It’s an obvious choice if you’re a regular Google Search user because the search function is built-in – and you can also search YouTube and Google Maps, as well as access Google Translate features from the same search box.
Beyond the search feature, Gboard praises its smart autocorrect feature as well as its ease of handling GIFs and stickers. You can also easily change the keyboard theme, and there are plenty of settings available (including smooth typing if you prefer it to finger tapping).
Typically
If you want something that’s significantly different from the regular iPhone keyboard, try Typewise: it offers a wide range of themes, including some pretty wacky ones, and is designed specifically for use on smartphones. That means larger hexagonal keys and innovations like the ability to quickly swipe up on a letter if you want the capital version.
You have several themes to choose from, as well as features like built-in multilingual support and swipe-to-delete functionality. Subscribe to the Pro package for $1.99 per month and you’ll get even more features, including additional keyboard customizations and the ability to set up quick text replacement for phrases you use regularly.
Grammar
You may be familiar with Grammarly from its browser extensions, and the helpful writing assistant—now with added artificial intelligence—also comes in the form of an iPhone keyboard. You can critique your writing in any app, so you can spot issues with tone, readability, spelling, and, of course, grammar before you hit send.
You can customize the keyboard in a variety of ways, from emoji suggestions to haptic feedback, and a handy synonym search is included for when you’re struggling to think of the right word. Sign up for a Pro subscription (starting at $29.99/month) and you’ll get tons of extra help on the style and potential impact of your writing.
Fonts Art
If anything, Fonts Art is sure to brighten up the look of your iOS interface every time you open the keyboard: it includes a variety of font styles, background images, and color schemes so you can get a personalized keyboard. that suits your personal aesthetic, then use it across all the apps installed on your phone.
You can switch between different languages with the swipe of a finger, easily add GIFs and stickers, and even create your own fonts and skin for iOS in general. Fonts Art isn’t free, however—it’ll cost you $19.99 a year, although you can try it free for three days to see if it’s worth the money for you (just be sure to cancel the trial if you delete it ).