A foldable Bluetooth keyboard turns a phone into a workable laptop, but most typing on Android still happens on the screen. The keyboard is the app you touch more than any other, and the differences between options shape battery life, typing speed, autocorrect quality, and how much of your text leaves the device. We compared seven of the most-installed Android keyboard apps, including two open-source options that run entirely on-device.
What to look for in a keyboard app
The keyboard you keep is the one whose defaults work for the way you type:
- Swipe and tap accuracy. A good autocorrect catches the right word the first time. The wrong autocorrect rewrites your sentences.
- Multilingual support. If you write in two or more languages, the keyboard’s ability to switch without changing layouts every other word matters more than feature lists.
- Privacy posture. Some keyboards send keystrokes to the cloud for prediction. Others keep everything on-device. The difference is the difference between “convenience” and “every keystroke leaves the phone.”
- Theming and layout. Number rows, height presets, one-handed modes, glide direction, and key layouts (QWERTY, AZERTY, Dvorak, Colemak) matter for daily use.
- Voice input. Modern Android voice typing is shockingly good when it works. On-device voice input is the privacy-respecting way to use it.
- Battery and memory. A keyboard runs in the background of every text-input field; lightweight beats heavy on older phones.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | On-device prediction | Free | Open source | Aptoide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard | Default; Google ecosystem | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Microsoft SwiftKey | Multilingual typing | No (cloud) | Yes | No | Yes |
| AnySoftKeyboard | Customisation, F-Droid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Typewise | Honeycomb layout, privacy | Yes | Trial | No | Yes |
| Fleksy | Speed and themes | Optional | Yes | No | No |
| Grammarly Keyboard | Writing quality | No (cloud) | Yes | No | No |
| FlorisBoard | Fully on-device, FOSS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
The 7 best keyboard apps for Android
1. Gboard — best default for most people
Gboard is the default on Pixel and most non-Samsung Android phones for good reason. Glide typing is the most accurate in this list, autocorrect is fast and forgiving, and on-device language packs cover most major languages. The integrated Google Translate, voice typing, clipboard, and emoji search make a single tap reach features other keyboards lock behind menus.
Gboard for everyday typing also exposes a real privacy posture: prediction runs on-device when possible, and you can opt out of personalisation entirely. Voice typing on Pixel and supported phones runs locally without sending audio to the cloud.
Where it falls short: Theming is more limited than Fleksy. Number row is hidden behind a long-press by default. Some advanced features (smart compose, contextual replies) appear on Pixel before other devices.
Pricing:
- Free: full app, no ads
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: Stay on Gboard unless a specific need (privacy, multilingual, custom layout) sends you elsewhere.
2. Microsoft SwiftKey — best for multilingual typing
Microsoft SwiftKey has been the multilingual keyboard for over a decade, and the prediction engine still handles two or three active languages without manual switching. The cloud-based learning model adapts to your style across devices when you sign in, so a phrase you taught it on a phone reappears on a tablet.
SwiftKey for Android typing also has a deep theming engine, full number row by default, and settings for keypress sound, vibration, and key border style that make it feel customised in minutes.
Where it falls short: Cloud-based learning is the default; on-device-only mode is available but reduces prediction quality. Owned by Microsoft now; some users prefer to keep typing data outside large vendors. Recent iOS version was wound down, focus is on Android and Windows.
Pricing:
- Free: full app, no ads
Platforms: Android, Windows
Bottom line: The default pick for anyone who routinely types in two or more languages.
3. AnySoftKeyboard — best for customisation and F-Droid
AnySoftKeyboard is a long-running open-source keyboard with separately-installable language packs and theme packs from F-Droid. Predictions are on-device, no telemetry leaves the phone, and the layout engine supports almost any QWERTY variant plus AZERTY, Dvorak, Colemak, and Workman out of the box.
AnySoftKeyboard for Android privacy is the right call when you want a keyboard you can audit and a typing experience that never touches the network. The community packs add languages well past what mainstream keyboards ship.
Where it falls short: Glide typing is supported but less accurate than Gboard or SwiftKey. The default theme looks dated; community themes fix it but require setup.
Pricing:
- Free: full app, donation-supported, open source
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: Pick AnySoftKeyboard for full control and a clean privacy story; expect to invest a session into setup.
4. Typewise — best honeycomb layout for privacy
Typewise uses a hexagonal “honeycomb” key layout that gives each key around 70% more touch area than a standard QWERTY. After the learning curve, typing accuracy on a phone screen genuinely improves for many users. Predictions are on-device, no keystrokes leave the phone, and the company publishes its privacy posture clearly.
Typewise for typing on small screens is also useful one-handed, and the gesture set (swipe up to capitalise, swipe left to delete) replaces several taps.
Where it falls short: The honeycomb layout takes time to adapt to. Premium subscription gates several themes and per-language packs.
Pricing:
- Trial: limited time, full features
- Pro: subscription tiers, unlocks premium themes and additional languages
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: Worth a 30-day trial if you keep mistyping on QWERTY and want better key targets.
5. Fleksy — best for speed and theming
Fleksy has held world records for typing speed in the past and remains one of the fastest keyboards once you commit to it. The signature feature is an aggressive autocorrect that lets you tap close to the right keys and cleans up afterwards. Themes, extensions, and stickers are deeper than Gboard’s, and the design is more playful.
Fleksy for typing speed is also one of the rare keyboards that supports custom extensions for shortcuts, GIF search, and number-row toggles in the same toolbar.
Where it falls short: Aggressive autocorrect occasionally rewrites words you wanted to keep. Some prediction features run in the cloud. Smaller language coverage than SwiftKey.
Pricing:
- Free: full keyboard, basic themes
- Premium: subscription, unlocks themes, extensions, and additional languages
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: Pick Fleksy when you want a keyboard with personality and you trust autocorrect to cover for sloppy taps.
6. Grammarly Keyboard — best for writing quality
Grammarly Keyboard lives in a different lane: rather than competing on glide typing or themes, it sends what you type to Grammarly’s grammar engine and surfaces real-time suggestions. Tone, clarity, and style flags appear in the suggestion bar; tap to accept. For email, work chat, and long-form writing, the catch rate on awkward phrasing is genuinely useful.
Grammarly Keyboard for writing is also tied to your existing Grammarly account, so style preferences and a personal dictionary follow you across devices.
Where it falls short: Writing is sent to Grammarly’s cloud for analysis; this is the privacy trade-off the app makes by design. Glide typing is functional but not class-leading. Some advanced suggestions are gated to a paid Premium plan.
Pricing:
- Free: grammar and spelling suggestions
- Premium: subscription tiers, unlocks tone, clarity, and style suggestions
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Web
Bottom line: Install Grammarly Keyboard when typing quality matters more than typing privacy; otherwise skip.
7. FlorisBoard — best fully on-device, FOSS keyboard
FlorisBoard is a community-driven, fully on-device, FOSS keyboard available primarily through F-Droid. The interface looks modern, the prediction engine is competitive for a young project, and it implements the modern niceties (clipboard, emoji search, gestures) without phoning home.
FlorisBoard for Android privacy is the cleanest pick on this list when avoiding cloud telemetry is a non-negotiable. The app is in active development and has stabilised significantly over the last release cycles.
Where it falls short: Glide typing is functional but still maturing. Smaller language pack catalogue than Gboard or SwiftKey. Beta builds occasionally introduce regressions.
Pricing:
- Free: full app, FOSS, no ads, donation-supported
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: The privacy-first pick for users comfortable on the leading edge of FOSS Android.
How to pick
- If you want the best out-of-box experience: Gboard.
- If you type in more than one language daily: Microsoft SwiftKey.
- If you want full control and an on-device privacy story: AnySoftKeyboard or FlorisBoard.
- If your typing accuracy on small screens is poor: Typewise.
- If you want speed and theming with personality: Fleksy.
- If your writing needs grammar review more than themes: Grammarly Keyboard.
- If FOSS and zero telemetry are non-negotiable: FlorisBoard.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gboard actually private?
Gboard runs prediction on-device by default and lets you opt out of the personalisation features that would share data with Google. Voice typing on Pixel and supported phones runs locally. For users who do not want a Google product running their keyboard at all, AnySoftKeyboard and FlorisBoard are stronger choices.
Do these keyboards work with Android Auto and external keyboards?
Yes. All seven respect Android’s input-method framework, which means they switch correctly when you connect a Bluetooth or USB keyboard. Most physical-keyboard layouts are passed through without the on-screen keyboard interfering.
Can I type in Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese?
Gboard and SwiftKey ship the broadest language coverage, including Hindi, Arabic with reshaping, Chinese with multiple input methods, and Japanese with kana-kanji conversion. AnySoftKeyboard supports many languages through community packs. FlorisBoard’s coverage is growing but smaller. Typewise focuses on Latin scripts.
What about the Samsung keyboard?
Samsung’s stock keyboard is fine for daily use on Galaxy phones and ships with reasonable autocorrect and glide typing. It is not on this list because it is not available outside Samsung devices. If you own a Galaxy phone and prefer it, there is no urgent reason to switch.
Do any of these keyboards support custom emoji or stickers?
Gboard, SwiftKey, and Fleksy include emoji search and sticker support out of the box. Gboard also supports custom emoji combinations. AnySoftKeyboard and FlorisBoard support emoji but rely on system fonts; advanced sticker workflows require third-party apps.
