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Time to Upgrade: 5 of the Best Third-Party Keyboards for Android Phones

More Features, Swifter Typing

No matter what Android phone you own, you will spend a lot of time typing. Although the default keyboard is decent, it can be upgraded. So, what is the best keyboard for Android? Third-party programs can allow you to achieve a better workflow when typing. These programs also offer a lot of functionality that the default keyboard for Android lacks.

To help you optimize an activity as common as typing, we’ve compiled this list of the best keyboards for Android. We’ve reviewed some of the most common third-party keyboards, as well as their pros and cons. This list will allow you to make an informed choice. You can even give multiple a try until you find one that has features you like and works for your needs!

SwiftKey

SwiftKey is one of the oldest and most popular third-party keyboard apps. It’s fast and simple but doesn’t lack customization options. SwiftKey has made a name for itself as a keyboard that offers the best in-text prediction and swipe typing.

Swiftkey has a fantastic auto-correct feature and supports both Google and Bing search engines. Swiftkey supports over 300 languages, and the float mode and one-handed mode are executed excellently. The upper pane allows you to utilize GIF and sticker support.

Every design choice with SwiftKey was made to maximize usability and typing speed. SwiftKey has a personal dictionary, which will adapt to your style of writing. If you want to, you can let SwiftKey scan your emails and texts to get a better sense of your writing style. This will make predictions better, but some users feel it poses too much of a privacy risk. Customers focused on privacy might want to skip this program.

SwiftKey is free to use and has a lot of beautiful theme packages. It also supports account sync, and switching to another product after experiencing the personal dictionary is nigh-impossible.

Gboard

Gboard is Google’s keyboard program, so it should come as no surprise that it is on this list. Gboard is up to Google standards, with a plethora of features and regular updates. As a bonus, Gboard is and will always remain free to use.

Gboard features an amazing, minimalist UI. You can customize your user interface using options such as borders or dark mode. The floating mode in Gboard is also fantastic.

Gboard’s best feature is that Google Search is built in. You can peruse the web without leaving your keyboard space. You can even search Google for a GIF or image while typing. The same goes for Google Translate, which is seamlessly built into this keyboard.

This keyboard also supports glide typing, gesture control, auto-correct, swipe-to-type and prediction. Google’s impressive machine-learning algorithms perform much better than anything else on the market.

Gboard’s only drawback is the lack of themes. Gboard offers a fantastic package of features but is a little lackluster in the aesthetics department. The available themes seem bland and uninspired, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Chrooma

Chrooma is a very fast and lightweight program. The most interesting feature is that the keyboard will change colors based on the app you’re using at the moment. If the default color for the app doesn’t suit you, you can easily change it. A night-mode is also available if you want to save power or simply enjoy a darker color scheme.

Chrooma supports 40 languages, which is on the low end of the spectrum for third-party keyboards. However, that won’t be an issue for most users, as it supports the most widely spoken languages.

Chrooma also features a built-in proofreading service that checks for grammar, syntax and spelling errors. It also has an extra row for emojis, numbers and typing suggestions. Chrooma’s swipe typing features are the best out of all the reviewed keyboard programs. Swiping with Chrooma is accurate and easy, and Chrooma allows you to delete whole words or sentences simply by swiping left.

The swipe typing features and powerful swipe typing search engine, along with the massive amount of customization set Chrooma apart from the competition. It’s a well-designed app and features usability and aesthetics in equal measure.

Fleksy

Fleksy is a feature-rich keyboard that provides a reliable, fast typing experience. Fleksy has a minimalist design, and the UI is the most intuitive we’ve ever seen. It features solid swipe typing but is also very beginner-friendly.

Fleksy also shines when it comes to privacy. Language processing is completely done client-side, so no one has access to what you type. Fleksy’s text prediction might be a little worse than the competitions', but there is a good reason to justify that trade-off.

Fleksy’s glide typing and gesture navigation are smooth, and the base app offers light, dark and blue themes, as well as a transparent mode. Fleksy’s prediction functions both for text and emojis, and Fleksy supports over 800 emojis.

The drawback with this third-party keyboard app is language support. Fleksy only supports 42 languages, and currently does not have a cloud backup feature. However, Fleksy is highly customizable, and you can integrate various interesting mini-apps into the keyboard.

If you’re looking for a fast, user-friendly keyboard app with a simple interface, Fleksy is the choice for you. It will deliver on those promises, but it doesn’t lack in functionality and customizability either.

Honorable Mention: Grammarly Keyboard

Grammarly Keyboard is one of the more recent programs on this list. Grammarly, which started as a browser extension and migrated to desktops, has now made its way to Android phones.

Grammarly Keyboard has top-notch auto-correct. More so than any other program, Grammarly Keyboard will check your texts for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.

Grammarly Keyboard lacks significant customization, and not having GIF and gesture support might be a deal-breaker for some people. Another downside is that grammar-checking features require an internet connection. However, the UI is smooth, the keyboard is easy to use and intuitive, and all of the corrections include an explanation. Grammarly Keyboard is still a new product, and we can’t wait to see what features the developers will add.