Android Keyboards

Table of Contents

Attribution

This tip is a syndicated copy of part of KemoNine’s blog post about tuning Android.

What?

This page outlines a number of different keyboards that can make using an Android device less frustrating. It’s a simple list and it’s assumed you can sort which keyboard you prefer based trying the options that look most compelling (or all of them).

Good Android Keyboards, A List

• Unexpected Keyboard
  • full blown qwerty keeb implementation
  • if you use termux/juicessh/connectbot/other terms you want this keeb
  • has a lot of good features and tunables
  • can have custom layouts (there are docs and a web based layout editor)
  • kemonine implemented a messagease layout for unexpected here
  • if you use this keeb and are considering thumb key or flickboard, consider using kemo’s messagease layout for this keeb instead
• HeliBoard
  • basically a std android keep with the usual features
  • qwerty / bog std for what youd expect these days
• Florisboard
  • boring qwerty with spell check/auto-correct/etc ‘under development’
  • qwerty / ultra boring
  • what kemonine uses for a ‘standard / normie using their phone keeb’
• Thumb Key
  • a novel one handed layout with speed in mind
  • one handed and fast once you learn the layout
  • is a spiritual successor to messagease
  • includes messagease layouts (use the messagease ones, not thumb-key ones)
  • has good blend of features but not ‘all’ ive seen asked for
  • this or flickboard will be a win for most
• Flickboard
  • novel one handed layout with speed in mind
  • uses std messagease layouts
  • was created because messagease moved to a subscription model to use
  • has good blend of features but not ‘all’ ive seen asked for
  • this or thumb-key will be a win for most
• 8VIM
  • if youre into swiping to type, this is the keeb for you
  • has a novel approach thats faster than the qwerty swiping keebs
  • highly regarded as ‘good’ and definitely worth investigating if swiping is your thing
• Graffiti
  • literal palm graffiti on android
  • works with s pen and adonit styluses and others
  • install on any device where pen may be used

Changelog