Best iPhone keyboard 2024

In our humble opinion, Google’s Gboard is the best all-round virtual keyboard available for iPhone. It’s essentially a tooled-up version of the standard iOS keyboard but with fantastic customization options and a very handy built-in search function. Better still, it supports languages from all around the world. We’re talking about everything from Afrikaans to Zulu.

The integrated search feature is Gboard’s biggest selling point as it makes it infinitely easier to make plans via text. You can easily send your friends a link to a specific event or directions to a restaurant without leaving your chat app. Sadly, Gboard only works with iOS 12 or later, so some older models of iPhones are left out

If you’re a clumsy typer or tired of having to correct predictive text, Swiftkey might be the best iPhone keyboard for you. It’s something of a clairvoyant keyboard, carefully predicting your words as you type them, but with a much more sophisticated algorithm than you might be used to. It can even predict emojis!

Swiftkey also supports swipe typing for those speedy one-handed typists out there, which is something we don’t tend to see on iPhones. The keyboard itself is free, but if you want a snazzy theme it’s gonna cost you extra. Plus, the keyboard itself can be a little slow at reading your inputs which kind of offsets the added speed of the predictive text.

Grammarly is one of the most popular text-checkers out there, but did you know there’s a mobile version? The Grammarly keyboard comes with all the grammar-checking and editing capabilities of the browser version but in the form of a mobile app. You can use it for everything from work emails to catching up with friends via text, confident that no grammar pedant can call you out on forgetting a comma or for the improper use of a semicolon.

Well, only if you write in English. Unfortunately, Grammarly’s services are only available in English and a lot of the more complex editing features require a paid subscription. The free version is great for spellcheck and basic sentence restructuring, but you’ll need to make some in-app purchases for the full suite. Also, the keyboard itself doesn’t feature any customization, so you’re stuck with the plain old white theme.

Rectangles are for squares, but hexagons? Hexagons are for the cool kids. That’s the opinion of Typewise, at least, a keyboard app that replaces the traditional rectangle shapes with hexagons. According to the team behind this app, there is a benefit to the change outside of aesthetics in that the change of shape creates a larger surface area for typing. So, if screen space is a big deal for you, this might be one to check out.

The obvious caveat to Typewise is that it takes a while to adjust to a slightly different keyboard layout from the one you’re used to. However, the creators of this digital iPhone keyboard are well aware of that, so you can find a surprisingly engaging game that helps you adjust to the hexagons. There are also more than eighteen themes to choose from, so you can opt for a keyboard that matches your personality more than the iOS default.

If you find yourself texting the same phrases over and over again, this option could be a real-time saver. Phraseboard allows you to store phrases on its keyboard, so you can select them instantly without having to type out the same old thing repeatedly. You can even set up phrase groupings, so you’ve got a way to differentiate between phrases you might use at work and those you just have for chatting with friends.

If you’re all about aesthetics, Phraseboard also comes with a range of rainbow customization options and lets you type in over 100 fonts so you can jazz up your social media profile with cursive, typewriter letters, and more. Somewhat understandably, these extra features do come at a price. The app itself costs a couple of dollars and then you’ll need an active yearly subscription to gain full access to the fonts and other features.

Perhaps you’re looking for a portable, physical keyboard for your phone. That’s understandable, given how large some smartphones are getting these days, they can very easily double as a tablet computer – especially some of the best foldable phones out there. The Plugable Compact Bluetooth keyboard is a sleek, portable solution for those times when you need to sit down with your phone and crack out a report.

As the name suggests, the keyboard folds away neatly so it’s easy to carry around, but you can barely notice the hinges when it’s flattened out. It’s got full-size laptop-style keys, meaning you don’t have to make compromises if you’ve got larger hands or you’re not the most coordinated typist. Plus, it’s wireless and connects to your device via Bluetooth.

The laptop-style keys make for a stylish finish and a thin design, but you won’t hear that satisfying clack that you get with mechanical keyboards. It also doesn’t feature a touchpad or mouse, only cursor keys, so you’ll need to use an extra peripheral or your laptop’s on-screen controls.

Sometimes when you’re working in a cafe or library, you just want to look the part. There’s been a huge surge in ‘aesthetic’ work and study set-ups online, and the Logitech K380 is a staple of the pastel home office. This full-size keyboard comes in your standard tech colors like black and grey but is also available in rose and lavender, which are our personal favorites.

You can pair this keyboard with three different Bluetooth devices at a time, making it easy to switch between typing on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The K380’s laptop-style keys mean it’s not quite as satisfying to type on as a mechanical keyboard, but the flatter keycaps make it much more portable

If you’re looking for a physical keyboard to use with your iPhone, but don’t want to have to balance your phone somewhere or buy a separate stand, this one is for you. The Arteck keyboard has a cradle along the top that fits iPhones, iPads, and many more devices – even more than one at once. The keyboard uses Bluetooth functionality and is super easy to set up.

It even has up to a six-month battery life – based on two hours of daily use. No matter how much you use it, you can be sure it won’t run out quickly. The keyboard does come with a charging cable, though, and a 24-month warranty, which is nice.

If you’re looking for something a little more official, the lightweight Apple Magic keyboard might be the one for you. It’s wireless, compact, and easy to set up, making it the perfect accompaniment to the traveling writer or anyone who prefers to avoid using a digital keyboard when possible.

Thankfully, Apple includes a woven USB-C Lightning cable so you can charge it up really quickly, and then have a long-lasting battery to work with, which can power the Magic keyboard for up to a month.

If you’re worried about size and weight, don’t fret – the Magic is approximately 11 inches wide, and weighs around half a pound, making it easy to take on the go. You know you’re also getting good quality from an official Apple product, too.