Some keyboard apps for Android are better for one-handed use, while others are fastest when typing with two thumbs. Most on-screen keyboards need you to look at the keys, but a few allow touch typing. Regardless of your needs, here are some keyboards for Android you should look into.

Fleksy: Officially the Fastest Keyboard

Despite not supporting glide typing, Fleksy is still one of the most popular, and officially the fastest keyboard.

  • World record speed of 88 words per minute.

  • Great text prediction.

  • Uses the QWERTY layout you already know.

  • Need to change to number mode for speech input.

  • Special characters poorly supported.

  • No glide typing.

MessagEase Keyboard: Great for One-Handed Typing

MessagEase is a totally different way of typing. The nine most frequently used letters in English get their own large key, while other letters and punctuation marks are accessed by sliding over one of these keys in one of eight directions.

  • Great for one-handed use.

  • Takes up less space on tablet screens.

  • Type without looking.

  • Macros for commonly used text.

  • Shortcuts to select, copy, and paste.

  • Great integration with Google’s speech recognition.

  • Takes quite a while to get up to speed.

It sounds complicated, but with a bit of practice using the built-in tutor, it quickly becomes instinctive. Some users report typing speeds of over 80 words per minute, although about 30 would be typical.

Gboard: Google’s Official Android Keyboard

Gboard is a simple standard QWERTY keyboard with good predictive typing and built-in speech recognition. If it’s not already installed on your device, you can download it from the play store.

  • Runs flawlessly in any app.

  • Often comes preinstalled.

  • Built-in speech recognition that really works.

  • Glide typing—get faster with the layout you know.

  • Hard to use one-handed.

  • No gliding between words.

  • No touch typing.

  • Special characters poorly supported.

SwiftKey: A Good Alternative to Gboard

Microsoft developed their own keyboard for Windows phones called Word Flow, which was perhaps the best keyboard app for touch typing. It still holds the record for blindfolded typing on a touch screen phone at 58 words per minute.

  • A good swyping alternative to Gboard.

  • Punctuation accessed more quickly.

  • Predictive text doesn’t aleays give you want you want.

Microsoft has now dropped Word Flow and bought SwftKey, although it doesn’t have the one-handed touch typing that Word Flow had.

Minuum: The Most Compact Keyboard for Android

Minumm compresses the QWERTY keyboard into a thin strip along the bottom of your screen, so if screen space is your most important feature, then this might be the keyboard for you.

  • Works with one thumb for one-handed use.

  • Works well with two thumbs for faster typing.

  • QWERTY-based, making it easier to learn.

  • Relies heavily on predictive text.

  • You might find you have to keep expanding it to a full-sized keyboard to type what you actually want.

  • Not the fastest, although users report 30 to 60 words per minute.

  • Definitely not suitable for touch typing.

When you do need to use Minumm, it relies on predictive text to work out which key you actually wanted to press, which can be hit and miss.

Grammarly: Built-in Grammar and Spell Check

If you depend on Grammarly to check your spelling and grammar, you might want to try this keyboard. Unfortunately, you can’t use Grammarly with other keyboards, as it’s not the fastest keyboard to type on. However, if you’re happy with a simple QWERTY keyboard and you don’t swipe, this might be perfect for you.

  • Check everything you write.

  • Sync’s with your Grammarly account.

  • Simple QWERTY keyboard.

  • No swiping.

  • Not the fastest keyboard.

  • Grammarly doesn’t work with other keyboards.

DOTKey: True Touch Typing on a Touchscreen

The most radically different approach to typing on a touch screen and perhaps the most ergonomic, Dotkey is designed to work with 3 fingers from one hand and doesn’t require on-screen buttons to be accurately selected.

  • True touch typing at over 65 words per minute.

  • The built-in tutor helps you learn the system.

  • Impossible to type one-handed unless on a tabletop.

  • Confuses regular touch typing.

  • Not as fast as other keyboards.

Instead, each finger can perform a number of gestures, such as a tap, a short swipe, or a long swipe. Multiple fingers can also perform these gestures at the same time. This system results in a much more ergonomic flexion and extension of each finger, rather than the repeated abduction and adduction required for thumb typing.

Ginger Keyboard

Ginger is a good keyboard if you use a lot of emojis, as it will gives you quick access to them all. Ginger also offers the standard grammar and spell check capabilities, as well as predictive text. However, it’s not the best keyboard you can get, and it can be distracting at times. If emoji and GIFs are not your priority, then there are better keyboards to choose from.

  • Lots of emojis, GIFs, and games.

  • Grammar and spell check capabilities.

  • Includes Swipe capabilitles.

  • Can be distracting.

  • Premium price is steep.

  • Themes are not great.

Chrooma

If you like to style your phone with different themes, then Chrooma may be the perfect way to keep your keyboard coordinated with your theme.

  • Colorful themes.

  • Changes color depending on the app you’re using.

  • Plenty of themes to choose from.

  • Occasional lag can make it very slow.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day