The top iPhone keyboards may enhance the usability of your iPhone by making typing more efficient and straightforward. Which is the better option for you—physical keyboards or virtual keyboard apps? For multilingual users who want a keyboard that supports various languages and unique characters, virtual keyboards are highly customizable, adaptive, and user-friendly.
For those like myself who want to utilize their phones as content production tools and integrate their keyboards into their workstation arrangement, physical keyboards are a good option. I usually choose for colorful, eye-catching keyboards with unique designs and entertaining functions. Our list includes keyboards for every budget, from a physical device that you can connect into your phone to a digital one that allows you to quickly check your grammar.
The most well-liked iPhone keyboards available have all been gathered and arranged for you in this helpful guide. We've considered the advantages and special features of each digital product as well as the comfort, portability, and design of the physical choices.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At SmartRead, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Best iPhone keyboards in 2024:
2.
Gboard – best virtual keyboard
Logitech K380
Best iPhone keyboard overall
Logitech K380 specifications:
Reasons to buy
- Beautiful color options
- Full-size keys
- Portable
Reasons to avoid
- Not a mechanical keyboard
- No touchpad or mouse
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
Gboard
The best virtual iPhone keyboard.
Reasons to buy
- Customizable themes
- Integrated Google search
Reasons to avoid
- Only available on newer iPhones
- Not the strongest predictive text
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, with fantastic customization options and a 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, making plans via text infinitely easier. 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.
Swiftkey
Best autocorrect on an iPhone keyboard
Reasons to buy
- Super smart predictive text
- Emoji prediction
Reasons to avoid
- Customization costs extra
- Slow response time
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 keyboard
Best iPhone keyboard app for correct grammar
Grammarly keyboard specifications:
Reasons to buy
- Corrects grammar and spelling
- Offers more confident or concise sentence structure
Reasons to avoid
- No fun themes
- Only supports English
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 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.
Typewise
Best hexagonal iPhone keyboard
Reasons to buy
- More screen space
- Plenty of keyboard themes
Reasons to avoid
- Learning curve
- In-App purchases
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.
Phraseboard
Best iPhone keyboard to save time
Phraseboard specifications:
Reasons to buy
- Stores custom phrases
- Funky font options
- Fun colors and themes
Reasons to avoid
- Not free
- Plus requires a subscription
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.
Arteck Universal
Best iPhone keyboard with a stand
Arteck Universal specifications:
Reasons to buy
- Stand built-in
- Full-size keyboard
Reasons to avoid
- Quite large for transporting
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.
Apple Magic keyboard
Best official iPhone keyboard
Apple Magic keyboard specifications:
Reasons to buy
- Official Apple product
- Multiple language options
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.
Samsers Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard
Best compact keyboard
Samsers Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard specifications:
Reasons to buy
- Ultra compact
- Easy to use and setup
If you’re looking for an iPhone keyboard that’s super compact, then this folding keyboard – which comes in multiple colorways – could be a great option. It has over 3500 five-star reviews on Amazon from impressed iPhone users, and is both easy-to-use and setup.
For anyone who likes to work on the go, this is the ideal keyboard as it’s small enough to easily stash in your pocket. It also comes with a free stand that works for both an iPhone and an iPad, and has a rechargeable battery with up to 40 days of battery life per charge.
How the greatest iPhone keyboards were put to the test
In order to provide you a variety of choices, we investigated the reasons for the popularity of our highlighted keyboards by testing various features. Since digital keyboards serve distinct purposes, we couldn't compare them to one another.
To determine which alternative keyboards are worthwhile adding to your iPhone's collection, we examined pricing, customization choices, ergonomics and usability, and unique selling features for digital keyboard alternatives. Considering the anticipated user population, we prioritize quality and mobility while selecting physical keyboards.
You probably type a lot if you're looking for a physical keyboard to sync with your iPhone. You want a keyboard that will hold up to extended typing sessions, whether you're working on emails, class notes, or your next book at a coffee shop or while riding the train. We thus tested various keyboards, considering their performance throughout the day. We put them to the test in terms of ease of usage, loudness of the keys, and simplicity of pairing.
That concludes our ranking of the top iPhone keyboards. Check out our article on the best gaming iPhone if you would rather play games on your iPhone than type on it. We have also addressed the long-standing debate between Samsung and iPhone .To assist you in selecting the ideal new phone, see and iPhone vs. Android.
FAQs: iPhone Keyboard
How to use an iPhone keyboard
Most iPhone keyboards are simple to use and configure. You just need to follow the instructions that come with the physical keyboard to connect it with your iPhone after making sure that Bluetooth is turned on.The first step in using a virtual keyboard is to download the desired virtual keyboard from the app store.After that, you must go to .All of the keyboard applications you've downloaded should be visible under Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. You should be able to view every keyboard you have access to by scrolling to the bottom and selecting the "Add New Keyboard" option. Next, choose the desired keyboard by clicking on it from the list of "Third Party Keyboards." After that, you'll have to go back to the previous page and choose "Allow Full Access" by clicking on your preferred keyboard.Do you really need an iPhone keyboard? Purchasing a Bluetooth keyboard that works with your iPhone might be a smart choice if you're the sort of person who would rather type on a physical keyboard than the one integrated into your device. If you choose a physical keyboard, you'll have the advantage of improved accuracy and comfort while typing for longer amounts of time. Additionally, you'll have more screen real estate, which may help you see what you're doing. The drawback is that you will need to take an actual keyboard with you.