Originally written by Amit Kumar, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published February 16, 2019. Updated October 24, 2026.
The best keyboard apps for Android are Gboard for most people, Microsoft SwiftKey if you want strong predictions, and Samsung Keyboard if you own a Galaxy phone. Grammarly is great for writing in English, while Typewise and FUTO Keyboard are good picks if privacy matters most to you.
When this post first went up in 2019, it listed Fleksy, Chrooma and TouchPal. Those apps are no longer on the Google Play Store, so I’ve rebuilt the list with keyboards you can still get today.
Key points
- Gboard comes preinstalled on most Android phones and covers almost everything.
- Microsoft SwiftKey learns how you type and is free on Google Play.
- Samsung Keyboard is built into Galaxy phones and can’t be downloaded from the Play Store.
- FUTO Keyboard and Typewise work without sending what you type to the cloud.
- You can switch keyboards any time in Settings without losing your old one.
Which keyboard apps are the best on Android?
These six are the ones I’d look at first. They’re all free to start with, still updated, and available from official sources.
| Keyboard | Best for | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Gboard | Most people | Google Play |
| Microsoft SwiftKey | Predictions and themes | Google Play |
| Samsung Keyboard | Galaxy phones | Built in |
| Grammarly Keyboard | Grammar and tone | Google Play |
| Typewise | Fewer typos, privacy | Google Play |
| FUTO Keyboard | Offline typing and voice | FUTO website |
1. Gboard
Gboard is Google’s own keyboard and the default on Pixel phones and many other Android phones. You get glide typing, voice typing, a clipboard, emoji and GIF search, Google Translate inside the keyboard and lots of themes. If you’re not sure which keyboard to use, start here.
Get Gboard on Google Play. Google explains its features on the Gboard help center.
2. Microsoft SwiftKey
SwiftKey learns the words and phrases you use and gets better at predicting your next word over time. It supports typing in more than one language at once, has a clipboard, lots of themes, and lets you swipe to type. Microsoft owns it now and keeps it free.
Get Microsoft SwiftKey on Google Play. Setup help is on the SwiftKey support page.
3. Samsung Keyboard
If you have a Galaxy phone, Samsung Keyboard is already installed and works well with One UI features like the clipboard, text correction and the Samsung emoji set. You can change the layout, size and theme under Settings > General management > Samsung Keyboard settings.
It isn’t on the Play Store. It updates through the Galaxy Store and system updates.
4. Grammarly Keyboard
Grammarly checks your spelling, grammar and tone as you type, in any app. It’s useful if you write a lot of emails or messages in English. The free version catches most mistakes, and the paid plan adds rewrites and style suggestions.
Get Grammarly Keyboard on Google Play.
5. Typewise
Typewise uses a honeycomb layout with bigger keys, which helps cut down on typos. Swipe gestures handle delete, undo and caps. It’s built around privacy, and its autocorrect runs on your phone instead of in the cloud.
6. FUTO Keyboard
FUTO Keyboard is a newer keyboard with offline voice typing and swipe typing, and it works without sending your typing to a server. Get it from the official FUTO Keyboard site. Only install it from that page.
How do I change the default keyboard on Android?
Install the new keyboard, then open Settings and set it as your on-screen keyboard. On Pixel and most phones it’s under Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard. On Samsung phones, go to Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default.
- Install the keyboard and open it once.
- Follow its setup steps to turn it on.
- Open Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard.
- Tap Manage on-screen keyboards and turn on the new one.
- Open any text field, tap the keyboard icon at the bottom and pick the new keyboard.
Your old keyboard stays on the phone, so you can switch back any time.
Frequently asked questions
Are third-party keyboards safe?
The big names on this list are safe to use. Android warns that a keyboard can collect what you type, so avoid unknown keyboard apps, and never install one from a random APK site.
Which keyboard is best for Samsung phones?
Samsung Keyboard works best with One UI, but Gboard and SwiftKey both run well on Galaxy phones too. Try one for a week and see which you type faster on.
Can I use a keyboard without internet?
Yes. Typing works offline on all of these. FUTO Keyboard also does voice typing offline.
Related guides
- How to use custom fonts on Samsung Galaxy phones
- How to back up your Android phone without root
- How to downgrade an Android app without root
That’s it. Gboard is a safe default, but it’s worth trying one or two others since you use your keyboard all day.
If you want a recommendation for your phone, leave a comment with your model and what you type the most, and I’ll suggest one.
