this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2021
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What Android keyboard do you use? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Keyboards are probably one of the most sensitive apps on our phones, having access and handling practically everything we type. I've stopped using keyboards that require network access and started using only opensource apps a few years ago. What are your favorite, privacy-respecting android keyboards?

So far, I've found these alternatives:

  • AnySoftKeyboard. I've used ASK for years and I've always been very happy with it. Probably the autocorrect could use some improvement. It's definitely the most mature opensource keyboard out there, with the most features and configurations
  • OpenBoard. The one I'm using right now. Easy and fast to configure, quite good auto-correct
  • FlorisBoard. Haven't had the time to try it out extensively so I don't have any opinion about it
  • SimpleKeyboard. It offers the bare minimum one could ask from a keyboard but sometimes you don't actually need more than that
  • AOSP keyboard and LineageOS' fork, that is, the keyboards that come with some ROMs out of the box. They're probably what a lo of people use

These are the alternatives I've been considering. If you know about other opensource keyboards to extend this list, pleas let me know

Pros/cons of each one of the keyboards I've used, based on my usage and preferences:

AFK

  • + the copy/cut/paste tool that I could invoke by swiping up from the space bar
  • + configurable input shortcuts
  • + smaller extra top bar being (and configurable, not just with numbers)
  • + the ability to backup your settings, shortcuts and dictionaries
  • + plenty of themes
  • - maybe the settings are a bit too overwhelming

OpenBoard

  • + it's better at predicting words in my experience (maybe just placebo?)
  • + "drag to delete" gesture on the delete key
  • + configurable input shortcuts
  • + "swipe to move the cursor" gesture on the spacebar
  • - no select/copy/cut/paste tools

FlorisBoard

  • + theme editor
  • + select/copy/cut/paste tools (maybe hidden behind too many taps)
  • + ability to show the numpad using the "dialer layout" instead of having all the numbers on the same row
  • + "drag to delete" gesture on the delete key
  • + "swipe to move the cursor" gesture on the spacebar
  • + actively developed
  • - no autocorrections (yet)
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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

I rely on swipe, sadly this makes Gboard still the only real option for me.

Anysoft swipe is really bad in comparison. Also I'm not sure if the app is still maintained.

I had my hopes up for floris and still have. Their swipe actually works great but only in English and not much happens there for months now.

The lineage fork of AOSP Keyboard has swipe and while it works pretty good, the bad autocorrection destroys all the other good points of it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I use an OpenBoard fork which includes Google swipe typing.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The changes couldn't be upstreamed due to the relevant code coming from an unlicensed repository right?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

I believe so. Very few Foss keyboards have swipe gestures because it needs to be created from scratch.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Used gboard for the longest time and juat recently managed to move on to florisboard. It lacks some features but has enough other niceities on its own that are just enough to justify the move based on functionality

You can use my setup as a starting point if you want, it is a proper oled theme with no colors or bright surfaces, behavior very gboard-like. I use sayboard for stt (dictating). https://cloud.redjard.com/s/redjards-florisboard-setup_zip

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

I use Unexpected Keyboard, although it does not have autocorrect.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 years ago (1 children)

Definitely Florisboard, I've tried all of them and I wouldn't switch back to any of them, it has really goo aesthetics and you can customize its appearance even more (although this isn't finished yet and could be done better) and they are constantly updating it and from what I've seen they want to a add a lot of cool features like gliding writing, they already support some gestures and so on. Regarding language support they don't support a lot already but they generally ad a few with every update.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago (1 children)

It's stable enough to use everyday? I'm using OpenBoard but maybe I give it a try later.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 years ago (1 children)

Yeah, it works flawlessly, the only thing is that it doesn't have predictive text but maybe now it was added. My phone has been broken since the last 2 weeks or so.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 years ago

Okay, thank you!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago)

been using aosp keyboard tbh

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

I'm triyng florisboard, but I hate the lack of suggestions.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 years ago

I use OpenBoard because I had an easier time (than with ASK) setting up a usable Bépo layout on it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 years ago

I've tested ASK, SimpleBoard, and OpenBoard, and I'm currently using the latter. I've just installed FlorisBoard. Although it's in alpha stage, it seems to be pretty decent.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 years ago

By the way, I created this issue to have keyboard recommendations on Privacy Tools, if anyone is interested to chip in.

https://github.com/privacytools/privacytools.io/issues/2183

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

FlorisBoard. love it, coming from gboard

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

FlorisBoard

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

I'm using florisboard, though I think the project is dead, there hasn't been any activity in the github since last year

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Openboard

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

AnySoftKeyboard. cause i write in 3 languages and it's the most flexible and capable among the noninvasive alternatives

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Same here! Only thing i miss in ASK is cursor move on space swipe

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I'm using Typewise for the form of letters, gesture to capitalize/delete. Would be tempted to use an alternative, as I don't really know how friendly to data it is...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I use OpenBoard works fine for me. I tried FlorisBoard while ago, but my phone got heat up idk why.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Hey OP, how to use drag to delete feature for openboard?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

This is a 3 year old post

Lemmy's sorting algorithm does that quite often

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago)

I've only used AnySoftKeyboard, but I will definitely try these other ones out. Update: I have tried SimpleKeyboard, Openboard, and FlorisBoard and have now switched to the last option!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago (2 children)

AnySoftKeyboard is nerd friendly and feature rich. I recommend OpenBoard to those migrating from GBoard.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago

Yeah I like anysoft a lot

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 years ago (1 children)

AnySoft is pretty great! I especially like that it has the ability to swype. It may not be the best but it's the only open source keyboard I know that has that capability.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 years ago

Swipe typing never seemed to work well for me unfortunately, so I just tap type in old school fashion. I am happy with it, though. I hoped swipe typing worked :(

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 years ago

OpenBoard along with FlorisBoard some times. Once FlorisBoard gets suggestions support, I'll probably switch to it completely.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I use Florisboard with a custom M3-like theme. I believe I picked it as I liked it more at the time and haven't tried any others since.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Florisboard without a dubt, I've tryed many but none such feature rich and carefully developed

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

I'm following its development very closely. It's already the coolest one but I can't use it until the developer is done with the autocorrector

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Nothing better than Hacker's Keyboard.
Change my mind.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago

But if you want asian or other complex alphabet languages support, look elsewhere.
I personally use SwiftKey which came with my phone for that, but all other time it's hacker's keyboard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 years ago

I like Simple Keyboard the most. I never liked auto-completion and such, and its ability to swipe left/right on the spacebar to move the cursor, and swipe left on the delete-key to pre-select the text that's going to be deleted, are really nice. OpenBoard and FlorisBoard also have those, but neither feel as good to me as the implementation on Simple Keyboard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Florisboard, but switching to Samsung Keyboard in messaging apps.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 years ago

I have been using Microsoft Swiftkey for 5-6 years or so.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 4 years ago

I use the Yandex Keyboard because I like the typing flow. It's probably not secure but it's no nonsense like swift or Google have.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 4 years ago

I use Gboard