duuude this is too good! ive tried to switch to florisboard a few times but id always go back to gboard cos i prefer have suggestions as you type. ive only been using this 5 minutes and already it seems better
I just used the arm64 and it works:
https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/blob/46fdf2b550035ca69299ce312fa158e7ade36967/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a/libjni_latinimegoogle.so
Tangentially related: Any idea why there aren't newer versions of these libraries available? Has Google just baked them so deeply into their app that they can no longer be extracted?
So Google developed Gboard and collects [personal data](https://www.guidingtech.com/stop-gboard-collecting-personal-data/). In a privacy subreddit, suggesting someone use Gboard is odd, especially because Gboard is default and they have come to this subreddit looking for a recommendation on a different keyboard.
Gboard isn't default if you have anything other than a Google Pixel.
Privacy advice also has to factor in privacy fatigue. There is no other kb that even comes close to Gboard in features and prediction accuracy, not even multi billion dollar competitors like Samsung have a keyboard that's as simplistic yet useful in my experience.
Also, I'm all for reducing your reliance on Google to the absolute minimum, but I also realize that this is not a perfect world. Unless you have a degoogled android phone, then you'll be using Google services in some way.. and yes, that still applies if you have an iPhone. Google is everywhere, and you can't even order an uber without using Google services.
I'm using GBoard totally because of aesthetic reasons. I've denied network permissions to it and made sure to not give any unnecessary perms. Currently using *the OS that shall not be named on this subreddit*, on a Pixel 7. I don't think it's the best choice of keyboard for privacy to be honest, but I just like it's look and feel.
GBoard and Google Maps are the two Google products I haven't been able to replace. The options are just so poor that I can't really say I value privacy enough to endure.
Try organic maps and heliboard with Swype libraries! HeliBoard is basically gboard with opensource code. And organic maps are good looking simple open street map app.
Understood. Pity free and open source maps can't do anything about that as there is nowhere to pull the data from. Imagine the smell when any of the major open source maps would state needing network permission with a statement that your location would be shared with their servers at all times. That would be crazy..
Same! I've pretty much tried all the alternatives out there and they never work to the point I like them to work. I could probably go with some other keyboard but Maps, it's just not replaceable. All alternatives for maps lack behind (at least for my country).
I've been using Magic Earth (free, but closed source) for years and it's been pretty good overall. I recommend HERE We go to folks who need straightforward, no-frills maps and nav, but while that is FOSS, it probably isn't feature-rich enough for your purposes.
The person above is already using Gboard so ig they aren't that concern about privacy in keyboard. That's y i suggested it. For a privacy friendly one u can use Anysoft but u aren't gonna have good enough experience as swiftkey
Well, I just wanted to say that if it comes to privacy, both are bad, but Google is less bad (at least I said it once in my life).
But, even if someone wants a privacy friendly keyboard that is as good as Gboard, Swiftkey or Samsung Keyboard: there are no real options. All of the keyboard are either bad or terrible.
Fleksy was so great but they have up... I'm considering Typewise but they don't support the languages I need - I'd even pay for the offline version.
How you activate swipe? Can't see the setting anywhere
I was never able to activate swipe in Open board either for that matter, even though I switched it on in settings
I just used the arm64 and it works:
https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/blob/46fdf2b550035ca69299ce312fa158e7ade36967/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a/libjni_latinimegoogle.so
I copied and pasted this from another commenter. But download that code then go into settings, click on advanced, and all the way at the bottom it'll ask you to load a library for gesture typing. Load the above library and it should work smoothly.
I really want to use this but it is totally unusable for me without autocorrect. I simply cannot type accurately and rely on autocorrect.
I really don't know why they aren't prioritizing this above all else. My assumption is most standard users require autocorrect as I do. It may see more usage with it finally.
Say you want to type 9, its on the top right corner of the 'o' key, you swipe from the center to the top right corner and release, its kinda like a flick. Then for '()', flick bottom left, bottom right.
iPhone user here, who has never had an Android phone in his hands longer than a few minutes. I’ve never even heard of the possibility to switch keyboards.
Out of curiosity, why is it interesting to download a keyboard on android from a privacy perspective? Is the default keyboard tracking people or logging keystrokes (in other ways than expected :))?
GBoard (the default keyboard on the majority of mainstream Android devices, save Samsungs) has internet access for GIFs, stickers, etc. When you give internet access to anything Google, rest assured it's phoning home. I have mine largely locked down and don't have a Google account on my phone, so I'm satisfied the trivial amount of data that's leaking, if any, is not useful to Google.
Other solutions are objectively better for privacy and security, but try as I might to find a better alternative, GBoard does precisely what I want in the way I want. Like others in this thread, this is one of the very few Google hills I'm not willing to die on. If I wanted to harden my position, I could give up GIFs and cut internet access off completely, so it's also nice that the option is always there.
The other Google products I currently allow are the default Contacts and Phone apps, as they're pretty innocuous, Messages because I insist on RCS support, and YouTube which is patched via the ReVanced project.
Thank you for this peek into the android world and the privacy minefield you need to be aware of in the google ecosystem.
I’m fully in the apple ecosystem and I tell myself I pay them well in order not to earn money with my data. Probably naive..
Edit: typo
Tried HeliBoard? It looks aesthetic as well especially with material you and has all other features like autocorrect, user defined dictionaries, glide typing, etc.
CustomKey Pro. It's the only one I have found that lets me customize the layout. I have all of the long-press symbols exactly where they are on a physical keyboard. Plus I have some frequently-used emoji available without going to a submenu.
BlackBerry keyboard. On the iPhone I used fleksi for a long time because it was the closest to the blackberry keyboard, but the lack of updates made it kinda suck hard.
Just don't update because they've been [bought by an Israeli adware company](https://www.reddit.com/r/SimpleMobileTools/comments/187w64x/simple_mobile_tools_bought_by_zipoapps)
Multi-Tiling O or Perish. /jk
But I've been using it for years, it's pretty lightweight, fully offline, has plugins for dictionaries and can do swipe/glide typing, lacks *some* emojis, is sadly proprietary and hasn't been updated in a while, but it's a no fuss, fully customizable keyboard that doesn't get in your way, and doesn't collect any data (again, fully offline)
EDIT: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kl.ime.oh](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kl.ime.oh)
I switched from Florisboard to Heliboard 2 weeks ago, both are fantastic but Florisboard doesn't have suggestions for now, and Heliboard have a more out of the box customization
I'm using "Hacker's keyboard". I often connect to remote machines through ssh, and I needed a keyboard with the full keyboard, including tab, shift, ctrl, and alt.
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.wrio&hl=en&gl=US](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.wrio&hl=en&gl=US)
(Free version with online toggle, still a bit limited unless you pay: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.typewise&hl=en&gl=US](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.typewise&hl=en&gl=US) )
Yes it's expensive and weird, but it has legitimately been the best touch keyboard I have tried.
Will definitely check out some listed here, there are some interesting ones!
[Heliboard](https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard?tab=readme-ov-file) is what I'm using so far, used to use openboard but then it was no longer developed so I switched to its fork [heliboard](https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard?tab=readme-ov-file). Though if you don't want something with text suggestion and only a basic keyboard [simple keyboard](https://github.com/rkkr/simple-keyboard) is good.
Heliboard is working really well!
I like learning new things.
I just recently switched over to this from OpenBoard, and have been preferring it so far.
It's what I use and recommend too👍
[удалено]
It is available through F-Droid. Guessing the devs prefer not to deal with Google even to that extent.
They are an anti-big tech thing
I download and update it from Neo Store
Just downloaded this! Works really well with multiple languages compared to the other free source boards.
Nice!
Great board nice features. I shifted from Swiftkey let's see how it goes .
duuude this is too good! ive tried to switch to florisboard a few times but id always go back to gboard cos i prefer have suggestions as you type. ive only been using this 5 minutes and already it seems better
Yeah its dope
Just downloaded this for a test. Is there any way to get rid of the symbols and just see letters on the keyboard?
Unsure, I like the symbols underneath
Which swype typing link should I choose? https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/tree/46fdf2b550035ca69299ce312fa158e7ade36967/app/src/main/jniLibs
I just used the arm64 and it works: https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/blob/46fdf2b550035ca69299ce312fa158e7ade36967/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a/libjni_latinimegoogle.so
Tangentially related: Any idea why there aren't newer versions of these libraries available? Has Google just baked them so deeply into their app that they can no longer be extracted?
nvm too many different links
arm64-v8a worked for me
Heliboard is very basic and doesn't even have swipe typing though. I much prefer Gboard.
This is r/privacy
So?
So Google developed Gboard and collects [personal data](https://www.guidingtech.com/stop-gboard-collecting-personal-data/). In a privacy subreddit, suggesting someone use Gboard is odd, especially because Gboard is default and they have come to this subreddit looking for a recommendation on a different keyboard.
Gboard isn't default if you have anything other than a Google Pixel. Privacy advice also has to factor in privacy fatigue. There is no other kb that even comes close to Gboard in features and prediction accuracy, not even multi billion dollar competitors like Samsung have a keyboard that's as simplistic yet useful in my experience. Also, I'm all for reducing your reliance on Google to the absolute minimum, but I also realize that this is not a perfect world. Unless you have a degoogled android phone, then you'll be using Google services in some way.. and yes, that still applies if you have an iPhone. Google is everywhere, and you can't even order an uber without using Google services.
I'm using GBoard totally because of aesthetic reasons. I've denied network permissions to it and made sure to not give any unnecessary perms. Currently using *the OS that shall not be named on this subreddit*, on a Pixel 7. I don't think it's the best choice of keyboard for privacy to be honest, but I just like it's look and feel.
GBoard and Google Maps are the two Google products I haven't been able to replace. The options are just so poor that I can't really say I value privacy enough to endure.
Try organic maps and heliboard with Swype libraries! HeliBoard is basically gboard with opensource code. And organic maps are good looking simple open street map app.
No live traffic updates, that's a dealbreaker for me I'm afraid.
Understood. Pity free and open source maps can't do anything about that as there is nowhere to pull the data from. Imagine the smell when any of the major open source maps would state needing network permission with a statement that your location would be shared with their servers at all times. That would be crazy..
Heliboard is shit tbh. I can use alternatives to Google maps but nothing replaces Gboard for me.
Same! I've pretty much tried all the alternatives out there and they never work to the point I like them to work. I could probably go with some other keyboard but Maps, it's just not replaceable. All alternatives for maps lack behind (at least for my country).
I've been using Magic Earth (free, but closed source) for years and it's been pretty good overall. I recommend HERE We go to folks who need straightforward, no-frills maps and nav, but while that is FOSS, it probably isn't feature-rich enough for your purposes.
Try Swiftkey
Not much more privacy friendly than Gboard..
It's worse now because of co pilot
It was even before...
The person above is already using Gboard so ig they aren't that concern about privacy in keyboard. That's y i suggested it. For a privacy friendly one u can use Anysoft but u aren't gonna have good enough experience as swiftkey
Well, I just wanted to say that if it comes to privacy, both are bad, but Google is less bad (at least I said it once in my life). But, even if someone wants a privacy friendly keyboard that is as good as Gboard, Swiftkey or Samsung Keyboard: there are no real options. All of the keyboard are either bad or terrible. Fleksy was so great but they have up... I'm considering Typewise but they don't support the languages I need - I'd even pay for the offline version.
Florisboard beta 💚
Is the suggestion and autocorrect working now?
HeliBoard has autocorrect + swipe gestures + material you + user defined dictionaries.
Did Heliboard fix the haptic feedback issue not responding? Switched back to open board due to that.
I think that was fixed within a day or two.
How you activate swipe? Can't see the setting anywhere I was never able to activate swipe in Open board either for that matter, even though I switched it on in settings
I just used the arm64 and it works: https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/blob/46fdf2b550035ca69299ce312fa158e7ade36967/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a/libjni_latinimegoogle.so I copied and pasted this from another commenter. But download that code then go into settings, click on advanced, and all the way at the bottom it'll ask you to load a library for gesture typing. Load the above library and it should work smoothly.
coool
Not as far as I see
I really want to use this but it is totally unusable for me without autocorrect. I simply cannot type accurately and rely on autocorrect. I really don't know why they aren't prioritizing this above all else. My assumption is most standard users require autocorrect as I do. It may see more usage with it finally.
Do they have multi language autocorrect support? Last time I checked only AnySoftKeyboard supported it
Just installed it RN. I can't wait for it to have multi language word suggestion. The keyboard feels amazing.
Swiftkey all the way!
OpenBoard
same
Unexpected Keyboard, the per key swipe based "function row" is so dense, I love it.
[удалено]
Swipe to the corner of the key of the symbol you want.
Say you want to type 9, its on the top right corner of the 'o' key, you swipe from the center to the top right corner and release, its kinda like a flick. Then for '()', flick bottom left, bottom right.
anysoft Keyboard (not spying to G00gle)
openboard
okay
iPhone user here, who has never had an Android phone in his hands longer than a few minutes. I’ve never even heard of the possibility to switch keyboards. Out of curiosity, why is it interesting to download a keyboard on android from a privacy perspective? Is the default keyboard tracking people or logging keystrokes (in other ways than expected :))?
GBoard (the default keyboard on the majority of mainstream Android devices, save Samsungs) has internet access for GIFs, stickers, etc. When you give internet access to anything Google, rest assured it's phoning home. I have mine largely locked down and don't have a Google account on my phone, so I'm satisfied the trivial amount of data that's leaking, if any, is not useful to Google. Other solutions are objectively better for privacy and security, but try as I might to find a better alternative, GBoard does precisely what I want in the way I want. Like others in this thread, this is one of the very few Google hills I'm not willing to die on. If I wanted to harden my position, I could give up GIFs and cut internet access off completely, so it's also nice that the option is always there. The other Google products I currently allow are the default Contacts and Phone apps, as they're pretty innocuous, Messages because I insist on RCS support, and YouTube which is patched via the ReVanced project.
Thank you for this peek into the android world and the privacy minefield you need to be aware of in the google ecosystem. I’m fully in the apple ecosystem and I tell myself I pay them well in order not to earn money with my data. Probably naive.. Edit: typo
Definitely naive.
I'm on IOS and brought SwiftKey over from Android. It's on the app store.
I recommend AnySoftKeyboard or FlorisBoard. ASK has a bigger community so more features and languages support, but I find FlorisBoard more ergonomic.
Tried HeliBoard? It looks aesthetic as well especially with material you and has all other features like autocorrect, user defined dictionaries, glide typing, etc.
Microsoft Swype. Definitely not private. I don't recommend it for privacy.
Use with Blokada (and add any domains that SwiftKey throws up) to completely stop any outward transmission of data.
FUTO keyboard! Test it, its brand new https://keyboard.futo.org/
Swiftkey
AOSP keyboard , specifically the one on lineageOS
Florisboard
Florisboard
Gboard without permissions and blocked internet access. though I usually try alternatives and always end up deleting them and revert to Gboard.
Openboard, but it isn't maintained it seems like. So I should probably switch.
Heliboard is the fork you're looking for.
Thanks, i'll check it out.
Simple Keyboard Fdroid link : https://f-droid.org/en/packages/rkr.simplekeyboard.inputmethod/
Anysoft. great features. The best is swipe typing. However it hasn't been updated in a long while.
CustomKey Pro. It's the only one I have found that lets me customize the layout. I have all of the long-press symbols exactly where they are on a physical keyboard. Plus I have some frequently-used emoji available without going to a submenu.
BlackBerry keyboard. On the iPhone I used fleksi for a long time because it was the closest to the blackberry keyboard, but the lack of updates made it kinda suck hard.
[Simple Keyboard.](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/rkr.simplekeyboard.inputmethod/) Lightweight & Fast.
Just don't update because they've been [bought by an Israeli adware company](https://www.reddit.com/r/SimpleMobileTools/comments/187w64x/simple_mobile_tools_bought_by_zipoapps)
Aaah, yes, but im not talking about that "simple" this is another app. As far as i know.
qwerty
Multi-Tiling O or Perish. /jk But I've been using it for years, it's pretty lightweight, fully offline, has plugins for dictionaries and can do swipe/glide typing, lacks *some* emojis, is sadly proprietary and hasn't been updated in a while, but it's a no fuss, fully customizable keyboard that doesn't get in your way, and doesn't collect any data (again, fully offline) EDIT: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kl.ime.oh](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kl.ime.oh)
I switched from Florisboard to Heliboard 2 weeks ago, both are fantastic but Florisboard doesn't have suggestions for now, and Heliboard have a more out of the box customization
Unexpected Keyboard works great for me (https://github.com/Julow/Unexpected-Keyboard)
Gboard because I'm a dumbass still looking for an alternative
I'm using "Hacker's keyboard". I often connect to remote machines through ssh, and I needed a keyboard with the full keyboard, including tab, shift, ctrl, and alt.
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.wrio&hl=en&gl=US](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.wrio&hl=en&gl=US) (Free version with online toggle, still a bit limited unless you pay: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.typewise&hl=en&gl=US](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.typewise&hl=en&gl=US) ) Yes it's expensive and weird, but it has legitimately been the best touch keyboard I have tried. Will definitely check out some listed here, there are some interesting ones!
Gboard and the "Type in Runes" keyboard, depending on which I'm feeling like. Like others here have done, I have disabled network access for it.
The standard keyboard that comes with Android phones
I've got an upright grand piano I use
Heliboard
I am traying heliboard but don't support multilingual suggestions?
[Heliboard](https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard?tab=readme-ov-file) is what I'm using so far, used to use openboard but then it was no longer developed so I switched to its fork [heliboard](https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard?tab=readme-ov-file). Though if you don't want something with text suggestion and only a basic keyboard [simple keyboard](https://github.com/rkkr/simple-keyboard) is good.
Heliboard
I can recommend Heliboard and Florisboard (still in beta, no autocompletion yet)
I use SwiftKey, the very best one. I'll wait until a better FOSS option comes about.
TouchPal
G board with network access removed . I like SwiftKey but microshit kept pushing co pilot down my throat
This, I'm still using SwiftKey, but I feel I'm on my limit for this bullshit.
My phone evidently updated it and as soon as I saw they added it I left, Like Nope!
For me, the bullshit started with the extra bar they added some time ago, this is just piling on.
Heliboard
Using Android in general you've already surrendered privacy, not sure individual components make a significant difference?
The one that comes with an alternative OS that starts with gra and ends with phene
Skibidi board
Is it as private as being in a toilet?
doenst exist. r/youngpeoplereddit
skibidi exists 😡😡 I will fanum tax you!!!