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Gboard vs Microsoft SwiftKey: keyboards and typing workflows?

By Official AppDuo editorial team · Updated

Gboard logoGboard7.5/10Free · FreeMicrosoft SwiftKey logoMicrosoft SwiftKey7.5/10Free · Free

Quick verdict

Gboard vs Microsoft SwiftKey: keyboards and typing workflows.

Gboard: Android users who want a free multilingual keyboard with glide typing and emoji, GIF and sticker search.

Microsoft SwiftKey: People who type mostly English or European languages and want predictions that adapt to them.

Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.

Head-to-head

Gboard leads on 2, Microsoft SwiftKey on 3, 4 even

FeatureGboardMicrosoft SwiftKey
Ads in the app[7],[13],[14]Free, no paid tier; the research notes no adsFree, but Google Play shows the app contains ads; App Store lists in-app purchases
→ Android users who dislike ads on their keyboard will find Gboard the better fit.
Languages active at once[1],[10],[16]iPhone/iPad: up to 3 languages at a timeAndroid: up to 5 languages; iPhone: up to 2
→ Gboard allows one more language on iPhone, while SwiftKey states a 5-language limit on Android, so the choice depends on your device.
Typing languages on iPhone[8],[15]iOS version supports 125 languages (per Wikipedia), Vietnamese among themThe iOS language list is shorter than on Android and lacks some languages, such as Vietnamese
→ iPhone users who type in less common languages should pick Gboard, since SwiftKey's iOS list lacks some of them.
iOS app updates[6],[17]Stuck at version 2.3.19 (2 May 2022), still the latest as of November 2026Removed from the App Store in October 2022; Microsoft reversed the decision on 18 November 2022
→ iPhone users who want a maintained keyboard should note that Gboard for iOS has had no new version since 2022.
AI writing tools[3],[10]Proofread, Rephrase and others only on supported Android phones, 9 languagesBuilt-in Copilot, AI tone rewriting and drafting
→ Anyone who wants AI drafting in the keyboard without being limited to certain phones will be better served by SwiftKey.
Built-in integrations[8],[10]Google Translate, Google Search, Emoji Kitchen; text-scan OCRMicrosoft Copilot, OneDrive, Bing, Windows cloud clipboard
→ The choice depends on whether you live in Google's or Microsoft's ecosystem.
Data sent to servers[5],[8],[11]Sends searches, voice input, usage stats; Kaspersky and Wired report device metadata and identifiers also sentWithout an account data stays on device; opt-in sync via your own OneDrive; 2016 sync incident
→ Privacy-minded users can keep data fully on-device with SwiftKey by not enabling sync.
User ratings[5],[7],[14]Google Play 4.5/5 (18,932,476); Vietnam App Store 4.3/5 (9,506)Google Play 4.3/5 (about 4.6M); US App Store 4.6/5 (122,087)
→ Gboard rates higher on Android and SwiftKey higher on iPhone, so check the score for your platform.
Devices beyond phones[8]Also runs on Wear OS, Android TV and Google TVNo public information found
→ Anyone wanting the same keyboard on a watch or TV should check carefully, as the research only documents this for Gboard.

Choose Gboard if…

  • Android users who want a free multilingual keyboard with glide typing and emoji, GIF and sticker search
  • People who switch languages often or want quick translation while typing

Choose Microsoft SwiftKey if…

  • People who type mostly English or European languages and want predictions that adapt to them
  • Users who want AI tone rewriting and drafting inside the keyboard

How the products differ

Gboard: Gboard suits Android users who want a free, multilingual keyboard with glide typing, voice typing and Google Translate built in. The trade-offs: newer AI features reach only some phones and languages, the iOS app has not been updated since May 2022, and independent analyses report device metadata being sent to Google.

Microsoft SwiftKey: SwiftKey suits people who want a keyboard that learns their typing, with swipe, themes and Copilot built in. The trade-offs: Google Play shows ads, sync relies on a Microsoft account and OneDrive, and the iPhone version allows only two languages at once and lacks some languages the Android version has (Vietnamese, for example).

Choose around your use case

Gboard: Fits Android users who want a free multilingual keyboard with glide typing and emoji, GIF and sticker search; People who switch languages often or want quick translation while typing. Strengths: Free on Android and iOS; Wikipedia lists 916 languages on Android (as of October 2019) and 125 on iOS; Glide typing, offline voice typing, Google Translate, text-scan OCR, clipboard, Emoji Kitchen, one-handed and floating modes.

Microsoft SwiftKey: Fits People who type mostly English or European languages and want predictions that adapt to them; Users who want AI tone rewriting and drafting inside the keyboard. Strengths: Strong ratings: 4.6/5 on the US App Store (122,087) and 4.3/5 on Google Play (about 4.6M reviews, 1B+ downloads); Learns your writing style, slang and emoji; swipe or tap typing; toolbar with clipboard, GIFs and translator.

Costs and limits to check

Gboard: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: The AI writing tools work only on a list of supported Android phones and in 9 languages.

Microsoft SwiftKey: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: Google Play shows ads; App Store reviewers mention a Bing toolbar button (the developer says it can be turned off in Settings). Prices retain the currency and billing units recorded in the source profiles; no currency conversion or plan equivalence is assumed. Check official prices, limits and terms before payment.

When to consider another option

Gboard is not aimed at: iPhone and iPad users who want an actively updated keyboard: the iOS app has had no new version since 2 May 2022; Privacy-first users who do not want a keyboard sending device metadata to Google.

Consider alternatives to Microsoft SwiftKey if you are: People who need to type several non-European languages on iPhone: the iOS language list lacks some languages found on Android (Vietnamese, for example), and Microsoft does not say whether Telex or VNI input is offered on Android; Anyone who dislikes ads or does not want a Microsoft account for syncing. Read these limitations alongside the feature table before deciding; a single strength cannot compensate for a missing requirement.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose Gboard or Microsoft SwiftKey?

Gboard vs Microsoft SwiftKey: keyboards and typing workflows. Gboard: Android users who want a free multilingual keyboard with glide typing and emoji, GIF and sticker search. Microsoft SwiftKey: People who type mostly English or European languages and want predictions that adapt to them. Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.

Does a higher score always mean a better fit?

No. Overall scores are editorial judgements across several criteria. Your task, allowance and existing ecosystem may matter more; the table separates those differences so you can decide.

Where do prices and limits come from?

From each product’s researched profile, with source links and check dates in the review. This comparison reuses that evidence; its compilation date does not mean every price was rechecked that day.

Sources

Numbers in the table refer to these sources, read on the dates shown.

  1. 1.Gboard Help: set up Gboard on iPhone and iPad · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  2. 2.Gboard Help: word suggestions and fixing mistakes · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  3. 3.Gboard Help: writing tools · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  4. 4.Gboard Help: advanced voice typing features · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  5. 5.App Store listing (Vietnam) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  6. 6.iTunes Lookup API (rating, version history, languages, description) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  7. 7.Google Play listing · store · Nov 10, 2026
  8. 8.Wikipedia: Gboard · Community-reported · Nov 10, 2026
  9. 9.9to5Google: Gboard 10 billion downloads (2025-02-26) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  10. 10.Official SwiftKey page (Microsoft) · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  11. 11.Microsoft support: SwiftKey and your data · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  12. 12.Microsoft support: Backup and sync with OneDrive · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  13. 13.Google Play listing · store · Nov 10, 2026
  14. 14.App Store listing (US) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  15. 15.Microsoft support: supported languages · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  16. 16.Microsoft support: using more than one language · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  17. 17.Wikipedia: SwiftKey · Community-reported · Nov 10, 2026

Prepared by the AppDuo Editorial Team from the sources cited in this article. AI assists with organising and cross-checking data; editorial responsibility remains with AppDuo.

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