List of Third-Party Keyboards Now Available for iOS 8 Users

[neuropsychguy]

Got Swype. Its gestures work on the iPad. It's probably not faster than typing two handed but it works great if you are trying to type one-handed.

 

[iBlazed]

Wait, so can these keyboards be made system-wide or do you have to use the separate apps? I downloaded the swiftkey app but it didn't install the keyboard.

Yeah I'm not seeing where to download the keyboard itself. When I click the links in the OP I can see them on the app store from my Mac, but I can't find them on the iPhone.

 

[Yakibomb]

Someone helppppppp. Which is better. Swift key or swype?

I'm busy drawing up a pros and cons list for the two
I'll probably give Swiftkey a try right off the bat, and wait and see if Swype is worth my $0.99

 

[Joe HS]

I wish there was a keyboard just like the standard one but a little shorter to give more room for content – making the display feel less cluttered.

 

[spectrumfox]

Are the dedicated cut and paste buttons we saw at the keynote not available for iPad Airs? Is it an iPhone 6 exclusive?

Looks like iPhone 6 Plus only, which is weird Apple would intentionally limit a feature to force you to buy another product.

 

[atmc]

Very disappointing that Swiftkey is not supporting swipe on iPad. Is that a feature or a bug?

Also something else I noticed is that you can't use Swiftkey (and likely other third party keyboards) in the quick reply function to SMS

I can use SwiftKey on quick reply from both the lock screen or a swipe-down from a notification.

 

[philosopherdog]

Just learn to type

Lots if gimmicks. Textexpander looks useful.

 

[6836838]

swiftkey only works if you send them your keystrokes. No thanks!!! And it's asking for Facebook signup.

 

[macaron95]

by tweaking the link i was finally able to download Swype on the French iTunes store

so happy to have Swype finally

 

[theBostonian]

Looks like iPhone 6 Plus only, which is weird Apple would intentionally limit a feature to force you to buy another product.

I am speechless.

 

[n-evo]

Really really really excited for Swype! Until I saw it doesn't support Dutch.

...Aaaaand same goes for the new predictive keyboard build into iOS 8.

Great.

 

[Joe HS]

Dvorak is SO much faster than the QWERTY layout. Are there any available for OS 8?

iOS has always had a DVORAK keyboard you can enable in settings.

Edit: Perhaps not, iOS 8 GM at least only has QWERTY, AZERTY and QUERTZ options for UK and US English.

 

[CoriG]

In the keyboard settings. Settings->General->Keyboard->(Swiftkey or whatever the keyboard is)->Toggle allow full access

thank you!

 

[aloshka]

Such an exciting time to be in the Apple's eco system. Cultured code things got updated too!! friggin awesome!

 

[TheBuffather]

I was SO excited for SwiftKey / Swype, but I didn't realize that the third-party keyboards don't support Siri's dictation (maybe they're not allowed to; not sure). For me, that's a deal breaker. I don't care how cool or fast it is typing on one of these keyboards, nothing beats the speed of voice dictation for me.

 

[noiseordinance]

Well, that and bigger screens, keyboard suggestions, notification center, control center, responding to notifications directly, inter-app communication, browser sync, backing up photos to cloud, privacy/do not disturb, widgets, "Ok Google" / "Hey Siri", and a bunch of other things Apple "borrowed" from Google and Samsung to include in iOS 7 and iOS 8.

I don't care who borrowed what from whom. Android has terrible implementation of most of those features you mentioned. I've used five different Android phones extensively, starting from the G1 to the S3, but switched when my wife bought me an iPhone 5. I cried at first, for like 5 minutes. But now I can confidently say there's not a single reason to go back whatsoever.

 

[brdeveloper]

I prefer Google's AOSP keyboard. I think it's faster than Swype and Swiftkey, although it's prediction is not as nice, but good enough.

 

[spectrumfox]

I don't care who borrowed what from whom. Android has terrible implementation of most of those features you mentioned. I've used five different Android phones extensively, starting from the G1 to the S3, but switched when my wife bought me an iPhone 5. I cried at first, for like 5 minutes. But now I can confidently say there's not a single reason to go back whatsoever.

Their implementation of those features is subjective. You can say here that they were terrible (they all actually worked very well after years of execution), but that's just an opinion.

Obviously you're entitled to your own opinion, just don't act like third-party keyboards was the only good thing Android had going for it. It makes you look uninformed.

 

[aggiesrwe03]

Yeah I'm not seeing where to download the keyboard itself. When I click the links in the OP I can see them on the app store from my Mac, but I can't find them on the iPhone.

Go into settings and add the keyboard. Settings>general> keyboards > add keyboard> select the new keyboard it will be listed under "third party keyboards". If you downloaded the app, it's there

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Swype not working for me, when I add the keyboard and try and switch to it the entire keyboard dock disappears and does not come back until I disable swype in settings. Anyone else having this issue?

 

[junebug1]

Go into settings and add the keyboard. Settings>general> keyboards > add keyboard> select the new keyboard it will be listed under "third party keyboards". If you downloaded the app, it's there

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Swype not working for me, when I add the keyboard and try and switch to it the entire keyboard dock disappears and does not come back until I disable swype in settings. Anyone else having this issue?

I am having that issue as well as a few others.

Check this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1781149/

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

I guess the free app I dpwnloaded is not the actual swift key one for iOS8. I am not seeing the new apps on the AppStore yet.

 

[noiseordinance]

Their implementation of those features is subjective. You can say here that they were terrible (they all actually worked very well after years of execution), but that's just an opinion.

Obviously you're entitled to your own opinion, just don't act like third-party keyboards was the only good thing Android had going for it. It makes you look uninformed.

Whew, thanks for giving me permission to have freedom of opinion! I'm so relieved that I don't need to list citations for my opinions. And thanks for informing me about the wonders of Android... you're right, it really is a great phone platform!

 

[kmj2318]

I'm liking TouchPal better than Swift Key

 

[stridemat]

TextExpander updated today but DID NOT include the keyboard update.

EDIT: Nevermind. It did update, but it seems to be a paid upgrade.

Before I download, do you know if it syncs with snippets that I have saved in Dropbox?

How is the performance?

 

[Mosi]

I was SO excited for SwiftKey / Swype, but I didn't realize that the third-party keyboards don't support Siri's dictation (maybe they're not allowed to; not sure). For me, that's a deal breaker. I don't care how cool or fast it is typing on one of these keyboards, nothing beats the speed of voice dictation for me.

I didn't even notice that initially. That is terrible. I don't use dictation very often but I at least want the option. That is really unfortunate. Wonder if anyone has any insight on whether Apple is restricting this ability?