Since iOS 8 came out, keyboard apps have been extremely popular. iOS users want another way to type stuff, and most of us have been jealous of our Android friends for years now. But, not anymore. Now, there are keyboard apps that make typing on any iOS device just as simple as swiping a finger.

If you haven’t upgraded yet, make sure to do that soon, and if you’re looking for a new keyboard app, here are the two most popular app, and how they compare to each other.

SwiftKey Keyboard: this is the one app that iOS users couldn’t wait to get their hands on for good reason. This app is easy to use, free to download, and makes life so much simpler when it comes to typing out text messages and other notes. Plus, SwiftKey easily learns your writing style, so that the app is completely intuitive. If you haven’t tried this one yet, download it to see how much of a difference it makes to the way that you type.

Swype Keyboard: here’s another app that once first debuted on Android. To type using this app, all you have to do is drag your fingers across keys in order to spell out words - simple and quick, though Swype does cost .99 to purchase.

There are other keyboards apps available for iOS 8, but Swype and SwiftKey are by far the most popular options.

A Quick Swype VS SwiftKey Comparison

Swype has a few bugs and kinks to work out, but this app is really simple to use. This app doesn’t rely on tapping, just swiping your fingers across keys. Swype isn’t quite as intuitive as SwiftKey when it comes to figuring out what you are going to say or what you want to say, but it’s nice not to tap at all.

SwiftKey, on the other hand, is kind of like Swype, but SwiftKey lets you tap and swipe in order to send a message. SwiftKey has also stated that the company’s word predictions give it a real advantage over what Swype has to offer. So, you’ll get some swiping, some tapping, and a lot of word suggestions from SwiftKey.

Which One to Choose

If you’re new to the keyboard options available on iOS 8, give SwiftKey a try simply because it’s free. If that doesn’t seem to be working for you, check out Swype. Both keyboard apps make typing easier for those with sore fingers or those that are just tired of tapping and typing. Now that keyboard apps like these are available on iOS, typing out a text or other note is a lot simpler - if only they could make these keyboards available with a desktop or laptop!

For now, though, you’ll have to select one of the keyboard apps available through iOS. There are other apps in addition to the two mentioned here, but these are by far the most popular options. If you have another keyboard app that you like to use with your iPhone or iPad, leave me a note below or on Facebook.