# Custom Keypad — user reviews

> 80 indexed App Store user reviews of Custom Keypad by Out of Web Site! LLC, rated 3.90/5 from 15 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/custom-keypad/id433683617/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/custom-keypad/id433683617.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 6 · 4★ 6 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 2

## Newest reviews (15 of 80)

### 4/5 — Great app, won’t connect to Mac anymore

*2023-11-12*

I’ve used this app for years but now with Mac Ventura or higher, it’ll connect but won’t accept keystrokes. My Mac just beeps as if it’s receiving an invalid character from the keyboard.

### 4/5 — Good App but Faders Controls are lacking..

*2020-07-22, version 3.0*

The app would be a perfect one if only it includes faders and wheel controls.  Then it would be an all rounder for Audio, Video, Light etc.  Please include at least one of them in next update.  Really looking forward to it.  Thank you..

### 3/5 — Missing a key feature.

*2019-03-24*

Don’t get me wrong. I love the app but it’s missing something huge. I use a program called autohotkey. It allows me to set certain shortcuts. Some shortcuts, even windows default ones, require you to hold down buttons while at the same time tap other buttons. Like hold down the alt key and while it’s held down, press the tab key 3 times back to back THEN release all keys.

They way to fix this is simple: allow users when setting input to set the input type from a list of 3 options: keydown, keyup, keydown&up. Keydown&up would be default as I think that’s what you have currently.

Also, I would like to use the touch screen capabilities on my iPad as touch screen capabilities for my pc. The reason, I want to use the feature to make my iPad a drawing tablet. I think your app can be repurposed to do that but not in its current build. The trackpad is not the way to go as it does not change mouse position on the start of touch. If my mouse is on the left of my screen and I touch the right of the trackpad, the mouse won’t won’t teleport to the right of the screen. This is how trackpads are supposed to work so don’t change it. Instead, please add a new object for touch inputs (a “touchpad” object if you would), if you do that, just remember that clicking the mouse down and moving the mouse are the same same action. Meaning press and drag on trackpad means click and drag on pc. Just tapping means clicking in the position of where you pressed and not where the position of where the last mouse location was.

### 4/5 — Flight simulator control

*2018-05-03*

Only way to control x-plane 10 & 11. Sure wish you would program lighting for buttons so I can change brightness/color of buttons so I can see the state of the buttons...I programmed 4 iPhone 4's to control cockpit operations...one nice rig that fits in an actual cockpit.

### 4/5 — Exactly what I was looking for in terms of function and custom design

*2017-02-27*

I am able to create an elegant interface of custom controls for each application including my own graphics. Knocked it 1 star because the general procedures were not documented well. I found myself going back and forth down paths looking for information. You should not have to navigate to a page with merely one sentence then back out. Navigating instructions is far too linear to be practical. At least provide an aeriel overview and one that can be used as a shortcut for navigation even better.

### 4/5 — Perfect App

*2017-01-04*

Wonderful app that does exactly what it says. Perfect for making a custom gaming controller or a pad to gain efficiency in whatever you do. One thing that took me a while to figure out was making a connection to my computer, but all you need to do is download TightVPN on your computer. The reason this is missing one star is because it needs the ability to map mouse movements to a joystick so I can play games like they're on an XBox controller. It would also be great if there were vertical and horizontal sliders with the option to have them lock in place or return to the center when not in use. Keep up the good work!

### 4/5 — Does what it's suppose to do

*2016-09-30*

This app isn't all that intuitive however it does exactly what it supposed to.
Read the documentation and you'll be fine.

### 4/5 — Really Great app

*2016-09-18*

It seems like you're just adding buttons to trigger key strokes, but the depth of this little app is pretty fantastic.  I created a multi-page interface for a game I play that I otherwise would have to hunt and peck for.  I put together a background image, put buttons over certain spots (made them invisible so that they would not cover the background button images) and connected it to my PC.  Bam!! Works like a charm.

Couple notes.  I used TightVNC.  The install is pretty easy.  Then opened the command window and typed "ipconfig" to get the IP address of my system.  Not something that seemed very well covered on the website for the app.  But after that, the options are extensive.  If you can get it hooked up, you can get the rest working and have a nice custom interface for your games or work.

### 4/5 — Works as advertised

*2016-03-18, version 2.8*

It is easy to create layouts and adjust them. Documentation is good. Buttons  work well. The trackpad has some delay, especially with left click and move. the main issue is it disconnects every 10 minutes or so. This may be my VNC OR WIFI CONNECTION.

### 4/5 — Nice app

*2015-12-01, version 2.7*

Very nice app... Would give 5 stars, but not having the possibility to switch from one layer to another one with a simple button is a little annoying when 50 pages is not enough, or when you already conceived another layer and want to switch (I.e. From a custom layer to the usual keyboard)... Very very useful app, though...

### 4/5 — On its way to being a great app

*2015-11-17, version 2.7*

This does as promised. I've used other customizable keypad apps and they have more features. Hopefully future releases will include the ability to send text strings or include dials or sliders. Worth the money for sure.

### 3/5 — Good but lacks

*2015-10-07, version 2.6*

UPDATE: the more I play with it, the more I am liking it. Still wish I could connect to the computer without having to log out from it. Great possibilities!

The app is an excellent idea. I believe it's in the early stages, therefore having to pay for it makes it not worth it. Fully customizable is used loosely to say you have many options and can move all the buttons around. 

The joystick will not move your mouse/cursor around unless you also program it to press a mouse button. I simply wanted a joystick to move the cursor around and then do the click actions where needed. You can use the trackpad option for that very well.

It takes a good 0.5 to 1 second for the command to actually happen in the computer. Therefore for gaming is not good if fast response is needed.

The potential of the app is tremendous. Wish also you would not have to open VPN to manage the Mac with it. Many other controllers  for software such as Premiere and other color correction software just require a simple install of a driver. 

But YES, if speed is not an issue, it has many many options for you to play with.

### 5/5 — Wonderful

*2014-08-28, version 2.5*

I have a music performance rig with a laptop running the show. I control it with three 3 USB foot switches when I am playing. But if I want to back up to a previous tune or skip a tune, I have to unstrap a guitar and walk over to it to select a tune.. - not the end of the world but annoying. I got this app and now I can do that from my ipad. I have added many other controls such as mixer and song edit controls. It has been fun coming up with a layout that is logical and intuitive for me. Works flawlessly. I wish I could get some video info back but that will be something more than a controller. I am very pleased with it.

### 5/5 — Works with pro tools 11

*2014-06-08, version 2.5*

I have a need for a whole bunch of macros in pt11 that exceeds my raven mti capacity. By using audio-midi network settings in OSX 10.9.3, I was able to get pt to accept the session as midi input. I have, for example, 40 memory slots doing all manner of things. A page of buttons does this rapidly.
I just saved a few hundred $ by not getting a cherry key pad and programming it!

### 5/5 — It is amazing

*2014-06-06, version 2.5*

I use this to play dota2 and it is exceptional.
Sure you have to run a server to use it but it is well worth it. Plus i can use the server for other things.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Set up instructions website not available

*2022-02-23, version 3.0*

Frustrated with this. Instructions say go to website for guid3 on connecting computer but site is permanently down for maintenance. Money back please.

### 1/5 — Does not work

*2021-11-17*

I cannot get this to work - I am connected but nothing is allowing me to control it... not even copy and paste works

### 1/5 — Windows programmers?

*2019-12-23, version 3.0*

Why can’t there be a detailed set of instructions located in a single place like a user guide. The instructions provided make little sense because you’re jumping all over the place poking the little question mark icon. User interface looks like it was designed by a windows programmer. I’m sorry I wasted my money on this app as there seems to be other apps out there.

### 1/5 — What a waste of money

*2016-12-21, version 3.0*

Does not work , instructions are terrible, i installed it, as advised all connected and NOTHING.. i want my money back .. its SHITE!

### 1/5 — Not what I thought

*2014-08-16*

Just wanted to play a game on Ipad that called for the use of "enter" and "arrow keys"that are not on the stupid ipad keyboard. This app is for someone who wants to plug it into an actual PC and use it as a customized keyboard for games etc. Anyhow I would image that might work alright if that is what your trying to do another dud app for me, how I love wasting money on apps I never use or need. Another point off topic a little ipad doesn't support flash or java WHY? If you think your going to play a game from your ipad that has to have flash or java etc and think a "browser" app might work well guess again. For how good ipad is it does have it's missing features that would make it way better. Back to this app overall make sure you know your basically buying a keyboard/game controller that will be used in the form of your ipad screen that will need to be connected to a pc port if there is a wireless option I am unaware. Have not used app so grade n/a. Estimated grade C-

### 1/5 — Buyer beware

*2013-09-13, version 2.3.0*

Requires installing of vnc and a password of 8 characters or less. What a perfect way to make your computer part of a bot net. Keyboard layout is an extra in store purchase.

Apple needs to wake up and remove this trash from the store. I would like money back.

### 1/5 — It doesn't connect???

*2012-03-17, version 1.91*

Can't seem to get it to do anything even though it says it's connected?

### 1/5 — Connection Problem

*2012-02-28, version 1.91*

It can't connect with my Mac at all

### 1/5 — Not sure about this one....

*2012-02-01, version 1.9*

It took some work but I get the app to connect.  Learning it is also ok after a bit. The problem is that nothing updates the computer....

### 2/5 — Great App

*2012-09-06*

I don't write reviews that often but this app is exactly what I was looking for, the only downside to it that I wish it had was an auto connect or auto reconnect after auto lock or a stay connected feature.  Still waiting for this feature, it's pretty frustrating as I use it as a multimedia controller for my Live stream application to change scenes. I'm not changing scenes constantly but selectively and can go periods as long as an hour at a time without needing to use the application so I lock the screen or auto lock takes care of it for me, but once I unload it gives an error saying connection interrupted and I have to quickly scroll through to reconnect to the PC. If autolock enables while I'm
Connected it should assume that if I unlock it should auto reconnect... Or at least allow us to chose in the connection screen if we want it to auto connect or maybe an auto connect setting in the layout settings and allow us to choose which computer it should connect to based on the layout. I'm hog to drop my rating at the moment because I have submitted multiple emails to support via the iOS pro apps website and the response what promising, I have waited and waited for updates to come but still have not seen anything that shows this feature will even come... Really disappointing as this app IS GREAT but lacks connection features that should be advised.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — How to connect

*2023-07-12*

Little to no instructions on how to connect. Great keyboard, just can’t use it. Download VNC server software. Unable to connect it to the app. Can’t get a NAME, HOST, PORT, or PASSWORD.

### 5/5 — Use it daily

*2020-02-27*

I use this app daily on my iPad mini as my hot key interface for my trading platform. Have made over a thousand trades across two plus years without any issues. The customization is easy and allows for quick changes to each layout. Best 4.99 I ever spent.

### 5/5 — Amazing

*2019-07-18*

Sooooooo much better than a physical programmable keyboard!!! Thanks for creating this amazing app!

### 5/5 — Works great

*2018-10-03, version 3.0*

It was a bit tricky to make this app to connect with mbp, but with some help from support service, it became possible. So i can say that this app is working fine with and MBP 2016, and ipad 1 and ipad 4. Amazing extension of your keyboard. Well done guys

### 5/5 — This is the single most useful app

*2017-01-08*

I use this app constantly. I have a separate layout for every simulation game I play, along with shortcuts for programs like OBS, GIMP, and Inkscape. I cannot recommend it enough.

### 5/5 — Latest feature

*2016-06-07, version 2.9*

Thanks for adding this feature!!!

### 5/5 — Just what I needed

*2016-04-13*

Excellent app. I am an avid flight simmer and was looking for a way to turn my iPad mini into a controller for my sim so I don’t have to use my mouse to flick switches and buttons. Mechanical programmable keypads are pretty expensive, and I was dying at the thought that my $400 touchscreen couldn’t be configured to do what a $200 piece of archaic tech could. This app was exactly what I was looking for! To be honest, it’s not the prettiest piece of software, but it does exactly what I need it to, so I don’t care. It’s never crashed on me once, I had no problem setting it up to work on my PC (I use tightVNC,) it connects right away, and there’s virtually no delay from when I press a button on my iPad until it registers on my PC (which is something I was concerned about before I downloaded it.) Unlike the reviewer before me it never disconnects unless my iPad goes to sleep mode, which is the one gripe I have about this app. I paid the $1 to download a full keyboard and I’ve starting using it instead of my regular keyboard, it’s fast and easy to switch between the keyboard and the buttons for my flight sim. 5/5 I’m so happy I found this app!

Also, I was concerned about CPU usage as I read VNC software can be very CPU intensive, but the client I use (tightVNC) barely causes even 1% increase in usage and I’ve seen no adverse performance effects when playing my game! Also, it doesn’t kill my iPad’s battery life!

### 5/5 — Love It!!!

*2016-01-04, version 2.7*

I am a big advocate of "single key email processing", with one (or a few) big keys dedicated to my most common email activity(s);

1) triage, dumping email that needs no further handling (I archive, some might delete)

2) applying labels, like GTDs delegate/awaiting/reference or a particular project. 

3) defer to a particular time or place, for systems that handle it.

Not just email: I do similar for tasks such as patent triage, etc.

I have written keyboard shortcuts and menu macros fir many, many, systems: outlook, gmail, Apple Mail, ...

It is easy to write such shortcuts and macros - to the extent supported.  But it is a pain to provide nice easy to use UI - forcing the user to remember ctl-alt-shift-some-key is a pain, whereas menus that need mouse clicks defeat the purpose because they are too slow. I find a small number of dedicated buttons easier to use.

I was looking for thin physical keys switches that I could stick to my laptop and program for such dedicated functions - when I decided to look for phone apps, and found this.

I find that I can handle perhaps 4-6 such options at a time, that I want buttons for (although it is nice to be able to escape to full traditional menus, but beyond this scope).

In less than an hour I had programmed GTD email sorting using thus app.

This app is easy enough to use that I can easily create new buttons on the fly, to apply labels for new projects. More importantly, I can have a page of the 4-6 current projects, that I drag to/from a larger page as priorities change.

Like I said, I love it!!

---

Wish list enhancements:

1) since I use this mainly for email or patent triage, mainly a process of applying tags or labels, I wish that the actions could take the button label as a parameter.  Eg have action be, Emacs-like: esc-x apply-tag label.

2) I wish there was some feedback from PC target to this keypad app - mainly so that I could grey out keypad commands that do not apply to the current focus app.

3) this probably already exists, but I wish that I could use this to control not just PC apps, but also local apps on the phone.

Eg split screen, target app on top, keypad on bottom. Basically like an onscreen keyboard, but giving the advantages of a small number if dedicated keys rather than full keyboard. Switchable to aforementioned full keyboards.

### 5/5 — Takes a while, but worth it!

*2015-11-25*

I was hesitant at first. I knew what I wanted it to do, but it didn’t feel like it was “all there”. I was expecting a brick wall somewhere along the way. I wanted to be able to customize a really “personal” set of macros for use with FCPX — shortcuts that represented my OWN way of editing and that (once set) wouldn’t have to be memorized any more. An example: I need to be able to stop playback; make sure I’m in the timeline; add a ToDo Marker; open it’s modify window; type in a name for it; close the window; blade the footage at that point and perform a trim start edit. Rinse, repeat. That’s about six, complex keyboard shortcuts in a row, with up to three modifiers per press. LOTS to remember LOTS to go wrong, yet I might have to execute this sequence 50 times in an interview. Once I’d got my head around Keypad (which does need a few UI improvements), I was able to combine that entire procedure into simple swipes of a customizable gesture pad! Swipe, swipe, DONE. 

For a real world editor with deadlines to hit, this is manna from heaven. 

The work involved in setting up the buttons, etc, is not inconsiderable, but I figure I only have to do it once and then I’m off to the races.

So, despite some UI improvements I’d LOVE to see, Keypad gets 5 stars. I hope the developer brings out a version optimized for iPad Pro cos that would give me a REAL excuse for getting one :-)

### 5/5 — Best App in the Galaxy !!!!!

*2015-08-21, version 2.6*

I use it to control several computers including my flight simulator cockpit. Keep up the excellent work.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*