Comparison

Phakchi vs Thype

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Phakchi

This keyboard app offers an optimized layout for typing Thai on iPhones, addressing the small key size of standard keyboards. It features a familiar arrangement, color-coded keys, and options for learners.

Highlights
  • Optimized 6x8 key layout for iPhone
  • Familiar key arrangement
  • Color-coded keys for easy identification
  • Dictionary-order layout option for learners
  • One-handed typing support
  • Six input modes
Features
Read full description

. Welcome to Phakchi! The standard Thai keyboard (Kedmanee) is popular and widely used. However, since it was originally designed for computers with a 5-row × 12-column layout, the keys become very small on an iPhone screen, which often leads to mistaps. Phakchi solves this problem by adopting a 6-row × 8-column layout while keeping a familiar key arrangement similar to the standard keyboard. This makes it easier for experienced Thai typists to type comfortably on an iPhone. In addition, Phakchi also offers a dictionary-order layout for consonants, making it fun and accessible even for Thai learners who are still getting used to the script. 2. Features (1) Easy Thai typing on iPhone – Thanks to the 6×8 key layout. (2) Familiar key arrangement – Similar to the standard Thai keyboard, so you can type fast right away. (3) Color-coded keys – Consonants are black, vowels and tone marks are blue, making characters easier to find. (4) Dictionary-order layout option – Great for Thai learners. (5) Helpful key labels – Shows dictionary-order numbers on consonants and pronunciation marks on all characters. (6) One-handed typing – Available via the L, C, and R keys shown on the first screen.* (7) Six input modes – A-side and B-side (for frequently/less frequently used Thai letters), numbers, symbols, Thai numerals, and English letters. *The L/C/R keys temporarily disappear while typing in Thai, but they reappear after rotating the iPhone and returning it to the normal position. 3.Compatibility etc. (1)Compatibility ·iPhone: Compatible with iPhone SE (2nd generation) to iPhone 17 series ·iPad: Compatible with iPad (5th generation) to iPad with A16 chip (2)Operating System ·iOS: Supports iOS 15.0 – iOS 18.x and iOS 26.x ·iPadOS: Supports iPadOS 15.0 – iPadOS 26.x (3)Interface Languages English, Thai, Japanese (Information as of November 2025) 4.Initial Settings [1] Keyboard Setup ·On the iOS Home screen, tap the Settings icon. ·Go to General → Keyboard → Add New Keyboard... ·Tap Phakchi to add it to your keyboards. [2] Enabling Key Tap Sounds (Allow Full Access) ·Go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboards and Input. ·Tap Full Keyboard Access. ·Turn on the Full Keyboard Access switch. ·Once this setting is enabled, you can control key tap sounds on or off from the switch inside the host app. 5.Usage Tips • To switch between Side A and Side B, use the key labeled [to sideB] or [to sideA]. • After typing a character on Side B, the keyboard automatically returns to Side A. • If you want to type multiple keys on Side B, tap the hold key first, then tap the characters you want to enter. • Side B hold mode can be canceled by tapping the hold key again or switching to another mode. • To enter Thai numerals, tap the [T123] key. On iPhone, you can access this from the [123] number mode. 6. About the Developer ·Name: Takayuki Imai ·Email: snowysap@gmail.com ·Support Website: https://superscript.sakura.ne.jp/ 7. Privacy Policy ·The app does not transmit any information typed on the keyboard over the Internet. ·The developer will never disclose or sell any personal information such as your name, email address, or communication content without your consent.

About

Thype

Read full description

Thype is a Thai keyboard for anyone who knows how Thai sounds but does not want to hunt for keys on the Kedmanee layout. Type Thai the way it sounds, in Roman letters, and Thype writes it in Thai script as you go. Type "sawatdee" and you get สวัสดี. Type "kin kao" and you get กินข้าว. HOW IT WORKS Type a word phonetically and press space. Thype shows the Thai readings it thinks you meant, best guess first, and you keep typing. Tap a different candidate whenever the first one is not the word you wanted. Press return to commit the sentence. Because Thype reads the whole sentence rather than one word at a time, a word you type now can correct a word you typed three words ago - while everything is still editable, before any of it is committed. BUILT FOR HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY SPELL There is no single correct way to write Thai in Roman letters, so Thype accepts the ways people really type. Formal and everyday informal spellings all work: "jai" and "chai", "phuket" and "puket", "gai" and "kai". Misspell something and a fuzzy match usually still finds the word. FEATURES - Whole-sentence conversion that revises earlier words as you type - Candidates ranked by frequency, by context, and by what you personally pick - English to Thai suggestions: type an English word and take the Thai one instead - Your own dictionary - add any Roman-to-Thai spelling, including names - The standard Thai (Kedmanee) layout, one tap away, for when you want to type Thai directly - Commit anything exactly as typed, so unusual words and names are never in your way - Light and dark appearance, matching the native feeling of system keyboard COMPLETELY OFFLINE Thype contains no networking call at all. The dictionary, the English-Thai glossary and the language model are bundled inside the app and run on your device. It works in Airplane Mode exactly as it does otherwise. That also means there is nothing to collect. No accounts, no analytics, no crash reporting, no advertising, no tracking. The words you pick and the words you add stay on your device, they can be cleared from the Thype app whenever you like, and they go away when you delete the app. Full Access is optional. Granting it lets the keyboard and the app share one personal dictionary. Leave it off and the keyboard works exactly the same, minus that sharing. REQUIREMENTS iPhone running iOS 16 or later. iPad running iPadOS 16 or later.

Screenshots

Phakchi4 screens
Thype4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Thype at Free against Phakchi's $2.99. Thype also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Thype is free to download; Phakchi costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phakchi ships an update every 5 months, Thype every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Phakchi versus Thype: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhakchiThype
Price$2.99Free — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB136 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTakayuki ImaiNawat Suangburanakul

In-app purchases

None

Phakchi

No in-app purchases

None

Thype

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phakchi free?
Phakchi costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Thype free?
Thype is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Phakchi or Thype have ads?
Neither Phakchi nor Thype shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phakchi or Thype?
Phakchi ships an update every 5 months, and Thype every 2 days. Most recently, Phakchi was updated on November 2, 2026 and Thype on October 31, 2026.

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