# iRime输入法 vs 元书输入法

The clearest difference is price: 元书输入法 at Free against iRime输入法's $0.99. 元书输入法 also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 76%). iRime输入法's advantage is ratings volume (153 vs 25) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

元书输入法 is free to download; iRime输入法 costs $0.99 up front. iRime输入法 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and 元书输入法 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

元书输入法 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iRime输入法 has 153 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of iRime输入法's written reviews are positive against 100% of 元书输入法's.

iRime输入法 ships an update every 3 weeks, 元书输入法 every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRime输入法 | 元书输入法 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irime/id1142623977/reviews) | **[4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id6744464701/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **153** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 76.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 161 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [伟雄 辜](https://appshunter.io/developer/967689409) | [啸 付](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625078593) |

## What reviewers say

### iRime输入法

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irime/id1142623977)

This app is a powerful input method engine supporting a vast array of input schemes, including phonetic, shape-based, and dialectal languages. It offers a flexible framework for various typing needs, from standard Pinyin and Wubi to specialized codes and historical pronunciations.

**Highlights:** Extensive input scheme support, Phonetic and shape-based input, Dialectal language input, Cross-platform compatibility, Customizable input framework, Supports traditional and simplified characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 专业设置PRO | $1.99 | one-time |
| 文件编辑器 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Highly customizable input schemes and configurations
- 🎯 Supports multiple input methods (Pinyin, Cantonese, Wubi, Zhuyin, etc.)
- 🔒 Open-source and privacy-focused (no data collection)
- ⚡ Smooth performance with proper configuration
- 🎨 Customizable keyboard layouts and themes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app instability
- ❌ Poor documentation for setup and configuration
- 😕 Steep learning curve for average users
- ⚠️ Configuration issues with custom schemas
- 🔌 Keyboard responsiveness and typing lag

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iOS 18.4.1 and other recent versions
- Cannot install custom YAML schema files
- Simplified/Traditional Chinese conversion not working properly
- Candidate words disappear during input
- Auxiliary code (辅助码) cannot be mounted in Shuangpin

**Requested features**

- Stroke/Brush input method support
- Easier custom schema installation without technical knowledge
- Built-in Xiaohejinyin (小鹤音形) support
- One-tap keyboard switching to system input methods
- Delete custom words functionality


### 元书输入法

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id6744464701)

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription (1 month) | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription (1 year) | $4.99 | per year |
| Keyboard Pro(One-Time) | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRime输入法 free?

iRime输入法 costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is 元书输入法 free?

元书输入法 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iRime输入法 or 元书输入法?

元书输入法 is rated higher. iRime输入法 averages 4.0 out of 5 from 153 ratings, while 元书输入法 averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.

### Do iRime输入法 or 元书输入法 have ads?

Neither iRime输入法 nor 元书输入法 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iRime输入法 or 元书输入法?

iRime输入法 ships an update every 3 weeks, and 元书输入法 every 6 days. Most recently, iRime输入法 was updated on November 1, 2026 and 元书输入法 on October 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*