Second Keyboard Lite vs VimKey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Second Keyboard Lite
Create and customize your own keyboard with advanced features. Design the appearance and functionality using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Share and edit your creations across devices with iCloud integration.
- Customizable QWERTY keyboard
- Change background color and image
- Edit HTML/CSS for key layout
- Define keyboard functionality with JavaScript
- iCloud integration for cross-device editing
- Export/Import keyboard files
- Glossary keyboard for quick word input
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Second Keyboard Lite is the keyboard just for you. You can add extra features that are flexible and can be customized to suit your purpose. ** General Keyboard ** - This keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard for entering letters, numbers, or symbols. - You can change the background color or image, key-top color and font. ** Customizable HTML keyboard ** Using the dialog panel on your iPhone/iPad - Graphical User Interface(GUI) can be used to change the keyboard appearance such as a color, background image or key-top font. Editing Source Files on your iPhone/iPad - You can edit the HTML/CSS files that define the layout of keys, keyboard appearance, and key assignment. You can also define keyboard functionality in JavaScript using Keyboard Functions. You can create elaborate keyboards by editing the HTML that defines the keyboard! ** The following descriptions are about the functionalities provided in In-App-Purchases ** Editing Source Files on your desktop/laptop - It is difficult to edit the file on a small device such as an iPhone. It is easier and more efficient to edit it on a desktop/laptop with a HTML authoring tool or helper tool such as Safari Web Inspector. Using iCloud integration feature - You can send and load your keyboards via iCloud Drive using iCloud integration. You send your keyboards to iCloud then edit your keyboards on desktop/laptop using any tools you are familiar with. After changing the files, load editing version from iCloud, and use it on your iPhone/iPad. This operation is very smooth. Using Export/Import feature - You can export all the files composing a keyboard using Export command. After changing the files, you can import them to Second Keyboard using Import command. Before buying these features, you can try them for free with one keyboard, but only one! Using these extra features, you can have heaps of options to create an original keyboard with HTML, limited only by your imagination! Additional keyboard Glossary Keyboard - This keyboard is for searching for a word: for e.g. Technical terminology that you have already registered. With "Glossary Keyboard", you can search registered word lists and input them by selection. - You input some string using the keyboard. Words containing the input string are displayed at the top of the keyboard. When you tap one of them, the word is entered. - You can change registered word lists.
VimKey
Enhance your mobile editing experience with Vim-style navigation and dedicated arrow keys. This app offers precise cursor control for developers and power users on iOS devices, bringing desktop-level efficiency to your fingertips.
- Vim-style HJKL navigation
- Dedicated directional arrow keys
- Dual layout switching
- Privacy-focused data handling
- Haptic feedback and click sounds
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【Master Your Cursor on iOS】 As a developer, I was frustrated with editing code and managing SSH sessions on my iPhone. The native "magnifying glass" cursor is slow, and my fingers often blocked the text I was trying to select. I built VimKey to scratch my own itch. It brings the precision of desktop editing to your mobile device. Key Features: * Vim-Style Navigation: Use the legendary HJKL (←↓↑→) keys to move the cursor. Keep your hands on the keyboard and fly through text. * Dedicated Arrow Keys: Includes a standard directional pad for precise control without blocking the screen. * Dual Layouts: Seamlessly switch between the navigation layout and a standard QWERTY keyboard (Unlock QWERTY for 30 minutes by watching a short ad, or unlock forever with a one-time purchase). * Privacy First: We respect your data. "Full Access" is requested ONLY to provide haptic feedback and click sounds. We strictly do NOT collect, store, or transmit your keystrokes. Important Note: * Due to browser limitations on iOS, special keys (Esc, Tab, Ctrl) and arrow keys do NOT work in browser-based WebSSH clients. For the best experience, please use a native Terminal app. Contact: I'm actively improving this app based on user feedback. Email: mozhenbear@zodic.dev
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: VimKey at every 10 days against Second Keyboard Lite's every 2 months. Second Keyboard Lite's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Second Keyboard Lite sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and VimKey sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Second Keyboard Lite against 5.0 for VimKey. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively.
Second Keyboard Lite ships an update every 2 months, VimKey every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Second Keyboard Lite | VimKey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ateral | chuncheng su |
Customer experience
Second Keyboard Lite
VimKey
In-app purchases
Second Keyboard Lite
- Emoticon Keyboard$0.99
- Export/Import Keyboard$1.99
- Glossary Keyboard$1.99
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- iCloud Integration$1.99
VimKey
- qwert Layout$2.99
Questions
Is Second Keyboard Lite free?
Is VimKey free?
Which has better reviews, Second Keyboard Lite or VimKey?
Do Second Keyboard Lite or VimKey have ads?
Which is updated more often, Second Keyboard Lite or VimKey?
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