# CW Keyboard vs Forethumb

The clearest difference is rating: Forethumb at 4.8 against CW Keyboard's 4.2. Forethumb also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 119 months). CW Keyboard's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and review sentiment (80% vs 64%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

CW Keyboard costs $0.99 and Forethumb $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Forethumb holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of CW Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 64% of Forethumb's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CW Keyboard ships an update every 119 months, Forethumb every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CW Keyboard | Forethumb |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-keyboard/id1160306338/reviews) | **[4.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forethumb/id1325147667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 64.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 119 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#199** | — |
| Size | 1 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pulsely Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/475349326) | [Takuto Nakamura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1203150472) |

## What reviewers say

### CW Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-keyboard/id1160306338)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Type messages using Morse code on your iOS device. This app provides a reference guide to help you learn and practice sending Morse code efficiently. It's ideal for amateur radio operators looking to improve their CW mode skills.

**Highlights:** Morse code input, Morse code reference guide, Practice Morse code sending, Amateur radio CW mode training

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Forethumb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forethumb/id1325147667)

This keyboard app allows users to input text on their iOS devices using Morse code. It offers single-key or paddle input methods, with options for sound feedback and customizable gap lengths. It supports alphabets, numbers, some symbols, and Japanese characters.

**Highlights:** Morse code input (single key or paddle), Sound feedback on input, Swipe gestures for delete/space, Customizable gap length, Supports alphabets, numbers, symbols, Japanese

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CW Keyboard free?

CW Keyboard costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Forethumb free?

Forethumb costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CW Keyboard or Forethumb?

Forethumb is rated higher. CW Keyboard averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Forethumb averages 4.8 from 8 ratings.

### Do CW Keyboard or Forethumb have ads?

Neither CW Keyboard nor Forethumb shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CW Keyboard or Forethumb?

CW Keyboard ships an update every 119 months, and Forethumb every 2 weeks. Most recently, CW Keyboard was updated on September 18, 2026 and Forethumb on September 17, 2026.

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