# IPA Phonetic Keyboard vs Flash Cards +

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flash Cards + at none against IPA Phonetic Keyboard's 3. Flash Cards + also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.0). IPA Phonetic Keyboard's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (92% vs 73%). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IPA Phonetic Keyboard sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Flash Cards + asks for nothing beyond the download.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 172 and 87 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of IPA Phonetic Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 73% of Flash Cards +'s.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, Flash Cards + every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IPA Phonetic Keyboard | Flash Cards + |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497/reviews)** | [4.2 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flash-cards-plus/id1454664875/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **172** | 87 |
| Positive reviews | **92.1% of reviews** | 72.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vincent Cai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453621798) | [Brady Carey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454581575) |

## What reviewers say

### IPA Phonetic Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497)

This free keyboard provides easy access to all IPA and extended IPA symbols. Its intuitive layout mirrors the IPA chart, making symbol input fluid and efficient for linguists, language learners, and enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Full IPA chart (2020) symbols, ExtIPA chart (2016) symbols, Organized symbol sections, Intuitive symbol layout, Convenient input for common characters, Completely free, no ads

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Donation: Buy me a drink | $2.99 | one-time |
| Obsolete/Non-Standard Symbols | $5.99 | one-time |
| Donation: Buy me a meal | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient IPA keyboard
- 💡 Extensive IPA symbol coverage
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 🤩 Great for linguistics and conlanging
- 🎨 Visually appealing design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paid access for some symbols
- 🔍 Keyboard layout could be more customizable
- 🐛 Occasional keyboard switching issues
- 🔇 Keyboard clicking sounds can't be disabled

**Reported bugs**

- Vowel [ʁ] displays incorrectly
- Keyboard disappears after switching, requiring settings access to re-enable

**Requested features**

- Add angle brackets and parentheses for orthographic notation
- Implement a 'frequently used' section for common symbols
- Allow users to rearrange the keyboard layout
- Add support for laryngeal notation in Proto-Indo-European


### Flash Cards +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flash-cards-plus/id1454664875)

Create and manage digital flash card decks for efficient studying.  Record questions and answers by speaking to your phone, then share decks with friends to collaborate on learning.  Organize study materials conveniently on your device.

**Highlights:** Create and manage flash card decks, Record questions and answers via voice input, Share flash cards with friends, Organize study materials, Digital alternative to physical notecards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and straightforward
- 💰 Free to use with minimal ads
- 🚀 Efficient for studying and memorization
- 🗣️ Good voice recognition for card creation
- ✅ No account required, simple setup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Frequent and disruptive ads
- 🚫 No option to remove ads permanently
- ↔️ Limited deck sharing/export options
- ❓ Some users confused about learning mode
- 🔄 Cards only go in one direction

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing due to ads
- Ads interrupting playback
- Question not accepted on first entry
- Ads appearing too frequently, sometimes consecutively

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to move mail list items around
- Direct access to learning mode (questions only)
- Option to purchase an ad-free version
- Ability to move cards between decks


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IPA Phonetic Keyboard free?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Flash Cards + free?

Flash Cards + is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Flash Cards +?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is rated higher. IPA Phonetic Keyboard averages 4.5 out of 5 from 172 ratings, while Flash Cards + averages 4.2 from 87 ratings.

### Do IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Flash Cards + have ads?

Neither IPA Phonetic Keyboard nor Flash Cards + shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Flash Cards +?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, and Flash Cards + every 5 days. Most recently, IPA Phonetic Keyboard was updated on October 13, 2026 and Flash Cards + on October 14, 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.*