# IPA Phonetic Keyboard vs Flag Maker!

The clearest difference is rating: IPA Phonetic Keyboard at 4.5 against Flag Maker!'s 4.0. IPA Phonetic Keyboard also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 48 months) and review sentiment (92% vs 66%). Flag Maker!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). 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. Flag Maker! asks for nothing beyond the download.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 172 and 132 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of IPA Phonetic Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 66% of Flag Maker!'s.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, Flag Maker! every 48 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IPA Phonetic Keyboard | Flag Maker! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497/reviews)** | [4.0 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flag-maker/id1638457636/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **172** | 132 |
| Positive reviews | **92.1% of reviews** | 65.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 48 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vincent Cai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453621798) | [Matthew Williamson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1215994306) |

## 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


### Flag Maker!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flag-maker/id1638457636)

Create custom flags quickly with a vast library of base designs and emblems. Combine elements, customize colors, and manipulate emblems for endless design possibilities. Save and share your unique flag creations.

**Highlights:** Design flags in minutes, Dozens of base designs, Hundreds of emblems, Combine base designs and emblems, Customizable colors for each element, Move, resize, flip, and rotate emblems, Save and share designs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 🎨 Creative flag design capabilities
- ⭐ Great for alternate history and micronations
- 🎯 Simple and straightforward functionality
- 💾 Ability to save flags to device

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🔒 Limited symbol availability
- 🎨 Limited color selection and shape options
- 🔧 Small control buttons for moving/scaling
- 💰 Paywall restrictions on symbols

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- iPad crashes requiring hard reset
- Ad-watching feature not functioning properly
- Symbols stuck in center position
- Ads appear even in airplane mode

**Requested features**

- Nordic cross design
- Maple leaf symbol
- Text/typography support
- Custom image import capability
- Non-rectangular flag shapes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IPA Phonetic Keyboard free?

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

### Is Flag Maker! free?

Flag Maker! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Flag Maker!?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is rated higher. IPA Phonetic Keyboard averages 4.5 out of 5 from 172 ratings, while Flag Maker! averages 4.0 from 132 ratings.

### Do IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Flag Maker! have ads?

Neither IPA Phonetic Keyboard nor Flag Maker! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Flag Maker!?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, and Flag Maker! every 48 months. Most recently, IPA Phonetic Keyboard was updated on October 13, 2026 and Flag Maker! on October 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.*