# IPA Phonetic Keyboard vs Lisu Simple Keyboard

The clearest difference is rating: IPA Phonetic Keyboard at 4.5 against Lisu Simple Keyboard's 2.7. IPA Phonetic Keyboard also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 20 months) and ratings volume (193 vs 3). Lisu Simple Keyboard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

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

IPA Phonetic Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IPA Phonetic Keyboard has 193 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, Lisu Simple Keyboard every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IPA Phonetic Keyboard | Lisu Simple Keyboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497/reviews)** | [2.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lisu-simple-keyboard/id6740537102/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **193** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 92.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 20 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vincent Cai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453621798) | [LAR MAY SEE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1698899043) |

## 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


### Lisu Simple Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lisu-simple-keyboard/id6740537102)

Type in the Lisu language effortlessly on your iPhone and iPad. This smart keyboard offers a custom layout, fast input, and theme options, working seamlessly across all your favorite apps. It prioritizes user privacy by not collecting keystrokes.

**Highlights:** Fast and responsive Lisu typing, Custom Lisu script layout, Dark and light theme options, Works across all iOS apps, Privacy-focused, no keystroke collection

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IPA Phonetic Keyboard free?

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

### Is Lisu Simple Keyboard free?

Lisu Simple Keyboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Lisu Simple Keyboard?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is rated higher. IPA Phonetic Keyboard averages 4.5 out of 5 from 193 ratings, while Lisu Simple Keyboard averages 2.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Lisu Simple Keyboard have ads?

Neither IPA Phonetic Keyboard nor Lisu Simple Keyboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or Lisu Simple Keyboard?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, and Lisu Simple Keyboard every 20 months. Most recently, IPA Phonetic Keyboard was updated on October 26, 2026 and Lisu Simple Keyboard on October 24, 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.*