# IPA Phonetic Keyboard vs IPA Typing Keyboard

The clearest difference is rating: IPA Phonetic Keyboard at 4.5 against IPA Typing Keyboard's 4.0. IPA Phonetic Keyboard also leads on ratings volume (193 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). IPA Typing Keyboard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (daily vs every 4 months). 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. IPA Typing Keyboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IPA Phonetic Keyboard has 193 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, IPA Typing Keyboard daily. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IPA Phonetic Keyboard | IPA Typing Keyboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-typing-keyboard/id6768256131/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **193** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 92.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 1 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) | [Minh Phan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896554515) |

## 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


### IPA Typing Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-typing-keyboard/id6768256131)

Type International Phonetic Alphabet symbols directly on your iOS device. This keyboard offers offline functionality and a built-in reference for easy symbol lookup. Designed for privacy, it ensures your typed text never leaves your device.

**Highlights:** Type IPA symbols anywhere on iOS, Long-press for symbol variants, Fully offline functionality, Built-in symbol reference, Designed for privacy, Supports iPhone and iPad

**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 IPA Typing Keyboard free?

IPA Typing Keyboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IPA Phonetic Keyboard or IPA Typing Keyboard?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is rated higher. IPA Phonetic Keyboard averages 4.5 out of 5 from 193 ratings, while IPA Typing Keyboard averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do IPA Phonetic Keyboard or IPA Typing Keyboard have ads?

Neither IPA Phonetic Keyboard nor IPA Typing Keyboard shows ads.

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

IPA Phonetic Keyboard ships an update every 4 months, and IPA Typing Keyboard daily. Most recently, IPA Phonetic Keyboard was updated on October 26, 2026 and IPA Typing Keyboard on October 28, 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.*