Comparison

xKeyboard vs Formalize Light

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

xKeyboard

Design your own keyboard with custom layouts, keys, symbols, and Unicode characters. This app allows you to create specialized keyboards for various needs, from mathematical equations to phonetic alphabets, and use them across different text editing applications.

Highlights
  • Custom keyboard layouts
  • Symbol and Unicode integration
  • Specialized keyboards (Math, IPA, Chemistry)
  • Template-based creation
  • Use in text editing apps
Read full description

Using xKeyboard, you can create a custom keyboard that includes layout, keys, symbols, and Unicode. The created custom keyboard can be used in text editing software on iPhone and iPad, such as Word, PPT, Excel, notes, and can also be used in text editing boxes. Built-in Keyboards - Unicode Keyboard - ABC Keyboard - ASCII Keyboard - Digits Keyboard : Binary, Integer, Decimal, Octonary, Hexadecimal - Date & Time Keyboard - Color Keyboard - Collection Keyboard : Symbols, Words, Sentences, Images, Colors - IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) Keyboard : IPA English ( DJ, K.K. ) - Subjects: Math, Chemistry, Music Language - Word Keyboards: English, French, German, Spanish ... - Code-Word Keyboards: Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional ... Culture - Astrology Keyboard: 12 zodiac signs, 10 celestial bodies, full set of aspects, elements, moon phases and auxiliary symbols - I Ching Keyboard - Chess Keyboard: Chess notation keyboard, chess symbols - Chinese Chess Keyboard: Chinese chess notation keyboard - Dice Keyboard - Mahjong Keyboard - Playing Cards Keyboard ---------- Custom - Layout: Custom layouts are better suited for specialized input scenarios. - Environment: Different environments have different rules - Certain keyboards can serve as templates, allowing you to build custom keyboards faster and more easily. ---------- Privacy : We DO NOT COLLECT ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU TYPE using this app. xKeyboard does not require network access, and Allow Full Access is not necessary. If users Allow Full Access, the following functions will be enabled: - Copy, Paste, Cut : these functions will call UIPasteboard APIs. ---------- Tips: 1. If the xKeyboard is not visible in Settings > Keyboards, then reboot the device and reinstall 2. If you could not find xKeyboard when tap globe key : Remove xKeyboard in the system settings, re-add it. ---------- Charging method: Most of the features of this software are paid for, but before purchasing, we hope that users can know if the software has the desired features and if it is possible to customize a keyboard that the user wants. Therefore, the software can be downloaded for free and allows users to try creating a keyboard before paying. Terms of Use : https://www.jianshu.com/p/b2a855c32ffe Privacy Policy : https://www.jianshu.com/p/46e225ffbc59

About

Formalize Light

This utility app provides a keyboard extension for typing mathematical formulas on iOS devices. It offers easy access to over 100 symbols and generates professionally typeset equations that can be converted to TeX.

Highlights
  • Mathematical keyboard extension
  • Over 100 symbols
  • One-handed access
  • Professionally typeset formulas
  • Convert formulas to TeX
  • Insert formulas into any app
Features
Read full description

Do you wish you could properly type math on your iPhone or iPad? With Formalize, you can! Formalize is a keyboard extension for mathematical content. It provides intuitive one-handed access to more than 100 symbols and produces professionally typeset formulas. Easily convert your formulas to PNG* or TeX and insert them anywhere, in any app! * Not available in Formalize Light

Screenshots

xKeyboard4 screens
Formalize Light1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: xKeyboard at 3.2 against Formalize Light's 2.3. xKeyboard also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (39% vs 17%). Formalize Light's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. xKeyboard sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.29 per month. Formalize Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

xKeyboard holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: xKeyboard has 181 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of xKeyboard's written reviews are positive against 17% of Formalize Light's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

xKeyboard ships an update monthly, Formalize Light every 12 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
xKeyboard versus Formalize Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterxKeyboardFormalize Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (181 ratings) — better2.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews39.2% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings181 — better4
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.010.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer煦 张Ben Hambrecht

Customer experience

xKeyboard

All ratings181 ratings
Positive50.3%
Neutral14.9%
Negative34.8%
Written reviews125 reviews
Positive39.2%
Neutral20.8%
Negative40.0%

Formalize Light

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

xKeyboard

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when trying to delete/edit keys
  • Installed keyboards don't show custom layouts
  • App crashes on certain script/language changes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to export/share custom keyboards
  • Improve keyboard customization workflow
  • Implement swipe typing and autocorrect
  • Add more language/script support
  • Allow creating custom characters/symbols

Formalize Light

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

xKeyboard

Subscriptions2
  • VIP - 1 Month$0.291 Month
  • VIP - 1 Year$2.991 Year
One-time1
  • VIP - Lifetime$8.99
None

Formalize Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is xKeyboard free?
xKeyboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Formalize Light free?
Formalize Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, xKeyboard or Formalize Light?
xKeyboard is rated higher. xKeyboard averages 3.2 out of 5 from 181 ratings, while Formalize Light averages 2.3 from 4 ratings.
Do xKeyboard or Formalize Light have ads?
Neither xKeyboard nor Formalize Light shows ads.
Which is updated more often, xKeyboard or Formalize Light?
xKeyboard ships an update monthly, and Formalize Light every 12 months. Most recently, xKeyboard was updated on October 24, 2026 and Formalize Light on October 24, 2026.

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