Comparison

WristBoard vs Watchsmith

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

Head to head
About

WristBoard

Enhance your Apple Watch typing experience with a full QWERTY keyboard. Offers swipe typing, autocorrect, and suggestions for faster, more private messaging. Supports iMessage and Mail apps, with customizable themes and emoji integration.

Highlights
  • Full QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ keyboard
  • Swipe typing functionality
  • Autocorrect and smart suggestions
  • Unlimited emoji support
  • Customizable themes
  • Message preview
  • Haptic feedback
Features
Read full description

Swipe and type messages on your Apple Watch using a fully functional keyboard with WristBoard. * As featured on the App Store, 9to5Mac, Cult of Mac, iMore, AppAdvice, TechRadar & iPhon.fr * Typing messages on Apple Watch can be chore - Scribble doesn't always work and Dictation isn't great in public spaces. With WristBoard, you get a fully-fledged keyboard straight on your wrist, no awkward typos necessary! By adding a full QWERTY, AZERTY or QWERTZ keyboard to your Apple Watch, you can reply to iMessages quickly and privately. Autocorrect and smart text predictions quickly ensures what you type is accurate and makes senses. WristBoard contains these great features: FULL KEYBOARD Add a full QWERTY, AZERTY or QWERTZ keyboard to your Apple Watch. Keys are easy to press and there’s support for key previews as you swipe along the keyboard. SWIPE KEYBOARD WristBoard was the first app to introduce swipe typing on Apple Watch and provides a more efficient way to type out messages on your wrist. SENDING WristBoard uses the built-in Apple Messages app on your Apple Watch to send messages to your contacts. Type out your message, tap the send button and you’ll be taken to the Messages app with your message ready to go! There's support for the Apple Mail app too so you can emails all from your wrist! SUGGESTIONS As you’re typing, you can complete words using the suggestions bar above the keys. Tap on a suggestion to replace the current typed word with the full suggestion. Great for improving speed on the small screen! Access all suggestions by tapping the ellipsis icon next to the first suggestions. AUTOCORRECT Whilst typing, if you make a mistake, WristBoard will automatically replace the incorrect word with one it thinks is correct. OTHER CHARACTERS WristBoard has full support for adding symbols, numbers and other special characters. EMOJI WristBoard supports adding an unlimited amount of emoji to a single message! Simply tap the emoji icon to get started and pick from Apple’s library, or one of your most recently used ones. THEMES Customise the look and feel of your keyboard with support for themes. MESSAGE PREVIEW Before sending your message, just tap the text field to view a full preview of your message. HAPTICS Choose to receive Haptic Feedback on actions like key presses and button actions. COMPLICATION For quick and easy access, you can add the WristBoard Complication to your Watch Face. Just tap and the keyboard will launch. CURSOR Whilst typing on the keyboard, you can see exactly where you are with the pulsing blue cursor. Use the Digital Crown to move the cursor's position. SETTINGS Customize WristBoard your way. Access the Settings menu by using the options button on the keyboard and you’ll be able to change the layout and toggle auto correct, suggestions & more. If you like this app, I’d really appreciate it if you could take the time to leave a positive review! Having issues? Please get in touch: Email: support@adamfoot.dev Website: https://adamfoot.dev Please note, a supported Apple Watch is required for full app functionality. WristBoard supports sending messages via SMS & iMessage through the Messages app or email through the Mail app. Some features may require a WristBoard+ subscription which can be purchased in the app. You can cancel at anytime. Terms: https://adamfoot.dev/terms-of-use

About

Watchsmith

Personalize your Apple Watch with customizable complications that can dynamically change throughout the day. Access a variety of tools like weather, workouts, and a timezone converter directly from your watch.

Highlights
  • Customizable complications
  • Dynamic complication scheduling
  • Weather app
  • Workout app
  • Timezone converter
  • Games
  • Calendar
Features
Read full description

Watchsmith lets you personalize your Apple Watch like never before. It starts with a wide collection of highly customizable complications, which range in function from date, to weather, to astronomy. Each can be adjusted precisely to best fit your desired function and appearance. This set of complications can then be dynamically scheduled to appear on your watch face following rules you define. For example, a particular complication slot could show the weather first thing in the morning, then your calendar during your work day, then switch to your Activity ring progress as you wrap up your day. This lets you take full advantage of each slot on your watch face without the need to constantly switch back and forth between faces. The Apple Watch app itself also includes a wide collection of tools and functions, such as a weather app, a workout app, a timezone converter, games and a calendar. Watchsmith provides one tap access to what you need, right when you need it. Notes: • Watchsmith is intended for use with a paired Apple Watch, which is where your configured complications will be displayed. It requires watchOS 7. • Watchsmith optionally integrates with Apple Health. This data is used during workouts to display your workout metrics, to show a summary of your daily heart rate date, and your activity. Permission for Watchsmith to access this data is controlled through the Apple Health app. • Watchsmith includes an optional premium subscription. This is offered on a monthly or annual basis. If you choose to purchase a subscription your payment will be charged to your iTunes account. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless canceled within 24-hours before the end of the current period. You can turn off auto-renewal at any time by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. • Access to Tide and Weather hosted data is only available to Watchsmith Premium subscribers. Privacy Policy & Terms: https://david-smith.org/watchsmith_privacy.html

Screenshots

WristBoard4 screens
Watchsmith4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Watchsmith at 3.9 against WristBoard's 3.2. Watchsmith also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 18%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. WristBoard sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Watchsmith sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Watchsmith holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 357 and 566 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of WristBoard's written reviews are positive against 38% of Watchsmith's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WristBoard ships an update weekly, Watchsmith every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
WristBoard versus Watchsmith: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWristBoardWatchsmith
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (357 ratings)3.9 (566 ratings) — better
Positive reviews18.4% of reviews38.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings357566 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdam FootCross Forward Consulting, LLC

Customer experience

WristBoard

All ratings357 ratings
Positive53.8%
Neutral6.2%
Negative40.1%
Written reviews337 reviews
Positive18.4%
Neutral9.5%
Negative72.1%

Watchsmith

All ratings563 ratings
Positive67.9%
Neutral11.0%
Negative21.1%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive38.1%
Neutral13.9%
Negative47.9%

User reviews

WristBoard

From 357 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Useful keyboard for Apple Watch
  • 👍 Responsive customer support
  • 💡 Innovative concept

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Keyboard not fully integrated with Messages app
  • 👎 Difficult to use, requires constant scrolling
  • 👎 Slow typing experience

Watchsmith

From 566 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Customizable complications
  • 👍 Simplifies date complication
  • 🌟 Indispensable app
  • 🎨 Fun to customize
  • 💡 Innovative features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Complications don't update frequently
  • 🔌 Battery life issues
  • 🤔 Confusing UI and instructions
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🕰️ Time complications not accurate

Bugs and requests

WristBoard

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Keyboard not appearing in Messages app
  • Difficulty installing app on Apple Watch
  • Keyboard not working consistently

Requested features

3 requests
  • Integrate keyboard directly with Messages app
  • Add support for more messaging apps beyond just Messages
  • Improve keyboard layout and responsiveness

Watchsmith

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Complications not syncing properly
  • App freezes on Apple Watch
  • Weather location stuck on LA
  • Shared calendar issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for Series 7 and Apple Watch Ultra
  • Hourly weather complication
  • Year complication
  • Celsius temperature option
  • Third-party app complications support

In-app purchases

8 purchases

WristBoard

Subscriptions3
  • WristBoard+ (Weekly)3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • WristBoard+ (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • WristBoard+ (Yearly)7 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time5
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$9.99
Show 2 more
  • WristBoard+ (Lifetime)$19.99
  • Huge Tip$19.99
2 purchases

Watchsmith

Subscriptions2
  • Watchsmith Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Watchsmith Premium (Annual)7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is WristBoard free?
WristBoard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Watchsmith free?
Watchsmith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WristBoard or Watchsmith?
Watchsmith is rated higher. WristBoard averages 3.2 out of 5 from 357 ratings, while Watchsmith averages 3.9 from 566 ratings.
Do WristBoard or Watchsmith have ads?
Neither WristBoard nor Watchsmith shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WristBoard or Watchsmith?
WristBoard ships an update weekly, and Watchsmith every 4 days. Most recently, WristBoard was updated on November 6, 2026 and Watchsmith on November 3, 2026.

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