Comparison

Short Text vs Keystrokes

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

Head to head
About

Short Text

This app helps you easily shorten or expand text messages. It features intelligent algorithms for fast conversions, a database of abbreviations, and the ability to recognize text from photos. Customize your preferences and share your converted text across various platforms.

Highlights
  • Shorten and expand text
  • Intelligent algorithms
  • Database of abbreviations
  • Text recognition from photos
  • Customizable settings
  • Share converted text
Read full description

Easily shorten or expand text with the Short Text app. Have you ever needed an easy way to shorten messages? Do you ever get confused by abbreviated words or internet slang? Maybe you have a unique style of shorthand that you wish you could share with friends? The Short Text app is your solution for these and many other short text needs! Shorten and expand text • Fast, intelligent algorithms quickly shorten text while preserving the original integrity • Browsable database containing thousands of abbreviations in several categories • Switch to expand mode to quickly convert abbreviated text into its expanded form • Any ambiguous text conversions are indicated with all possible variations • Recognize and convert text directly from photos Customizable • Add your own custom entries for shortening or expanding text • Choose preferred capitalization, punctuation, and number formatting techniques • Adjust shortening target length to meet specific character limits • Easily turn off any standard configuration passes that you don't want to use • Add favorites for text substitutions for quick access later Sharing • Easily share converted text via Messages, Mail, Twitter, Facebook, and many other apps • Quickly convert text / photos from many other apps by sharing directly to the Short Text app • Export or import custom entries in CSV format and sync with friends Some sharing features may require internet access.

About

Keystrokes

Send short text messages that appear on your friends' and family's screens throughout the day. This app allows for a unique way to share brief thoughts and updates.

Highlights
  • Send slow messages
  • Text widgets on screen
  • Share with friends and family
  • Persistent message display
Read full description

Share slow messages with your friends and family. Leave them a short text. They will see it throughout the day!

Screenshots

Short Text4 screens
Keystrokes3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Keystrokes at 5.0 against Short Text's 4.8. Short Text's advantage is ratings volume (17 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Keystrokes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Short Text has 17 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Short Text versus Keystrokes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShort TextKeystrokes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (17 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.4 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB18 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDenton KollarJenny Kim

Customer experience

Short Text

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Keystrokes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Short Text

No in-app purchases

None

Keystrokes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Short Text free?
Short Text is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Keystrokes free?
Keystrokes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Short Text or Keystrokes?
Keystrokes is rated higher. Short Text averages 4.8 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Keystrokes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Short Text or Keystrokes have ads?
Neither Short Text nor Keystrokes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Short Text or Keystrokes?
Short Text ships an update every 5 days, and Keystrokes every 5 days. Most recently, Short Text was updated on November 3, 2026 and Keystrokes on November 3, 2026.

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