Comparison

PhraseExpress vs TextExpander

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

Head to head
About

PhraseExpress

This app eliminates tedious typing by expanding abbreviations into longer text snippets. Organize and access frequently used phrases through a descriptive menu, syncing them across devices. It offers advanced macro features for customization and automation.

Highlights
  • Text expansion from abbreviations
  • Snippet organization and access
  • Sync snippets across devices
  • Descriptive phrase menus
  • Customizable keyboard with swipe gestures
  • Advanced macro features (fill-ins, date calculations, translation)
Read full description

PhraseExpress Autotext is a text expander program and puts an end to tedious touch-typing. The App is completely free without feature or time restrictions as a free gift. There is no in-app purchase and the app does not expire. ● Organize & access frequently used text from a handy snippet menu. ● Expand autotext abbreviations into longer phrases. ● Sync snippets with other iOS devices or computers. THE PHRASEEXPRESS ADVANTAGE The unique phrase menu saves you from memorizing autotext abbreviations: ● Access over 600 phrases with just five taps! ● Descriptive menus instead cryptic shortcuts ● No more autotext cheat-sheets ● Fat-finger compatible large menus CUSTOM KEYBOARD FEATURES ● Swipe-up keys for upper case letters ● Swipe down keys for numbers or symbols ● Dedicated phrase menu for instant access ● Smart bar with auto-complete suggestions ADDITIONAL FEATURES Following macro features are also completely free: ● Fill-ins and input forms (without grid/dynamic forms) ● Custom time/date stamps ● Date/math calculations ● Nest & link phrases ● Multiple choice phrases ● Conditional phrases, random text variation ● Clipboard operations, counters and variables ● Phrase customization with user input ● Grid form input ● Dynamic form inputs ● Support for "DeepL" language translation service Important Limitations: ● Above macros are entered in the separate PhraseExpress Mac/Windows desktop version and can then be used on iOS. You cannot create macros in the iOS App! ● The PhraseExpress App does not support external hardware keyboards. ● The PhraseExpress iOS App does not support bitmaps in the text. ● This App is compatible with PhraseExpress for Windows v17 and compatible with PhraseExpress for Mac v6. ● The App is offered as a demonstration of our programming capabilities without any warranty/guarantee/support. Please use "as-is". We do not provide any support for this complimentary free software. Privacy Policy: Our App NEVER transmits any keyboard input, personal information and/or stored phrases to us. We are based in Germany, a country with one of the strictest privacy laws. Disclaimer: This App is not to be confused and not affiliated with the TextExpander App. TextExpander is a registered trademark of SmileOnMyMac, LLC.

About

TextExpander

Access your saved text snippets and expand them instantly across any app on your iPhone and iPad. This keyboard app offers features like autocorrect, emoji search, and swipe typing, making it easier to input frequently used phrases, addresses, or links.

Highlights
  • Instant text expansion via custom abbreviations
  • Customizable keyboard with swipe typing
  • Emoji search and suggestions
  • Autocorrect and long-press for accented characters
  • Snippet suggestions in the suggestion strip
  • Fill-ins for dynamic snippet content
Features
Read full description

Your TextExpander snippets, on your iPhone and iPad. Sign in with your TextExpander account to access your snippet library at your fingertips. Type ";addr" to expand to your mailing address. Type "zcal" to expand to a link to your schedule / availability. You can type it in Messages, in Mail, in Slack, in your CRM, in your EHR. You get the idea. Your shared snippets are readily synced with the rest of your team. A KEYBOARD WITH SNIPPETS, SWIPE, EMOJI, AND AUTOCORRECT Swipe across the keys, and TextExpander now matches your path to English words and to your abbreviations. Swiped abbreviations automatically expand to their snippets. Plus you have everything else that you'd expect in a keyboard: Autocorrect, emojis (searchable by name, with skin tones, and recents), long-press for accented characters, one-handed mode, haptic feedback, and undo/redo. SNIPPETS THAT COME TO YOU Start typing, and matching snippets appear in the suggestion strip beside your word suggestions. Tap it to expand it. You never need to go looking. PERSONALIZE AND CUSTOMIZE WHAT YOU TYPE Fill-ins give superpowers to your TextExpander snippets, and they work in the app as well. Type the abbreviation, complete your fill-ins, and send. WHAT YOU NEED A TextExpander account, created at textexpander.com. Then add the keyboard in Settings and switch on Full Access (TextExpander needs this to read your abbreviations and insert your snippets). Your snippets now work everywhere you type.

Screenshots

PhraseExpress4 screens
TextExpander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TextExpander at 100% against PhraseExpress's 14%. TextExpander also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). PhraseExpress's advantage is ratings volume (55 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

TextExpander holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhraseExpress has 55 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of PhraseExpress's written reviews are positive against 100% of TextExpander's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PhraseExpress versus TextExpander: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhraseExpressTextExpander
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (55 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings55 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB114 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBartels Media GmbHTextExpander, Inc.

Customer experience

PhraseExpress

All ratings55 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%

TextExpander

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PhraseExpress

No in-app purchases

None

TextExpander

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhraseExpress free?
PhraseExpress is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TextExpander free?
TextExpander is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PhraseExpress or TextExpander?
TextExpander is rated higher. PhraseExpress averages 4.5 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while TextExpander averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do PhraseExpress or TextExpander have ads?
Neither PhraseExpress nor TextExpander shows ads.

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