KotoKey vs KeyboardNote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
KotoKey
Personalize your typing experience with custom themes and satisfying mechanical keyboard sounds. This utility app offers predictive suggestions and text replacements for faster input, making every keystroke feel more comfortable and unique.
- Mechanical keyboard sound effects
- Customizable keyboard themes
- Predictive text suggestions
- Text replacement for phrases
- Auto Shift and Smart Apostrophe
- English QWERTY and Japanese input
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KotoKey is a custom keyboard that brings the look and sound of a physical keyboard to your iPhone. Make everyday typing feel more satisfying. Customize your keyboard with themes and typing sounds, and enjoy a typing experience that feels more personal and comfortable. Main features • Keyboard themes inspired by physical keyboards • Typing sounds you can choose to match your mood • English QWERTY and flick input • Japanese flick and romaji input • Predictive suggestions for smoother input • Text Replacements for words and phrases you use often • Auto Shift, Double-Space Period, and Smart Apostrophe Save frequently used words, email addresses, and phrases as Text Replacements, then enter them faster whenever you type. Your input is processed on your device, and the basic keyboard features work without Full Access. Bring a pleasant keystroke feel to your everyday typing with KotoKey.
KeyboardNote
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KeyboardNote is a collection manager for custom keyboard enthusiasts. BUILD SPECS Log switches, plates, keycaps, PCBs and extras per keyboard. Enter part prices to get total build cost and per-part cost breakdown. PHOTO GALLERY Keep ordered photo sets per keyboard, with a full-screen pinch-zoom viewer. BUILD LOGS & CHECKLISTS Record lubing, filming and assembly by date; track remaining tasks with build checklists. RATINGS Rate typing feel, sound and looks, and compare across your boards. SEARCH & FILTERS Advanced filters by switch type, layout and status. BACKUP & RESTORE Export everything (photos included) to a single file and restore on a new device. YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE No account, no ads. All keyboard data is stored only on your device — the network is used solely for an anonymous update check.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KeyboardNote at none against KotoKey's 1. KeyboardNote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). KotoKey's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price 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
Both are free to download. KotoKey sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. KeyboardNote asks for nothing beyond the download.
KotoKey ships an update weekly, KeyboardNote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | KotoKey | KeyboardNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Natsumi Hayakawa | jungkil bae |
In-app purchases
KotoKey
- KotoKey Premium$2.99
KeyboardNote
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is KotoKey free?
Is KeyboardNote free?
Do KotoKey or KeyboardNote have ads?
Which is updated more often, KotoKey or KeyboardNote?
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