# The Math Keyboard vs IPA Phonetic Keyboard

The clearest difference is price: IPA Phonetic Keyboard at Free against The Math Keyboard's $0.99. IPA Phonetic Keyboard also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.4) and review sentiment (92% vs 59%). The Math Keyboard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On update cadence, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is free to download; The Math Keyboard costs $0.99 up front. IPA Phonetic Keyboard sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. The Math Keyboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

IPA Phonetic Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IPA Phonetic Keyboard has 193 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of The Math Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 92% of IPA Phonetic Keyboard's.

The Math Keyboard ships an update every 2 months, IPA Phonetic Keyboard every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Math Keyboard | IPA Phonetic Keyboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.4 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-math-keyboard/id917470088/reviews) | **[4.5 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **193** |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | **92.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 50 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Soffer](https://appshunter.io/developer/290942339) | [Vincent Cai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453621798) |

## What reviewers say

### The Math Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-math-keyboard/id917470088)

Access hundreds of math and scientific characters directly from your keyboard. Type symbols anywhere in any app with ease. Includes numbers, trigonometric, algebra, and alphabetical symbols.

**Highlights:** Access hundreds of math symbols, Type symbols in any app, Includes numbers, Trigonometric symbols, Algebra symbols, Alphabetical symbols

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### IPA Phonetic Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipa-phonetic-keyboard/id1440241497)

This free keyboard provides easy access to all IPA and extended IPA symbols. Its intuitive layout mirrors the IPA chart, making symbol input fluid and efficient for linguists, language learners, and enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Full IPA chart (2020) symbols, ExtIPA chart (2016) symbols, Organized symbol sections, Intuitive symbol layout, Convenient input for common characters, Completely free, no ads

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Donation: Buy me a drink | $2.99 | one-time |
| Obsolete/Non-Standard Symbols | $5.99 | one-time |
| Donation: Buy me a meal | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient IPA keyboard
- 💡 Extensive IPA symbol coverage
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 🤩 Great for linguistics and conlanging
- 🎨 Visually appealing design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paid access for some symbols
- 🔍 Keyboard layout could be more customizable
- 🐛 Occasional keyboard switching issues
- 🔇 Keyboard clicking sounds can't be disabled

**Reported bugs**

- Vowel [ʁ] displays incorrectly
- Keyboard disappears after switching, requiring settings access to re-enable

**Requested features**

- Add angle brackets and parentheses for orthographic notation
- Implement a 'frequently used' section for common symbols
- Allow users to rearrange the keyboard layout
- Add support for laryngeal notation in Proto-Indo-European


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Math Keyboard free?

The Math Keyboard costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IPA Phonetic Keyboard free?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Math Keyboard or IPA Phonetic Keyboard?

IPA Phonetic Keyboard is rated higher. The Math Keyboard averages 3.4 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while IPA Phonetic Keyboard averages 4.5 from 193 ratings.

### Do The Math Keyboard or IPA Phonetic Keyboard have ads?

Neither The Math Keyboard nor IPA Phonetic Keyboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Math Keyboard or IPA Phonetic Keyboard?

The Math Keyboard ships an update every 2 months, and IPA Phonetic Keyboard every 4 months. Most recently, The Math Keyboard was updated on November 6, 2026 and IPA Phonetic Keyboard on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*