Comparison

九方輸入法 iPad版 vs Frankie by Creativecrap

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

Head to head
About

九方輸入法 iPad版

A user-friendly Chinese input method that doesn't require memorizing radicals. Learn it in minutes and type Chinese characters even if you forget stroke order. Supports Traditional Chinese and Hong Kong common characters.

Highlights
  • Easy to learn, no radical memorization
  • Supports Traditional Chinese/HK common characters
  • Traditional to Simplified character conversion
  • Cantonese/Mandarin homophone lookup
  • Dynamic/fixed associated words
  • Advanced features available via purchase
Read full description

九方輸入法是一種非常簡單、實用的中文輸入方式,它完全不必死記字根,只要明白了一個簡單的原理就永遠都記得;如果單對單教授,一至兩分鐘就可以學會,就算忘記了字的筆劃也能幫您打出需要的字。適合任何年齡、職業的人仕使用。 注意: 1. 必須開啟 九方的 "允許全權取用"。 2. 我們已改善和提供解決方法給「記憶體不足時,九方可能不能正常打開問題」。 詳情:http://q9tech.com/s/iosLowMem 功能: -支援繁體中文/香港常用字 -打中文繁體字出簡體字(例:體 > 体) -廣東同音/普通話同音檢字 -動態/固定關聯字 購買 進階功能: -可「下頁」選擇更多候選字 -關聯字 -輸入過的字自動調前 -顯示香港字

About

Frankie by Creativecrap

This keyboard app offers a plain text editor and system-wide keyboard extension with multiple input methods. It includes features like emoji support, spellcheck, predictive text, and intelligent punctuation for efficient typing. It also supports various Chinese input methods and custom input options.

Highlights
  • System-wide keyboard extension
  • Plain text editor
  • Multiple input methods
  • Emoji support
  • Spellcheck and predictive text
  • Chinese input methods (Array, Cangjie, Pinyin)
  • Custom input method support
Read full description

Frankie is about to retire, so please use OkidoKey instead. Frankie is about to retire, so please use OkidoKey instead. Frankie is about to retire, so please use OkidoKey instead. Frankie (formerly OkidoKey) offers an in-app keyboard that includes a plain text editor and a keyboard extension for system-wide usage. Additionally, the Clip Pad editor mode automatically copies text, enabling typing without the need to create or open a document. A single keyboard extension offers multiple input methods, enabling seamless English typing without the need to switch to another keyboard. It incorporates features such as emoji support, a lexicon, spellcheck, predictive text, and intelligent punctuation, collectively enhancing the efficiency of typing. - Includes most common and ready-to-use Chinese input methods and keyboards, i.e. Array, Cangjie, Dayi, Pinyin, etc. - Capable of using custom input methods. - Capable of using multiple input methods and keyboards. - Sibling Keyboard and Key Flicks for Half/Full-Width symbols (iPad). - Composition prompt option. - Navigation Keyboard. - Bluetooth keyboard supports (in-app text editor only). - Auto-copy content feature in Clip Pad editor mode. - Chinese and English mix-typing (triggered by return key). - Chinese lexicon and Emoji. - Smart punctuation. - Homophones and Phonetics Lookup. - Traditional and Simplified Chinese output. Input Methods - Optimized for Array input method and fully supports special and shortcode mode. - Zhuyin input method supports the standard, Et26, Et41, Hsu, and IBM keyboard layouts. - To install custom input methods like Boshiamy, select the CIN table file from the file browser and choose install. External Keyboard External keyboards are not supported by keyboard extensions; however, you can use Clip Pad in split-view as a bridge for inputs, with auto-copy content feature in Clip Pad editor mode. All you need is switching to the next app, then tapping the paste icon or cmd-v to paste the content.

Screenshots

Frankie by Creativecrap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: 九方輸入法 iPad版 at Free against Frankie by Creativecrap's $399.99. Frankie by Creativecrap's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (44% vs 10%). On ads and iOS requirement 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

九方輸入法 iPad版 is free to download; Frankie by Creativecrap costs $399.99 up front. 九方輸入法 iPad版 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Frankie by Creativecrap asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

九方輸入法 iPad版 ships an update every 3 months, Frankie by Creativecrap every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
九方輸入法 iPad版 versus Frankie by Creativecrap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter九方輸入法 iPad版Frankie by Creativecrap
PriceFree — better$399.99
Rating—3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews9.8% of reviews44.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperQ9 Technology Company LimitEthan Liu

Customer experience

九方輸入法 iPad版

Written reviews51 reviews
Positive9.8%
Neutral7.8%
Negative82.4%

Frankie by Creativecrap

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral13.9%
Negative41.7%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

九方輸入法 iPad版

One-time2
  • 附加功能:聯想字Free
  • 九方 iOS 2年版$22.99
None

Frankie by Creativecrap

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 九方輸入法 iPad版 free?
九方輸入法 iPad版 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Frankie by Creativecrap free?
Frankie by Creativecrap costs $399.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do 九方輸入法 iPad版 or Frankie by Creativecrap have ads?
Neither 九方輸入法 iPad版 nor Frankie by Creativecrap shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 九方輸入法 iPad版 or Frankie by Creativecrap?
九方輸入法 iPad版 ships an update every 3 months, and Frankie by Creativecrap every 3 weeks. Most recently, 九方輸入法 iPad版 was updated on August 26, 2026 and Frankie by Creativecrap on June 11, 2026.

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