Comparison

Handwriting Keyboard vs Selvy PenScript

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

Head to head
About

Handwriting Keyboard

Effortlessly convert your handwritten notes into typed text across any application. This keyboard works offline, supports Apple Pencil, and offers customizable input settings for a seamless user experience.

Highlights
  • Handwriting to text conversion
  • Works in any app
  • Offline functionality
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Customizable input settings
  • Supports English and Japanese
Read full description

Write by hand. Type in your apps. Handwriting Keyboard lets you enter text with your finger or Apple Pencil in apps such as Messages, Mail, Safari, and Notes. Recognition runs entirely on your device, so the keyboard works offline. Full Access is not required. Your input is not transmitted, and the app does not collect data. IMPORTANT — SUPPORTED LANGUAGES Handwriting recognition supports U.S. English and Japanese only. Other languages, including British English, are not supported. HOW TO GET STARTED 1. Open the Handwriting Keyboard app and tap “Open Settings.” 2. Tap “Keyboards,” then enable English (US), Japanese, or both. Full Access is not required. 3. In a text field, touch and hold the keyboard switch key, then select Handwriting. When entering a password, iOS automatically switches to the system keyboard. If text is duplicated or does not appear correctly in an app with a custom text field, turn off Inline Input in Handwriting Keyboard settings. FEATURES • Three writing layouts: Free, Rows, and Boxes • U.S. English handwriting recognition • Japanese handwriting recognition with hiragana-to-kanji conversion • Write with your finger or Apple Pencil • Palm rejection when using Apple Pencil • Works entirely offline • No Full Access required • Scribble over part of your handwriting to erase it • Strike through handwriting to erase it together • Drag recognition candidates together to combine them • Adjustable auto-enter delay • Three writing-area sizes • Customizable Return key position • Two-finger scrolling or cursor movement • Adjustable line width and background color • Text Replacement support • Dark Mode and floating keyboard support • Quick Notes home screen widget SUPPORTED RECOGNITION LANGUAGES • U.S. English • Japanese British English and all other languages are not supported. Deutsch wird nicht unterstützt. El español no es compatible. O português não é compatível. Svenska stöds inte. Le français n’est pas pris en charge. 한국어는 지원되지 않습니다. MyScript® is a trademark of MyScript.

About

Selvy PenScript

Transform your handwritten notes into digital text with advanced AI recognition. Supports over 40 languages and various handwriting styles, offering a smooth and customizable input experience.

Highlights
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Supports over 40 languages
  • Cursive handwriting support
  • Specialized ink for beautification
  • Six ink color options
  • Smooth, continuous input
Read full description

Are you fed up with keyboard typos? Do you miss handwriting on a daily basis? Selvy PenScript empowers you to use your own handwriting to input text on your iPhone. Whether your handwriting is neat, squiggly, or cursive, Selvy PenScript will recognize your handwriting based on 20 years of handwriting recognition research and technology brought to you by Selvas AI. Try it out now using either a stylus or your finger! Some of our key features include: ㆍ Specialized ink specially designed to beautify your handwriting ㆍ Six different ink colors you can choose from ㆍ Smooth, continuous input that provides a seamless handwriting experience ㆍ Recognition of over 40 languages with support for cursive handwriting ㆍ Our online handwriting service that enables you to select languages without having to download them Got a question? You can contact us through our customer center or Facebook page. ■ Customer Center: support@selvasai.comk ■ http://www.selvasai.com

Screenshots

Handwriting Keyboard2 screens
Selvy PenScript4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Selvy PenScript at Free against Handwriting Keyboard's $3.99. Selvy PenScript also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.6). Handwriting Keyboard's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Selvy PenScript is free to download; Handwriting Keyboard costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handwriting Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 96 and 120 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Handwriting Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 66% of Selvy PenScript's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handwriting Keyboard ships an update every 3 weeks, Selvy PenScript monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Handwriting Keyboard versus Selvy PenScript: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandwriting KeyboardSelvy PenScript
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (96 ratings) — better3.6 (120 ratings)
Positive reviews63.8% of reviews65.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings96120 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.68.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCatalystwoSELVAS AI Inc.

Customer experience

Handwriting Keyboard

All ratings96 ratings
Positive77.1%
Neutral7.3%
Negative15.6%
Written reviews138 reviews
Positive63.8%
Neutral13.8%
Negative22.5%

Selvy PenScript

All ratings120 ratings
Positive63.3%
Neutral9.2%
Negative27.5%
Written reviews210 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral10.5%
Negative23.8%

Bugs and requests

Handwriting Keyboard

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Selvy PenScript

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes on iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • Keyboard not appearing or switching properly
  • Floating keyboard missing buttons (backspace, enter, keyboard switcher)
  • Language selection not working (only Japanese shows despite settings)
  • Incompatible with iOS 15.1.1 and later
Show 7 more
  • Caps lock malfunction with hardware keyboards
  • Terms of Service screen blocks app startup
  • Google Docs on Safari only types one letter at a time
  • Keyboard assets disappearing in floating mode
  • Undo function loses entire sentences
  • Poor recognition with multiple languages simultaneously
  • Kanji not recognized in Japanese mode

Requested features

17 requests
  • Dark mode support
  • Larger writing area for iPad Pro
  • Apple Pencil-only input mode (disable palm detection)
  • Better punctuation and special character recognition
  • Improved undo/redo functionality
Show 12 more
  • Eraser tool for corrections
  • Arabic language support
  • Persian language support
  • Kanji support for Japanese
  • Customizable keyboard button sizes
  • Floating keyboard improvements
  • Better documentation and tutorials
  • Dedicated punctuation button
  • Ability to cross out words while writing
  • Updated UI to match Apple design standards
  • Support for iPad one-hand keyboard mode
  • Adjustable writing space position

In-app purchases

None

Handwriting Keyboard

No in-app purchases

None

Selvy PenScript

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Handwriting Keyboard free?
Handwriting Keyboard costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Selvy PenScript free?
Selvy PenScript is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Handwriting Keyboard or Selvy PenScript?
Handwriting Keyboard is rated higher. Handwriting Keyboard averages 4.0 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while Selvy PenScript averages 3.6 from 120 ratings.
Do Handwriting Keyboard or Selvy PenScript have ads?
Neither Handwriting Keyboard nor Selvy PenScript shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Handwriting Keyboard or Selvy PenScript?
Handwriting Keyboard ships an update every 3 weeks, and Selvy PenScript monthly. Most recently, Handwriting Keyboard was updated on October 24, 2026 and Selvy PenScript on October 22, 2026.

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