Comparison

Handwriting Keyboard vs TypingTalk AAC

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
Currently charting
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

TypingTalk AAC

This communication aid allows users to type text and have it spoken aloud via text-to-speech. It offers a wide selection of voices and languages, customizable phrase buttons with visual aids, and options for offline use and device syncing.

Highlights
  • Text-to-speech playback
  • Extensive voice and language options
  • Customizable quick phrases with visual aids
  • Offline voice support
  • Personal Voice creation
  • Phrase syncing across devices
Features
Read full description

This app provides an easy-to-use interface to play back the text you type as text-to-speech audio. It's made to be used as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Some features: Voices • Select from all the voice styles & languages on your device • Choose between offline voices and Internet voices from Google, spanning 200+ voices in 60 languages. No download or login required • Supports Personal Voice on newer devices, letting you create an offline text-to-speech voice that sounds like you (English & Mandarin only) • Save your favorite voice settings in a convenient list Phrases • Save & categorize quick phrases to play back with a tap. Rearrange & color code your phrases • Create separate groups of phrases for every language you use • Add pictures, emoji labels, and/or alternate text to phrases • Search for free symbols on the online ARASAAC library to add to your buttons • Show text above or below pictures • Record, import and edit sound clips for your phrases • Create boards with any custom grid size from 1×1 to 16×16 • Save your phrases to a file, so you can backup or share with others • Sync with other devices using a Google Drive account • Print out your boards for a simple, low-tech solution Misc. • Speak individual characters, words or sentences as you type them • Auto clear the text field after pressing play • Play spoken text over phone calls (offline voices only) • Share audio clips as voice messages to other apps • Look at a history of messages you've played while using the app • Customize font size, text field size, button size, etc. to your liking. Save and load the layouts you create • Layout automatically adapts to all screen sizes, small & large • Convenient design where any action takes just a few taps • Light & dark modes This app is for anyone who needs help speaking, including those with conditions such as verbal apraxia, aphasia, autism, anxiety, & selective mutism, among others. Even if you've only temporarily lost your voice, or just want to play with text-to-speech, this app's for you! Please feel free to share feedback on how it’s working for you & how it can be more accessible, either at support@miyanour.com or with a review. Enjoy! Made with love by an AAC user with selective mutism. Visit my website at https://miyanour.com to help me keep providing updates. Thank you so much for your support. Apple Standard Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Handwriting Keyboard2 screens
TypingTalk AAC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TypingTalk AAC at Free against Handwriting Keyboard's $3.99. TypingTalk AAC also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 64%). Handwriting Keyboard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#189 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads and device support 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

TypingTalk AAC is free to download; Handwriting Keyboard costs $3.99 up front. TypingTalk AAC sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Handwriting Keyboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TypingTalk AAC holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 96 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Handwriting Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 100% of TypingTalk AAC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handwriting Keyboard ships an update every 3 weeks, TypingTalk AAC monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Handwriting Keyboard versus TypingTalk AAC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandwriting KeyboardTypingTalk AAC
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (96 ratings)5.0 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings96 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#189 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.6 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCatalystwoSamiya Noureen

Customer experience

Handwriting Keyboard

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

TypingTalk AAC

All ratings18 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Handwriting Keyboard

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

TypingTalk AAC

Subscriptions2
  • Donate monthly$0.991 Month
  • Donate monthly$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Donate one-time$7.99

Questions

Is Handwriting Keyboard free?
Handwriting Keyboard costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TypingTalk AAC free?
TypingTalk AAC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Handwriting Keyboard or TypingTalk AAC?
TypingTalk AAC is rated higher. Handwriting Keyboard averages 4.0 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while TypingTalk AAC averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.
Do Handwriting Keyboard or TypingTalk AAC have ads?
Neither Handwriting Keyboard nor TypingTalk AAC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Handwriting Keyboard or TypingTalk AAC?
Handwriting Keyboard ships an update every 3 weeks, and TypingTalk AAC monthly. Most recently, Handwriting Keyboard was updated on October 26, 2026 and TypingTalk AAC on October 28, 2026.

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