Comparison

Frankie by Creativecrap vs Usage Gauge

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

Head to head
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.

About

Usage Gauge

Features
Read full description

See your AI assistant usage right on your Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets - no more opening the settings page over and over. Usage Gauge is an independent companion utility for people who subscribe to Anthropic's Claude service and want their remaining limits visible at a glance. FEATURES - 5-hour session window and 7-day weekly usage at a glance - Per-model weekly limits shown separately - Extra usage credits: amount used, limit and remaining balance - Reset countdown for every limit window - Three Lock Screen widget styles (circular, rectangular, inline) - Small and medium Home Screen widgets - Refresh button right on the widget - update instantly without opening the app - Demo Mode: try the whole app and every widget with sample data, no account needed PRIVACY FIRST - Your sign-in credential is stored encrypted in your device Keychain only - Connects only to the service's official servers - we run no servers of our own - Zero data collection, zero ads, zero tracking To show your own numbers, the app needs an account with the service (free accounts work). Demo Mode works without any account. This is an independent third-party tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic PBC. Claude and Anthropic are trademarks of Anthropic PBC, used here only to describe compatibility.

Screenshots

Frankie by Creativecrap4 screens
Usage Gauge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Usage Gauge at Free against Frankie by Creativecrap's $399.99. Usage Gauge also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). Frankie by Creativecrap's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Usage Gauge is free to download; Frankie by Creativecrap costs $399.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Frankie by Creativecrap ships an update every 3 weeks, Usage Gauge daily. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Frankie by Creativecrap versus Usage Gauge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFrankie by CreativecrapUsage Gauge
Price$399.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEthan LiuWei Cheng Chen

In-app purchases

None

Frankie by Creativecrap

No in-app purchases

None

Usage Gauge

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Frankie by Creativecrap free?
Frankie by Creativecrap costs $399.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Usage Gauge free?
Usage Gauge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Frankie by Creativecrap or Usage Gauge have ads?
Neither Frankie by Creativecrap nor Usage Gauge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Frankie by Creativecrap or Usage Gauge?
Frankie by Creativecrap ships an update every 3 weeks, and Usage Gauge daily. Most recently, Frankie by Creativecrap was updated on October 19, 2026 and Usage Gauge on October 14, 2026.

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