Comparison

Symbol Keypad for Texting vs Formalize Light

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

Head to head
About

Symbol Keypad for Texting

Easily insert a vast array of Unicode symbols and characters into your text messages and other applications. Explore thousands of symbols to express your information uniquely and enhance your communication.

Highlights
  • Access over 50,000 Unicode characters
  • Thousands of unique symbols available
  • Insert symbols into texts and other apps
  • Express information uniquely
  • Enhance communication with special characters
Read full description

Are you interested in Unicode symbols? There are over 50,000 characters and thousands of symbols. They can express your information totally.

About

Formalize Light

This utility app provides a keyboard extension for typing mathematical formulas on iOS devices. It offers easy access to over 100 symbols and generates professionally typeset equations that can be converted to TeX.

Highlights
  • Mathematical keyboard extension
  • Over 100 symbols
  • One-handed access
  • Professionally typeset formulas
  • Convert formulas to TeX
  • Insert formulas into any app
Features
Read full description

Do you wish you could properly type math on your iPhone or iPad? With Formalize, you can! Formalize is a keyboard extension for mathematical content. It provides intuitive one-handed access to more than 100 symbols and produces professionally typeset formulas. Easily convert your formulas to PNG* or TeX and insert them anywhere, in any app! * Not available in Formalize Light

Screenshots

Symbol Keypad for Texting4 screens
Formalize Light1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Symbol Keypad for Texting at 81% against Formalize Light's 17%. Symbol Keypad for Texting also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 12 months). Formalize Light's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Symbol Keypad for Texting holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Symbol Keypad for Texting has 1.6K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Symbol Keypad for Texting's written reviews are positive against 17% of Formalize Light's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Symbol Keypad for Texting ships an update fortnightly, Formalize Light every 12 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Symbol Keypad for Texting versus Formalize Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSymbol Keypad for TextingFormalize Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.6K ratings) — better2.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews81.3% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better4
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 12 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.010.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer山 钟Ben Hambrecht

Customer experience

Symbol Keypad for Texting

All ratings1,552 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews150 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral4.7%
Negative14.0%

Formalize Light

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Symbol Keypad for Texting

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Keyboard not showing up properly on iPad
  • Favorites and history not syncing correctly
  • Some symbols not displaying correctly after iOS updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more symbols, especially common fractions and Egyptian hieroglyphics
  • Improve search functionality and navigation
  • Add iPad support and optimize the UI for larger screens
  • Allow customization of favorite symbols and their placement
  • Provide an option to disable the dark mode

Formalize Light

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Symbol Keypad for Texting

No in-app purchases

None

Formalize Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Symbol Keypad for Texting free?
Symbol Keypad for Texting is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Formalize Light free?
Formalize Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Symbol Keypad for Texting or Formalize Light?
Symbol Keypad for Texting is rated higher. Symbol Keypad for Texting averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Formalize Light averages 2.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Symbol Keypad for Texting or Formalize Light have ads?
Symbol Keypad for Texting shows ads; Formalize Light does not.
Which is updated more often, Symbol Keypad for Texting or Formalize Light?
Symbol Keypad for Texting ships an update fortnightly, and Formalize Light every 12 months. Most recently, Symbol Keypad for Texting was updated on October 24, 2026 and Formalize Light on October 24, 2026.

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