# MessagEase Keyboard vs The Banana Split Keyboard

The clearest difference is rating: MessagEase Keyboard at 4.0 against The Banana Split Keyboard's 1.0. MessagEase Keyboard also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 29%) and ratings volume (97 vs 1). The Banana Split Keyboard's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

MessagEase Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MessagEase Keyboard has 97 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of MessagEase Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 29% of The Banana Split Keyboard's.

MessagEase Keyboard ships an update monthly, The Banana Split Keyboard weekly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MessagEase Keyboard | The Banana Split Keyboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messagease-keyboard/id990325092/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-banana-split-keyboard/id1465495793/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **97** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **70.1% of reviews** | 29.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 11 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Exideas](https://appshunter.io/developer/320668285) | [Student Driver, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1087069084) |

## What reviewers say

### MessagEase Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messagease-keyboard/id990325092)

An innovative, non-QWERTY keyboard designed for touchscreens based on scientific research. It features large keys with optimized letter placement for faster, more accurate typing. Learning games and customization options are included.

**Highlights:** Non-QWERTY keyboard layout, Optimized letter assignment, Tap and drag input, Learning games included, Customizable keyboard size, shape, and color, Supports multiple languages

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Significantly faster typing speed than QWERTY keyboards
- 💡 Innovative one-handed keyboard design optimized for touchscreens
- 👍 Large buttons reduce typing errors and improve accuracy
- 🎮 All characters (letters, numbers, symbols) accessible on single screen
- ⚙️ Highly customizable layout, colors, and keyboard size

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Keyboard randomly resizes to full screen without user control
- 🐛 Inconsistent swipe gesture recognition
- ⚠️ Steep learning curve requires significant practice
- ❌ Missing features compared to Android version
- 🔧 Lacks word prediction and autocorrect functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard expands to full screen and cannot be resized
- Keyboard fails to appear in Apple apps (Notes, Safari, Skype)
- Swipe gestures registered as clicks
- Keyboard crashes on iOS 26.x and iOS 16.x versions
- Settings reset or don't persist between sessions

**Requested features**

- Word prediction and autocorrect
- Resizable keyboard with size locking option
- Copy/paste/select-all gesture shortcuts (like Android version)
- Voice dictation support
- Better cursor navigation controls


### The Banana Split Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-banana-split-keyboard/id1465495793)

This split keyboard app for iPad offers an ergonomic design for faster, more functional touch typing. It includes customizable color schemes and word substitution features to enhance the typing experience.

**Highlights:** Functional ergonomic design, Switchable word substitution, 10+ Monochromatic Color Schemes, Designed for iPad

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MessagEase Keyboard free?

MessagEase Keyboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Banana Split Keyboard free?

The Banana Split Keyboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MessagEase Keyboard or The Banana Split Keyboard?

MessagEase Keyboard is rated higher. MessagEase Keyboard averages 4.0 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while The Banana Split Keyboard averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do MessagEase Keyboard or The Banana Split Keyboard have ads?

Neither MessagEase Keyboard nor The Banana Split Keyboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MessagEase Keyboard or The Banana Split Keyboard?

MessagEase Keyboard ships an update monthly, and The Banana Split Keyboard weekly. Most recently, MessagEase Keyboard was updated on October 29, 2026 and The Banana Split Keyboard on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*