# MessagEase Keyboard vs Colemak

The clearest difference is rating: MessagEase Keyboard at 4.0 against Colemak's 3.1. MessagEase Keyboard also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 60%) and ratings volume (95 vs 18). Colemak's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MessagEase Keyboard has 95 ratings behind it against 18, 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 60% of Colemak's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MessagEase Keyboard | Colemak |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messagease-keyboard/id990325092/reviews)** | [3.1 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colemak/id6480046477/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **95** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | **70.1% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Exideas](https://appshunter.io/developer/320668285) | [FarFetched](https://appshunter.io/developer/1737990864) |

## 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

**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


### Colemak

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colemak/id6480046477)

This keyboard application provides an alternative typing experience with the Colemak layout, designed for increased speed and comfort on mobile devices. It offers multiple layout variations and an intuitive interface for efficient typing on the go.

**Highlights:** Alternative Colemak keyboard layout, Faster and more comfortable typing, Sleek design and user-friendly interface, Multiple layout variations (Default, OG, Colemak-DH, Tabbed, Tarmak), Open Source Software

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MessagEase Keyboard free?

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

### Is Colemak free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MessagEase Keyboard or Colemak?

MessagEase Keyboard is rated higher. MessagEase Keyboard averages 4.0 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Colemak averages 3.1 from 18 ratings.

### Do MessagEase Keyboard or Colemak have ads?

Neither MessagEase Keyboard nor Colemak shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MessagEase Keyboard or Colemak?

MessagEase Keyboard ships an update every 6 weeks, and Colemak every 6 weeks. Most recently, MessagEase Keyboard was updated on September 21, 2026 and Colemak on September 23, 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.*