I saw a post on reddit asking for open source android keyboards in recent years since a lot of the posts were older. One user recommended “Futo Keyboard”.

To be clear, I’m not affiliated with them but I’ve been trying them based on that reddit response and I just wanted to share here in case anyone else has been looking.

In short, this keyboard is about as close to awesome as you can get so far. Features I like:

  • Feels like GBOARD
  • Works fully offline
  • Gesture typing (about 75% as accurate as GBoard)
  • Built in offline speech to text (no third party engine needed to download

I’ve tried other options like heliboard and openboard and they are great too, but I think so far this has been the best I’ve tried and I wanted to recommend it on here in case anyone else is looking. Feel free to share any other setups or recommendations below!

EDIT: it was pointed out that it is source-available and not open source. Apologize for my initial assumption. The source and license can be viewed here: Futo Keyboard. It is fully open for non-commercial use. Anything commercial can have restrictions.

  • Nima@leminal.spaceEnglish
    32·
    3 days ago

    I’ve been using Heliboard for quite a bit now. its very nice and simple. I’m not sure how it would do multiple languages however, as I’ve not tried it.

    i absolutely recommend it though. great little keyboard.

    • june (she/her)@lemmy.ml
      2·
      21 hours ago

      I love that Heliboard is so simple, it feels like a properly developed keyboard without poorly implemented gimmicks.

      Also regarding language, I have a great time being able to swap between English and (my very poor) Russian.

    • psyspoop@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Awesome suggestion. Just started using this (was on Swiftkey) and it’s awesome, especially after adding in the library for glide typing.

    • Evkob (they/them)@lemmy.ca
      7·
      3 days ago

      I’m not sure how it would do multiple languages however, as I’ve not tried it.

      As someone who types the majority of my thoughts in Frenglish, Heliboard is the only FOSS keyboard I’ve found that would remotely accommodate that while still having useful autocorrect.

      • ChilledPeppers@lemmy.world
        3·
        3 days ago

        I speak three languages (all of them badly), and I agree, I just have to long press space and select the language I’m typing in if I want correction or suggestions.

    • dustyData@lemmy.world
      7·
      3 days ago

      I’ve tried it. I like that they’re carrying the torch of OpenBoard, but I don’t like that swipe typing requires manually downloading a third party library.