Third-party iPhone keyboards have come a long way since their first release. They're more reliable and offer features far beyond the default iPhone keyboard.

Using a third-party keyboard, you can access more emojis and features like gesture typing, GIF search, spell checking, web search, etc. Plus, they include a huge array of themes, customization, and font options.

So, let's quickly look at how to install a third-party keyboard on your iPhone and then go through some of the best keyboards for your iPhone below.

How to Install Third-Party Keyboards in iOS

Although there are already tips and tricks to use your iPhone's default keyboard, third-party keyboard apps are a fun way to change the font on your iPhone when you're messaging someone or use it in your social media bios and captions.

But before you can start using a third-party keyboard, you need to enable it in your iPhone's settings first. Once you've installed a keyboard app from the App Store, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and select the one you installed.

Then, tap on the keyboard's name and toggle on Allow Full Access (to enable features like GIF search and emoji suggestions).

To switch to the new board, open the keyboard in any app, then long-press on the Globe button at the bottom-left corner. Select the newly installed keyboard from the list to switch to it.

Now that you know how to install a third-party keyboard on your iPhone, let's check out the best iPhone keyboards you can try!

1. Gboard

Gboard for iPhone

Google created the best all-in-one keyboard app for the iPhone. It gives you stellar autocomplete options, gesture typing, GIF search, emoji suggestions, stickers, and themes. Not to mention the always-present Google search right on the keyboard.

How often do you open Safari just to look something up on Google and share the link in a chat? Tap on the G button in Gboard and start searching. You can change your search to YouTube and Google Maps as well. Once you find the result, just tap on it to paste it into a messaging thread.

You can choose between a dark theme and a landscape theme, or create one using your own image as a background. There are also some Gboard settings you can use to improve your typing.

Download: Gboard (Free)

2. SwiftKey

Swiftkey for iPhone

SwiftKey is similar to Gboard but lacks the integrated Google search. It has a more refined user interface for searching GIFs and emojis.

The best aspect of SwiftKey is its gesture typing and how it intelligently adapts to your writing style.

Download: SwiftKey (Free)

3. Fonts Art

fonts art iphone keyboard

With more than 300,000 ratings on the App Store, Fonts Art is one of the best keyboards for your iPhone.

It offers three main keyboard themes: Light, Dark, and Bright. The keyboard has nine languages, with different font styles available for each language. You can create your own keyboard theme and font for free, too!

Fonts Art also serves as a neat kaomoji and GIF keyboard. Additional features of the app include themes to customize your iPhone Home Screen and Instagram story templates.

Download: Fonts Art (Free, subscription available)

4. Facemoji Keyboard

facemoji keyboard for iphone

If you love all things kawaii, Facemoji is definitely the best iPhone keyboard app for you. This is where you can get keyboard themes that include anime, chonky animal cartoons, chibi drawings of K-pop stars, and familiar characters such as the Avocado.

In addition to offering around 50 font styles, Facemoji Keyboard has one of the largest selections of text art. Like Fonts Art, it also serves as a good kaomoji and GIF keyboard app for your iPhone.

On the free version of Facemoji, you can unlock new fonts by completing tasks such as sharing the app with your friends.

Download: Facemoji Keyboard (Free, subscription available)

5. Keyboard Fonts++

keyboard fonts for iphone

Keyboard Fonts++ offers more than 40 font styles as well as a variety of symbols and kaomojis. You can find premade dividers and frames made from those symbols and characters.

In contrast to the adorable, cartoon-filled themes in Facemoji, the keyboard themes in Keyboard Fonts++ are mostly monochrome, so you'll find themes such as Fairy Purple, Autumn, and Dark Green. It's suitable for those who prefer a minimalist keyboard look.

The app also lets you change the keyboard layout. For example, instead of the usual QWERTY keyboard, you can switch to French (AZERTY) and German (QWERTZ).

Download: Keyboard Fonts++ (Free, subscription available)

6. RainbowKey

RainbowKey for iPhone

RainbowKey gives you a couple of themes for free, but to access more than a thousand themes, you must subscribe for $10/month.

The customization options in RainbowKey are awesome. They're a simple way to create a fun keyboard, especially if you're into fancy fonts. The customization process lets you pick a background, key design, fonts, effects, and sounds.

There are lots of possibilities for creating something truly unique in those options. For example, you can craft your own version of a Mario keyboard using a green background, playful red fonts, and Mario effects.

RainbowKey also makes it easy to add fresh fonts. After you've activated the keyboard, tap on the F icon. You'll see font styles listed here. Tap on a style like Bubbles, Curved, or Circled to activate it. This is a fun way to emphasize parts of the messages and stand out online.

Download: RainbowKey (Free, subscription available)

7. Better Fonts

better fonts iphone keyboard

Better Fonts is an app created to help you type in funky and fancy fonts. Open the app and select the font types you want to include in the keyboard. You'll find a dozen options for free and can unlock all fonts with a subscription.

After activating the keyboard, tap on the F button to select the font and start typing. The text will now show up in the font that you selected.

Download: Better Fonts (Free, in-app purchases available)

8. GIF Keyboard by Tenor

GIF Keyboard for iPhone

GIF Keyboard is a must-have if you enjoy sending GIFs while texting. It's amazing how many features the app manages to cram into the keyboard view. After you open the app once and log into your account, everything takes place from the keyboard view.

You can search for a GIF, explore categories, save them to a collection, or send one in a chat right from the keyboard. Use the heart button to add GIFs to your favorites and easily access your top GIFs.

One of its coolest features is the caption tool. After selecting a GIF, you can add text to make it even more personal and hilarious.

Download: GIF Keyboard (Free)

9. Fonts

fonts keyboard for iphone

The Fonts app has a wide range of keyboard themes, including animals, pastel, space, and zodiac. But you can also create a keyboard theme using pictures from your iPhone's photo gallery.

In terms of font options, Fonts will be a great app for you if you already love the stylish fonts from Canva. You'll find many familiar Canva font styles, such as Sacramento, Indie, and Luckiest.

Another unique feature of the Fonts keyboard is the many text art made from symbols and emojis, allowing you to conveniently send a message containing a symbol-constructed cat or a large hilarious "No" made solely from emojis.

Download: Fonts (Free, subscription available)

10. Grammarly

grammarly for iphone

Grammarly is a handy tool to keep around. When you draft an important message or reply to work emails on your iPhone, switch to Grammarly. The app will provide smart auto-suggestions and help autocorrect spelling mistakes.

Since Grammarly is known for its grammar check, the feature being an integral part of the app should come as no surprise. Once you're done typing, tap on the G button, and Grammarly will analyze the entire text field. It will point out grammatical errors you should fix before sending the message.

Download: Grammarly (Free, subscription available)

Get the Best Keyboards for Your iPhone

If you've only used the stock iPhone keyboard, it's time for more. Because iOS makes it so easy to quickly switch between keyboards, we suggest you install two or three different keyboards and switch based on your needs.

Other than Gboard, try GIF Keyboard, Fonts Art, Grammarly, and other top iPhone keyboard apps we listed here to cover all the bases of fun and productivity.