If you're still using Android's default keyboard, you're missing out on a genuinely better alternative

Most people are conscious of the apps they install on their Android smartphones, owing to privacy concerns. However, there are also apps we don't consider apps per se; the keyboard app on your smartphone is the best example.

Because you tend to use the keyboard interface from the moment you set up your smartphone, it is often seen as an integral part of your device. Therefore, most people don't even bother switching from the default keyboard app.

As it happens, though, you may be losing on both privacy and productivity fronts by sticking to the default keyboard app on your device!

The moment I stopped trusting my keyboard

Turns out the thing I typed everything into had opinions about my data

Depending on the default keyboard — Gboard or something else —, you may be exposing yourself to several issues while also limiting the options you have. You should also understand how a keyboard app has access to your most sensitive information before any other app does. The passwords you enter and your personal information are examples of such data that your keyboard app can access.

The idea that everything I type is sent to a third-party server for autocorrect and prediction training is also unsettling. On top of all these, you may be getting subpar features that offer a suboptimal typing experience on Android. When you consider these pointers, an open-source, offline-first keyboard app sounds like heaven, doesn't it?

Well, this is what FUTO Keyboard proposes! Since trying out this fully offline, privacy-focused keyboard for Android, I've always wondered why I took so long to make the shift.

The privacy-first keyboard I'd been scrolling past

A one-time purchase if you want that option

Though I had come across FUTO Keyboard before, I'd scrolled past it most of the time. For what it's worth, FUTO Keyboard is not the only offline-first Android keyboard app. However, this time, I wanted more than the assurance that everything would stay within my device. So, even though FUTO Keyboard is not fully open source, I wanted to try it.

Now, what makes FUTO Keyboard exceptional is that it doesn't show you ads or sell your data, whether you pay for it. It instead operates as honorware, meaning users can (or cannot) pay for it. I also found the keyboard easily accessible across multiple platforms, including the Play Store, FUTO's website, and F-Droid. So, even if you have de-Googled your Android smartphone, you can download and set up this keyboard.

As for getting started, FUTO Keyboard offers an impressive typing experience out of the box. You don't have to worry about complex setups or APIs, either. On the contrary, the keyboard and transactions do not leave your device at any point. The app doesn't ask for any problematic permissions either.

Offline voice typing is FUTO's real argument

I tested it in airplane mode just to be sure

One thing that sets FUTO Keyboard apart is its offline voice typing option. Now, I've regularly used tools like Wispr Flow for speech-to-text, but they send my data to the cloud. Similarly, while Gboard's voice typing is decent, it gets many things wrong more often than it would admit. In this situation, effective voice typing that works without an internet connection is a blessing.

You can set up offline voice typing on FUTO Keyboard by downloading and selecting a transcription model. Currently, it offers three options that vary in accuracy and speed. The setup process is straightforward, and the results are also impressive. There are times when the keyboard gets a word or two wrong, but that is still far better than my experience with options like Gboard.

The ability to type without opening a third-party interface or leaving the keyboard app is indeed a convenience. However, I should warn you that you cannot expect advanced punctuation or other fancy features. Depending on the model, there could be a slight delay between speaking and transcription, though.

Despite these small caveats, what matters most here is that you get offline voice typing without an internet connection. I've tried this option with airplane mode on as well, and the ability to explore different languages and models is also pretty great.

What daily typing actually feels like

Swipe input, the settings worth changing, and the adjustment period

Even though offline voice typing alone is a strong reason to use FUTO Keyboard over anything else, other features enhance the overall typing experience. For instance, you can use the power of glide typing to get things done faster, thanks to the powerful engine that the keyboard uses.

It is also convenient that you can customize a lot of aspects of this keyboard, including key height, theme, clipboard access, number row behavior, etc. You also have a couple of control options for how the keyboard behaves in different situations, such as when you're entering passwords. I also love the four keyboard behaviors you can choose from: Standard, One Hand, Split, and Float.

Some advanced buttons on the keyboard interface make FUTO Keyboard a suitable option for editing text, and it offers smooth, intuitive movement between letters with the space bar. I also love the built-in text editor interface, which makes it easy to edit content.

While all these features are great, what keeps me using FUTO Keyboard is the idea that nothing I type leaves the phone. I have tried other free keyboards before, but they all resort to third-party servers whenever we need features like voice typing or glide typing. In the case of FUTO Keyboard, however, I do not have to worry about this aspect. Whether I pay for the app or not, this keyboard keeps everything on my device.

A few places where it falls short

There are certain areas where FUTO Keyboard doesn't perform as well as other options, and autocorrect is one of them. This might be a caveat if you are coming from a place like Gboard or something more popular like SwiftKey. I also feel some might be affected by the lack of support for GIFs and stickers.

However, you should also ask whether these two options matter more than better privacy and customization in the long run. If they don't, choosing FUTO Keyboard over your default keyboard app shouldn't be much of a hassle.