# Google Keyboard

11 Hacker News commenters recommended Google Keyboard and 8 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it for its functionality, swipe typing and preference over the iOS keyboard. Critics say autocorrect has slipped and it sometimes changes behaviour without notice.

## Why people recommend it

- Preferred over iOS and other keyboards (4 comments): "it was such a breath of fresh air when it actually accepted the keys" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49701641)) "I prefer the Android keyboard in every single way" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47008407)) "I find it's a lot better." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47008124))
- Strong functionality and swipe typing (2 comments): "The privacy it offers is a nice touch, and its functionality unmatched." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46781314)) "enable swipe typing, it works really well" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47841108))

## What people warn about

- Autocorrect quality has declined (3 comments): "Both Apple and Android have regressed in quality and it's only possible because of a duopoly." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47008076)) "Every year or two, Google Keyboard on Android makes it its purpose to screw up" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47663171)) "the android autocorrect got so much worse at some point" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46235300))
- Not among the best keyboards (2 comments): "The default Android one is decent, but not among the best." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49820127)) "Google Keyboard came much later but lacked some of the smoothing and tappiness of the Apple one" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50118946))
- Features change without notice (2 comments): "Every year or two, Google Keyboard on Android makes it its purpose to screw up" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47663171)) "Google Keyboard used to do this, but mysteriously doesn't do it anymore." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48652257))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Heliboard](https://hackerapproved.com/p/heliboard.md): 17 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Google Keyboard", https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-keyboard/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).