Unexpected Keyboard
Hacker ApprovedRanked 7 of 12 keyboard apps by recommenders
Recommended as a free Android virtual keyboard that adds Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc and function keys, which makes it useful for terminal work alongside Termux.
Recommended as a free Android virtual keyboard that adds Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc and function keys, which makes it useful for terminal work alongside Termux.
15 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 15
- criticize it
- 0
- approval share
- 100%
Recommended in 7 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 15 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- Nobody criticizes itNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 7 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Adds Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc
“I use Unexpected Keyboard, which supports ctrl, alt, tab, and other keys needed for Unix work.”
Comment from 2 Feb 2026 in “Termux” “software keyboard that has ctrl, alt, tab, and other important techy keys”
Comment from 18 May 2026 in “I turned a $80 RK3562 Android tablet into a Debian Linux workstation” “gives me most keys including Alt, Ctrl and Esc as well as F-keys”
Comment from 2 Feb 2026 in “Termux” Pairs well with Termux
“I highly recommend using Unexpected Keyboard along with termux”
Comment from 2 Feb 2026 in “Termux” “that does look like the perfect companion app to termux”
Comment from 3 Feb 2026 in “Termux” “A unique keyboard that pairs nicely with Termux”
Comment from 17 Feb 2026 in “GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple” Good for Unix work
“I use Unexpected Keyboard, which supports ctrl, alt, tab, and other keys needed for Unix work.”
Comment from 2 Feb 2026 in “Termux” “I recommend looking into Unexpected Keyboard for a virtual Qwerty with a control key.”
Comment from 25 May 2026 in “I love my Bluetooth keyboard”
Other keyboard apps people recommend
The four most recommended other keyboard apps, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard | 59 | 43 | 58% | 10 | — | — |
| FUTO Keyboard | 51 | 22 | 70% | 12 | 1 yr4 owners | Approved |
| FUTO Swipe | 40 | 18 | 69% | 1 | — | — |
| iOS keyboard | 28 | 182 | 13% | 8 | 10 yrs9 owners | — |
| Unexpected KeyboardThis page | 15 | 0 | 100% | 7 | — | Approved |
What people said
13 of the 18 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“As someone who uses and loves Unexpected Keyboard”
“Modern replacement for Hacker's Keyboard”
“I recommend looking into Unexpected Keyboard for a virtual Qwerty with a control key.”
“software keyboard that has ctrl, alt, tab, and other important techy keys”
“A unique keyboard that pairs nicely with Termux”
“that does look like the perfect companion app to termux”
“makes it somewhat tolerable”
“I highly recommend using Unexpected Keyboard along with termux”
“I use Unexpected Keyboard, which supports ctrl, alt, tab, and other keys needed for Unix work.”
“gives me most keys including Alt, Ctrl and Esc as well as F-keys”
“I found the Unexpected Keyboard quite good.”
“The Unexpected Keyboard is a great addition”
“some keyboard like unexpected keyboard that make it easier”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.