this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2025
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I used to hate touchscreen keyboards, but then I learned about swipe-to-text. Now I can swipe words on a digital keyboard faster than I can type them on a physical keyboard. I can't go back to pressing individual keys now unless it's on a desktop computer keyboard.
I've been trying to degoogle and this exact reason had become an obstacle. No other keyboard I've tried is as accurate at swipe typing as gboard. And I've been swiping since the feature was new, so now I'm awfully slow at key typing.
And even then i always get frustrated if the full word doesn't pop up after I've typed a few letters.
I use swipe too, but it often gives me the wrong words, and I have to manually type what I want. Also, it only works for dictionary words.
I mentioned in another comment that I'm using Gboard, which is Google's POS keyboard. It's not great (and I'm looking for better replacements currently), but it does learn words if you swipe them 3 or more times in a short time.
I have a unique first and last name that never pop up in dictionary words or common name lists, and Gboard swipes them for me now, because I've used them enough times in typing and fixed their attempt at autocorrecting it. Or if it mis-reads my swiped name, it's usually one of the suggested corrections across the top of the keyboard.
I really don't like Gboard, but it's been the best I've found lately, so I always install it on new phones and tablets as soon as I get them. I'm getting suggestions in another comment thread here for viable FOSS replacements, so I'll need to test those out.
Pretty sure Gboard purposely disables the superior replacements/suggestions if you do not agree with sharing data aka your keystrokes. Speaks a lot about it.
Started using Swype in 2011 or so. Been using swiping input ever since
Still annoyed that it was discontinued. Its usability, keyboard layout and spelling detection was so much better than what the android keyboard offers
RIP Swype
Swype Gang for life. I remember being so stoked to get in the beta.
Smartphones used to be cool.
I've been using Gboard, Google's keyboard. I don't like it and am currently trying to de-Google my life, but I haven't found a better swipe-to-text keyboard yet.
You'd think it would be easy to replace Gboard. Ever since Google started inserting AI into everything, half my words don't swipe correctly, or they'll give corrective suggestions on the top bar that are way off the mark. It was way better about 5 years ago. But it seems most keyboards are also using AI to predict swiping, so I can't find any that work better at the moment.
Check out heliboard. Open source, private, and is pottery ready to setup with glide typing using gboard's module
Swiping with Heliboard is very frustrating. In my native language, I have to rewrite 50% of the words. I've never managed to make it write "c'est" for example.
I found that I was able to purposefully train my heliboard. type the word you want it to learn, and try to swipe it right afterwards. Keep tapping the word you want in the suggested words at the top while you do this. Do that a few times and it should learn the word. I made mine type c'est in like 2 minutes, and my heliboard is configured to english and german
A good FOSS one is FUTO, which works better than Gboard I think for swipe texting. You can also do it with Heliboard (truly FOSS) if you import a library for it, which is also what I use. Let me know if you need help!
It's not FOSS https://isitreallyfoss.com/projects/futo-keyboard/ they themselves call it "source first"
Thanks! I made a reply addressing that error as well. Appreciate the source as well.
I was gonna say, I love Futo keyboard, and use it quite happily, but it's worth remembering that it's source available rather than open source
Still a great project though! I'm typing on it right now :)
Yes, I'm aware of their weird licensing but didn't want to go down a rabbit hole on what they claim vs what the consensus is. I did try to squeeze in that heliboard was "truly FOSS" to help specify in a minor manner what solution is best.
I'm happy you're here keeping me honest!
I can't figure swip texting lol. The perk of physical keys is I don't have to even look at the phone to type. I can turn text-speech on use the bumps on the keyboard
It’s easy.
So if you wanted to write the word sandwich.
You put your finger over s and then drag to a, n, d, w, I, c, h. You can do it quite fast and don’t have to be precise.
I swipe type without looking at the keys.