Gboard, the default keyboard for Pixel smartphones and many devices that use stock Android, has been at the center of a recent privacy controversy. The data collected by Google can be intercepted and tied to individual users, raising concerns about how your personal information is being used.
Luckily, you can disable some of the data-sharing settings on Gboard, but this may not be enough if you're concerned about your data being collected and potentially shared in the future. In this case, using an open-source keyboard that runs completely on device, without relying on data servers, may be a more appealing option.
There are two solid open-source alternatives to Gboard that you can consider. FUTO Keyboard is a direct Gboard replacement that looks and works like Gboard, but is completely open-source, free, and private. By default, none of your keystrokes leave your device, making it a great option for those who value their privacy.
FUTO Keyboard includes on-device AI models for text prediction and voice typing, which work completely offline and don't use any online servers. In testing, FUTO's text prediction model kept up with the author's typing and provided suggestions that were similar to Gboard. For voice typing, the app uses a lightweight Whisper-based model that runs on-device, with no servers involved.
The keyboard also gets a lot more fun when you start customizing the settings and layout. You can resize the keyboard, add a permanent numbers row to the top, an arrow bar, and change the theme to your liking. There are also fine-tuning settings for users who like adjusting every bit of how their keyboard works.
In testing, FUTO offered a smoother, more reliable typing experience compared to Gboard. The spacebar gesture, in particular, worked more consistently in FUTO than in Gboard. However, being completely private means that you lose out on cross-device support, so your personal dictionary and clipboard won't sync between all your devices.
For those who prioritize security above all else, HeliBoard is the Gboard alternative. Based on the old OpenBoard project, HeliBoard is a zero-exposure experience that asks for no network permissions whatsoever. There are no AI features to speak of, but all the basic features you'd expect from an Android keyboard are still available, including gesture typing and an on-device clipboard.
You can customize the appearance of HeliBoard to your liking, including resizing the keyboard, changing icons, and using an image as the background. The only caveat is that HeliBoard is not available in the Google Play Store, but rather the F-Droid third-party app store, where you can also find other useful open-source apps.
