From Gboard to CleverType: Why 4 Million Users Made the Switch

Why Are So Many People Leaving Gboard?

Gboard is on more Android phones than any other keyboard. It comes pre-loaded, it's free, it works fine. So why are millions of people actively searching for a Gboard alternative and making the switch?

The short answer: Gboard was built to type. Not to write.

There's a real difference between the two. Typing means getting characters on screen. Writing means communicating clearly, professionally, with the right tone—whether you're texting your boss, replying to a client email, or messaging someone in their native language. Gboard handles the first part fine. The second part? Not so much.

Here's where users consistently hit a wall:

• No grammar checking — autocorrect fixes obvious typos, nothing more
• No tone adjustment — you can't make a message sound more formal or more casual
• No AI replies — you get basic Smart Reply chips, but nothing contextual or editable
• No translation — you have to leave the app, use Google Translate, copy, paste, go back
• Privacy concerns — Google collects typing data by default through its "Share usage statistics" feature

That last point deserves its own section—and we'll get there. But first: what does a modern AI keyboard app actually look like compared to what Gboard offers?

The numbers say the same thing. According to Business of Apps, AI app downloads hit 1.49 billion in 2024—up 91.8% year-over-year. People aren't just curious about AI keyboards anymore. They're actually switching.

The Privacy Problem With Gboard That Nobody Talks About

Here's a question most people never think to ask: where does your typing go?

When you type on Gboard, there's a setting called "Share usage statistics" that's on by default. Google has worked on privacy-preserving methods for keyboard input—they'll tell you that—but your typing data still gets used to improve their models. That's just how it works.

And that actually matters a lot more than most people realize. Your keyboard sees everything. Passwords (before you paste them). Bank details. Personal messages. Medical questions you typed and then deleted. Work emails still in draft. All of it.

A privacy evaluation by Common Sense Media digs into exactly these concerns with Gboard. And research shows 67% of keyboard users have no clue whether their typing data is being collected or sold. That's... not great.

CleverType does the opposite. Grammar checking, tone analysis, AI suggestions—processed on-device where possible. What you type doesn't have to leave your phone to get smart help. That's a meaningfully different approach, and it's one of the first things people mention when they explain why they switched.

For anyone dealing with confidential work—healthcare, legal, finance, or honestly just anyone who's thought about it—this isn't some minor setting preference. It's a dealbreaker.

What CleverType Actually Does That Gboard Doesn't

Let's get specific, because "AI keyboard" gets thrown around constantly. What does CleverType actually do differently, day to day?

Grammar Fix is probably the most-used feature. You type a message—maybe you rushed it, maybe English isn't your first language—and CleverType flags the issues right there and suggests fixes. Not just spelling. Actual grammar: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, that comma you definitely misplaced.

Tone Change is genuinely hard to explain until you've actually used it. You type "can you send me that file asap" and CleverType rewrites it as something like "Would you be able to send me that file at your earliest convenience?"—or flip it the other way and make a stiff message sound more human. One tap. Done.

AI Replies are a step above the "Sure!" and "Sounds good!" chips Gboard gives you. CleverType actually reads the message you got and generates real, contextual responses you can edit. Accept it, tweak it, or ask for a different version entirely.

Translation happens right inside the keyboard. Type in English, it comes out in Spanish—or any of 100+ other languages. No copy-paste, no switching apps. Honestly, this one feature alone is why a lot of multilingual users make the switch.

ChatGPT on the keyboard means you can ask questions, get summaries, draft stuff—without leaving whatever app you're in. According to Android Police's roundup of the best keyboard apps, having AI built directly into the keyboard—rather than shoved into a separate app—is exactly what power users are looking for now.

The main thing to get here: these aren't novelty features you try once and forget. Once people start using them, they use them constantly.

CleverType vs Gboard: A Side-by-Side Breakdown

Anyone searching for the best Android keyboard or best iPhone keyboard right now is usually trying to answer one question: is this actually worth switching for? So let's just compare.

Speed and Predictions

Gboard is fast. No question about it. The swipe typing is smooth, predictions get decent once it knows your vocabulary. CleverType's swipe and tap typing is roughly comparable in raw speed—but it layers AI suggestions on top rather than just replacing the basic typing experience.

Writing Quality

Here's where the gap actually shows. Gboard helps you type faster. CleverType helps you write better. For anyone sending work emails, client messages, or anything where the words matter—that's a real, noticeable difference. Research on AI writing tools shows people using AI-assisted writing tools make 85% fewer errors than those on standard keyboards.

Privacy Architecture

Platform Support

Both work on Android. CleverType also works on iOS — an important point since Gboard's iPhone experience has historically been limited. The best iPhone keyboard question often lands on CleverType because it offers the same full feature set on both platforms.

Customisation

Both offer themes and layout options. CleverType's customisation goes deeper, including font size, key height, and haptic feedback tuning.

How to Switch From Gboard to CleverType (Step by Step)

Switching keyboards is genuinely one of the easiest changes you can make on your phone. Most people assume it's complicated — it takes about 90 seconds.

On Android:

1. Download CleverType from the Play Store
2. Open your phone's Settings → General Management (or System)
3. Tap Language and Input → Default Keyboard
4. Select CleverType from the list
5. Done — open any app and start typing

On iPhone:

1. Download CleverType from the App Store
2. Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards
3. Tap Add New Keyboard → Select CleverType
4. Tap CleverType in the list → Enable Allow Full Access
5. Hold the globe icon while typing to switch keyboards

The "Allow Full Access" step on iOS is worth noting: it's required for any third-party keyboard to work fully, not just CleverType. Apple's own documentation explains why this permission exists.

Tip for the first week: keep Gboard installed but set CleverType as your default. If you ever want to switch back mid-message, tap the globe icon. Most people stop using Gboard within a few days.

Who Is Actually Switching, and Why?

The 4 million users who've moved to CleverType aren't all the same type of person. Here's a breakdown of who's switching and what they're after.

Non-native English speakers are one of the biggest groups. When English isn't your first language, autocorrect doesn't cut it. You need grammar help, you need tone guidance, and you need translation without breaking your flow. CleverType does all three in one place. Research from Pew Research Center has documented that smartphone keyboards are increasingly critical communication tools for multilingual populations.

Remote workers and professionals switched because they spend hours a day writing emails, Slack messages, and reports on their phones. The difference between Gboard and CleverType for this group is basically the difference between a notepad and a writing assistant. Tone control and grammar checking save real time.

Privacy-conscious users switched after learning about Gboard's data sharing. Once you know your keyboard is collecting input data, it's hard to unknow. CleverType's on-device model is a genuine alternative for people who care.

Students use the grammar fix and rewrite features constantly — for emails to professors, assignment submissions, and anything where they need to sound more professional than their usual texting style.

Multilingual users — people who regularly text in two or more languages — find the translation and multi-language support genuinely changes how they communicate.

The Broader Shift: AI Keyboards Are Now Normal

A few years ago, saying "I use an AI keyboard" would've sounded weird. Now it's just... what people do. The market data is clear on this.

AI app downloads grew 91.8% in a single year (2024). AI app revenue hit $1.2 billion, up 179% year-over-year. The demand for smarter tools on mobile isn't slowing down — it's accelerating. The Verge has covered this shift extensively, noting that on-device AI is now a key differentiator for mobile apps.

What changed? A few things:

1. LLMs got small enough to run on-device — processors in 2024 phones have dedicated NPUs (neural processing units) that can run AI inference without sending data to a server
2. User expectations changed — people who use ChatGPT on their computer now expect similar help everywhere
3. Competition pushed quality up — CleverType and other keyboard with AI features improved dramatically because users demanded it

Android Authority's review of keyboard alternatives noted a clear trend: users increasingly want keyboards that do more than type. Grammar help, tone adjustment, and AI writing assistance are becoming table stakes, not premium features.

Gboard is responding. Google added Gemini integration to Gboard in late 2025. But it's opt-in, limited in scope, and — crucially — still tied to Google's data infrastructure. The privacy concern doesn't go away just because the feature got smarter.

CleverType built around privacy from day one. That's a harder advantage to copy than a feature.

Is CleverType Worth It? Honest Assessment

Fair question. Let's not oversell this.

CleverType isn't perfect. If you've used Gboard for years, the first day or two feels slightly different — muscle memory is real. Some users find the AI suggestions occasionally too eager, popping up when you didn't need help. The settings panel has more options than a casual user needs.

But the things it does well, it does meaningfully well:

What CleverType does better than Gboard:

• Grammar and writing quality, not just spelling
• Privacy — your typing data isn't feeding Google's models
• Tone adjustment for professional vs. casual contexts
• Translation without leaving the app
• AI replies that are actually contextual
• Full feature parity on iPhone and Android

What Gboard still does well:

• Very fast swipe typing with years of refinement
• Deep Google ecosystem integration (Search, Translate app, Lens)
• No setup required — it's already on most Android phones

Who should switch:

• Anyone who writes professional messages on their phone
• Non-native English speakers who want writing assistance
• Privacy-conscious users who don't want Google processing their input
• Multilingual users who need translation inline

Who might stick with Gboard:

• Casual users who mostly text friends and don't need grammar help
• People deeply invested in the Google ecosystem
• Users who prioritise zero-setup over extra features

The honest take: if your keyboard is a tool you use 50+ times a day, the upgrade is worth it. If you're typing "ok" and "on my way" most of the time, the difference is smaller.

Download CleverType from the Play Store and try it for a week. The switch takes 90 seconds and you can always revert.

Frequently Asked Questions