Writing numbers with words can be a challenge on mobile keyboard applications. Usually, you have to press and hold the letters to write a number, or switch to number formatting. However, the first method takes a long time and the second requires multiple switches. What if you could have a dedicated number row above the letters, just like on the default virtual keyboard? This would make it easy to quickly write numbers and letters.
1. Gboard:
If you have an Android phone, you will find that the keyboard has a number row. This is because basic Android phones come pre-installed with the Gboard keyboard. Here, you can enable or disable the number row by going to the keyboard settings, then “Preferences,” and turn on the “Number row” toggle.
By the way, Gboard is free to download and can be installed on any phone. It is known for supporting multiple languages, amazing word prediction feature, built-in Google search, support for stickers, location sharing, GIFs, emojis, customization, and many other great features.
2. SwiftKey:
SwiftKey is another popular keyboard that supports a number row. It is one of the best competitors to Gboard, offering similar features such as multi-language support, word prediction, emojis, GIF support, search, themes, and a slight edge over Gboard with its clipboard feature.
To enable the number row, go to the keyboard settings, click on “Typing,” then press the keys and enable the “Row,” or enable the number row from the available shortcuts settings by clicking on Settings, where the app also allows you to customize the location of the number row on the symbol layout screen.
3. Chrooma:
Chrooma is an adaptive and beautiful keyboard app that changes the keyboard color based on the app you are using. What sets this keyboard apart is that the number row is scrollable, a feature known as gestures. When you swipe left or right on the row, the app reveals more customization options from settings. You can have clipboard buttons, emoji row, word row, custom letter rows, and to enable the number row, click on the settings icon on the keyboard, then go to basic settings and turn on the “Action row” for numbers and other options as desired.
Some features that come with this keyboard are support for gesture typing, dark mode feature, clipboard, spell check, GIF support, text search feature, and many other advantages.
4. Grammarly:
You may have heard of Grammarly as an online grammar checking tool, but this tool is now available as a keyboard app known as Grammarly. It is one of the few keyboards that offer a dedicated number row. To show the number row, open Grammarly settings and click on Keyboard Look and Feel, then activate the “Numbers row.”
It is worth noting that Grammarly keyboard does not offer as many features as the mentioned apps above. It is also limited in terms of languages and themes. However, if you want error-free writing with a number row, Grammarly keyboard is the right choice for you.
5. TouchPal :
TouchPal keyboard allows you to activate the number row by clicking on the TouchPal logo on the keyboard followed by NumRow Off. The app offers clipboard feature, emoji support, GIF support, predictive emojis, multi-language support. In comparison to Gboard and SwiftKey, the downside is that this keyboard comes with ads, and to remove them you need to switch to the paid version which gives you other benefits like themes and cloud predictions.
6. AnySoftKeyboard :
The last app in this article is a small keyboard that packs many features, including a separate number row. To activate the latter, go to settings (long press on emoji symbol) followed by User Interface (color palette key), then click on “Tweaks and more” and press “Common top general row.” Here, select number keys.
Lastly, with gesture support, this keyboard offers some customizations like volume level, shortcut editor, power-saving settings, and more. You can even use volume keys to navigate through the cursor.
