An Android Keyboard That Doesn’t Spy - HeliBoard

13 November 2025 - 4 mins read time
Tags: FOSS Android Keyboard

HeliBoard — A Truly Private, Customizable Open-Source Keyboard for Android

If you care about privacy, customization, and open-source software, you’ve probably spent time searching for a good Android keyboard that isn’t constantly phoning home. Meet HeliBoard — a privacy-conscious and fully offline keyboard inspired by AOSP and OpenBoard, designed to put you back in control of your typing experience.

HeliBoard combines simplicity, transparency, and deep customization, all while keeping your data safe on your device.

HeliBoard Feature Graphic

What Makes HeliBoard Special?

Unlike many popular Android keyboards, HeliBoard doesn’t use Internet permission at all. That means it literally cannot send data out — your words, typing habits, and clipboard history never leave your phone.

But this keyboard isn’t just about privacy — it’s also packed with thoughtful features for power users.

Smarter Typing, On Your Terms

Add your own dictionaries for suggestions and spell-check — or use community-maintained ones for your language.
Even better, you can add emoji or scientific symbol dictionaries for smart suggestions beyond words.
For Korean users, HeliBoard provides a special compatible dictionary to make suggestions work properly.

Full Customization

Choose from built-in themes or create your own.
Customize colors, styles, and even background images.
Automatically follow your phone’s day/night mode or Material You dynamic colors (Android 12+).
Modify keyboard layouts, including symbols, numbers, and function keys — or create entirely new ones.

Multilingual & Feature-Rich

Type in multiple languages without switching keyboards.
Optional glide typing support (requires a closed-source library you can manually add).
Clipboard history for easy access to recent text.
One-handed and split keyboard modes.
Number pad and full backup/restore of settings, learned words, and typing history.

It’s everything you’d expect from a modern keyboard — just without the surveillance.

Community-Driven and Open Source

HeliBoard thrives on collaboration. You can:

Report bugs or suggest new features on GitHub Issues.
Translate the app via Weblate.
Share your creations — from custom color themes to keyboard layouts and dictionaries — with other users in GitHub Discussions.

Everything is built in the open, by people who care about user freedom and good software.

100% Free, 100% Offline

HeliBoard is open-source and licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3). This means:

You have the right to view, modify, and share the code.
Any derivative work must remain equally open and transparent.

Because it’s based on AOSP Keyboard (Apache 2.0) and OpenBoard, it inherits the solid foundation of Android’s original input system — refined and extended by the community.