Desh Hindi Keyboard is the keyboard most Hindi-typing users in India found first. Type “namaste” in English letters, get “नमस्ते” back. The transliteration engine is accurate, the sticker pack is local, and the install count, north of 27 million, says people use it. The catch is what the app shows you between sentences. Banner ads in the candidate row, full-screen prompts to install partner apps, and analytics calls that fire every time you change language. Users on r/India and r/AndroidIndia keep asking the same thing: “what is a cleaner Desh Hindi Keyboard alternative?”
We tested seven Hindi-input keyboards on the same Pixel and Samsung handsets, comparing transliteration quality, ad load, permissions and offline behaviour. Two of the seven are open source. Two more are made by Google and Microsoft, and you may already have one preinstalled.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Paid tier | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard | Best transliteration plus zero ads | Yes, full features | None | Voice typing into Hindi, glide typing |
| Google Indic Keyboard | Pure Hindi typing without Gboard’s extras | Yes | None | Smaller install, single-purpose keyboard |
| Microsoft SwiftKey | Smart predictions with personal cloud sync | Yes | None | Learns vocabulary across all your devices |
| Bobble AI Keyboard | Stickers and GIFs without leaving the keyboard | Yes, ad supported | Bobble Pro removes ads | Personalised sticker face, viral content packs |
| Indic Keyboard | Open-source privacy-respecting Hindi typing | Yes | None | No analytics, no internet, FOSS licence |
| AnySoftKeyboard | Open-source custom layouts | Yes | None | Modular language packs, fully offline |
| Multiling O Keyboard | Power users with many languages | Yes | None | Hundreds of keyboard layouts in one app |
Why people leave Desh Hindi Keyboard
Three patterns come up across reviews from the last 12 months.
Ads in the suggestion strip
The strip that should show word predictions sometimes shows ad slots instead. This is the single biggest complaint, since it directly slows typing.
Permission and analytics scope
Keyboards see everything you type, so privacy is non-negotiable. Desh Hindi Keyboard requests internet access for stickers, fonts and “voice typing in English letters”, which routes voice data to the developer’s servers. Users on privacy forums prefer Hindi keyboards that work fully offline.
Themes and stickers as primary content
The home tab of the app’s settings screen leads with theme packs and movie-quote stickers. The transliteration settings are buried two screens deep. Users wanting a serious typing tool find this distracting.
The 7 best Desh Hindi Keyboard alternatives
Gboard: Best overall
Gboard is the right default. It includes Hindi transliteration (English letters to Devanagari), native Devanagari layout, voice typing into Hindi, glide typing in both scripts and emoji search. It is free, has no ads, and is made by Google so it ships with strong on-device privacy guarantees. The install size is around 80 MB but most of that is shared across the language packs you choose to download.
In our testing, Gboard’s Hindi transliteration accuracy matched or beat Desh on common words and beat it clearly on compound words and names.
Where it falls short: the sticker and GIF library is broader than Desh’s but less India-specific. You will not get Hindi movie dialogue stickers built in.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set, no ads
- Paid: none
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: stronger transliteration, voice typing, no ads, larger install
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install Gboard, set it as default in Android Settings > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard. Add Hindi (Latin) as a language for transliteration. Uninstall Desh.
Bottom line: for most Hindi-typing users, Gboard is the right Desh Hindi Keyboard alternative full stop.
Google Indic Keyboard: Best lighter Google option
Google Indic Keyboard is Google’s older, narrower keyboard, focused only on Indian languages. It supports Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi and Odia, with transliteration for each. The install is smaller than Gboard’s and the interface is simpler, with no GIF search and no glide typing in English.
Google has effectively folded Indic Keyboard’s features into Gboard, but the standalone app still ships and updates.
Where it falls short: no voice typing, no glide typing, no emoji search. It is purely a typing keyboard.
Pricing:
- Free
- Paid: none
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: similar focus on Indic typing, no ads
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install Google Indic Keyboard, enable it under Languages and input, choose Hindi.
Bottom line: pick this if Gboard feels heavy and you only need Indic typing.
Microsoft SwiftKey: Best for cross-device learning
Microsoft SwiftKey brings cloud sync of your personal vocabulary across phones and tablets. Type the same Hindi name often on your phone and SwiftKey will start predicting it on your tablet too. It supports Hindi transliteration and native Devanagari layouts.
The predictions tend to feel sharper than Gboard’s for longer phrases, since SwiftKey’s model considers the previous 3 to 5 words rather than just the last.
Where it falls short: the Microsoft account requirement for sync is a friction point. Some users prefer not to register a keyboard.
Pricing:
- Free
- Paid: none
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: smarter predictions, no ads, cloud sync if you want it
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install SwiftKey, set it as default, enable Hindi from the languages panel. Sign in with a Microsoft account only if you want cross-device learning.
Bottom line: the right pick if you use multiple devices and want your typing style to follow you.
Bobble AI Keyboard: Best for stickers and personality
Bobble AI Keyboard is the closest Desh in spirit: an India-made keyboard with a serious sticker library, including Bollywood dialogues, regional packs and personalised “Bobble Head” stickers built from a selfie. Hindi transliteration is solid, the prediction engine is competitive, and the app has invested in Indian-language voice typing.
The catch is the ad load is similar to Desh in the free tier. The Pro upgrade removes them.
Where it falls short: the personalisation features mean Bobble does send some data to its servers (sticker generation, prediction model updates).
Pricing:
- Free: ad-supported
- Paid: Bobble Pro removes ads, available as monthly or yearly subscription
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: a sideways move on ads, an upgrade on stickers and predictions
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install Bobble, enable as default, configure Hindi.
Bottom line: if stickers are the reason you used Desh in the first place, Bobble is the better version.
Indic Keyboard: Best open-source pick
Indic Keyboard is an open-source Hindi (and 23 other Indian-language) keyboard from Swathanthra Malayalam Computing. The source is on GitHub, the app contains no ads, requests no internet permission, and runs fully offline. It supports both transliteration and native Devanagari layouts. The prediction engine is simpler than Gboard’s or SwiftKey’s, but for users who care about privacy, that trade-off is the point.
The keyboard is also available on F-Droid, the open-source app store, which lets you install and update without a Google account.
Where it falls short: sparser predictions, no glide typing, no emoji search, dated UI.
Pricing:
- Free, open source under Apache 2.0
- Paid: none
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: smaller, fully offline, no ads ever
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install from Play Store, F-Droid or Aptoide. Enable as default, configure Hindi layout.
Bottom line: the right answer for privacy-conscious users who can live with simpler predictions.
AnySoftKeyboard: Best modular open-source
AnySoftKeyboard is another open-source keyboard, this one with a modular architecture: install a small core and add only the language packs and themes you actually want. Hindi support comes from a separate package. It is fully offline, ad-free, and respects your storage.
The reason it is not higher in the list is the learning curve. AnySoftKeyboard exposes many more settings than Gboard or Indic Keyboard, and choosing the right configuration takes some patience.
Where it falls short: less polished UI, no glide typing, no voice typing.
Pricing:
- Free, open source under Apache 2.0
- Paid: none
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: smaller, ad-free, fully customisable
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install AnySoftKeyboard plus the Hindi language pack, enable as default.
Bottom line: pick this if you enjoy configuring tools and want a keyboard that is exactly the size you need.
Multiling O Keyboard: Best for many-language users
Multiling O Keyboard is the niche choice for users who type in three or more languages every day. Hindi, English, Marathi, plus a fourth like Tamil or Arabic, all on one keyboard with a fast layout switcher. It supports hundreds of layouts and includes Hindi transliteration.
The UI shows its age, but the underlying engine remains responsive and stable.
Where it falls short: the design is dated and the settings are dense.
Pricing:
- Free
- Paid: none
- vs Desh Hindi Keyboard: stronger multilingual support, less polish
Migrating from Desh Hindi Keyboard: install Multiling O, add the Hindi and any other language plugins, enable as default.
Bottom line: worth it only if you genuinely use four or more languages daily.
How to choose
Pick Gboard if you want the best Hindi typing experience available on Android. It is free, ad-free, and the transliteration is excellent.
Pick Google Indic Keyboard if you only ever type in Indian languages and want a lighter install.
Pick Microsoft SwiftKey if you use the same vocabulary across multiple devices and want cloud sync.
Pick Bobble AI Keyboard if your reason for using Desh in the first place was the sticker library.
Pick Indic Keyboard or AnySoftKeyboard if you care about open source and want a keyboard that does not call home.
Pick Multiling O if you genuinely type in four or more languages daily.
Stay on Desh Hindi Keyboard if you have already paid for the ad-free upgrade and the sticker library is central to how you message. Otherwise, Gboard is the cleaner default.
FAQ
Which is the best Hindi keyboard for Android?
For most users, Gboard is the best Hindi keyboard. It includes transliteration from English letters, native Devanagari layout, voice typing into Hindi, glide typing, and no ads. The transliteration accuracy is at or above Desh Hindi Keyboard’s on common words and clearly better on names and compound words.
Can I type Hindi in English letters on Gboard?
Yes. Add “Hindi (Latin)” or “Hinglish” as a language in Gboard’s language settings. Type words like “kaise ho” and Gboard suggests “कैसे हो” in the prediction strip. This is the same workflow Desh Hindi Keyboard pioneered.
Is Gboard better than Desh Hindi Keyboard?
Gboard is better on transliteration accuracy, prediction quality, ad load (zero in Gboard), permissions and voice typing. Desh Hindi Keyboard has a richer, India-specific sticker library and a smaller install size. For pure typing, Gboard wins.
What is the most private Hindi keyboard?
Indic Keyboard and AnySoftKeyboard are the two open-source picks. Both are auditable on GitHub, do not request internet permissions, and have no ad SDKs. They are the right answer for privacy-conscious users who can live with simpler predictions than Gboard or SwiftKey.
Can I switch between English and Hindi without changing apps?
Yes, every keyboard in this list supports multi-language switching from a single button. The usual pattern is to long-press the space bar or use the globe key. Gboard, SwiftKey, Bobble, Indic Keyboard and Multiling O all support this.
Does Hindi keyboard work offline?
All seven keyboards here type Hindi offline once the language pack is downloaded. Voice typing, GIF search and sticker downloads typically require an internet connection. Standard typing and predictions do not.
