Most people stick with the keyboard that comes with their iPhone or Android phone, but there are alternatives that claim to be easier to use and less error-prone.

One example is Typewise Custom Keyboard, an app that its developer claims means four times fewer typos than a conventional keyboard and allows you to type one-third faster.

According to the developer, one in five words typed on a conventional smartphone keyboard contains typos. The app makes use of its own customised keyboard and the phone's AI to support faster, more accurate typing.

The Typewise keyboard looks unusual with larger keys than normal which are set in a hexagonal layout. The keyboard also has its own gestures - you swipe left to delete, right to restore and up to capitalise.

In addition, the makers promise that everything you type stays on the phone and is not transmitted to the cloud.

For those familiar with QWERTY keyboards, the hexagonal layout takes a bit of getting used to, but there's a tutorial and an online practice game to help.

Typewise Custom Keyboard is available for Android and iOS devices. The basic version is free. There's also a paid version for extra functionality such as the ability to type in multiple languages without switching.

 - dpa