Text like it’s fun again. Type Nine brings classic T9-style typing to iPhone with a retro phone keyboard built for fast, private, one-handed texting.
Type Nine brings classic T9-style typing to your iPhone with a retro phone keyboard built for fast, private, one-handed texting.
Remember when texting felt simple? Type Nine reimagines the old-school phone keypad for modern iPhone users — combining the familiar 3x4 T9 keyboard layout with smart predictions, swipe gestures, personalization, themes, and privacy-first design.
Whether you miss classic phone texting, want a simpler iPhone keyboard, prefer one-handed typing, or just want something different from the standard touchscreen keyboard, Type Nine gives you a clean, fast, nostalgic way to type.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE TYPE NINE
• Classic T9-style keyboard layout
Type with a familiar phone keypad inspired by the keyboards many of us grew up with.
• Fast one-handed typing
The compact keypad layout makes it easy to text with one hand, whether you are walking, commuting, holding coffee, or multitasking.
• Smart word predictions
Type Nine suggests words as you type, helping you write faster with fewer taps.
• Automatic language detection
Type Nine can suggest words from multiple languages at the same time, so you do not need to constantly switch keyboards while typing.
• Swipe typing with a keypad
Type Nine combines a classic keypad layout with swipe-style movement for a modern typing experience.
• Personal word learning
When you manually type a word that is not in the dictionary, Type Nine can remember it and adapt to the words you use most.
• Private by design
Type Nine does not collect your personal data. Your typing stays yours.
• VoiceOver support
Type Nine was built with accessibility in mind and can be a helpful alternative keyboard for VoiceOver users.
• Custom themes and colors
Personalize your keyboard with different visual styles and make your iPhone feel more like your own.
• Emojis, cursor movement, deletion, and more
Type Nine includes the everyday keyboard tools you expect, rebuilt around a simple keypad experience.
A RETRO KEYBOARD FOR MODERN TEXTING
Type Nine is more than a nostalgia app. It is a practical alternative iPhone keyboard for people who want a faster, simpler, more personal way to text.
Use Type Nine for:
• Text messages
• iMessage
• WhatsApp
• Telegram
• Notes
• Email
• Social apps
• Everyday typing across your iPhone
OLD-SCHOOL FEEL. NEW-SCHOOL EASE.
Type Nine gives you the feeling of classic phone texting with the flexibility of a modern iPhone keyboard.
It is ideal for people who:
• Miss old phone keyboards
• Want a retro keyboard for iPhone
• Prefer T9-style typing
• Like one-handed texting
• Want a simpler keyboard layout
• Care about privacy
• Want a keyboard that feels different
• Use multiple languages
• Want customizable themes
• Prefer a keypad over a full QWERTY layout
TEXT LIKE IT’S FUN AGAIN
Typing on a phone used to feel simple, fast, and satisfying. Type Nine brings that feeling back — with a modern keyboard experience designed for today’s iPhone.
Download Type Nine and bring back the classic T9 keyboard experience.
BASIC IS BACK
Purchased this after finding that I really had trouble typing on the stock keyboard....what a game-changer! I loved T9 on my old phones & this is even better & easier to use. Like the retro best & the themes; would like to have more color choices in the retro keyboard. When I had an issue, Rasmus was quick to get back to me. Would be nice to be able to delete "used" emojis & search for "new" ones. Other than the above, it's the best keyboard out there! 😉 Thanks Rasmus!Still loving this keyboard & couldn't type without it. Typing is fast & efficient! Have suggested more colors & themes; still hoping. Would gladly pay a few extra $! 😉Great to have an update; much appreciated. Have used the app for years & still love it; retro keyboard my fav. However I'm disappointed that you haven't come up with more "unique" colors & themes. I had mentioned this in earlier review. Why not offer a variety of skin option packages for those who want more color/design? Kiwi Color app has kind of what I'm suggesting. I'd like to put a more colorful skins over the retro keyboard. Would be happy to pay extra for such!! Thanks again for the app! 😀
Fantastic keyboard, works pretty much perfectly, with some minor quirks
Olilia12
Exactly the keyboard I was looking for on iOS. Everything works as one would expect, word predictions are good, and are easily edited or removed. It's got great little modern touches, like swiping in punctuation or emojis, and the swipe gestures to navigate or delete words. There are just a couple little bumps that, if ironed out, would make this app perfect. First I'd love to see an emoji search; as it stands you have to manually look through the huge list to find the one you want if it's not already on your most-used list. Second it would be great if the punctuation key could be used in making contracted words; currently it's a bit annoying to have situations like "if", "he", and "I'd" all use the same keystrokes. This could solved if contractions required pressing the punctuation key in place of the apostrophe when typing out the word. (I'm probably in the minority on this though, so even just a setting to do so would be great!) All in all, I love this app, and would love to see a just a another update or two to iron out some little things!
Superior!
Bob_n_TN
I’ve been using Type Nine for 3 years. My original review is below.I’ve been using T9 keyboards a long time. When I first moved to iOS (iPhones), I found it very difficult to use the stock keyboard. I had developed my T9 skills over many years and refused to abandon the best, fastest, and most accurate way to type on a phone. The developer released Type Nine after Apple allowed third party keyboards. The developer has added many features to all aspects of the keyboard over the years. It was great when it was first released and it’s superior now. As far as I know, this is the only viable T9 keyboard for iOS. If you’re new to T9 keyboards, it will take a little time for you to develop your T9 skills. After you do, you will be amazed at how fast and accurate your typing is. Thanks!My original review 3 years ago, right after the keyboard was released:This is the only real T9 keyboard that I'm aware of. It's a great start. It's very usable right now. The support site is not available yet, so I'll post my issues / questions here. (1) I use a Bluetooth keyboard in conjunction with my 6 Plus. Sometimes the T9 keyboard will not disappear when I'm using the Bluetooth keyboard. Is there a method to disable the T9 keyboard temporarily? (2) Since this is such a great start, I assume you are going to be adding features like key spacing and bottom padding to the keyboard. I'd like to be able to move the keyboard up from the very bottom of the screen. Are you planning on adding some of this functionality? THANKS!
Brings back nostalgia
loloqla
AWESOME keyboard. I am super grateful this was created — back before I had a phone with a QWERTY keyboard, I loved typing with T9. I am in a phase of life where I am simplifying my iPhone and having a nine dial keyboard is my new favorite feature of my iPhone. If there is an opportunity to add tweaks, I do wish there was the option to:1) display the 9 dial keys with numbers on them, like the traditional cellphone 2) the keys on the right side of the keyboard (emojis, numbers, enter, backspace) could be moved to the bottom of the keyboard, to the left, or consolidated into one buttonOtherwise, my suggestions are completely minute — I love, LOVE this keyboard. 🥰
- Design updated for iOS 26
- Added Farsi
- Added all new Emojis
- Added haptic feedback
- Fixed bugs in main app tutorials
- Fixed bug around dictionary updates
- Improve performance and memory
Version 3.0.0
The developer, Rasmus Porsager, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
The developer indicated that this app supports the following accessibility features. Learn More
