Last updated 6 months ago.
The Best Arabic Keyboards for Every Use (Online, Apps, and Physical)
Typing in Arabic is easier with the right tools. Learn about top online, desktop, and mobile Arabic keyboards. Includes phonetic options, physical hardware, and details on Arabizi.
Whether you write in Arabic regularly or just occasionally, having the right tools significantly improves your typing experience. Options range from mechanical keyboards to online virtual solutions, designed to meet diverse needs.
This article covers various resources to help you write effectively in Arabic, whether you’re at home, traveling, or at work.
Note that some physical keyboards may no longer be available. If you know of a good product, please let me know and use the comment section or send me a message.
Online keyboards
These virtual keyboards work with every operating system – you just need a browser and don’t have to install an extension or add-on.
If you only occasionally need Arabic letters, for example, to google things, a virtual keyboard should do the job.
Google Ta3reeb
You can write with English letters and the text will be automatically converted into Arabic script.
You can also install add-ons for Chrome and Android on the website.
Try it out here https://www.google.com/intl/ar/inputtools/try/
Taereeb
Previously: Hameem’s Arabic Keyboard
If you quickly need to type some words in Arabic but don’t have a physical keyboard, this web-based keyboard is quite handy. You can use the English keyboard and just type the word phonetically.
ACCESS it here https://taereeb.netlify.app/
Note: For the desktop version of Taereeb, scroll further down or click here.
Lexilogos
You can access it here https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/arabic.htm
Desktop: Google Chrome extensions
There are some handy extensions for Internet browsers.
Google Input Tools
With Google Input Tools, you can easily type in Arabic – using Latin characters or, if you have a tablet, using your handwriting.
Get it on the Chrome Webstore https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-input-tools/mclkkofklkfljcocdinagocijmpgbhab
Yamli Chrome extension
Yamli used to be the first and best extensions to type in Arabic (see below) – if you want to use Latin/English characters. I don’t think that the extension will be maintained in future, but it still works.
Get it on the Chrome Webstore https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/yamli/jhninijcbcniklnjbohdmoglogfjbglh/related
Arabic Keyboard Online
This extension is for people you don’t want to write with English characters, but prefer to hit an Arabic letter. It works quite well.
Get it on the Chrome Webstore https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/arabic-keyboard/efjgnndlicleaolkoffalpfkgmaggabk
Yamli
You can access it here https://www.yamli.com/arabic-keyboard/
The story behind Yamli: In July 2006, the war in Lebanon had started. Habib Haddad was looking for news about the war online. Without access to an Arabic keyboard (I guess he was living in the USA), Haddad had difficulties finding information in Arabic.
Along with co-founder Imad Jureidini, he founded Language Analytics LLC in July 2007 – and developed yamli.
Desktop: Arabic phonetic keyboards for Windows and Mac
Omar al-Zabir’s keyboard for Windows, macOS and Linux
This phonetic keyboard works very well on Windows and Mac. You can use your English keyboard to produce Arabic letters – just type the words phonetically.
Get it herE FOR WINDOWS AND MAC: https://arabic.omaralzabir.com/
Get it herE FOR LINUX: https://github.com/suryaya/Arabic-Phonetic-Keyboard-Linux
Taereeb for Windows
Previously: Hameems Arabic Keyboard
This phonetic keyboard works also well on Windows. Pretty much the same as the one above.
Get it heRE for Windows: https://www.softpedia.com/get/Windows-Widgets/Hameems-Arabic-Phonetic-Keyboard.shtml
UPDATE (October 2022): The developer now offers a web-based version – see above under Taereeb Arabic Keyboard
Mobile phones: Android
Swiftkey (beta)
SwiftKey is a virtual keyboard app developed by TouchType for Android and iOS devices. SwiftKey uses a blend of artificial intelligence technologies that enable it to predict the next word the user intends to type. The company was purchased by Microsoft.
Good for Arabic? Yes, Swiftkey works very smoothly.
How can I get diacritical signs (tashkeel)? Press the letter ุธ and you will get all diacritical signs such as Damma, Kasra, Nunation, etc.
Get it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.touchtype.swiftkey.beta
Gboard Google Standard
Google is constantly improving its own keyboard.
Good for Arabic? Yes, Gboard works very well.
How can I get diacritical signs (tashkeel)? Press the . (full stop sign) to get the diacritical marks.
Get it here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
Noon Keyboard
This keyboard for Android is based on Yamli. I haven’t tried it myself, but some people told me it works pretty well.
Get it here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noon.android.noonKeyboard
Physical Arabic Keyboards (hardware)
I personally use a physical/hardware USB keyboard as I am used to type in Arabic. If you set up a keyboard shortcut to switch between keyboard layouts, mixing English and Arabic becomes very easy.
Remark: It is easy to add a new keyboard layout. If you don’t know how to do it, here are instructions for Windows and for Mac users.
German – Arabic keyboard (qwertz)
The best place to buy an Arabic keyboard is ebay. You can get one for 13.50 Euro plus 5.95 Euro shipping = 19.45 Euro.
For German speaking countries You can buy it on Ebay
English – Arabic keyboard (qwerty)
There are many offers for Arabic keyboards in the UK (also on amazon.co.uk), however, you may have difficulties to find a good and fair-priced keyboard in the USA.
USA Unfortunately, Arabic keyboards are pretty expensive. You can try ebay.
International (BUT NOT USA) Wireless QWERTY Arabic-English keyboard on ebay. The seller ships worldwide.
Excursus: What is Arabizi?
In the early years of the internet, before we had virtual keyboards on our phones and tablets, it was tricky to type in Arabic. So people used Latin (English) characters and developed a weird kind of writing, which is still used in Arabic dialects.
Why Do Arabs Use Numbers When Texting? The Arabic Chat Alphabet (Arabizi) Explained
Arabizi (ุนุฑุจูุฒู), the Arabic chat alphabet, uses numbers to stand in for Arabic letters lacking English equivalents. This guide explains which numbers correspond to specific Arabic characters, such as 3 for ุน or 7 for ุญ, aiding digital communication.
This type of writing is often called Arabizi (ุนุฑุจูุฒู), Arabglish, Arabglizi, Arabish, or Franco-Arabic. The English alphabet is used and enriched by numbers for all the sounds and letters that are typical for Arabic.
| Arabic letters | English letters | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| ุก ุฃ ุค ุฅ ุฆ ุขโ | 2 | โ (glottal stop) |
| ุญโ | 7 | H |
| ุฎโ | 5 or 7โฒ | kh |
| ุตโ | 9 or s | S |
| ุถโ | d dh or 9โฒ | D |
| ุทโ | 6 or t | T |
| ุธโ | z or th or dh or 6โฒ | DH |
| ุนโ | 3 | x |
| ุบโ | gh or 3โฒ | gh |
| ูโ | 2 or g or 8 or 9 or q | q |
Interested in other tools?
- I Built a Tool to Drill My Arabic. You Can Use It Too.
- Inside the Arabic Language Academy’s Race to Finish Al-Muโjam Al-Kabeer
- The Arabic Letter That Looks Like a Fist: Waw (ู) in Kaomoji & Emoji
- Alnnahwi.com Review (2025): The Best Free Arabic AI Grammar Checker?
- Sahehly Review: Can This AI Tool Fix Your Arabic Grammar Mistakes?
Wanna cite this article?
Driรner, G. (2019, July 10). The Best Arabic Keyboards for Every Use (Online, Apps, and Physical). Arabic for Nerds. https://arabic-for-nerds.com/tools/what-is-the-best-arabic-keyboard/
Published: July 10, 2019
Please check the citation before use, especially if your style guide has local requirements.
Publication ISSN: 3055-1730
Join the discussion: Sign in with social media for instant commenting, or register with email (comments require approval):
I like your theme of arabic keyboard. Thanks bro
I personally used many of these keyboards but I love to use swift key, it’s the best. I also gathered information about android keyboards. You can check it.