Thingthing

Overview

Thingthing was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in the United States, focusing on mobile input experiences as a communication tool developer. Its early core product was the Thingthing Keyboard for iOS. Unlike ordinary input methods, Thingthing embeds app-switching shortcuts directly into the keyboard, letting users jump between apps without leaving the typing interface, which reduces high-frequency mobile operations. It sits at the intersection of productivity tools and input methods.

In 2016, Thingthing raised around $400k in seed funding and added meeting-invite creation to the keyboard to serve users migrating from the Sunrise calendar. From 2017, its team took over development of the Fleksy keyboard, gaining mature input-engine and custom-keyboard SDK capabilities. Compared with mainstream input methods such as Gboard and SwiftKey, Thingthing is smaller in scale and ecosystem, targeting mobile workers with specific typing-efficiency needs. As mobile traffic share keeps growing, see Mobile vs Desktop Traffic Trends for related context.

Key Strengths

• App-switching shortcuts: App-switching actions are embedded in the keyboard so users can jump between apps while typing, cutting high-frequency mobile operations for multi-app work scenarios.
• Early funding and product evolution: Raised around $400k in seed funding in 2016 to evolve from a single keyboard utility toward an input-service platform.
• Inline meeting invites: Meeting invites can be created directly from the keyboard, targeting users migrating from the Sunrise calendar to simplify mobile scheduling; see Remote Team Toolchain.
• Input engine expertise: Since 2017 the Thingthing team has led Fleksy keyboard development, providing mature custom-keyboard SDK and input-engine capabilities; see Mobile-First practices.
• Typing-efficiency focus: Phrase suggestions and shortcut actions serve high-frequency input and mobile communication scenarios, helping users type and reply faster on phones.

Product Ecosystem

Thingthing Keyboard (iOS Smart Keyboard)

The core product focuses on app-switching shortcuts and efficient typing for iOS users, acting as the input layer for mobile communication scenarios.

Meeting Invite Integration

Meeting invites can be created from within the keyboard, offering a migration path for Sunrise calendar users and bringing scheduling into the typing flow.

Fleksy Keyboard and SDK

Since 2017 the Thingthing team has driven Fleksy keyboard development and iteration, delivering input-engine and custom-keyboard SDK capabilities for third-party products.

Limitations

• Limited platform coverage: The product has long focused on the iOS keyboard, with no Android or desktop support, so cross-platform users and teams cannot get a consistent input experience.
• Small ecosystem and scale: Public information, community and third-party extensions are limited, making it hard to fit enterprise toolchains and requiring self-verification during selection.
• Continuity risk: Product release cadence is opaque and the official website currently redirects externally, raising long-term maintenance and availability concerns.
• Privacy considerations: An input method inherently touches user-entered content, and data-handling and privacy policies are not fully public, creating uncertainty for sensitive or compliance-driven use cases.

Use Cases

• High-frequency iOS input users （★★★★☆）: Individual users who type and switch apps frequently on their phones can improve daily efficiency with keyboard-level shortcuts.
• Mobile work scenarios （★★★☆☆）: Users handling scheduling, messaging and collaboration on mobile can reduce steps with inline keyboard capabilities; see Remote Team Management Tools Comparison.
• Third-party keyboard and input-engine vendors （★★★☆☆）: Product teams needing an input engine or custom-keyboard SDK can evaluate Fleksy-related technology options.
• Cross-platform or enterprise selection （★★☆☆☆）: Teams with clear Android, desktop and compliance requirements will find Thingthing's coverage insufficient and should evaluate mainstream input methods.

Pricing

Note: the keyboard app is free with in-app purchases; exact pricing and SDK licensing should be confirmed via official channels.

FAQ

• What does Thingthing do? Thingthing develops smart keyboards and input methods for mobile, with the core Thingthing Keyboard focused on app-switching shortcuts and typing efficiency. It belongs to the communication input layer; see Productivity Tools Collection for related solutions.

• What is the relationship between Thingthing and Fleksy? Since 2017 the Thingthing team has led Fleksy keyboard development, gaining mature input-engine and custom-keyboard SDK capabilities; teams needing third-party keyboard or input-engine technology can explore licensing options, with related practice in Mobile-First.

• Does Thingthing support Android? Public information shows the product has long focused on the iOS keyboard, with limited Android and desktop coverage. For cross-platform input needs, consider mainstream options such as Gboard and SwiftKey; see Mobile vs Desktop Traffic Trends.

• Is Thingthing still maintained? Public updates are sparse and the official website currently redirects externally, so continuity is uncertain. Verify the product's current status and long-term maintenance plan before committing; see Remote Team Management Tools Comparison for evaluation guidance.