You see a lot of your phone's keyboard. It pops up whenever you need to enter text or numbers, it's your gateway to galleries of GIFs and emoji , and it’s a shortcut for voice dictation . It's an essential part of using a smartphone.

While it might seem like the Android or iOS keyboard is a baked-in part of your mobile experience, it's actually something you can change. No matter what your make and model of phone, you can switch to a variety of third-party keyboards, with different layouts, themes, and features.

Considering how much time you spend tap typing, upgrading the keyboard can make a real difference to how you use your phone. Here's how to switch—and some of the best options worth trying out from the Apple and Google app stores.

How to Switch Your Phone's Keyboard

Third-party keyboards can be installed just like regular apps. Open up the Play Store on Android or the App Store on iOS, search for keyboards, and you'll find a bunch available.…