Comparison
Fast Reply vs iPhone Text Replacement
Text Replacement is free, built in, and works everywhere on iOS with nothing to install - for short fixed strings it is the right answer. It stops at four walls: nothing is browsable, so you must remember the abbreviation; one flat list, no folders; nothing in a phrase can change per message; and no attachments or sharing. Fast Reply exists for the replies that hit those walls.
Competitor details checked on . Prices and features change - confirm on Apple Text Replacement's own page before deciding.
Side by side
Only the axes where both apps' behaviour is documented. A row reads "Not confirmed" where Apple Text Replacement's listing did not state it either way - not as a No. "Coming soon" marks a Fast Reply capability that is built but not yet available in the shipped app.
| Capability | Fast Reply | Apple Text Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Works as a keyboard in any app It is part of iOS itself, so it works on the standard keyboard everywhere. | Yes | Yes |
| Browse and tap a reply (no code to remember) | Yes | No |
| Type a short trigger and it expands | Yes | Yes |
| Fill-in-the-blank fields, filled as you send | Yes | No |
| Folders inside folders | Yes | No |
| Image or file attachments | Yes | No |
| iCloud sync across your devices Syncs through iCloud with your other Apple devices. | Yes | Yes |
| Shared library for a team | Coming soon | No |
| Hand a folder over by link | Yes | No |
| On-device AI rewording | Yes | No |
| Price | $19.99/year or $2.99/month | Free |
| Free tier | Keyboard and sending are free; five of your own replies to create | Everything - it is a built-in iOS feature |
Why you might pick Apple Text Replacement instead
It is free, it is already there, it needs no third-party keyboard, and it works in secure fields where custom keyboards are blocked by design. For a signature or an email address, it is genuinely the better choice.
We would rather you ended up with the right tool than with ours. If the paragraph above describes you, buy theirs.
Where Fast Reply goes further
- Two ways to reach a reply. Type a short trigger and it expands, or browse a labelled list and tap - so forgetting the code costs you nothing.
- Blanks that fill as you send. One reply covers every conversation, instead of a dozen near-identical copies with the name changed.
- Folders inside folders. A library of hundreds stays navigable by client, property or project rather than turning into one long scroll.
- Attachments on a reply. Pin a logo, a price sheet or a link to a reply, so the follow-up file goes out with the message instead of thirty seconds after it.
- Hand a folder over by link. Send a private link and someone gets your whole folder - installing a shared folder is free. A shared team library for up to five people is coming soon.
- Private by default. Your replies stay on your phone. Nothing you type on the keyboard is logged or transmitted.
Questions
Is Fast Reply a good Apple Text Replacement alternative?
Text Replacement is free, built in, and works everywhere on iOS with nothing to install - for short fixed strings it is the right answer. It stops at four walls: nothing is browsable, so you must remember the abbreviation; one flat list, no folders; nothing in a phrase can change per message; and no attachments or sharing. Fast Reply exists for the replies that hit those walls.
Why might I pick Apple Text Replacement instead?
It is free, it is already there, it needs no third-party keyboard, and it works in secure fields where custom keyboards are blocked by design. For a signature or an email address, it is genuinely the better choice.
What does Fast Reply cost?
The keyboard and sending replies are free, including up to five replies of your own to create. Pro - unlimited replies, autotext expansion, fill-in-the-blank fields, attachments, iCloud sync and folder sharing by link - is $19.99 a year or $2.99 a month after a 7-day free trial.
Can I move my snippets over from Apple Text Replacement?
Paste them in. Fast Reply takes a block of pasted text and splits it into separate replies, so moving a set is a copy-and-paste job rather than re-typing everything one at a time.
Start with the replies you already send.
Then never type it again. Free to download, no account and no card - five replies of your own, and the keyboard in every app. Pro is $19.99 a year or $2.99 a month after a 7-day trial.
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