7 best Avro Keyboard alternatives for PC in 2026 (Bangla typing tools)
Avro Keyboard from OmicronLab is the free, cross-platform default for Bangla typing on desktop computers. Millions of Bangladeshi and West Bengali users lean on Avro Phonetic for casual writing and UniBijoy for classical publishing work. The tool works, but its UI has aged, some enterprise environments flag the installer, and modern typists sometimes want a mobile-parity experience that Avro’s classical UI does not offer. Here are seven Avro Keyboard alternatives worth trying on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Each of these tools covers a different angle: classical publishing layouts, modern suggestion-first typing, cross-platform IMEs for locked-down machines, and lightweight tools that start faster than Avro on older hardware.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijoy Bayanno | Classical publishing | Paid | Purchase from bijoyekushe.net.bd | The layout the Bangla publishing industry runs on |
| Ridmik Keyboard for PC | Mobile-parity typing | Yes | Free | Same phonetic engine as the popular mobile keyboard |
| Borno | Lightweight typing | Yes | Free | Small footprint and fast startup |
| Google Input Tools | Cross-device typing | Yes | Free | Transliteration inside the browser and Docs |
| IBus Bangla (m17n) | Linux desktops | Yes | Free | Bangla input inside GNOME, KDE, and XFCE via IBus |
| Bornona | Classical Bijoy layout | Yes | Free | Free Bijoy-compatible layout as an alternative to Avro’s UniBijoy |
| Ekushey Bangla Keyboard | Legacy ANSI documents | Yes | Free | Compatibility with pre-Unicode Bangla files |
Why people leave Avro
Feedback across r/bangladesh, LinkedIn threads, and student groups tends to center on the same points.
1. The interface has aged
Avro’s main window and settings dialogs have not been meaningfully redesigned in over a decade. New users, especially those coming from mobile keyboards, find it visually dated.
2. Enterprise IT policies flag the installer
Older code-signing certificates on the installer trigger warnings in some corporate deployments. That means IT-managed machines sometimes cannot install Avro at all.
3. Mobile parity gap
The most-used Bangla keyboard on Android is Ridmik. Users who type Bangla on their phone every day want the same suggestion engine and behavior on their PC, and Avro’s engine feels different.
4. Footprint on lightweight PCs
Avro is not heavy, but on older Windows tablets and budget laptops, users prefer sub-30 MB tools like Borno.
5. Not ideal for ANSI publishing workflows
Legacy Bijoy-based publishing pipelines still consume ANSI-encoded text. Avro can output ANSI, but shops fully committed to the classical workflow lean on Bijoy Bayanno or Bornona instead.
The alternatives
Bijoy Bayanno, best for classical publishing
Bijoy Bayanno is the paid Bangla typing tool that defined the classical Bijoy layout used across Bangladeshi publishing. If your day job involves preparing text for a newspaper, a legal office, or a textbook publisher, the downstream tools almost certainly expect Bijoy Bayanno output. Avro Keyboard vs Bijoy Bayanno is a free-vs-paid, modern-vs-classical comparison.
Where it falls short: Paid, Windows only, closed source. Activation frustration is a common complaint.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A
- Paid: License purchase from the official Bijoy Ekushe site
- vs Avro Keyboard: Better fit for organizations that live inside classical Bangla publishing pipelines.
Migrating from Avro: If you already use UniBijoy inside Avro, the muscle memory transfers directly to Bijoy Bayanno.
Download: bijoyekushe.net.bd
Bottom line: Right for institutional publishing, not for casual users.
Ridmik Keyboard for PC, best mobile-parity experience
Ridmik Keyboard is the most popular phonetic Bangla keyboard on Android. Its PC companion targets users who want the same suggestion engine and typing feel on both devices. Predictions, mixed English-Bangla text, and emoji handling all match the mobile app more closely than Avro does.
Where it falls short: The desktop version is a lighter tool than the mobile one. Layout customization is thinner than Avro. Less mature than Avro on Windows.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: N/A
- vs Avro Keyboard: Modern phonetic-first workflow, weaker for the classical Bijoy layout.
Migrating from Avro: No layout carry-over from UniBijoy. Users who typed in Avro Phonetic transition quickly because the concept is the same.
Download: ridmik.com
Bottom line: Pick this if the Bangla keyboard on your phone is Ridmik and you want the same feel on your PC.
Borno, best lightweight option
Borno is a small, fast Bangla typing tool that boots in under a second and uses under 50 MB of RAM. It supports both phonetic and Unicode-preserving output, plus a Bijoy-compatible fixed layout for classical typists. Avro Keyboard vs Borno usually comes down to weight and boot time on older hardware.
Where it falls short: Smaller user base means fewer community troubleshooting resources.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: N/A
- vs Avro Keyboard: Lighter and faster to start, less feature depth.
Migrating from Avro: If you type in Avro Phonetic, the transliteration rules are close enough that switching feels natural after a few paragraphs.
Download: Borno on SourceForge or the developer’s page.
Bottom line: Right for older PCs or anyone who wants a minimal install.
Google Input Tools, best cross-device fallback
Google Input Tools offers Bangla input inside Chrome, Google Docs, and as a Windows IME. Transliteration lets you type “bangla” and get “বাংলা.” Avro Keyboard vs Google Input Tools comes up whenever you need to type Bangla on a machine where you can’t install anything.
Where it falls short: The Windows desktop IME has been in maintenance mode for years. Predictions inside Docs and Chrome are still current.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: N/A
- vs Avro Keyboard: Zero-install for browser-based work, weaker as a system-wide IME.
Migrating from Avro: No layout carry-over. Best used as a backup for locked-down machines.
Download: google.com/inputtools
Bottom line: Useful backup, not a primary tool for full-time Bangla typing.
IBus Bangla (m17n), best for Linux
IBus Bangla, built on the m17n input framework, is the Linux-native path to Bangla input. GNOME, KDE, and XFCE all speak IBus, so once configured, Bangla input works in every app the desktop supports. Avro Keyboard also has a Linux build, but IBus Bangla ships pre-packaged in more distro repositories.
Where it falls short: Setup varies by distro and desktop environment. Newcomers to Linux find it easier to install a package than to configure IBus from scratch.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: N/A
- vs Avro Keyboard: More native Linux integration; Avro’s Linux port is heavier to set up.
Migrating from Avro: If you were on Avro for Linux, IBus Bangla covers the same layouts through your distro’s package manager.
Download: through your distro package manager (e.g. apt install ibus-m17n).
Bottom line: The most straightforward path for Bangla typing on a Linux desktop.
Bornona, best for a free Bijoy-compatible layout
Bornona is a free classical-layout Bangla typing tool. Unlike Avro (which offers UniBijoy inside a larger tool) or Bijoy Bayanno (which is paid), Bornona focuses tightly on giving you a Bijoy-compatible layout without a big install or a license fee.
Where it falls short: Fixed-layout focus. If you also want phonetic typing, you install Avro alongside.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: N/A
- vs Avro Keyboard: Simpler and Bijoy-focused; Avro is broader.
Migrating from Avro: If you were only using UniBijoy inside Avro, Bornona covers that need with a smaller footprint.
Download: Bornona on developer page or SourceForge
Bottom line: Right when you want just the classical layout and nothing else.
Ekushey Bangla Keyboard, best for legacy files
Ekushey Bangla Keyboard is the historic phonetic Bangla keyboard maintained for compatibility with pre-Unicode ANSI Bangla files. Anyone still opening old Bangla newspaper archives, older textbook source files, or ANSI-encoded court records leans on Ekushey because it produces text those systems recognize.
Where it falls short: UI has not been updated in a very long time. Only useful for the ANSI use case.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: N/A
- vs Avro Keyboard: Narrower use case, focused on legacy.
Migrating from Avro: Direct paste works for ANSI documents. Unicode workflows stay on Avro.
Download: ekushey.org
Bottom line: Only pick this if you regularly work with pre-Unicode Bangla files.
How to choose
Pick Bijoy Bayanno if your workflow is inside classical Bangla publishing and every downstream tool expects Bijoy output.
Pick Ridmik Keyboard for PC if you use Ridmik on your phone and want desktop parity.
Pick Borno on an older Windows laptop where every megabyte matters.
Pick Google Input Tools for locked-down machines where nothing can be installed.
Pick IBus Bangla if you’re on a Linux desktop and want a package-managed install.
Pick Bornona if you only ever use the classical Bijoy-compatible layout.
Pick Ekushey if you still work with ANSI-era Bangla documents.
Stay on Avro Keyboard if you want the mainstream free option that covers both phonetic and classical layouts on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ridmik Keyboard better than Avro? For anyone who lives on Ridmik on their phone, yes. The mobile-parity experience is the pitch. For classical Bijoy-layout typing, Avro still wins.
What is the best free Avro Keyboard alternative? Ridmik Keyboard for PC and Borno are the two free alternatives most Avro users try. Ridmik for phonetic typing, Borno for a lighter footprint.
Can I use the Bijoy layout without paying for Bijoy Bayanno? Yes. Both Avro (with UniBijoy) and Bornona cover the classical Bijoy layout for free. Avro Keyboard vs Bornona for the Bijoy layout is a matter of whether you want the extra features Avro adds.
Which alternative works on Mac? Avro Keyboard itself has a Mac build. Google Input Tools runs inside Chrome or Docs on Mac. Ridmik Keyboard for PC is Windows-only.
Can I run these on Linux? Avro Keyboard runs on Linux, and IBus Bangla is the more native Linux-first option. Borno’s Linux support depends on the release.
How do I convert Avro ANSI documents to Unicode? Avro Keyboard ships with a built-in Unicode-ANSI converter. Paste the ANSI text, convert, copy the Unicode result out. This is the fastest way even if you plan to migrate off Avro.
