Krutidev vs Unicode: What Is the Difference?
Both Kruti Dev and Unicode can show Hindi on screen, but they store it in completely different ways. For almost everything you share or publish, Unicode is the one to use.
The short version: Unicode stores real Hindi letters, and Kruti Dev stores English keys that a font turns into Hindi shapes. Everything else in this comparison follows from that one difference.
Side by side
| Kruti Dev | Unicode | |
|---|---|---|
| What is stored | English letters like Hkkjr | Real Hindi letters like भारत |
| Needs a special font | Yes, Kruti Dev must be installed | No, any Hindi font works |
| Phones and websites | Shows gibberish | Works everywhere |
| Copy and paste | Breaks between apps | Works between apps |
| Search and find | Searches see English-looking letters | Searches read it as Hindi |
| Typing layout | Kruti Dev keyboard | Inscript or phonetic Hindi keyboards |
| Best for | Typing tests, old files, some printing work | Websites, apps, messages, documents you share |
Why Unicode won
A Unicode Hindi letter has its own code, so a phone, a browser or a search engine knows exactly what it is. A Kruti Dev file looks like English text to all of them. That is why Google cannot read Kruti Dev text as Hindi, and why a Kruti Dev paragraph pasted on a website looks broken.
A common mistake
Many people try to fix Kruti Dev text by selecting it and changing the font to Mangal. It does not work, because the letters underneath are still English keys. The only fix is a conversion, which our Krutidev to Unicode converter does in one step.
When to use which
- Use Unicode for websites, social media, WhatsApp, email, Google Docs and anything someone else will open on their own device.
- Use Kruti Dev only when a task needs it, such as a typing test in that layout or a print setup built around the font.
- Have both? Keep your master copy in Unicode and convert to Kruti Dev when needed with the Unicode to Krutidev converter.
New to all this? Start with what the Kruti Dev font is.
Quick questions
Is Kruti Dev the same as Mangal?
No. Mangal is a Unicode font, so it shows real Hindi letters. Kruti Dev is an older font that draws Hindi on English keys. Text typed in one does not display correctly in the other without conversion.
Can I read Kruti Dev text without the font?
You can see it, but it looks like random English letters such as Hkkjr. To read it as Hindi, either install the font or convert the text to Unicode.