- Typing tutors side by side
- Eleven typing tutors to try
- Where to start for your situation
- Typing faster won't fix a bad desk setup
- Short daily practice versus long sessions
- Questions to ask before you pick a typing tutor
- Signs it's time to learn to touch type
- My plain advice on choosing a typing tutor
- Frequently asked questions
The best typing tutors teach you to touch type, so your fingers find the keys from muscle memory while your eyes stay on the screen. Some are free online courses, while others are programs for schools, homeschoolers or Windows computers. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
If you still type with two fingers, you're not alone, and you've probably found it works well enough. But every email, proposal and caption takes longer than it needs to, and constantly glancing down from screen to keyboard is tiring by the end of a long day.
The eleven typing tutors below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the tutor's own website, read this week. If typing speed matters for work you're considering, my guide to whether typing jobs still exist is worth a read first.
Typing tutors side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AgileFingers | Free online touch typing course | Practising with your own texts | Yes |
| Dance Mat Typing | Children's game from BBC Bitesize | Young children starting out | Not stated |
| KAZ Typing | Touch typing course with specialist editions | Learners with dyslexia or visual impairment | Yes |
| Keybr | Adaptive online typing lessons | Practice that adapts to your weak keys | Not stated |
| Ratatype | Online touch typing tutor | A simple tutor plus speed tests | Yes |
| Touch Typing Study | Free typing lessons in many languages | Learning on non-English keyboard layouts | Yes |
| Typesy | Keyboarding software for schools and individuals | Homeschoolers and career learners | Not stated |
| Typing Pal | Touch typing course for home and school | A guided course at home or school | Trial only |
| Typing.com | Typing lessons, tests and games for classrooms | Teachers running a whole class | Yes |
| TypingClub | Web-based touch typing course | A free course for home and school | Yes |
| TypingMaster | Typing tutor software for Windows | Offline practice on a Windows PC | Trial only |
Eleven typing tutors to try
AgileFingers
Best for: Adults who want a free touch typing course plus the option to practise on their own notes and vocabulary flashcards.
Dance Mat Typing
Best for: Parents and primary teachers who want a playful typing game for younger children that's part of the BBC Bitesize computing pages.
KAZ Typing
Best for: Families, schools and adults who want a typing course with specialist editions, including one for dyslexia and one for visual impairment.
Keybr
Best for: Self-taught learners who want lessons that introduce keys gradually and build muscle memory instead of hunting and pecking.
Ratatype
Best for: Beginners who want a clean online tutor with practice exercises and a speed test to see how they're improving week by week.
Touch Typing Study
Best for: Learners who type in more than one language or use layouts such as Dvorak or Colemak and want free structured lessons.
Typesy
Best for: Homeschooling parents, schools and adults building career skills who want one keyboarding program with versions for each group.
Typing Pal
Best for: Households and schools that want a structured touch typing course with separate home and school editions to sign into.
Typing.com
Best for: Teachers and schools that want free typing lessons, tests and games with a teacher portal for tracking students.
TypingClub
Best for: Individuals and schools that want a free web-based touch typing course, with an optional school edition for classes that need more.
TypingMaster
Best for: Windows users who want typing lessons that work fully offline with progress kept on their own computer.
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Where to start for your situation
- A free course for yourself: TypingClub, AgileFingers or Ratatype.
- A whole class or school: Typing.com or Typing Pal.
- Homeschooling or career skills: Typesy.
- Young children starting out: Dance Mat Typing.
- Dyslexia or visual impairment: KAZ Typing.
- Practising offline on Windows: TypingMaster.
- Other languages and layouts: Touch Typing Study.
- Lessons that build muscle memory key by key: Keybr.
Typing faster won't fix a bad desk setup
The Health and Safety Executive says employers must make sure workers take breaks from display screen work or do something different. It also warns that poorly designed workstations can lead to pain in the neck, shoulders, back, arms, wrists and hands, as well as fatigue and eye strain.
Touch typing helps because you stop craning your neck to look at the keys. But it doesn't replace a sensible chair height, a screen at eye level and regular breaks, so sort those out while you practise.
Short daily practice versus long sessions
Most people learn faster with ten or fifteen minutes a day than with one long session a week. Short practice builds the muscle memory without tiring your hands, and it's easier to fit around work.
Expect to feel slower for the first week or two. That's normal, because you're replacing an old habit. Accuracy comes first, and speed follows once your fingers stop hesitating.
Questions to ask before you pick a typing tutor
- Does it teach correct finger placement or only test speed?
- Is it built for adults, children or classes?
- Does it support my keyboard layout and language?
- Can I track progress over several weeks?
- Does it work offline if I need it to?
- Is there a version for learners with dyslexia or low vision?
Signs it's time to learn to touch type
- You look down after every few words. Learn the home row.
- Emails take longer to type than to think. Practise daily.
- Your neck aches after a day at the desk. Stop looking at the keys.
- Typos slow every document down. Focus on accuracy first.
Do you make a typing tutor or keyboarding program? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a typing tutor
Pick one tutor and stick with it for three weeks before you judge it. Switching between apps resets your motivation, and the real progress shows up once the home row feels natural rather than on day one.
Practise with the kind of writing you do every day as well, such as emails and social posts, so the skill carries straight into your work. My list of productivity hacks for small businesses has more ways to win back time once you're typing faster.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typing tutor?
A typing tutor is a course, app or game that teaches touch typing, where you type from muscle memory without looking at the keyboard.
Are typing tutors free?
Several are free, and others offer trials or school editions. The free plan column above shows what each tutor's own site says.
How long does it take to learn touch typing?
It varies from person to person. Short daily practice over a few weeks usually works better than occasional long sessions.
What age can children start learning to type?
Many primary-age children can start with game-based tutors designed for younger learners.
Should I look at the keyboard while I learn?
Try not to. Looking down is the habit touch typing replaces, so keep your eyes on the screen even if you're slower at first.
Can typing tutors help with dyslexia?
Some offer editions designed for learners with dyslexia or visual impairment. Check the tutor's own site for the support it offers.


