Best Online Typing Tutoring Services

Although the style and graphics have been updated and the curriculum has been refined, the basics that make the program so appealing upon its inception in 1987 are still the same. Different versions of the software have specific features, but all of them include personalized typing lessons, the ability to set your own goals, tips on posture and technique, and plenty of games to hone your skills in entertaining ways.

The program is designed to appeal to students of all ages and skill levels, with detailed reports as users move up through the levels. Kids will enjoy the charmingly goofy "arcade" of games that sharpen speed and accuracy through fun challenges, while adults looking to brush up their lapsed skills will find the customizable lessons to be beneficial (and possibly even nostalgic).

The fullest version of the software even allows users to import their own documents to practice typing on real-life texts, along with the pre-existing articles, games, practice tests, and more. It’s a comprehensive and detailed software. A basic version of the software starts at about $19.99, while more in-depth packages are roughly $40.

The best part of Typing.com? It’s so much more than just an automated typing tutor.

The site—which is free for students and educators alike—is pretty similar to many other online typing tutors, offering game-based learning and fun activities to teach students everything from simple keyboard placement to more advanced skills beyond typing itself. It uses a system of games, achievements, and tests to advance your typing ability, whether you’re a total novice or just brushing up your skills.

Typing.com has basic typing lessons at three levels, with anywhere between seven and 12 lessons per level. The site also includes a more advanced typing practice, along with courses on digital literacy and coding fundamentals. Teachers can mix and match their own content and lessons along with the site’s premade curriculum to create custom courses that focus on students’ individual needs.

It’s a surprisingly robust program, given that it’s completely free (unless you upgrade to a premium, ad-free account, which costs about $10 for a lifetime membership).

For straightforward, basic lessons without any cost, Speed Typing Online gives you all the practical tutoring without a bunch of bells and whistles.

You can get started with an initial, one-minute typing test that provides a surprisingly detailed breakdown: raw words per minute, adjusted words per minute (with errors taken into account), accuracy, and even notes on which letters are the strongest and weakest.

From there, you can choose from a variety of typing drills and lessons. Straightforward drills make up the bulk of the site’s offerings. There are only two actual "games": one alphabet speed test and one word-typing game.

For students looking for entertainment, this probably isn’t the best option, but if you’re trying to find a no-frills approach to typing basics with a self-paced option, this entirely free site is a solid choice.

The simple, straightforward lessons on TypingTest are just right for students who are able to and prefer to work at their own pace, with their own style of learning.

You can choose from several different tests to get started, with four different types and five lengths (one, two, three, five, and ten minutes). After getting your results—including accuracy, raw words per minute, and adjusted words per minute—you can explore the rest of the site’s offerings.

TypingTest’s initial evaluation also includes an analysis of "tricky keys," so you can do extra exercises for the keys you’re weakest at using. The site has a series of straightforward training lessons, giving students the chance to practice specific keys, work on numbers and special characters, or build speed.

In addition to the basic typing courses, though, the real appeal lies in over 100 arcade-style typing games. With a range of games geared at both children and adults, there are tons of different ways to practice typing skills. So, you never have to worry about getting bored. Even better? It’s all completely free of charge.

With over 11 typing plans geared specifically toward the needs (and attention spans) of younger learners, Typing Instructor Web has all the features to teach kids to type.

There is also a kid-specific spin-off, Typing Instructor Web for Kids, that is only for kids. While the main site does have some more general options, the pair of sites together feature a huge array of tutorials and games to keep kids engaged. Plus, both will teach proper posture, hand position, and typing drills. The kids’ site revolves around "Typer Island" and games in its "lands," while the main site combines those games with more standard-issue typing drills, complete with real-time feedback.

It’s the playful approach that really makes this site ideal for younger students. The regular courses alternate between lesson components, drills, and review tests, so there’s always something new to try.

With dozens of creative, fun games to use as well, students will definitely never be bored and can practice while playing, too. The site offers four tiers of pricing: about $4 per week, roughly $7 monthly, around $15 for three months, or approximately $30 annually.

Typsey, which offers products for individuals, educators, and homeschoolers, boasts an expertly designed curriculum that’s geared at adult learners looking to brush up on their skills for professional purposes.

The platform’s calling card is its customizable lessons, which monitor your progress and adapt based on your unique needs. Plus, you can customize lessons and practice drills, even importing their own documents for texts to practice on.

On top of that, the software also includes more than 16 fun games that are designed to improve your typing skills, even in small bursts. Whether you can dedicate longer stretches of time to practice or just a few minutes a day, it’s all about the individual experience.

Although Typsey is designed with older students in mind, each individual package comes with a "family plan," which allows up to five users to have their own cloud-based account and the ability to download the video- and text-based software on multiple devices.

And, for professionals seeking tangible proof of their typing improvement, Typsey generates a "diploma" noting specific skills, speed, and accuracy. Typsey costs around $9 for one "family plan."

Learning is more fun with friends, and that’s one of the perks of Ratatype: being able to compare your results with a high score leaderboard or create a group to test your skills against friends, family, colleagues, or classmates.

The site offers an instant speed evaluation, as well as a longer typing test, to evaluate students’ starting skills, and then offers lessons and practical tips for improving typing speed and accuracy. It’s all automated and super easy, so the process should be seamless.

Ratatype’s "groups" option is one of the things that sets it apart from other programs. Teachers may use the groups offering to allow their entire class to run lessons and compare results together. But it also works outside of traditional classrooms: Businesses can challenge their offices to improve typing, and individuals can turn typing into a fun competition while improving a vital skill.

The best part? It’s all free.