The Best Typing Programs for Kids in 2026
Updated · By Edulist · 10 sources
Our top picks
How we chose
- Teaches touch typingEach pick teaches correct finger placement from the home row outward, not just hunting for keys in a game.
- Fits a child's ageWe note which programs work for pre-K and early elementary, and which suit older kids and teens without feeling babyish.
- Ads and distractionsFree programs often carry ads. We say which ones do and what it costs to remove them.
- Progress trackingParent dashboards, reports and saved progress matter for homeschool records.
- Price for a familyOfficial prices as of October 2026, including how many children one plan covers.
Rankings are editorial. Vendors can’t pay for placement. Prices and grades update from each listing.
1. TypingClub
- Price
- From $2.92/mo
- Grades
- Pre-K–12 · Adult
- Type
- App
TypingClub teaches touch typing through short, game-like lessons. Typing Jungle has 600+ lessons for grades 2–12, Jungle Junior has about 250 gentler lessons for pre-K to 1st grade, and a grade-level course adds 700+ more. It is free with ads, and Individual Premium removes them for $35 for one year on the EdClub store (October 2026). Many families never pay.
Pros
- Free full course
- Jungle Junior for the youngest kids
- Short lessons with stories, games and videos
Cons
- Ads in the free version can distract
- Five-star scoring can feel rigid
Best for: Most kids from pre-K to high school
2. Typing.com
- Price
- Free
- Grades
- K–12 · Adult
- Type
- App
Typing.com offers grade-based keyboarding lessons from kindergarten through 12th grade, plus timed tests, games and a free teacher portal with unlimited students. Parents can type in custom lessons, like spelling words or copywork. The core course is free with ads, and the ad-free PLUS edition is priced by quote with a 30-day trial. Saved progress on the free plan is limited to 70 days.
Pros
- Free, with grade-based lessons
- Free parent portal for several kids
- Custom lessons for spelling or copywork
Cons
- Ads on the free plan
- Only 70 days of saved progress
Best for: Homeschool families teaching kids of different ages at once
3. Typesy
- Price
- From $6/mo
- Grades
- K–12 · Adult
- Type
- App, Course
Typesy is a full keyboarding program with video lessons, 3D animated stories and about 20 typing games, from age 4 through adult, plus grade-aligned tracks for grades 2–9. A parent dashboard gives live reports, assignments and auto-graded tests. Homeschool plans are $72 a year for 2 students or $132 for 5, with a 7-day free trial (October 2026).
Pros
- No ads
- Real parent reporting and grades
- Works on Windows, Mac, iPad, Android tablets and Chromebook
Cons
- Costs money when free options cover basics
- Lots of extra courses some families won't use
Best for: Homeschoolers who want structure, records and no ads
4. Dance Mat Typing
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- 2–5
- Type
- App, Activity
Dance Mat Typing from BBC Bitesize teaches every letter key over 4 levels and 12 stages, starting with the home row, with animated animal teachers and a song after each stage. It is free with no account needed and suits ages 7–11. It is short, doesn't teach the number row and saves no progress, so most kids move on once they know the keys.
Pros
- Free with no sign-up
- Cheerful and quick
- Clear key-by-key sequence
Cons
- No saved progress or reports
- Too basic for building speed
Best for: Ages 7–11 trying touch typing for the first time
5. The Good and the Beautiful
- Price
- From $69.97 one-time
- Grades
- Pre-K–12
- Type
- Curriculum, Books
The Good and the Beautiful Typing is a nature-themed online course for grades 3 and up, in sessions of less than 10 minutes a day. It costs $34.99 a year or $4.99 a month for up to six student profiles, after a 10-day free trial. The company says scholarship funds can't be used for the subscriptions, and digital access isn't refundable. Later lessons include poems and Bible verses.
Pros
- Up to six students on one plan
- Short, calm daily sessions
- Checkpoints before moving ahead
Cons
- Scholarship funds can't be used, per the company
- Needs a computer or tablet with keyboard
Best for: Families with several kids in 3rd grade and up who want a calm course
6. Learning Without Tears
- Price
- From $0.92/mo
- Grades
- Pre-K–6
- Type
- Curriculum, Books, App
Keyboarding Without Tears, from the makers of Handwriting Without Tears, is web-based typing for kindergarten through 5th grade, sold as yearly student licenses at $11 per student per year (October 2026). It is designed to build keyboarding alongside handwriting, with grade-level lessons. It stops at 5th grade and is aimed mainly at schools.
Pros
- Built for K–5
- Low price per student
- Pairs with Handwriting Without Tears
Cons
- Ends at 5th grade
- School-first buying process
Best for: Young elementary kids, especially families already using Handwriting Without Tears
Quick comparison
| Pick | Grades | Format | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TypingClub | Pre-K–12 | Web | Free; $35/yr ad-free | Overall |
| Typing.com | K–12 | Web | Free | Siblings |
| Typesy | K–12 | Web, apps | $72/yr (2 kids) | Ad-free with reports |
| Dance Mat Typing | 2–5 | Web | Free | First taste |
| The Good and the Beautiful Typing | 3–12 | Web | $34.99/yr (6 kids) | Calm, low cost |
| Keyboarding Without Tears | K–5 | Web | $11/student/yr | Early elementary |
Prices from official sites as of October 2026.
How to choose a typing program for kids
Start by age.
- Ages 4–6: Keep it to letter recognition and finding keys. TypingClub's Jungle Junior or Typesy's early course are enough, a few minutes at a time.
- Ages 7–11: Start real touch typing. Try Dance Mat Typing for a week, then move to TypingClub, Typing.com or Keyboarding Without Tears for steady practice.
- Ages 12+: Older kids want speed. Typing.com and Typesy have tests and grade-level tracks that don't feel babyish.
Decide whether ads matter. TypingClub and Typing.com are free because of ads. Some kids ignore them; others click everything. TypingClub's $35 Individual Premium removes ads. Typesy and The Good and the Beautiful have none.
Think about records. If you keep homeschool records, Typesy's parent dashboard and grades are the strongest. On Typing.com's free plan, export or screenshot reports often, since saved progress is limited to 70 days.
Use typing to support writing. Once kids type about as fast as they write by hand, typing can free up older kids who struggle with handwriting to get ideas down. Typing.com's custom lessons let them practice spelling words or copywork. See the best homeschool writing curriculum for what to write, and the best handwriting curriculum so pencil skills don't slip.
A simple typing routine
- Warm up: 1 minute on the home row keys.
- Lesson: one new lesson or stage, 5–10 minutes.
- Practice: a short game or a typed sentence from today's reading.
- Check posture: feet flat, wrists up, eyes on the screen, not the keys.
Three to five days a week is enough for most kids to make steady progress.
What it costs (and how to get it funded)
Most families can teach typing for free with TypingClub, Typing.com or Dance Mat Typing. Paid options are inexpensive: $11 per student a year for Keyboarding Without Tears, $34.99 a year for The Good and the Beautiful for up to six kids, $35 for TypingClub without ads, and $72 a year for two kids on Typesy.
Keyboarding software is allowed in some education savings account programs but not others, and subscription rules vary. The Good and the Beautiful says scholarship funds can't be used for its typing subscriptions, though it notes a non-renewing one-year option may be available through support for some programs. Each program decides what it covers. Save paid picks to your Edulist wishlist and check scholarships in your state before you buy.
What parents say
- Free ads bother some families. Parent reviews of TypingClub on Common Sense Media often call the free version's ads distracting.
- Young kids love Dance Mat Typing's songs, though Common Sense Media flagged some characters as leaning on stereotypes.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting too young with full lessons. For preschoolers, finding letters on the keyboard is plenty; save full touch-typing lessons for later.
- Letting kids look at the keys. Peeking slows long-term progress. A cloth over the hands is an old trick that still works.
- Chasing speed before accuracy. Accuracy first, then speed.
- Stopping after the basics. Dance Mat Typing teaches the keys; a fuller program builds the speed kids need for school writing.
Browse every typing program or see free typing programs.
Sources
- TypingClub courses
- TypingClub Individual Edition, EdClub store
- Typing.com homeschool
- Typing.com PLUS
- Typesy homeschool plans
- Dance Mat Typing, BBC Bitesize
- The Good and the Beautiful Typing
- Keyboarding Without Tears 3rd grade license
- Common Sense Media parent reviews of TypingClub
- Common Sense Media review of Dance Mat Typing
Questions
What age should kids learn to type?
Many kids can start learning key positions around 6 to 8, and most programs recommend steady touch-typing practice from about 2nd or 3rd grade. TypingClub's Jungle Junior and Typesy's early courses start younger, mostly with letter recognition.
What is the best free typing program for kids?
TypingClub is the most complete free option and works from pre-K to high school. Typing.com is free too, with grade-based lessons and a parent portal. Both show ads on the free plan.
How long does it take a child to learn to type?
Most kids learn key positions in a few weeks of short daily practice. Building speed and accuracy takes months. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is more effective than one long weekly session.
Can I use ESA or scholarship money for a typing program?
It depends on the program. Keyboarding software is allowed in some education savings account programs but not others, and The Good and the Beautiful says scholarship funds can't be used for its typing subscriptions. Check your program's rules before buying.
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