Best TypingClub Alternatives for Adults and Kids

The Short Answer

TypingClub is a strong, free course. Most people switch because they want a different style, not a better price.

I opened TypingClub's home page and each alternative's main page before writing this, so the details below come from what the sites say about themselves.

What TypingClub Offers

Start with what you'd be giving up, because it's a lot.

TypingClub's home page says it is, and will always be, free for individuals and schools, with an optional paid school edition. It's part of the edclub family of products.

The page lists its reach at more than 23 million students, 50,000 schools and districts and 300,000 teachers. Those are the company's own figures.

It works through a fixed series of lessons. The home page says to keep practicing each lesson until you earn all five stars.

You don't need an account. You can create an optional profile to save your progress. It also offers a hand posture guide, voice over and typing playback.

Why People Look Elsewhere

TypingClub suits a lot of learners. But a fixed course isn't everyone's favorite style.

Adults who only need to fix a few weak keys can find a long lesson path slow.

Parents of young children often want something shorter and more playful.

Then there are special needs. Data entry workers want the number pad, and plenty of learners type in a language other than English.

And some people simply finish the course. They want something more exciting that keeps them practicing after the last lesson.

Each of those needs has a better fit. The rest of this post matches each one with a free alternative.

Reasons to Stay With TypingClub

Before you switch, check whether TypingClub already covers what you need.

Its home page lists features that many alternatives don't have. There's a hand posture guide that shows the correct hand position on every key. There's a voice over option that reads each word aloud as you type. And there's typing playback, so you can watch your past attempts.

The site menu also lists Dvorak typing and one hand typing courses, plus versions in many languages.

Those matter for learners with specific needs. A one hand course, for example, is hard to find elsewhere.

If one of those features is why you chose TypingClub, it may be worth staying and adding a second site for variety instead.

Typing.com, the Closest Match

If you like TypingClub's style, Typing.com is the most similar option.

Its home page describes it as a free typing program with a K to 12 curriculum. It covers touch typing, digital citizenship, coding lessons and games.

Like TypingClub, it's built for schools and works through structured lessons. That makes it easy to switch between them.

The extras differ. Typing.com adds digital citizenship and coding lessons, which some teachers value.

We compared the two in detail in our post on Typing.com vs TypingClub. If you're choosing between those two, start there.

Dance Mat Typing, for Young Children

For younger kids, BBC Bitesize's Dance Mat Typing is a gentle, playful start.

I read its page. It has four levels, each divided into three stages. You start with the home row keys, and each stage adds new letters.

Level 1 covers the home row plus e, i, r and u. Level 2 adds the six keys above the home row. At the end of each level, children can test their typing speed and get a fun reward.

It also practices capital letters, apostrophes, slashes and full stops.

BBC lists it as a KS2 computing game, which is the primary school level in England. It's short enough for a child to finish without losing interest.

Keybr, for Adults Who Want Speed

Adults often want a faster route than a full course. Keybr is built for that.

Instead of a fixed lesson order, it tracks every keystroke and builds lessons around your weakest keys. It starts with a few common letters and adds more once you reach your target speed.

That means less time on keys you already know and more on the ones slowing you down.

The tradeoff is that there are no games, videos or badges. It's focused practice, and some people find it dry.

Our list of Keybr alternatives explains how it works and what to pair it with.

TypingStudy, for Numbers and Languages

TypingStudy covers ground most course sites skip.

Its home page lists 15 lessons, a speed test, a typing test, games and a numeric keypad section. It also offers its lessons in a long list of languages.

The numeric keypad lessons matter for data entry work. Most typing courses focus on letters and barely touch the number pad.

The home page also mentions new typing tests with a certificate. If you need proof of speed for a job, check what your employer accepts first.

Its design is plainer than TypingClub's. But for adults with a practical goal, that's often a plus.

Sense-Lang, Another Free Option

Sense-Lang is another free site worth a look.

Its typing page offers keyboarding tutorials to learn where the letters are, animated tutorials and a typing test. It also has typing games and a section for schools.

The site is available in many languages, including Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Russian.

It shows ads, which some parents may not want for young children.

For adults who want a simple lesson path in another language, it's a reasonable choice alongside TypingStudy.

TypingAcademy, a Simple Course

TypingAcademy is a smaller course site with a clean approach.

Its home page says it teaches touch typing with 10 fingers and offers free typing practice online.

It follows a lesson by lesson path, like TypingClub. That makes it a gentle switch if you like the course format but want a different look.

The practical advice is simple. Try the first lesson on two or three course sites. Keep the one that feels calm and clear to you.

The best course is the one you'll actually open every day.

Races, for After the Course

Once the basics are in place, many learners need a new reason to practice. Racing gives them one.

Nitro Type, from the Typing.com team, is built for students and has classroom safety controls. TypeRacer races adults on real quotes.

Our own site offers a free practice mode and live races on common English words.

Races work best after you can touch type. Racing too early can push you back to looking at the keys.

A good rhythm is short course or drill practice most days, plus a few races a week for fun.

Best Picks by Age

Here's a quick guide by learner:

• Young children, around primary school age. Dance Mat Typing, then TypingClub or Typing.com.
• Older children and teens. TypingClub or Typing.com, plus Nitro Type for motivation.
• Adults starting from zero. TypingClub, TypingAcademy or Keybr.
• Adults who already type but slowly. Keybr for weak keys, then real text practice.
• Data entry workers. TypingStudy's numeric keypad lessons.
• Learners in other languages. TypingStudy or Sense-Lang.

Age is only a starting point. Pick based on what keeps the learner practicing.

How Long Any Course Takes

TypingClub's home page says a few minutes a day for one to two weeks is enough to learn. That's the course's own estimate, and speed takes longer.

Learning where the keys are is one step. Getting fast is another, and it takes regular practice over weeks or months.

The switch between sites matters less than consistency. Ten minutes every day usually works better than an hour once a week.

For children, shorter is better. Five to ten minutes a session keeps practice fun.

If you want to know what speed to expect by age, our typing speed by age chart sets realistic targets.

Mixing Two Sites

You don't have to pick only one site.

A common mix is a course plus a practice tool. For example, a child might use Dance Mat Typing to learn the keys, then TypingClub to build accuracy.

An adult might use Keybr for weak keys and a typing race for motivation.

The rule is to keep one main site. Use the second one for variety, not as a replacement every few days.

Switching courses often resets your routine. Stick with your main choice for at least a month before judging it.