Why Typing Software?

Typing is one of the most important skills you can have as a valued, appealing worker. If you’re a fast, accurate typist who produces good material, you’re going to be in high demand. Those who have always wanted to learn to type, but never had the time to take a class, will never catch you. As with anything, improvement is only several practice sessions away. Typing software offers you the opportunity to develop a solid routine.

If you're looking to increase your typing speed, accuracy or 10-key skills, typing software offers the lessons you need to get the job done. You can focus your typing practice on anything from just one hand to one finger.

You can take advantage of challenging and entertaining typing games included with the programs to step up your fun. Typing games are excellent mental recreation for aspiring typists of all ages. Some typing software, like our #1 rated Typing Instructor Platinum, comes with 30+ different games to keep your mind in motion.

Charting your progress with typing software is simple. Initial skill level tests can pinpoint your ideal starting level, and progress reports and graphs show you how much your typing has improved.

In this site, you'll find articles on typing and comprehensive reviews to help you make an informed decision on which typing software is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™

What to Look for in Typing Software

Top typing software is easy to use, and offers a wide selection of typing tests, lessons, games and customizable options to make your typing experience enjoyable. Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate typing software:

Ease of Use
Typing software features and instructions should be easy to find and simple enough for computer beginners to use.

Feature Set

Typing tutorial software should provide new users with a pretest to determine the best typing level to start; the program should have optional warm-up exercises available as well.

Exceptional typing programs include:

  • A large number of lessons, tests
  • 10-key training
  • Audio and video dictation
  • The ability to track your progress
  • Customizable practice options
  • Typing games

Ease of Installation
Typing software should be easy to install and not cause errors during installation.

Help/Support
Typing support files should be straightforward and right where you need them. The typing software manufacturer may offer telephone or email technical support and online FAQs as well.

Whether your interest in typing is for work or for pleasure, with typing software, reaching your goals is just a few keystrokes away.

 
TopTenREVIEWS
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Typing Software Review 

Quick fingers get more work done

In the Information Age, typing has become a skill we use every day in our homes or at our workplaces. Use typing software to iron out the kinks in your typing form and get more work done today.

Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Typing Instructor Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Typing Instructor Typing Pal 21st Century Typing TypingMaster
Typing Instructor Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Typing Instructor Typing Pal 21st Century Typing TypingMaster
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Lowest Price Buy Typing Instructor Platinum
$27.99
Buy Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Deluxe 20
$19.99
Buy Typing Instructor Deluxe
$19.95
Buy Typing Pal 5
$34.95
Buy 21st Century Typing
$14.99
Buy TypingMaster Premium 7
$29.90
 
Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
Ratings
Ease of Use Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Very Good
Feature Set Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
Ease of Installation Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Help/Support Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots View Typing Instructor screenshots View Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing screenshots View Typing Instructor screenshots View Typing Pal screenshots View 21st Century Typing screenshots View TypingMaster screenshots
Additional Licenses
Multi-User Licenses 10+ User Licenses   10+ User Licenses    
Features
Target Age Group All 8+ All All 8+ All
Lessons
Number of Lessons 20+ 44 64 78 14 27
Number of Practice Sessions 300+ 325 80 80 14 135
10-Key Lessons Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Speed Building Lessons Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Accuracy Building Excercises Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Left Hand Lessons Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Right Hand Lessons Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Individual Finger Lessons Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Graduated Lessons Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Guide Hands for... Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Tests
Initial Skills Level Test Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Warm-ups     Check Mark Check Mark  
Number of Tests 20 14+ 26   14 22
Timed Speed Tests Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Timed Accuracy Tests Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
10-Key Tests Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Create Custom Tests & Timings Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark
Results & Progess
Words per Minute Results Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Accuracy Results Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Adjusted Words per Minute Results Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Auto Save Results on all Activities Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Progress Reports by Key, Finger and Hand Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Graphs: Bar, Line & Stacked 6   3 Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Printable Results Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
View Progress Results on Screen Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Certificates of Achievements Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Practice Material
Number of Practice Articles 250+   300+ 80 75  
Import Custom Practice Articles Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Create Custom Practice Articles Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Download Additional Practice Material    Check Mark    
Games
Number of Games 30+ 12 10 3 2 4
Keyboard & 10-Key Challenges Check Mark   Check Mark    
Multi-Level Play Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   
Customize/Personalize
Customizable User Options Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Create Custom Drills Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Add Sounds for Correct/Incorrect Keys Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Audio and/or Video Dictation Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Add Your Own Music Check Mark   Check Mark    
Download to Palm OS Handheld   Check Mark     
Adjustable Text Size Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Multi-Language Support
English Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
French     Check Mark   Check Mark
Spanish Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark
Italian       Check Mark
Help/Support
Phone Support Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark
Manual Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark
FAQ Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Knowledge Base Check Mark     Check Mark  
Tutorials    Check Mark    
User Forum       
Download updates       Check Mark
Online Form       Check Mark
Email address Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Supported Configurations
Vista Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
7 Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   
XP Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
2000 Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
98   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
95      Check Mark Check Mark
NT      Check Mark Check Mark
ME   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
MAC Check Mark Check Mark     
 
Reviewer Comments Read Review
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Lowest Price Buy Typing Instructor Platinum
$27.99
Buy Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Deluxe 20
$19.99
Buy Typing Instructor Deluxe
$19.95
Buy Typing Pal 5
$34.95
Buy 21st Century Typing
$14.99
Buy TypingMaster Premium 7
$29.90
Review of Typing Instructor Platinum
Review of Typing Instructor...

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