Looking for a kids' typing program without a subscription?
Home Row Mojo started with a small annoyance. Our kids were using a typing site that kept them on the same two free lessons over and over, with everything else behind a subscription. We didn't want one more monthly charge for something a kid finishes and moves past. So we built our own, and made it a one-time purchase.
If you're in the same spot, here's an honest guide to your options, including the ones that aren't us.
Your three basic choices
| Option | What you get | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Free sites | Often a solid set of lessons at no cost | Some are supported by ads, some limit lessons for home users, and some push you toward an upgrade |
| Subscriptions | Usually lots of content and features | The cost keeps going after your child has learned to type. Check the price per child |
| One-time purchase | Pay once, keep it | Check what's actually included, how many kids it covers, and whether it needs to be installed |
None of these is wrong. Free can be a great fit, especially for an older child who just needs practice. A subscription can make sense for a classroom. For a family teaching typing at home, paying once is often the simplest.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- How many children does it cover? Per-child pricing adds up quickly with siblings.
- What's free and what's paid? Try the free part with your child before buying anything.
- Does it go past the letters? Look for the number row, punctuation, capital letters, and ideally the number pad.
- Does it check accuracy? Speed without accuracy builds bad habits.
- What does it collect about my kids? A first name or nickname should be enough.
- Are there ads or pop-ups? Ads aimed at kids are worth avoiding.
- Does it work on your device? Most typing programs need a real keyboard. Tablets with on-screen keyboards don't build touch-typing skill.
How Home Row Mojo works
Plainly, so you can compare:
- Price: $29 once (plus sales tax where it applies), a one-time purchase for the whole family. No subscription and no ads.
- Try first: You can try it as a guest without an account or credit card. The free version includes the first three drill levels and two games, Chicken Run and Checkers, on Easy.
- What's in the full version: 9 guided lessons, 14 drill levels, and 12 games. The lessons go from the home row through the top and bottom rows, fixing mistakes, the number row, punctuation and Shift, two number pad lessons, and a keyboard tour that covers both PC and Mac keys.
- For each child: a typist profile with a first name or nickname, separate progress, and printable reports.
- Ages: built for kids roughly 6 to 12, though older beginners use it too.
- Device: it runs in a web browser and needs a physical keyboard.
Where Home Row Mojo is a little different
Two things come up a lot when parents compare:
- The number pad. Many kids' typing programs stop at the number row. Home Row Mojo has two number pad lessons, two number pad drill levels, a left-hand option for lefties, and a game called Mission Control. In that game, kids type the meteor's number, then press Enter to fire. On Hard, they type the math problem just as it shows (like 7*8) and press Enter. They don't solve it. Kids can play with the number row once it's unlocked. Unlocking runs through the number pad lessons, which need a keyboard with a number pad. If your keyboard doesn't have one, an inexpensive plug-in USB number pad works. Read more in our number pad typing guide.
- The keyboard tour. A lesson that explains the keys most kids never learn, like Tab, Esc, Insert, and the function keys, with a PC and Mac toggle. See keyboard keys explained.
A fair way to decide
Try two or three options with your child for a few days each, including a free one. Our comparison of typing programs for homeschool lists prices side by side. Pick the one your kid asks to go back to. That matters more than any feature list.
If you'd like Home Row Mojo to be one of those, you can try it free as a guest today.