Touch-type Read and Spell

Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS) is an online course that teaches touch-typing alongside reading and spelling. Its structured, multisensory approach draws on Orton-Gillingham work, combining seeing, hearing, and typing words. The main course contains 24 levels with 31 modules each; scores reflect completion and accuracy rather than speed, and every fifth module is a dictation exercise.

Subscriptions include typing modules for English, mathematics, and science, with options for administrators to create custom subjects and spelling lists. Home subscriptions also provide spelling assessments and an administrator account with learner results and progress graphs. A free smartphone reporting app tracks usage and performance. The course runs on desktop and laptop computers after registration without installation, while an iPad app offers offline mode. US and UK voice options use their corresponding spelling conventions, and country-specific subject courses are available.

TTRS is presented for children aged 7 and older, teenagers, adults, and learners with or without differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, autism, or dyspraxia. Home users can try it free for 7 days and schools for 30 days, with no credit card needed. Pricing starts at £8.25/mo (annual); there is no free plan, and subscriptions can be canceled at any time under a 30-day refund policy.

TTRS combines touch-typing practice with reading and spelling instruction, with progress tools for home subscriptions. Consider its paid subscription and available device options when deciding whether it fits a learner.

TTRS may suit learners aged 7 and older, teenagers, or adults who want to work on typing alongside reading and spelling. Its home progress tools and school trial may also interest families and educators tracking learner progress.

Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS) is a guided online course that pairs touch-typing practice with literacy instruction. It suits children from age seven through adults, including learners with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, autism or dyspraxia, as well as learners without those differences. Its structured, accuracy-first approach is most compelling for households and schools seeking typing practice tied to reading and spelling rather than a speed-drill tutor.

Overview

TTRS teaches through a structured, multisensory method informed by Orton-Gillingham work. Learners see, hear and type words, turning keyboard practice into repeated literacy reinforcement. The main course contains 24 levels, each split into 31 modules. Every fifth module is a dictation exercise, and scoring emphasizes completion and accuracy instead of speed or elapsed time. That makes progress less intimidating for learners who find timed typing stressful, while still giving them a clear sequence to follow.

Guided lessons and personalized drills provide a defined routine rather than an open-ended collection of games. Subscriptions also include typing modules for English, mathematics and science. Administrators can add custom subjects and spelling lists, extending practice into a learner's own curriculum or vocabulary.

Key features

Home subscriptions include spelling assessments, an administrator account with learner results and progress graphs, and a free reporting app that tracks usage and performance on a smartphone. These tools give parents a way to review consistency and accuracy without relying on a learner's self-report.

The course offers US and UK voice options, with spelling conventions matched to the selected voice. Country-specific subject courses help align content with the learner's locale. Desktop and laptop access works in a browser after registration, with no installation required; an iPad app adds offline mode for practice without a connection.

TTRS says it does not track students across the web, use student data for marketing, or sell personal, anonymous or aggregated data to advertisers. Student accounts record a name, username, password and optionally an email address and avatar, but not date of birth, age or year group.

Pricing

TTRS is a paid service, with home pricing from £8.25/mo (annual). There is no permanent free plan. Home users receive a seven-day free trial without a credit card; schools receive a 30-day trial, also without a card. Subscriptions can be canceled at any time, and all plans carry a 30-day refund policy or risk-free guarantee. PayPal and major credit and debit cards are accepted.

The entry price suits a household that wants the complete literacy-and-typing course, assessments and progress reporting rather than a basic typing utility. Because no free tier is offered, casual users must decide during the trial whether the structured curriculum justifies an ongoing subscription.

Platforms

TTRS runs on the web on desktop and laptop computers and has an iPad app with offline mode. It also supports iOS access. The browser-based setup avoids installation on computers, while offline iPad practice is useful where connectivity is unreliable.

Who it's for

TTRS is a strong fit for families, tutors and schools supporting learners aged seven or older who need typing to reinforce spelling and reading. The non-speed scoring and dictation cadence are particularly suitable for learners who benefit from predictable, low-pressure repetition. Custom lists and subject modules help administrators connect exercises to schoolwork. It is less suitable for someone seeking only rapid typing-speed training, a free course, or broad native support beyond web and iPad/iOS access.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-informed lessons connect keyboarding with reading and spelling.
• Pro: Accuracy-based scoring avoids making speed the primary measure of success.
• Pro: Dictation, assessments, graphs and custom lists give adults concrete ways to guide practice.
• Pro: Offline iPad mode and matched US/UK spelling options support flexible, localized use.
• Con: There is no free plan, so continued access requires a subscription after the trial.
• Con: The published starting price is tied to annual billing, and school pricing is custom.
• Con: Computer use is browser-based and offline access is identified for iPad, limiting options for other offline setups.

Alternatives

For a broad comparison of keyboarding products, see Typing Tutor Software. Choose TypeTastic instead if you need a freemium, ad-free K–12 curriculum with Android support and no-login access on its free plan. TypingClub is the better starting point for individuals wanting free typing practice, with a separate paid school edition.

Typesy suits buyers seeking a paid family package across Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Typing Agent is aimed at schools needing tiered, transferable student licenses. Pick KeyBlaze for a desktop-focused freemium tutor on macOS or Windows. Ratatype offers browser-based free exercises with a daily exercise cap, while TIPP10 is a free tutor spanning Linux, macOS, web and Windows. Touch Typer is another freemium desktop option from an individual developer.

Verdict

Choose TTRS when the priority is a carefully sequenced typing course that also builds reading and spelling, with progress tools for an adult administrator. Its main reason to look elsewhere is the subscription requirement and narrower device coverage compared with free or broader desktop alternatives. The seven-day home trial and 30-day refund window make it practical to judge fit before paying.