Learn to solve any twisty puzzle
Free notation guides, solving methods, an algorithm library, a practice timer, and an instant solver - for the Rubik's Cube family and Pyraminx.
Whether you've never twisted a single face or you're chasing a sub-20 average, Rubik's Academy walks you through how to solve a Rubik's Cube step by step - no account, no app download, and no cost. Start with plain-English notation, work through the beginner method until your first solve clicks, then graduate to CFOP when you're ready to get fast. Along the way, the algorithm library, practice timer, and instant solver cover the 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, and Pyraminx.
Your path to solved
Three steps, in order - jump in wherever you already are.
Start here
Learn to Solve
Notation, the beginner method, and CFOP - go from "I've never solved one" to sub-30 seconds.
ReferenceAlgorithm Library
A searchable, filterable list of the algorithms you actually need - OLL, PLL, and Pyraminx basics.
PracticeSpeedcubing Timer
A spacebar-driven practice timer with inspection, solve history, and ao5/ao12 averages - saved on your device.
ToolInstant Solver
Stuck mid-solve? Enter your puzzle's current colors and get a step-by-step solution for 2x2, 3x3, or Pyraminx.
LearnPuzzle History
From Ernő Rubik's 1974 invention to the World Cube Association and modern speedcubing records.
BlogTips & Articles
Beginner mistakes to avoid, how to pick your first speedcube, and how to train lookahead.
Built for every puzzle
Pick a puzzle in the solver, or filter the algorithm library to just the one you own.
Why learn with Rubik's Academy
Clear explanations
Plain-English writing you can read at your own pace - no wall of jargon before you get to the point.
Private, on-device tools
The timer and solver run entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is ever uploaded anywhere.
A structured path
Notation, then beginner method, then CFOP - you always know what to learn next.
Ready to make your first solve?
Pick up wherever you are - total beginner or chasing a faster time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to solve a Rubik's Cube?
For beginners, the layer-by-layer method is the easiest reliable way to solve a 3x3. You solve it in stages - a first-layer cross, first-layer corners, second-layer edges, then the last layer - using only a handful of short algorithms.
What do the letters like R, U, and F mean on a Rubik's Cube?
Each letter is a face turn in standard Rubik's Cube notation: U (up), D (down), L (left), R (right), F (front), and B (back). A letter alone means a 90-degree clockwise turn of that face, an apostrophe (like R') means counterclockwise, and a 2 (like U2) means a 180-degree turn.
How long does it take to learn to solve a Rubik's Cube?
Most people can learn the beginner method in a single afternoon of focused practice, roughly 1-3 hours, since it only needs a few algorithms. Getting fast (sub-30 seconds or faster with CFOP) takes weeks to months of regular practice - see Speedcubing Tips.
What is CFOP and do I need to learn it?
CFOP (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL) is the four-stage method almost every competitive speedcuber uses. You don't need it to solve a cube casually, but it's the standard next step once the beginner method feels slow. See the CFOP guide.
How many algorithms do you need to solve a Rubik's Cube?
The beginner layer-by-layer method needs only a handful of algorithms - as few as 5 to 8 - to solve the whole cube. Full competitive CFOP uses far more (57 OLL and 21 PLL algorithms to cover every last-layer case), but almost nobody memorizes all of them right away. The Algorithm Library has every one of them - including all 57 OLL and all 21 PLL cases with diagrams.
Is Rubik's Academy free to use?
Yes. All tutorials, the algorithm library, the practice timer, and the solver tool are free with no account required. The timer and solver run entirely in your browser, and nothing you enter is uploaded anywhere.