Coding is a highly sought-after skill by many employers and business owners. According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, employment opportunities for Web developers are expected to grow by 13 percent from 2020 to 2030.
The Best Online Courses for Learning to Code Quickly
Learn to build your own website and app with the best coding courses on the Web
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There has been a proliferation of coding boot camps and courses recently, but some of the best coding courses for beginners and software development professionals can be found online. We compiled a list of the top-rated courses and compared prices, features, and user reviews to determine the best coding course on the Internet. Our top pick was Skillshare – Coding for Beginners. We also selected several other courses that you might find useful.
What should you consider before taking an online coding course?
- Course Structure: You don’t want a course that has too much theory and not enough opportunities to practice. Coding is highly interactive, so you need to find a course with the right balance of theory, assignments and active projects.
- Time: Most online coding courses are self-paced, so how fast you complete them depends on you. Most courses take learners about two to six months to finish.
- Programming Languages: Many beginners don’t know enough about coding to know which language they want to learn first. Popular languages include JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Scratch, Python, and Ruby on Rails. The one you need to know depends on the task you want to do. Do you want to create an app or game? Do you want to build a website? Every language is specialized for specific tasks. Think about your goals and then choose the language that best matches.
- Price: You can choose to pay a one-time fee or sign up for a monthly subscription. Many learning platforms come with free trials or even offer certain courses completely for free.
- Online Support: Online support groups are great for sharing ideas and asking questions of instructors and fellow coders. Not all courses have online forum access included, but many do.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall Online Coding Course
Skillshare: Coding for Beginners 1 - You Can Code
Manufacturer :
SkillshareWhere to Buy
Pros
- Suitable for beginners
- Build an app at the end of the course
- Affordable monthly subscription
Cons
- Must be a member of Skillshare to purchase
Product Snapshot
“If you can read, you can code!” says Greg Hamilton, the creator of Coding for Beginners 1: You Can Code. His course is the first of a popular two-part series offered by Skillshare that teaches learners to code. It is an introductory coding course that keys in on general concepts like data types, bugs, and pseudo-code that are applicable to all programming languages.
The course combines 30 tutorials. It includes seven video tutorials, assignments, and screencasts to help you understand the material. At the end of the course, you’ll be able to build a simple app using the popular programming languages Scratch and Python.
Coding for Beginners is offered as part of a monthly subscription to Skillshare. The subscription includes unlimited access to this class and all other courses that are available on the platform.
Skillshare memberships come with a one-month free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Specs
- Course Length
- Self-paced
- Certificate
- No
- Courses
- Skillshare Coding for Beginners 1: You Can Code
- Financial Aid
- No
Where to Buy
Best Budget Course
Udemy: The Complete Web Development Bootcamp 2021
Manufacturer :
UdemyWhere to Buy
Pros
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Affordable
- Lifetime access
- Certificate upon completion
- Fun and motivating
Cons
- No online community support
Product Snapshot
The Complete Web Development Bootcamp 2021 by Udemy is an all-in-one boot camp that teaches you both front-end and back-end development. Although it is aimed at beginners, it may be beneficial to programmers, as it includes the latest framework updates. The course creator, Dr. Angela Yu, is also the lead instructor of London App Brewery, one of the UK’s leading coding boot camps. Her course has 12,000 student ratings and a 4.8-instructor rating average, making it one of the highest-rated courses on Udemy. Students love her motivating style of using video animations to help points sink in.
Once purchased, the course gives you lifetime access. It includes 55 hours of video, as well as articles and downloadable resources for coding practice. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee. Plus, you receive a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
The only drawback would be that there are no discussion forums if you have questions.
Specs
- Course Length
- Self-paced
- Certificate
- Yes
- Courses
- The Complete Web Development Bootcamp 2021
- Financial Aid
- No
Where to Buy
Pros
- Career mentoring
- Strong instructor support
- Unlimited assignment and feedback submissions
- Scholarships available
Cons
- Not accredited
- Two-day refund policy
- Expensive
- Some content is outdated
Product Snapshot
If you want a course that has partnerships with well-known tech companies like Google, you may want to explore a nanodegree in coding from Udacity. A nanodegree is a micro-credential, consisting of a series of courses around a specific discipline. Udacity’s Learn to Code Nanodegree walks you through coding fundamentals such as CSS, HTML, and Python.
The course is self-paced and should take about four months to complete. This course offers strong mentorship, an online support community, and advice on your CV, for your LinkedIn profile, and how to take on a GitHub review. You also get unlimited submissions and feedback and practical tips from industry experts. Although Udacity touts that its material is created in partnership with the biggest names in tech, some say that certain content is outdated.
One nice feature about Udacity is that there are scholarship programs offered in conjunction with companies such as AT&T, Lyft, and Accenture to eligible learners around the world.
This course has a few drawbacks. You won’t be able to transfer any credits, as it’s not accredited. It is also expensive and comes with an almost outrageous refund policy: you only have two days to decide if you want your money back after you enroll.
Specs
- Course Length
- 4 months
- Certificate
- Yes
- Courses
- Intro to HTML
Intro to CSS
Intro to Python
Intro to JavaScript - Financial Aid
- Yes
Where to Buy
Best Coding Course For Python
Coursera: Python for Everybody Specialization (University of Michigan)
Manufacturer :
CourseraWhere to Buy
Pros
- Certificate upon completion
- Can audit for free
- Self-paced
Cons
- May not be able to transfer credits for individual courses
Product Snapshot
Learn the ins and outs of Python with the University of Michigan’s Python for Everybody Specialization by Coursera. It is one of the fastest-growing programming languages and is also easy for coding newcomers to master.
There are five courses in this specialization that cover all aspects of Python, including data structures, reading databases, and a final capstone project where you’ll be able to build applications. You can start with any course and earn a certificate at the end or complete the entire series and get certified for the specialization. Classes are offered monthly. If you’re not able to finish, you can join subsequent sessions and pick up where you left off. The course can be completed in eight months, but ultimately how much time you devote to it will determine when you finish.
You can pay for the entire specialization or pay on a course-by-course basis. There is financial aid available. These courses cannot be transferred, but some universities may accept the entire specialization with a certificate for credit.
Specs
- Course Length
- 8 months
- Certificate
- Yes
- Courses
- Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
Python Data Structures
Using Python to Access Web Data
Using Databases with Python
Capstone: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualizing Data with Python - Financial Aid
- Yes
Where to Buy
Best Value Course
edX: CS50 Introduction to Computer Science (Harvard University)
Manufacturer :
edXWhere to Buy
Pros
- Self-paced
- Affordable
- Certificate from Harvard University
- Strong online support
Cons
- Extremely challenging
Product Snapshot
If you’re interested in an Ivy League course at a fraction of the price, then you may want to explore Havard’s highly acclaimed Intro to Computer Science (CS50) by edX.
This course is engaging and uses video tutorials and hands-on projects to teach you everything you need to know about programming languages that include Python, JavaScript, C, and SQL. Students of all levels are welcome to join, even with no coding background.
In order to earn a certificate, you have to complete all modules and pass nine of the assignments, plus you must score well on the final project. It is a self-paced course that can be done in two months if you set aside a few hours a week for it.
This course features online communities and Q&A forums across social media. There you’ll be able to discuss questions you have with staff and classmates and stay updated on the latest happenings on Facebook, Slack, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter. It also has livestreams and office hours on Zoom where anyone can attend, even if they are not enrolled in the class.
Specs
- Course Length
- 8 weeks
- Certificate
- Yes
- Courses
- CS50 Introduction to Computer Science
- Financial Aid
- No
Where to Buy
Compare
Best Overall Online Coding Course
Best Budget Course
Best Splurge Course
Best Coding Course For Python
Best Value Course
Pros
Pros
Pros
Pros
Pros
Pros
- Suitable for beginners
- Build an app at the end of the course
- Affordable monthly subscription
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Affordable
- Lifetime access
- Certificate upon completion
- Fun and motivating
- Career mentoring
- Strong instructor support
- Unlimited assignment and feedback submissions
- Scholarships available
- Certificate upon completion
- Can audit for free
- Self-paced
- Self-paced
- Affordable
- Certificate from Harvard University
- Strong online support
Cons
Cons
Cons
Cons
Cons
Cons
- Must be a member of Skillshare to purchase
- No online community support
- Not accredited
- Two-day refund policy
- Expensive
- Some content is outdated
- May not be able to transfer credits for individual courses
- Extremely challenging
Course Length
Course Length
Course Length
Course Length
Course Length
Course Length
Self-paced
Self-paced
4 months
8 months
8 weeks
Certificate
Certificate
Certificate
Certificate
Certificate
Certificate
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Courses
Courses
Courses
Courses
Courses
Courses
Skillshare Coding for Beginners 1: You Can Code
The Complete Web Development Bootcamp 2021
Intro to HTML
Intro to CSS
Intro to Python
Intro to JavaScript
Intro to CSS
Intro to Python
Intro to JavaScript
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
Python Data Structures
Using Python to Access Web Data
Using Databases with Python
Capstone: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualizing Data with Python
Python Data Structures
Using Python to Access Web Data
Using Databases with Python
Capstone: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualizing Data with Python
CS50 Introduction to Computer Science
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
FAQ
Do I need a college degree to know how to code?
A college degree is useful but not the fastest route if you want to get into coding. Online coding courses give you the opportunity to learn the skills needed in a short amount of time.
Are there online communities for Web developers I can join to meet people like me?
Yes, joining an online community is great for meeting fellow coders to be able to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Some of the best communities can be found on Hashnode, Stack Overflow, and Code Newbie.
How long does it take to learn to code?
It should take a few months for most people to learn coding. But it can be slower or faster depending on each individual and how much time you have available to devote to studying.