10 Best Codecademy Alternatives for Learning to Code Online

Coding is increasingly important in our digital age and is no longer confined to specific industries. 

According to the International Labour Organisation, digital skills including coding are increasingly required within jobs where this was not previously the case! 

Due to the rapid advancement of technology, the rise of AI, and the increasing digitization of many businesses, coding will be in high demand in 2024 and beyond. 

Coding essentially instructs computers how to function and what actions to take. Learning coding means learning to understand and translate these instructions! 

If you’re interested in a career in coding or are looking to add this highly valued and demanded skill to your CV, now is an excellent time to learn. 

Codecademy is a popular choice for learning to code online, but there are multiple alternatives out there that are worth exploring as well.

With the plethora of choices, it can be tricky to know which coding education provider is best suited to your specific needs and learning style, and you’ll want to ensure you are receiving credible and relevant information skills!

That’s why we have created this comprehensive guide to the 10 best alternatives to Codecademy so you can feel more confident in selecting a coding education option that’s right for you. 

Let’s get into it!

10 Best Codecademy Alternatives for 2024 

Online platforms play an important role in making coding education accessible to anyone, anywhere at any time. 

There are many online resources and platforms that you can use to learn coding, each with its own unique benefits and features! 

Codecademy is a popular choice but may not be suited to everyone’s learning style, level of expertise, or budget. Further, Codecademy’s course selection is limited compared to other online learning platforms. 

Keep reading to find out more about the 10 best alternatives to Codecademy! 

Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform that features a diverse range of learning experiences in a wide range of subjects. 

There are many great coding courses offered through Coursera that have been designed to help you prepare for a digital or IT career. 

These courses are instructed by prestigious organizations including John Hopkins University, Princeton University, Meta, and Google. 

You can enroll in courses that focus on specific software (such as Google’s Crash Course on Python), or broader courses that cover the basics of computer programming (such as UC Santa Cruz’s Coding For Everyone course). 

The courses vary in level of difficulty, from beginner to expert. They also vary in length, with most courses having a duration of between 1 and 6 months. 

Pros

• Access courses from top universities and leading digital companies. 
• Receive a certificate of completion
• Find a course that best fits your specific needs, level of expertise, and learning style. 
• Structured like university courses – video lectures, quizzes, and assignments
• Wide range of courses 

Cons

• Some courses can be expensive

Price

• Coursera courses vary significantly in price, from $0 to $100+. 

edX

edX is another online learning platform that provides over 4000 courses in a variety of subjects and industries. edX has been recognized for innovation in career-relevant learning. 

Just like with Coursera, edX provides the opportunity to learn from leading education institutions, including Harvard and Berkeley. 

edX provides many coding courses that allow you to build your skills, gain knowledge and confidence, and advance your career as a coder or programmer. 

Learn the basics of software, programming, and databases, or delve into more specific topics, such as back-end application development, Linux, or VR app development!

Pros

• Access courses from prestigious universities
• Many courses are free
• Apply coding languages to real-world problems
• Flexible learning options – online classes, boot camps, and full degree programs.

Cons

• You may have to pay for certificates

Price

• edX courses vary significantly in price, from $0 to $100+. 

Udacity

Udacity is an online learning platform that specializes in digital technologies as a market leader in digital upskilling! Udacity provides a range of courses that vary by difficulty level and duration. 

Udacity now runs on a subscription-based model. With a Udacity subscription, users can access any skill or subject from the entire catalog. 

Subscribers can enroll in any Nanodegree programs or courses, access all features and services, move freely between topics, and learn whatever they need whenever they need it. 

Pros

• Content is co-created by leading digital organizations like Amazon and Microsoft
• Learn from hands-on projects, access personalized project reviews, and receive real-time support around the clock. 
• Gain access to all content with one subscription fee.

Cons

• Expensive subscription fee

Price

A Udacity subscription costs $249 per month. 

Pluralsight

Pluralsight specializes in teaching digital and technological skills. Pluralsight’s point of difference is that it assesses your current skills to curate a personalized learning path!

Pluralsight allows you to discover which skills you will need to succeed in your career path, where skill gaps exist, and what you need to work on. 

Pluralsight also runs on a subscription-based model, but users are welcomed to a free 10-day trial. 

Pros

• Creates a personalized learning path based on your current and desired skills, and areas that need improvement
• Wide range of subjects taught by experts
• Interactive courses – videos, quizzes, and challenges

Cons

• Free content is limited, subscription is required. 

Price

Pluralsight costs $29 per month for a standard subscription (access to a core library of 5000 courses), or $45 per month for a premium subscription (access to a full library of 7000+ courses). 

DataCamp

Datacamp allows you to learn the data and AI skills you need, at your own pace. 

Its proven learning methodology includes assessing/testing, learning via interactive courses, practicing with daily challenges, and applying knowledge to real-world problems.

With instructors from Google and Microsoft, you can feel assured that you’re in good hands!

Datacamp provides a range of courses on coding/programming, many of which are specifically designed for beginners.

Pros

• Used by leading global digital companies, including Paypal, Google, Microsoft, and Uber.
• Interactive exercises, short videos, quick daily challenges
• Provides some free content 
• Great for beginners

Cons

• Free basic subscription is limited to the first chapters of each course only
• Free basic subscription now allows you to earn certificates

Price

• Datacamp costs $12 per month for a premium subscription, which allows users access to the full content library, certificates, and projects. 

Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers free courses in just about every subject, topic, interest, and area you can think of. 

As a nonprofit organization, Khan Academy’s mission is to provide a world-class education for anyone, anywhere, at no cost!

They provide coding education resources that are best suited to beginners and cover the basics of popular programming languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript. 

Pros

• Beginner friendly
• Free 

Cons

• Limited advanced courses
• Less structured compared to other platforms 

Price

• Free

FreeCodeCamp

FreeCodeCamp is a community of people from around the world, learning to code together. 

FreeCodeCamp offers courses on programming, web development, Python, software development, machine learning, and AI.

As a nonprofit organization, FreeCodeCamp provides completely free courses, and you can even earn a verified certification at no cost. 

Pros

• Free
• Earn verified certifications for free

Cons

• Limited course topics 
• Less structured than alternatives

Price

• Free

The Odin Project

Another free coding curriculum, designed for beginners, is The Odin Project. 

Students can learn from a curriculum of curated online tutorials, blogs, and courses, build portfolio-worthy projects along the way, and connect with other community members. 

The Odin Project covers a range of topics, like HTML and CSS, Ruby, JavaScript, and databases. 

They also provide a course on ‘Getting Hired’ which teaches professional networking skills, job-preparation techniques, and tips for interviewing for jobs!

Pros

• Free
• Comprehensive curriculum
• Build your portfolio as you learn
• Connect with other community members

Cons

• Limited advanced topics
• Self-paced learning

Price

• Free

Codewars

Codewars is an excellent online education platform that allows you to improve your coding, programming, and development skills through training with your peers in challenges called “katas”.

Users solve katas in various programming languages to improve their abilities. Codewars makes digital upskilling fun through its game-like methodology and setup.

Pros

• Free
• Hands-on learning
• Fun and interactive
• Connect with other community members

Cons

• Not suitable for complete beginners
• Limited structured learning and theory

Price

• Free

HackerRank

HackerRank is a platform where programmers and coders from around the world come together to solve problems in a range of domains, including algorithms, machine learning, AI, and more. 

It provides competitive challenges to test and practice your skills. It is commonly used as an interviewing tool, and many major employers, like Google and Meta, use Hackerrank to assess the coding skills of potential candidates.

Pros

• Interactive challenges
• Good for practicing and keeping your skills sharp

Cons

• Not suitable for beginners
• Limited structured learning

Price

• Free

Choosing the Right Platform for You

In conclusion, there are many excellent alternatives to Codecademy for learning to code online. As you’ve seen, each option has its own unique features and benefits! 

Before choosing a course, it’s important to consider which programming language you would like to learn. 

HTML and CSS are basic languages that comprise nearly everything on the internet, but other popular programming languages like Python and Java are used for more specific tasks.

Create a learning pathway for yourself by deciding which languages you’d like to upskill in, based on your intentions and the demands of employers. 

Then, you can select specific courses that fit these needs!

Many experts recommend learning Java first, which is a classic, widely-used programming language.

Once you have mastered Java, these skills can be easily transferred to similar programming languages. 

When deciding which platform to go with, consider your level of expertise. 

If you are a beginner looking to learn the basics of coding from the ground up, it may be worth investing in a university-style course (such as those offered through Coursera and Udacity) to attain a great foundation of knowledge. 

If you are an intermediate or advanced coder, you may be more interested in a challenge or game-based platform (Like Codewars or Hackerrank) to help you sharpen up your skills!

You should also consider which platform aligns with your preferred learning style, as this will ensure you stay engaged and motivated.

Finally, consider how much money you’d be willing to spend on coding education. 

There are many free resources out there, but the more expensive courses are likely to give you a more comprehensive understanding and you may be able to obtain verified certificates that potential employers will value highly. 

Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, it comes down to choosing an online coding education option that best suits your individual learning style, goals, career pathway, and budget.

Take the time to research each of the aforementioned platforms, sign up for free trials where possible, weigh up the pros and cons, and make an informed decision that will benefit your coding education journey!