Last updated: September 2026. Graduate review by Leena Alamri (who completed the program with a classmate), with a 2026 update by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. Program details checked on Udacity’s own page on 22 September 2026. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: Udacity’s Backend Developer with Python Nanodegree (formerly the Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree) is a focused, project-first way to learn database-backed web development in Python: SQLAlchemy, Flask APIs with tests and documentation, and authentication with role-based access control. It is shorter than it used to be, with three graded projects instead of five and no deployment project, so it now makes the most sense for someone who already knows basic Python and SQL and wants reviewed portfolio work quickly.
- Best for: Python programmers moving into backend or API development
- Length: about 49 hours; 5 courses, 21 lessons, 3 graded projects
- Rating: 4.6/5 from 504 reviews on Udacity’s page (22 September 2026)
- Price: Udacity subscription, $249/month list or $212/month prepaid for four months; or $999 one-time for this program alone
- Skip if: you need deployment and cloud skills, or you want to build front ends as well
If you are searching for reviews of Udacity’s Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree, you will not find it under that name on Udacity any more. The same program, with the same code (nd0044) and the same core projects, is now sold as Backend Developer with Python, and the old address redirects there. This review has two layers: Leena’s first-hand account of taking the program as a new computer science graduate, and our September 2026 check of what the program includes, costs and leaves out today.
Disclosure: if you enroll through links on this page we may earn a commission, which helps keep OnlineCourseing running. It does not change what we recommend.
Backend Developer with Python at a glance (2026)
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| What Udacity lists (22 September 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Program code | nd0044 (renamed from Full Stack Web Developer; the old URL redirects) |
| Status | Live; last updated 10 August 2026 |
| Level and length | Intermediate, about 49 hours |
| Structure | 5 courses, 21 lessons, 3 graded projects |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 504 reviews |
| Core tools | Python, Flask, SQLAlchemy, PostgreSQL (psycopg2), unittest, Auth0-style authentication and role-based access control |
| Prerequisites | 8 listed, including command-line basics, basic programming, relational database basics, basic SQL and identity and access management fundamentals |
| Instructors | Kennedy Behrman, Gabriel Ruttner, Caryn McCarthy and Amy Hua |
| Master’s credit | Eligible for credit toward Udacity’s accredited MSc in AI |
What changed since our graduates took it
Leena and her classmate took the program when it was the Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree. Their account below still describes the learning experience well, because the first three projects are the same. Four things have changed, and each one matters if you are deciding today.
- The name. “Backend Developer with Python” is a more honest label. Even in 2020 our graduates warned that the front end is barely taught; the new name says so up front.
- Fewer projects. The current outline lists three graded projects: Fyyur, the Trivia API and Coffee Shop Full Stack. The Kubernetes deployment on Amazon EKS and the Casting Agency capstone that our graduates completed are no longer in the outline.
- Shorter. Udacity now lists about 49 hours. Without the deployment course and the capstone, a learner putting in 10 hours a week can finish in five to six weeks.
- New pricing. Our graduates paid a fixed monthly Nanodegree fee. Today the program is part of a catalog-wide subscription, and Udacity also sells it on its own for a one-time price (details below).
The loss of the deployment project is the change that matters most. Deploying a Flask app with Docker and Kubernetes was, in our graduates’ words, mostly a matter of following instructions, but it put a real deployed service in their portfolio. If you take the current version, plan to deploy at least one of your projects yourself, or pair the program with a cloud course.
The 2026 syllabus, course by course
| Course | Hours | What you learn | Graded project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to the Program | 0.8 | How the program works and how to get help | — |
| SQL and Data Modeling for the Web with Python | 22 | Postgres, DBAPIs and psycopg2; SQLAlchemy and its ORM; migrations; building a CRUD to-do app | Fyyur: an artist and venue booking site |
| API Development and Documentation | 9 | REST, HTTP methods and status codes, Flask endpoints and payloads, API testing with unittest, API documentation | Trivia API |
| Identity Access Management | 18 | Authentication, password pitfalls, authorization, role-based access control across the stack, thinking adversarially | Coffee Shop Full Stack |
| Congratulations | — | Program wrap-up | — |
The data-modeling course carries the most weight, and it matches what Leena found in 2020: Fyyur is the longest and deepest project, and once you pass it the others come more easily. The API course is short, but it covers the two things self-taught developers usually skip, testing and documentation. The security course is the most distinctive part of the program: many backend tutorials show you how to add a login; this one spends 18 hours on why authentication fails and how to restrict what each role can do.
Read the full syllabus on Udacity →
How much it costs in 2026
Leena paid for the program month by month in 2020. The pricing model has changed since then. When we checked Udacity’s page on 22 September 2026 there were three ways to pay:
| Option | List price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | $249/month | This program plus the full catalog, project reviews, career coaching and certificates; cancel anytime |
| Four-month prepaid bundle | $212/month ($848 up front) | The same subscription, 15% cheaper than paying monthly; converts to month-to-month afterwards |
| Buy just this program | $999 one-time | This program only, at your own pace; career coaching and the wider catalog stay with the subscription |
Udacity discounts these prices often. On the day we checked, a time-limited flash sale was cutting them by almost half, and new-member offers are common. Because the program is now about 49 hours, the subscription is usually the cheaper route: at 10 hours a week you would need about two months, which costs far less than the one-time price even at list rates. The one-time purchase only makes sense if you expect to take many months, or you want to avoid a recurring charge. Current codes are on our Udacity coupon page, and our guide to what a Udacity Nanodegree costs breaks down the plans in more detail.
RISK CHECK
The subscription renews automatically. If you choose it to finish one program, note your renewal date, and cancel once your final project passes review if you do not plan to start another program.
Check the current price on Udacity →
Leena’s graduate review (2020 cohort)
What follows is Leena’s account of taking the Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree with a classmate, lightly edited for clarity. Prices and project lists reflect the program as it was then.
Our story
We had just graduated with bachelor’s degrees in computer science when we decided to build our skills with a project-based course in full stack development. Most of the companies we looked at asked for hands-on experience, so we wanted something practical. Of the online platforms we compared, Udacity was the best fit, and its Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree was the program we chose.
The syllabus and projects
The lessons and projects give you an excellent grounding in building APIs and the backend. It is called a full stack course, but the front end is not covered much, so do not expect your front-end skills to improve. Every concept is anchored in a project.
Project 1: Fyyur, a venue booking database. Designing and building a database is an essential web development skill. You review SQL commands, build a SQL-backed web application, model data and migrate your database schema between versions. The project itself is a booking site for musical artists and venues. The interface was provided, and we wrote the database and backend code. It was the longest and most in-depth project; if you understand and pass this one, the others are likely to feel easier.
Project 2: Trivia API. You create a database-backed RESTful API and learn to write test cases for it, working with HTTP methods, requests, responses and status codes. The app lets users browse and search trivia questions by category, add new questions and play quizzes. You are given the database and a React front end, and you are expected to build the endpoints, handle errors, and write both the documentation and the tests. It is similar to the first project, but with more endpoints.
Project 3: Coffee Shop Full Stack. Security and user authentication matter because you do not want users changing your application without permission. You learn to manage authentication and role-based access control for a backend, including why passwords must be hashed before they are stored, and how to use Auth0. The lessons on this topic are comprehensive and high quality. The app shows drinks as graphics of their ingredient ratios: public users can see drink names, baristas can see recipes, and managers can create and edit drinks. We found this project especially useful because most university courses cover these ideas only in theory.
Project 4: Deploy a Flask app to Kubernetes on Amazon EKS. You learn to deploy a Flask application to the cloud with Docker and Kubernetes on AWS. The project was mostly a matter of following the video and written instructions. (2026 note: this project is no longer in Udacity’s outline.)
Project 5: Capstone. The final project brings together everything from the first three and is published to the web. You can propose your own idea, as long as it meets the project criteria, or build the suggested Casting Agency app, which manages movies and assigns actors to them. (2026 note: the capstone is no longer in Udacity’s outline.)
Our project experience
The projects were more challenging than the lessons, and we think that is necessary: challenges make you use your problem-solving skills. We liked every project and learned something new from each. Reviewers check every submission against the project requirements and leave comments on your work, usually within eight hours.
What we paid
There were two payment plans in 2020: four months paid up front for $1,353.50 (about $338 a month), or pay-as-you-go at $399.70 a month. We chose monthly because we were studying full time and expected to finish in two months, which made it cheaper. If you are not free full time, or you want to follow Udacity’s suggested schedule with less pressure, the up-front plan was the better choice. Udacity also ran frequent discounts and offered scholarships. We felt the program was worth what we paid.
How long it took us
Studying full time, we finished in two months. Some setup instructions were written only for Mac, and working out the Windows equivalents took time; running commands in Git Bash often helped. If you want to stay on track, focus is the key, and Udacity’s study plan and reminders help.
Prerequisites and preparation
The program sits between intermediate and advanced. You should arrive with beginner-level Python, some experience building web pages with HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and familiarity with using Git for version control. If you need a gentler start, Udacity’s Introduction to Programming Nanodegree is the usual on-ramp. To brush up before starting, Udacity recommends its Data Structures and Algorithms and Front End Web Developer programs (see our Front End Web Developer Nanodegree review). Although not an official prerequisite, an object-oriented Python course also helps.
What we liked
- Building a complete web application with Flask from start to finish, and learning concepts that carry over to any language once you understand them.
- Having every project reviewed by a specialist who gives detailed feedback.
- The security lessons, which were comprehensive and practical.
What we did not like
- Some videos contained outdated information, corrected in text notes below the video.
- A few exercises marked correct answers as wrong.
- Setup instructions sometimes assumed a Mac, which slowed Windows users down.
- It costs more than similar courses on other platforms, and it carries no university name.
None of these problems got in the way of our learning. We fully recommend the program: it opened new doors for us. Share your finished projects with your network, and keep learning after you graduate.
What other graduates say
Udacity’s page shows an average of 4.6 out of 5 from 504 reviews. A recent reviewer, Melbin Mathews (April 2026), wrote that the program “provided a solid foundation in backend development with clear explanations and practical projects.” Older graduate accounts we collected tell a similar story, with one clear exception:
- Varun Joshi credited the program with his move into software engineering: “Thanks to Udacity, I am a software engineer today.” (His story was published on Medium; that post is no longer online.)
- A graduate answering on Quora praised the rubric-driven projects: “I’ve really enjoyed the expertise and best practices that are worked into every course/project rubric.”
- Karen Okonkwo (via LinkedIn) listed the skills she took away: SQL and data modeling for the web, API development and documentation, identity and access management, and server deployment, containerization and testing.
- Muneera Salah (via LinkedIn) recommended it to anyone interested in web development, highlighting the practice of building many projects and getting feedback.
- A dissatisfied reviewer who had completed four Nanodegrees said this was the only one that disappointed: “there’s a lot of gaps. Badly explained concepts. outdated content and code.”
The pattern across these reviews is consistent: the projects and the reviewer feedback earn the praise, while dated videos draw the complaints. Udacity’s August 2026 update may have addressed some of the latter, but we have not retaken the program to confirm it.
Pros and cons in 2026
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Three substantial projects, each reviewed by a person | No deployment or capstone project any more |
| Unusually deep treatment of authentication and access control | Front end barely taught despite the old “full stack” name |
| Short enough to finish in five to six weeks part time | Expensive at list price, especially on the one-time purchase |
| Covers API testing and documentation, which self-taught developers often skip | Some graduates report dated videos and code |
| Eligible for credit toward Udacity’s MSc in AI | No university partner or recognized industry certification |
Backend Developer with Python vs the alternatives
Figures from each provider’s own page, checked on 22 September 2026:
| Program | Level and length | Rating | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Udacity Backend Developer with Python | Intermediate, ~49 hours | 4.6 (504 reviews) | you know basic Python and want reviewed backend projects fast |
| Udacity Full Stack JavaScript Developer (our review) | Intermediate, ~70 hours | 4.7 (86 reviews) | you want front end and back end in one language, with AWS deployment |
| Udacity Introduction to Programming | Beginner, ~109 hours | 4.8 (1,350 reviews) | you are not yet comfortable with Python and web basics |
| Meta Back-End Developer Professional Certificate (Coursera) | Beginner, 9 courses, ~8 months at 6 hours/week | 4.6 (10,046 reviews) | you are newer to programming and want a Meta-branded certificate, with Django instead of Flask |
| freeCodeCamp (free) | Self-paced | — | you want to learn backend basics at no cost and can live without reviewed projects |
The Meta certificate is the strongest direct alternative. It starts from zero and goes further: Python, Linux and Git, MySQL, the Django framework and REST APIs, plus interview preparation. The trade-off is time, since Coursera estimates about eight months at six hours a week, and feedback: Udacity’s selling point is a detailed human review of every project, so check how each Coursera course grades its assignments before you count on that. freeCodeCamp’s free curriculum covers backend development and APIs as well, and is a good way to test your interest before paying for anything. For more options, see our guides to full stack courses, web development courses, the best Python courses and the best coding bootcamps.
Compare the Meta Back-End certificate →
Who should enroll, and who should not
Enroll if you can already write Python and basic SQL, you want to move into backend or API work, and you learn best by building and getting feedback. The three projects give you a portfolio that shows data modeling, a tested and documented REST API, and role-based security, which are the core of most junior backend roles.
Look elsewhere if you are starting from zero (take Introduction to Programming first), you want to build complete applications including the front end (Full Stack JavaScript fits better), or you need cloud deployment skills for the roles you are applying to. In that last case, pair this program with a cloud course or deploy your projects yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Udacity Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree still available?
Yes, under a new name. The address of the old Full Stack Web Developer program now redirects to Backend Developer with Python, which keeps the same program code (nd0044) and the same three core projects: Fyyur, the Trivia API and Coffee Shop Full Stack. When we checked on 22 September 2026 the page was last updated on 10 August 2026.
How long does the Backend Developer with Python Nanodegree take?
Udacity lists about 49 hours across 5 courses and 21 lessons: 22 hours of SQL and data modeling, 9 hours of API development and 18 hours of identity and access management, plus a short welcome course. At 10 hours a week that is five to six weeks. Our graduates studied full time and finished the older, longer version in two months.
How much does it cost in 2026?
It is part of the Udacity subscription, listed at $249 a month, or $212 a month if you prepay four months. You can also buy just this program for a one-time $999 list price. Udacity runs frequent time-limited sales that cut these figures, so check the live price and our Udacity coupon page before you pay.
What are the prerequisites?
Udacity lists eight prerequisites, including command-line basics, basic programming, relational database basics, basic SQL and identity and access management fundamentals. In practice you should be comfortable writing Python functions and basic SQL queries before you start. If you are not, Udacity’s Introduction to Programming Nanodegree is the usual on-ramp.
Does it still include a deployment project and a capstone?
No. The version our graduates took had five projects, including a Kubernetes deployment on Amazon EKS and a Casting Agency capstone. The current outline lists three projects (Fyyur, Trivia API and Coffee Shop Full Stack), so deployment is no longer a graded part of the program.
Is it a full stack program?
Mostly backend. The projects give you a front end to work against, but the teaching covers databases, APIs, testing and authentication in Python and Flask. If you want to write the front end too, Udacity’s Full Stack JavaScript Developer Nanodegree covers both sides in one language.
Is the Backend Developer with Python Nanodegree worth it?
It is worth it for someone who already knows basic Python and wants three reviewed, portfolio-ready backend projects in about six weeks. It is poor value if you study slowly on the monthly plan, and it no longer covers deployment, which most backend job descriptions expect.
The verdict
Udacity’s Backend Developer with Python Nanodegree is the Full Stack Web Developer program our graduates recommended, slimmed down. What remains is its strongest part: three demanding, human-reviewed projects that teach data modeling, tested APIs and real access control in Python. What is gone, deployment and the capstone, is worth replacing on your own. For a Python programmer who can finish it in six weeks or so on the subscription, it is good value; on the one-time price, at a slow pace, or if you are still new to programming, look hard at the Meta certificate first.
See Backend Developer with Python on Udacity →
Related: every Udacity Nanodegree in 2026 · our complete Udacity Nanodegree review · current Udacity coupon codes
I am looking forward to build my career as a full-stack developer. The reviews are does sound positive. I am definitely considering udacity as an option.