The 8 Best Codecademy Alternatives & Competitors for Online Courses (2023)

Are you looking for Codecademy alternatives that will help you learn a programming language online, whether it’s to make a career switch or to create your own website or app?

The increased trend toward working remotely, whether being a software developer or writing your own code for various online products, has become a lucrative and flexible way to work from anywhere. All you need is a good-quality PC or laptop and an internet connection.

Many online course platforms offer intro sessions, crash courses, or full programs in several programming languages, as well as online career paths, such as IT professionals or website designers.

But career-driven adults aren’t the only ones learning to code these days. Even elementary-aged children are learning programming at an incredible pace, especially when it is presented playfully, like in gamified coding apps.

Many online course platforms do an amazing job breaking down challenging new technology, presenting it in a fun, engaging way, with means to track your progress, and being able to build on existing knowledge.

Although it might be a bit daunting at first to tackle learning a new programming language, such as Python or PHP, many online course platforms make learning coding easy and intuitive, with plenty of support, should you feel overwhelmed or stuck.

One of the top online course providers for learning how to code is Codecademy. It’s been used by over 50 million people looking to improve their coding skills.

But no online course platform is totally perfect for everyone, which is probably why you’re here looking for Codecademy alternatives that better fit your specific learning style or other preferences.

Fortunately, there are lots of great alternatives to Codecademy that offer quality courses in all areas of coding and programming.

Read on for our in-depth look at some of the best Codecademy competitors we think are worth considering.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.

 

What is Codecademy?

Codecademy is an online course platform that offers classes on a plethora of programming languages, such as C, C++, Java, Python, and HTML.

Depending on your learning goals, Codecademy offers over a dozen study options for specific career paths, such as Computer Science or Data Scientist.

Codecademy labels each study path according to skill and experience level, from beginner to intermediate. Many programs come with a completion certificate.

For example, suppose you would like to become an iOS developer. In that case, you could sign up for Codecademy’s full program, which consists of 26 courses and 51 lessons, with content such as Firebase, Xcode, Mobile and Backend Development, Git, SwiftUI, Algorithms, Data Structures, and even Interview Prep. You can be a complete rookie to get started, and by the end of this particular program, you will be equipped to build and publish your very own iOS app or land a job as an iOS developer. As you progress through the program, you will be given opportunities to test and apply your knowledge by creating mini-apps so that you can move forward with confidence as you complete these projects.

Codecademy presents challenging concepts in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-follow way, with many hands-on projects, so that their courses can be used by older children as a fun elective or interest-led activity, or by adults for learning how to program or a career change.

Codecademy offers a limited selection of free courses that offer a great way to get a feel for what the platform offers.

If you are ready to commit, Codecademy pricing starts as low as $17.49 a month when billed annually or $34.99 if you pay month to month. Student discounts are also available.

You can click here to learn more about Codecademy.

 

Drawbacks to Codecademy

Although Codecademy is solid in providing its students with many different options for learning a programming language online, there are a few minor drawbacks and common complaints among users.

Codecademy has taken the time to develop high-quality content courses so that the content is easy to follow and apply intuitively. The intention of Codecadamy’s courses is to provide self-contained auto-pilot courses that you can easily complete.

Because of that, Codecademy does not really offer instructor support. So if you’re having trouble understanding a concept, working through it can be a little challenging.

While the platform does offer certificates to students who complete their courses, the reality is that Codecademy certificates don’t carry a ton of value at this point in the job market.

Lastly, while Codecademy does offer a great value to those who subscribe to an annual plan, it’s month-to-month pricing is a bit high when compared to some other learning platforms.

 

What are the Best Codecademy Alternatives?

Here are our picks for the top Codecademy competitors and alternatives worth considering in 2023:

 

1. Educative

With over 600 courses in programming, coding, machine learning, data science, and other related topics, Educative tops our list as the best Codecademy alternative out there today.

The world of programming can seem daunting at first, but with Educative’s interactive online courses and tutorials, diving deep into languages like Java and Python has never been easier. And it’s not just about learning languages – web and mobile app development are also accessible areas to explore with the resources available.

What sets Educative apart from other platforms is its interactive, text-based courses that allow you to learn and code in real time. They believe you don’t get better at coding by sitting back and watching video lessons. You have to actually do it yourself to learn it in an interactive learning environment. With the cloud-based development platform, you can code mid-course from any device, providing a hands-on learning experience that lets you apply and practice what you’re learning on the spot.

In addition, Educative’s courses have quizzes, coding challenges, and other hands-on activities to further your understanding.

Not only that, but Educative’s text-based courses let you learn faster than watching videos. With an average reading speed of 250 words per minute compared to the 150 spoken words per minute in tutorials, you can absorb information at lightning speed. Educative recognizes this and has designed their courses with rich text and interactive features to ensure you learn efficiently, effectively, and at your own pace.

Click here to join Educative for free.

 

2. Datacamp

Datacamp is one of our top Codecademy alternative recommendations, simply because it is a very well-laid-out platform, with starting points from beginner to advanced. You can customize your learning path based on your starting point and your learning and career goals; Datacamp simply fills in the path in-between those two fixed points.

Datacamp also offers additional support so that you don’t feel alone, and continue to be empowered and motivated as you go through the program. The company seeks to see you succeed and has built-in support to ensure that happens: from career change options to continued education, Datacamp offers tailored solutions.

This platform also provides value-added content to support your decision-making and career development journey, with step-by-step guides and useful articles on relevant topics.

Datacamp helps you with job search and recruitment, and it offers certification

Most courses implement the hands-on application of learned content: for example, if you take Data Engineering courses, you will write code in your first lesson.

Datacamp offers various computer study programs courses, such as Data Analysis, Data Visualization, and Programming: you can choose from SQL, Python, and other programming languages, with course lengths anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

Datacamp pricing for membership starts at $149/year, for individuals and teams. This makes it a great platform for businesses using Datacamp for their continued education. Of course, you can start for free to try a few courses and see if you like Datacamp’s content presentation and the course navigation.

Our Datacamp review has a lot more information on the platform to help you decide if it’s a good fit.

Click here to start learning for free on Datacamp.

 

3. Skillshare

Skillshare is another great Codecademy alternative, simply because it offers over 34,000 different courses and video lessons, presented and led by over 11,000 instructors. This makes Skillshare a vast network of experience and knowledge, ready at your fingertips.

Each instructor develops their own teaching materials; with that, Skillshare taps into the free market competition, which allows you, the consumer, to benefit from quality choices and overall higher quality outputs in course content due to healthy instructor competition.

If you are searching for programming courses, Skillshare offers several different programming languages you can choose from, such as  Python, C#, Javascript, or more beginner-friendly courses, such as introduction to C++ or Scratch. You can also focus on a specific career path (such as cybersecurity) and take courses toward a bigger goal.

Each course displays how many students are enrolled in it, which is often an indicator of the instructor’s effectiveness or the subject’s popularity. You can also see how long each course is and how many video lectures it offers.

Skillshare wants to help you get started without budget barriers and offers your first month free. After that, you can continue learning with the annual Premium Membership (see our Skillshare pricing guide for info). Skillshare is great at learner support: with your membership comes access to a student community for additional support and networking opportunities.

Check out our Skillshare review for more info on the platform, including pricing details, popular courses, pros and cons, and more.

Click here to try Skillshare free for 30 days.

 

4. Udacity

Udacity is a solid contender in offering great quality online courses balanced with price and quality. Udacity offers industry-accepted certificates upon successful completion of your course or program.

With Udacity, you can get started anywhere on your learning journey: if you are new to coding, there are great intro classes to get your feet wet, and if you are looking to take your programming to the next level, Udacity offers courses for that, as well. Regarding programming languages, you can pick from Python, Java, or even enroll to earn a Nanodegree in Front-End Web Development.

You can take individual courses in specific areas of study, or you can pursue Nanodegress which takes about 2-4 months to complete. Udacity is also transparent when it comes to student feedback, and they publish the student ranking of each course and program so that you can make a well-informed decision based on the past experience of other fellow students.

You can try out some courses for free. If you decide to pursue a Nanodegree, Udacity pricing varies based on the area of study and duration but average $1,200/program, which is significantly lower than any brick-and-mortar tuition.

Our full Udacity review fully covers everything you need to know about this course platform.

Click here to get started with Udacity.

 

5. LinkedIn Learning

If you are familiar with the professional networking platform LinkedIn, you will feel at home with LinkedIn Learning. This platform taps into the wealth and impact of their professional network, allowing experts in their respective fields to collaborate and share their vast expertise, influence, and knowledge with students like yourself.

LinkedIn Learning offers over 16,000 courses and video lectures you can choose from, in areas of business, IT, biotech, and computer sciences. You can learn either “on the go” with their mobile app, or your desktop; however, you have the freedom to access the content wherever you are.

AI analytics within the program use information and interaction from your LinkedIn profile and craft a career advancement path, with suggestions in specific areas that you can explore. For example, a programmer might want to look into SQL, Java, or HTML career paths, reviewing the skills needed and taking courses to either learn or refresh relevant skills.

You can try LinkedIn Learning for free. After the free trial, LinkedIn Learning pricing is $19.99/month billed annually or $39.99 month to month after your free trial.

Check out our comprehensive LinkedIn Learning review to decide whether this platform can help you take the next step toward learning success.

Click here to try LinkedIn Learning free for 30 days.

 

6. Coursera

If you are interested in using Coursera to advance your career or to learn a new computer programming language, you will be glad to know that you can choose from hundreds of different options, based on your programming language, college of choice, your level of experience, and your desired track choice.

Do you want to check out what it’s like to learn HTML, Javascript, and CSS? John Hopkins University offers a 1-3 months course on that, tailored for anyone who wants to become a Web developer. Each course has a ranking based on student feedback, making it a great tool to choose courses that are of great quality and have been helpful to past students.

As with other platforms, you can get started for free, and then decide which path you’d like to commit to after that: from earning a completion certificate to an online degree, all the way to Mastertrack™, which is a way to earn college credits towards your Master’s degree.

We have reviewed Coursera’s options for learning how to code or your other education goals: you can check out our past review here.

Click here to try a Coursera Plus subscription free for 7 days.

 

7. edX

edX is a well-established online learning platform that offers over 3,600 courses and video lessons in software development, coding, and IT. edX partners with world-class universities so that you have access to their learning content and instructors.

For example, suppose you are looking at learning programming. In that case, you can enroll in specific language courses, or take coding boot camps, offered by colleges like UC Berkley, University of Texas at Austin, or Columbia Engineering. Many programs include hands-on practice and live instruction, which takes 24 weeks to complete on average.

You can audit just about every class on the platform for free, but if you want to earn a certificate for completing a course, you’ll have to pay a small fee as detailed in our edX pricing guide.

If you are looking for additional info, we encourage you to read our edX review which dives deep into all the nooks and crannies of the platform.

Click here to try edX free.

 

8. Pluralsight

Pluralsight is a well-established platform in the online education market.

Founded in 2004, and grown exponentially since 2011, it offers a solid smorgasbord of courses to choose from. In computer programming and computer science, you can choose different study areas, such as C, C++, Java, or Ruby for programming languages, and IT management, cybersecurity, or software development when it comes to a career path choice.

The biggest advantage of choosing Pluralsight is that they offer certification prep courses for certifications, such as CICSO and Microsoft. These certifications help you get promoted and stand out as a job applicant, and they are not only accepted by hiring companies but are often a requirement sought after.

Pluralsight offers a 10-day trial free of charge. After that, you can choose from one of the two Pluralsight pricing plans: either the standard ($29/month) or the premium plan ($45/month).

Check out our Pluralsight review for more info or click here to try Pluralsight free for 10 days.

 

What to Look for in a Codecademy Alternative

With so many alternative options clamoring for your attention, time and money, we want to help you boil it down. So consider the following as you shop around:

• Course selection: All of the online course platforms we have reviewed offer many choices regarding course selection, especially in the popular field of computer science and programming.
• Content presentation: Most online course platforms offer on-demand asynchronous learning courses that you can start immediately. The content is often engaging, with hands-on exercises, comprehension status checks, and tests or end-of-course projects to demonstrate mastery.
• Learning goal clarity: Several platforms offer detailed paths to get you from your starting point to your education goal, with support and success checkpoints along the way.
• Support: Depending on the platform you choose, some are very self-directed while others offer full support as you go through your course content. If you benefit from ongoing 24/7 support, you might appreciate paying a few dollars extra for peace of mind and the encouragement to keep going.
• Pricing: The cost varies based on your course choices and the online course platform. Most, if not all, companies offer a free trial so you can test each platform and shop around.

If you are still unsure about which online course platform would be the best in helping you with your learning journey, please check out our easy-to-read comprehensive guide to the best online course websites. We’ve taken the time to compare the top platforms in one place so that you can view all the details without jumping to dozens of different websites.

 

A Final Word on Codecademy Alternatives

With so many worthwhile Codecademy competitors, there’s not a single one that’s the best for everybody.

Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to carefully consider your options before committing to a certain platform.

Whether it’s Codecademy or another one of the online course companies we mentioned in this article, make this year the year of freedom by learning a programming language that will allow you to work from anywhere.

Have any questions about our guide to the best alternatives to Codecademy? Let us know by commenting below.