7 Best Codecademy Alternatives
Let’s understand what the main alternatives to Codecademy are and which one is best for your learning or career needs.
If you’re looking to learn how to code online, chances are that you’ve heard of Codecademy. It’s one of the most popular online platforms for learning how to code, and it has been used by millions of people around the world. While Codecademy is a wise choice for many learners, it’s not the only one out there. In fact, there are several Codecademy alternatives that you should consider if you’re serious about learning to code.
In this article, we will be analyzing the seven best Codecademy alternatives that can help you improve your coding skills.
- Udacity
- DataCamp
- Coursera
- edX
- Udemy
- FreeCodeCamp
- Khan Academy
1. Udacity
The first alternative to Codecademy on our list is Udacity. The company is worth considering if you are serious about getting into a new tech field. The trademark of Udacity is its nanodegree, an online program for learning all the necessary skills for a particular tech job–programming, business analysis, data science, etc. Each program takes on average four to six months to finish and includes real-world projects.
Udacity covers a number of tech subjects but it has a separate direction of Programming & Development that is the most similar to what Codecademy offers. Here are some of the most popular Udacity’s nanodegree programming-focused programs:
The selling point of Udacity is that its program includes technical mentorship when an experienced person will provide you with feedback.
Price: $399/month, around $1500-2000 for completing a program.
Check out our full review of Udacity.
2. DataCamp
Another Codecademy alternative is DataCamp but this competitor has a limited choice of programming languages to offer. The two companies have a different focus: Codecademy offers a little bit of each programming language, whereas DataCamp is heavily based on learning data science and data analysis. Meanwhile, DataCamp has a number of Python courses with much bigger topic diversity than Codecademy. DataCamp has a number of career tracks if you want to get into data science at an affordable price.
DataCamp can’t compare with Codecademy in the number of languages offered and it also doesn’t offer much of free content. However, it’s a better option if your goal is learning data-related subjects or just Python, R, or SQL skills.
Price: the price is almost the same as DataCamp’s price of $25-39/month.
Check out our full review of DataCamp.
3. Coursera
Coursera is a leader in the market and it takes the third position in our list of Codecademy alternatives. But anline the two previous companies, it offers many subjects under one roof. The company has many topics, from coding to psychology and a bunch of different learning formats. Coursera offers both short single courses and even online degrees that are very pricey.
Coursera is known for its partnership with top institutions and companies so you’ll see courses by Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, and University of Michigan, IBM, Google, and Meta among others.
- Python for Everybody
- Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals
- Introduction to Front-End Development
Additionally, certificates by Coursera are recognized by many employees and just look good at your CV or Linkedin profile.
Price: $39-$79 per month
Read our full review of Coursera or review of the Coursera Plus subscription.
4. edX
edX is a platform similar to Coursera but it’s also one of Codecademy alternatives. The company has many different subjects on its course list, from computer science to literature. All courses are self-paced but vary in duration. Same as Codecademy, the company has single courses and longer programs that include a number of courses. Single courses take a couple of weeks to complete, while longer programs might take five to nine months on average to finish.
The company offers many coding courses by recognized institutions like the University of British Columbia (UBCx), Harvard, or IBM. There are a lot of free courses but longer programs are more expensive than what Codecademy offers.
Price: free or $400-800 per program.
5. Udemy
Another platform in our list of Codecademy alternatives is Udemy. It is one of the largest online learning platforms, and while offering courses on almost any topic, it also has a wide range of coding courses. Two main features of Udemy are its huge selection of courses with new ones constantly being added and its affordability. The company runs regular sales, so you can usually buy a course for about $20.
The company offers many great coding courses, but the main task is to find a good one among much mediocre content. Udemy has almost no moderation, so basically, any person can create and upload their course.
Some of the good courses are:
Price: $20-200.
6. FreeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp is a non-profit organization that has been for a long time on the market and is known for it’s free coding courses. It’s a great option for those who are on a budget or who are looking for a more community-driven learning experience. FreeCodeCamp also offers a range of certifications that can help you demonstrate your coding skills to potential employers.
The company offers almost 10,000 free tutorials and about 10 programs with certification upon completion. They include:
Price: free.
7. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is also a non-profit organization that offers a wide range of educational resources, including several coding courses. While Khan Academy’s coding courses are relatively basic, they’re an excellent option for beginners who are just starting to learn to code.
When it comes to computer science, the company has some basic general courses on programming and a number of courses on JS, HTML, and CSS. You can check them out here.
The platform will be also a good choice for kids and teens to learn how to code.
Price: free.
What Codecademy alternative to choose?
There is not one correct answer to this question–the best alternative always depends on your unique situation, goals, budget, and learning preferences. If programming is not your final goal and you want to get into Data Science or more into a business-related field, go for DataCamp or Udacity. If you want a nice-looking certificate for a recognized institution–go for Coursera. If you want to have unlimited options to choose from, consider Udemy. If you want to learn to code for free, opt for Khan Academy, FreeCodeCamp, or just Youtube tutorials.
Main Codecademy alternatives at a glance
| Platform | Subjects | Programming Languages | Courses | Prices | Free Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codecademy | Web Development, Data Science, Computer Science etc. | Python, JavaScript etc. | Multiple Courses & Paths | Free, Plus: $34.99/month, Pro: $59.99/month | Basic Access |
| Udacity | Data Science, AI, Software Engineering etc. | Varies per course | 386 courses | $399/month, Nanodegrees: $1197 for 3 months | 292 Free Courses |
| DataCamp | Data Science, Machine Learning, SQL etc. | R, Python, SQL etc. | 460+ courses | Free, Premium: $33.25/month, Teams: $12.42/user/month | Free Access to First Chapter of All Courses |
| Coursera | Data Science, Business, Health etc. | Varies per course | 5000+ courses | Free, $9.99+ for Guided Projects, $399/year for Plus | Free Access to Many Courses |
FAQ
Is there a better alternative to Codecademy? Yes, there are worthy alternatives to Codecademy like Udacity, DataCamp, Coursera, and edX.
Is there a free alternative to Codecademy? The most popular free Codecademy alternative is FreeCodeCamp but there is also Khan Academy you can use at no cost.
What is the equivalent of Codecademy? Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, edX, and DataCamp, and similar can be equivalent to Codecademy as they offer similar courses and have their benefits
