The Best Sites to Learn to Code Online

Learning the art of coding can be an indispensible skill for freelancers and young entrepreneurs.

This used to mean years of college, taking niche classes, and finding the right connections. But today, learning to code is infinitely easier. Some even do it as a hobby.

You can enroll in courses, download research material, work with a tutor, or do it all on your own. Here are some of the best sites to help you learn any programming language you like.

Coursera

Coursera is a prestigious online educational platform. It offers courses from a number of academic institutions, covering a wide variety of topics.

With Coursera, you have the option to enroll in many free courses or programs. You can learn the fundamentals of programming or take intermediary courses that can prepare you for landing a job.

You can also take advanced coding courses and earn a Coursera certificate. Some users even pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree through this platform, and Coursera courses are recognized by employers anywhere in the world. However, it’s important to note that the courses that offer certificates aren’t usually free.

Udemy

Udemy is another online learning platform that many freelancers and employees use to hone the skills that they already have. While there is a good selection of introductory courses, Udemy is popular for its selection of tips, tricks, and advanced courses.

You can find anything from coding to photography on Udemy, as well as many courses which are not related to the field of IT.

The selection of free courses may be slightly better on Udemy than on Coursera. However, the best Udemy courses on coding will be paid ones. The platform offers reading material, downloadable material, and hours of video lessons and guides.

EdX

EdX has been around since 2012 and was founded as a joined effort by Harvard and MIT.

Over 50 schools now share course materials and instructional courses with EdX users. Many EdX courses are completely free.

If you’re looking for the very best of introduction courses, Introduction to Computer Science might be what you need. The course takes absolute beginners on a long but well-structured journey through C++, CSS, HTML, SQL, Python, and JavaScript. This allows you to sample multiple programming languages, and learn the differences before you decide which fits your future coding plans the best.

Codeacademy

Codeacademy is a massive learning platform, and it has both free and paid courses. Unlike the other options presented on this list, it puts a major focus on all things coding-related.

It has a very interactive approach to teaching its members the intricacies of writing code. And, even at the earliest experience levels, almost everything is taught with examples and practical applications. This comes in handy if you’re struggling to focus on learning what algorithms are, how you can develop them, how you can use them, and so on.

Whether you want to land a job at Microsoft or Facebook, Codeacademy can offer you a wealth of information in the fraction of the time it would take you to finish a four-year college program. Of course, it also saves you from taking up student loans.

Khan Academy

If you’re more interested in the artistic side of coding and you want to learn web design, game coding, and animations, Khan Academy might be your best bet.

This online learning platform was created back in 2006 by Salman Khan. It focuses on delivering video tutorials that provide students with hands-on experience and a more personal learning environment.

JavaScript, HTML, and CSS are the most popular coding options on Khan Academy. It’s worth mentioning that some of the courses have a considerable fee. But, there’s plenty of free material that can teach you the basics of coding.

The Advantages of Doing it on Your Own

Learning how to code in your spare time is great. You can learn a new and valuable skill for the 21^st century. You’ll always have a backup plan, and you can change your career whenever you want to.

Online courses are way cheaper than enrolling in a university program. You can keep your focus on the most useful parts of the course, and you get to skip the non-essential stuff or filler course material.

Even though not every course will be free, the prices pale in comparison to most college tuitions. What’s even better is that you get to learn at your own pace.

Will you be as well-prepared as a college student? The answer depends on your own work ethic. But as these courses tend to focus on practical applications, they might get you a job more easily than a college degree.