I. Introduction
Learning to code is becoming increasingly important in our digital world. It can open up an entirely new career path, empower you to build your own website or app, or simply unlock new creative possibilities. Yet, the cost of coding courses and boot camps can be daunting for many people. However, there are many free resources online that can help you learn to code without hurting your wallet. This article will explore the best resources for learning to code for free.
II. 10 Best Websites to Learn Coding for Free
There are many websites that offer free coding courses for both beginners and advanced learners. Here are the top 10:
Website 1: Codecademy
Codecademy is an interactive and intuitive website designed to make learning coding fun. They offer a wide range of courses for various coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and more, so it is great for both beginners and advanced learners. The website enables you to learn by building real-world projects, earning badges, and tracking your progress.
Strengths: Interactive, easy-to-understand explanations, real-world projects, and badges.
Weaknesses: Some courses require a paid subscription for full access, and the courses can be a bit shallow sometimes.
Website 2: Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a non-profit organisation that offers courses on various subjects, including coding. Their coding curriculum primarily focuses on JavaScript and HTML/CSS and includes sections on game development, computer animation, SQL, and more. Their courses come in modules, making it easier for you to track progress and identify which modules to take next.
Strengths: A wide range of courses, easy-to-use platform, and respectable teaching materials.
Weaknesses: The site layout and visuals are outdated, but it still functions very well.
Website 3: Udemy
Udemy is an online marketplace offering both free and paid courses on a wide range of training topics, including coding. While not all of Udemy’s courses are free, they still have many free options. They also have an most significant library of courses, including web development, app development, game development, and more. With Udemy, you can choose how you learn – either through pre-recorded, on-demand content or via live online classes.
Strengths: Various courses from a wide range of topics, a wide variety of teaching styles, and at times, very low prices.
Weaknesses: Many courses have reviews that are unreliable and at some times, questions are faught to access.
Website 4: Coursera
Coursera is an online learning platform offering free courses from top universities and organisations. It offers both self-paced and scheduled courses, covering a range of topics. Coursera’s coding courses include Introduction to HTML5, Introduction to CSS3, Web Design for Everybody, and more. Coursera also allows you to earn certificates upon completion, which can be useful for future job applications and skill building.
Strengths: A wide range of courses on various subjects, courses are both self-paced and scheduled, and often provide verified certificates for completion.
Weaknesses: Some courses may require you to pay a fee if you want to access the full materials, and you need to commit to the schedule of live classes if you sign up for one.
Website 5: GitHub
GitHub is a coding website that offers free courses on practically every subject. They also provide access to the resources of seasoned computer coders via open source code repositories. GitHub is most excellent for intermediate to advanced coders who are looking to learn very specific advanced topics or are looking for code examples to learn from.
Strengths: Open-source community and a rich library of code repositories full of code, advanced topics, and leading-edge librarires, frameworks and more.
Weaknesses: The site is advanced and comes with a steep learning curve.
Website 6: Mozilla Developer Network (MDN)
MDN is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to learn web development. It is also a great source for documentation and coding examples. With Mozilla Developer Network, you can learn everything from the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to advanced web APIs and application architecture.
Strengths: A wide range of courses, mainly focusing on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and web APIs.
Weaknesses: Because it is mainly focused on these languages, some courses may not be as detailed as courses on other websites.
Website 7: edX
edX offers free courses and tutorials on a wide range of topics, including coding. With edX, you can choose from a range of courses on various topics, including computer science fundamentals, Python, HTML, and more. The platform is easy to use, and you can also connect with other coders on the site’s forum.
Strengths: A wide range of courses on various topics, live instructor-led classes, and interactive edtech features.
Weaknesses: Some courses come with a premium requiring you to pay for certificates of completion or to access certain materials.
Website 8: W3Schools
W3Schools is a fantastic free coding website where you can learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web development languages. It is one of the most popular websites for people seeking to learn web development, with an easy-to-use interface, live tryouts, and interactive examples. As you work through the exercises, you will gain an understanding of how CSS, HTML, and JavaScript relate to one another.
Strengths: The most comprehensive resource for CSS, HTML and JavaScript. With live previews and an interactive website console.
Weaknesses: A lack of course structures, poor organization of materials, and limited guidance may make learning more challenging for some.
Website 9: MIT OpenCourseWare
As a leading research institution, MIT has introduced MIT OpenCourseWare, a portal for free class material and education items accessible to anyone worldwide. Differentiated from websites with tree style courses, MIT OpenCourseWare is perfect for individuals who want access to high-quality course materials for self-study. MIT OpenCourseWare is ideal for advanced learners looking for the correct combination of theory and practical experience to take their skills to the next level.
Strengths: The most significant library of college- and university-level coding classes available anywhere online, with involved, comprehensive materials, assignments and projects.
Weaknesses: Because of the level of complexity of the course materials, perfect for more advanced learners, however, persons new to coding may want to start somewhere else first.
Website 10: FreeCodeCamp
Freecodecamp offers a unique, non-profit coding curriculum that combines completed training programs with real-world coding projects. It strikes a great balance between fundamental coding education and the chance to engage in real-world software development.
Strengths: Ideal for self-learning, the ability to choose which topics and modules interest you and real-world coding experience with each course.
Weaknesses: It seems to focus less on front-end design and more on back-end web development.
III. Learning to Code on a Budget: Tips and Tricks
If you lack the funds for coding courses and boot camps, there are still ways to learn coding for free. Below are some tips to help you learn to code on a budget:
Using free resources online
The internet is pretty much teeming with incredible resources for coding development. From beginner to advanced techniques to code examples, libraries and frameworks. And while some websites do request fees for access to their finished courses, a surprising amount of the useful material is offered for free.
