Best Websites to Learn to Code for Free

Today people have learning tools that the previous generations haven’t even dreamed of. Interactive websites, free college and university classes, VR glasses that transport you to another dimension and lets you see the world from a different perspective. Even YouTube is seen by many as one of the most powerful tools on the internet for free educational content.

When it comes to learning a programming language, it takes a little bit more than just a few videos online. One should be persistent in his or her desire to learn to code. It takes a lot of time and practice to learn a programming language. Besides the strong desire and having the free time to sit down and learn, there are a couple of tools online that will help you in this journey.

If you are a beginner and you have never touched a programming book, let alone actually wrote code before, the following websites are probably the best places for you to start with:

 Codecademy

 SoloLearn

 Khan Academy

 Udacity

If you already have some foundational knowledge, the following might be a good option for you:

 TeamTree

 Pluralsight

 edX

Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget one more very important thing practice. No matter how often you scroll through the online content, you will never learn to program unless you practice.

1. Codecademy

Codecademy launched in 2011. It is probably the best place for beginners in programming. They are currently offering free courses in HTML & CSS, Python, JavaScript, Java, SQL, Bash/Shell, Ruby, C++, R, C#, PHP, Go, and Swift. There are several reasons why it is considered the go-to website for anyone new to programming. They have a clean and easy to use interface that lets the users test their skills as they learn. Codecademy has a free and a paid version. The free version should be sufficient for the beginners, but the paid version offers members-only content, real-world projects, and peer support.

There are many cases where people who would like to learn programming pick the wrong textbook or the wrong tutorial to start with. The wrong textbook, the one that is written in a quite complex language, with just a few examples and poorly chosen content, can make you give up on programming right away. Codecademy makes everything looks simple and does not overcomplicate content. It lets you learn by example and it also gives you the necessary documentation when you need more information on a matter.

2. W3schools

This website also presents content in a simple, easy to understand way and gives you the option to test your skills right away. W3schools offer a variety of subjects including Python, Java, C++, C#, and even Machine Learning, but this website is extremely useful to anyone who wants to learn web development. Launched in 1998, the name of the website derives from the World Wide Web and it has an extensive knowledge base on web development like HTML lessons, CSS, the basics of JavaScript, and also frameworks like Bootstrap, React.js, and Angular.js.

3. SoloLearn

Another website that lets you learn to program for free is SoloLearn. They offer courses in Python, C++, Java, JavaScript, C, C#, SQL, HTML & CSS, PHP, Ruby, and Swift. What is different about SoloLearn is their mobile app. While other web-based learning platforms also have mobile apps, the SoloLearn application is much more intuitive and simple to use compared to others. It makes it easier to use as if you were sitting in front of a computer. Learn on the go. SoloLearn also gives you a certificate when you successfully finish a course. While the certificate is signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the company and it is not considered to be an educational institute certificate, you can still add it to your LinkedIn profile or attach it when applying for jobs. SoloLearn offers a paid subscription that lets users enjoy a more customized and ad-free experience. If you are a beginner, you can start with the free version and decide whether or not you want to subscribe later on.

4. KhanAcademy

Khan Academy is a non-profit organization that has been proven invaluable in the world of online education. The computing lessons that KhanAcademy is offering are more in-depth and provide an understanding of how algorithms work, give you a better understanding of how database querying works and what are the benefits of Object-oriented programming. The site offers interactive tutorials and test challenges to test your knowledge.

5. edX

While Khan Academy mainly focuses on pupils who are still at school, edX offers online university-level courses. It was launched back in 2012 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Many of the courses are beginners-friendly, but there is content that is meant to be accessed by more advanced users. Such courses are Machine Learning, Big Data, and Quantum Computing. Courses are offered for free by famous universities like Berkeley University of California, Harvard, Boston University, MIT, and many others. Learning is free but if you would like to receive an official certificate, most of the time you will be asked to pay a fee.