15 Best Online Coding Classes
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Key Takeaways
- Online coding classes are available for many programming languages, including Python and C#.
- Many entry-level courses are free, but costs for in-depth courses vary.
- Online coding courses can expand your tech skills — whether you’re a beginner or an industry professional.
Tech jobs are booming, according to CompTIA’s April 2023 report. Online coding bootcamps and courses are popular and teach in-demand tech skills. In fact, there are so many options to choose from it can take time to decide which one to pick.
Online courses can be a great option for beginner coders and tech professionals wanting to learn a new skill. Online coding courses vary in length from a couple of hours to several months. Some courses teach a particular programming language or skill, while others prepare students for a specific career path.
When deciding on a course, assess its cost, timeframe, and quality. Our list of the 15 best online coding courses helps you find the right one for your needs.
Should I Enroll in an Online Coding Course?
People enroll in online coding courses for various reasons. While courses vary, they help bridge the demand for tech skills.
Many online coding courses are designed for beginners. This makes them great for anyone looking to build a new skill set or decide if coding is for them. Students can do anything from an hour-long introductory course to year-long programs that offer a certificate.
Online coding classes are also great for tech professionals who want to expand their skills and require more flexible schedules.
Online bootcamps are another option for those wanting to learn to code. These intensive training programs usually require more hours per week than many standalone courses, and they usually teach a wider variety of tech skills and tools.
Bootcamps are career-focused and often include support for those who want to start a job search after the bootcamp. Bootcamps often last a few months and are quite a bit more expensive than an online course.
Coding Course vs Coding Bootcamp
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Coding Bootcamps You Should Consider
The Best Online Coding Courses
Google IT Support by Coursera
In this series created by Google, you will learn everything you need to pursue your first entry-level IT job over five courses. The certificate covers day-to-day IT support tasks like computer assembly, wireless networking, installing programs, and customer service. You will also learn how to use Linux, domain name systems, command-line interfaces, and binary code.
This course is particularly good for beginners pursuing an entry-level IT support role. The class includes over 100 hours of instruction and hundreds of practice-based assessments, ensuring you will walk away having learned the material.
- Length: About 6 months, 10 hours per week
- Cost: $39/month
- Certificate: Yes
Python for Everybody by Coursera
Python is a popular programming language used to build websites and software, automate tasks, and conduct data analysis and visualizations. Python’s popularity is due in part to its versatility, simple syntax, and extensive libraries.
Through a mix of lectures, activities, and a capstone project, students will learn how to code in Python, create and navigate data structures, access web data, and use databases. This course may be suited for anyone interested in working with artificial intelligence, machine learning, or big data.
- Length: About 8 months, 3 hours per week
- Cost: $49/month
- Certificate: Yes
Microsoft Excel by Udemy
Microsoft Excel is a useful and powerful tool, but it’s also known for being difficult to navigate. In this course, you will learn quick Excel functions through the different tools available, maintain large data sets, and create reports with PivotTables.
This beginner-friendly course will teach you the skills needed to harness the power of Microsoft Excel through a variety of different videos and downloadable resources. After completing the course, you will have the skills to automate tedious daily tasks and get the most out of the program.
- Length: 18 hours
- Cost: $180
- Certificate: Yes
C# Programming by Alison
C# (C sharp) is a programming language developed by Microsoft that runs on the .NET Framework. Coders use it to develop web, desktop, and mobile apps, games, and enterprise software. Alison’s courses are usually for beginners, but it might be helpful to have some coding background for this one.
Only a few hours long, the class is likely extensive enough to teach you everything you need to know about C#. However, the program does claim that after completion, students should have the skills to write correct syntax for operators, expressions and statements of duration, create an array of values, and declare a use for iterations.
- Length: 1-3 hours
- Cost: Free, or you can pay a $10 premium monthly fee
- Certificate: Students are eligible for a continuing professional development certificate
Hour of Code by Khan Academy
This program is a fun introduction if you’re new to learning about coding and computer science. The primary target for Khan Academy is students still in school, but the content is equally fun and engaging for adults. It covers the basics of various skills, such as drawing with code, creating web pages, and using databases.
The quick course provides a fun, hands-on learning experience to build creative online skills. There might be better courses for those looking to make a career move, but it could be great if you want to expand your skills and try something fun.
- Length: 1 hour
- Cost: Free
- Certificate: No
Machine Learning by Coursera
If you want to learn about machine learning (ML), this might be the right course for you. ML is a rapidly growing field and will likely continue to be vital to the technology landscape. Uses for ML include self-driving cars, speech recognition, or anything that involves a computer learning on its own.
This higher-level course will teach you about logistic regressions, artificial neural networks, and machine learning. This course may better suit people with previous tech experience or knowledge, as it involves complex ideas and math.
- Length: Approximately 61 hours
- Cost: $79 to get the certificate, but free if you don’t get the certificate
- Certificate: Yes (paid option)
Computer Science for Web Programming by edX
This certificate program includes two courses. The first course covers an introduction to computer science and programming, so it is suitable for beginners and those with some experience. If you want to only take the first course, you can do so for free without earning the certificate.
The second of the two courses is an in-depth program that teaches students about designing and implementing web apps with Python, JavaScript, and SQL. It also covers frameworks like Flask, Django, and Bootstrap. By the end of the two courses, students should have a strong understanding of web development.
- Length: 6 months, 6-14 hours per week
- Cost: $313
- Certificate: Yes
IBM Data Science by Coursera
This course teaches students the skills to pursue a career in data science and machine learning. It covers the popular programming languages Python and SQL, machine learning models, and analyzing and visualizing data.
The nine-course program combines instructional videos with hands-on projects, so students have a portfolio of data science projects by the end of the course. In addition to a certificate from Coursera, students can obtain a digital badge from IBM recognizing their proficiency in data science.
- Length: 11 months, 4 hours per week
- Cost: $49/month with discounts
- Certificate: Yes
Ultimate AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate by Udemy
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate certification is one of the industry’s most in-demand cloud computing certifications. Amazon Web Services offers the certification, not the Udemy course. However, this course will teach students everything they need to know for the certification exam.
In addition to learning materials, the class provides a full practice exam with explanations so students can identify their strengths and weaknesses. Students will have access to the material even after completing the course, which is useful for retaking the exam if needed.
- Length: 27 hours
- Cost: $85
- Certificate: No
The Complete Digital Marketing Course by Udemy
If you are curious about digital marketing, this eight-part course will teach you the basics. This includes making a website, copywriting, email marketing, and social media marketing.
The class also focuses on more challenging skill sets vital in marketing, such as using Google Analytics and SEO writing. While not a tech course, it may benefit those interested in working in a marketing position for a tech company.
- Length: 23 hours
- Cost: $149.99
- Certificate: Yes
PHP for Beginners by Alison
This course teaches you the basic principles of creating websites using the programming language PHP. You’ll also learn some of the basics of writing code and common errors to avoid.
Alison specializes in easy-to-follow classes, making them great for students without a tech background. This course is a good introduction for those looking to learn more about how to build a website, but it isn’t in-depth enough to prepare you for a web development career.
- Length: 1-3 hours
- Cost: $149.99
- Certificate: No
Learn Python: The Complete Python Programming Course by Udemy
Python is a popular programming language in web development, data science, and machine learning. This class helps beginners learn how to code in Python and work with data sets.
While the class generally has positive reviews, reviewers have noted that the class has not been updated since 2015 and, therefore, does not use the most updated version of Python. It’s possible to follow along, but it will be more challenging. Plenty of other courses specializing in Python are available through Udemy and other platforms if you want to expand your knowledge even further.
- Length: 15 hours
- Cost: $100
- Certificate: Yes
Data Analytics Basics for Everyone by edX
In this course, you will learn about the different roles within a data team and their daily activities. From there, you can identify the position that best matches your interests.
This class is accessible for beginners and takes students through sourcing, cleaning, and analyzing data. It also includes a section on visualizing and communicating your findings to different stakeholders. Unlike many other data analytics courses, this section also covers career opportunities and how to best enter the field.
- Length: 5 weeks, 2-3 hours per week
- Cost: Free with no certificate, $99 with a certificate
- Certificate: Yes
Fundamentals of Computers & Code in iOS by Alison
In this beginner course, you will learn about the basics of computer science, coding, and binary in iOS. While the course doesn’t go in-depth, it does provide a foundation for iOS and coding skills.
After completing this course’s first section, you build an app that converts between decimal and binary. With these basic iOS development skills, you can create your own apps. This course may complement another program or independent learning.
- Length: 1-3 hours
- Cost: Free
- Certificate: Yes, but costs $25
Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation by Khan Academy
If you want to combine your tech and artistic skills, learning how to draw through coding is a great first step. In this entry-level course, you will learn the first steps in drawing and animating images using JavaScript and the ProcessingJS library. The course also covers basic functions like creating, sizing and coloring images, adding text, and animating drawings.
By the end of the course, you will have a small collection of designs and projects, plus a basic understanding of how coding and JavaScript work.
- Length: 5-7 hours
- Cost: Free
- Certificate: No
How Do I Choose an Online Coding Course?
Choosing the best online coding course can be difficult. Course providers often don’t make it easy either, and it might be difficult to understand the differences between various courses.
There are a few key factors to consider to help narrow down your options: duration, cost, and curriculum. Often, programs may only display general aspects of their curriculum on their websites, but it is a good place to start. If you have specific questions about the curriculum, don’t hesitate to contact the program. The last important factor to research is the program’s reputation. If a program is a Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) member, you can find trusted student outcomes information on CIRR’s website. Otherwise, you must use your best judgment on what reviews and information you find trustworthy.
While it might be difficult to choose between the different options, finding a coding course that aligns with your goals, learning style, and budget is important.
Coding Bootcamps You Should Consider
Frequently Asked Questions About Coding Classes Online
What jobs can you get in coding?
Some entry-level jobs for recent graduates include technical support specialists, web developers, or junior software developers. Other possible careers include data analysts or software programmers.
Can I get a coding job through a coding course online?
It’s possible to get a coding job after taking an online course, but taking a course doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get a job. If you are serious about a career change, you may want to find in-depth courses or programs that cover multiple skills. Generally, degree programs or coding bootcamps require a significant time commitment and financial investment.
Many tech positions, especially those that offer higher pay or more advancement opportunities, require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. While some courses teach similar skills, they may not hold the same weight as a degree.
Is coding hard to learn?
Learning how to code is like learning another language. Once you get the hang of it, you will know how to express what you want to say, but at the beginning, you might spend a lot of time looking things up and making mistakes.
Students learning to code may create cheat sheets to remind them of the different functions. As you practice, these will become second nature. While the first programming language you learn might be difficult since it involves learning a new way of thinking, most people report learning additional programming languages is more straightforward.
What is the highest-paid coding job?
Some coding jobs with higher pay include computer and information research scientists, computer network architects, and software developers. In 2023, the median average salary for these roles ranged between $60,000 and $160,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Highly-paid tech workers, such as those in artificial intelligence or machine learning, are often specialized or have gained a diverse skill set like full-stack web developers.
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