Programming skills can open doors to dozens of the best tech jobs, and as the industry continues to shift and adjust to new tools and technology, the job growth outlook remains positive, and education has never been more accessible. Just like learning any other language, coding requires regular practice to master.
However, it’s not always simple for people to find time to practice in front of a computer. That’s why coding apps are becoming more popular. In this article, we’ll cover the best coding apps for beginners and the best coding apps for kids. If you want to learn to write code, check out these iOS and Android apps.
Key Takeaways
- Coding apps provide an accessible and convenient way for beginners to learn programming concepts and practice coding projects.
- The best apps for beginners include Enki, CodeHub, Programming Hub, Grasshopper, and Encode.
- Other notable programming apps for beginners are Mimo, Programming Hero, Sololearn, Khan Academy, Codecademy Go, and CodeGym.
- For kids, recommended coding apps are SpriteBox, Hopscotch, Tynker, and LightBot.
- Coding apps should be used in conjunction with other learning resources like coding bootcamps, college computer science programs, or online programming lessons for comprehensive skill development.
What Are the Best Coding Apps for Beginners?
There are many coding apps for beginners, but only a few are really worth your time. Below is our selection of the best applications to master programming while having fun with interactive exercises and and coding challenges—no matter your existing tech knowledge:
- Enki
- CodeHub
- Programming Hub
- Grasshopper
- Encode
- Mimo
- Programming Hero
- Sololearn
- Khan Academy
- Codecademy Go
- CodeGym
11 Best Coding Apps for Beginners
With so many excellent apps out there, learning coding for beginners is easy. These coding apps can help anyone master multiple languages that are fundamental to the processes of web development, mobile development, game development, and more. Below, we take a close look at the best coding apps for beginners.
Enki
The Enki app offers a variety of coding courses. With Enki, you can study everything from generative AI, JavaScript, and data science to spreadsheets, Tableau, and Power BI. Enki has one of the most attractive and user-friendly interfaces out there. Much of the content is available with a free plan, but the cost of the pro plan might be worth it depending on your own goals and preferences. You’ll get access to all the content on the learning platform, and it costs $4/month for Enki Mobile and $7/month for Enki Desktop.
CodeHub
CodeHub is an excellent, simple-to-use coding app available only on Android devices. The free CodeHub app has lessons on web fundamentals, HTML, and CSS. This makes the app a great starting place for those learning web development
Programming Hub
Programming Hub is a slick, attractive coding app that takes a clever approach to help people learn coding and other technical subjects. Each course presents its lessons in a story format and features comprehension quizzes after each section.
Where Programming Hub really stands out is in the breadth of courses offered. You can take classes to learn programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Python, C++, Scala, Julia, and more. But you can also take courses in subjects like ethical hacking, app development, artificial intelligence, material design, edge computing, digital marketing, SEO, and more.
An added benefit of Programming Hub’s interface is its text-to-speech functionality. This is a nice touch that makes learning to code accessible to a much larger audience.
Grasshopper
Designed by a team from Code with Google, Grasshopper is ideal to learn JavaScript. The app is completely free and designed for those just starting out. Beginners learn through a simple drag-and-drop style code editor perfect for those new to programming.
Grasshopper has bite-sized lessons that can be completed anywhere, and the interface is user-friendly. Grasshopper teaches programming fundamentals like functions, variables, and methods. It rewards participants with awards and certificates for completing each course. While you can test the app out with a seven-day free trial, their plans do come with a price tag—$14/month for True Solo, $25/month for Solo Plus, and $55/month for Small Business.
Encode
Encode is an Android coding app to learn JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS, and SQL, and it’s a fantastic tool for beginners. The Encode app’s interactive user interface is easy to use, and it provides thorough and in-depth tips and tutorials to help you out, with in-app purchases available.
The Encode tutorial system starts you off with the essential assignments, so it’s always easy to follow along or go back for a refresher. The short lessons on Encode are great for information retention, and they limit frustration if you don’t have enough time to complete a lesson. Encode’s interactive tutorials come complete with feedback to keep you on track throughout the process.
Mimo
Mimo is a coding app designed with multiple learning paths that focus on what you would like to make with real-world projects. It has a simple and friendly interface as well as small lessons that you can take on the go.
Mimo gamifies learning with streaks and awards, which encourage you to keep at coding. The app boasts several languages and technologies, including Python, JavaScript, Java, HTML, CSS, SQL, Swift, React, Express, and more. The basic plan is free, but you can also sign up for the Pro plan at $8.33/month or the Max plan at $24.99.
Programming Hero
The folks behind Programming Hero made it their goal to create a coding app that was both personalized and fun. With the beautifully designed space theme, Programming Hero offers courses in web development currently.
A mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices, but you can also use Programming Hero’s desktop platform to learn the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, and DOM manipulation.
Sololearn
SoloLearn is a coding platform with a series of courses for multiple programming languages. It offers basic and concise tutorials for beginners, including traditional elements such as lessons and quizzes. The social platform of the app allows you to harness your competitive spirit and share your results with other users on the platform.
SoloLearn is an excellent choice for motivated beginners or those looking for something more advanced than just the basics. With SoloLearn, you can study just about every relevant technology you can think of. Through the app, you can dive into one of their full learning paths in Coding Foundations, Python Developer, Web Development, Coding for Data, Front-end for Beginners, or you can take courses in specific topics such as:
- Generative AI
- Python
- HTML
- Java
- Data analytics
- And much more
Khan Academy
Khan Academy has long been known for its flexible education programs, and its app is no exception. While Khan Academy offers courses in a variety of subjects, it also has courses on computer programming, including JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. These courses are free and available to everyone through Khan Academy’s iOS and Android apps.
Codecademy Go
Codecademy Go is the mobile app version of Codecademy’s popular online coding courses. Codecademy Go doesn’t have quite the same features as the full Codecademy web platform. However, it still provides a great opportunity to practice coding while you’re away from your computer.
CodeGym
CodeGym is the right learning tool for those looking to acquire Java skills. This is an interactive online Java course where the student benefits from both theory and practice exercises, but where the emphasis is on learning by doing and having fun.
CodeGym also involves several projects that will put your Java skills to the test, such as building a Sokoban game or an ATM emulator. All in all, this is one of the best coding apps for beginners interested in Java.
The 4 Best Coding Apps for Kids
If you’re a parent of a tech-savvy kid, you’ve probably already heard about coding apps. You may have even heard about some popular coding apps for kids, like Hopscotch and Tynker. As a parent, you always want to challenge your kids and prepare them for a bright future.
Below, we show you some family-friendly coding apps that can get your kids started in coding. The apps below are widely considered to be some of the best coding apps for children and will help your kids master skills that will be in great demand for the foreseeable future.
SpriteBox
From the makers of LightBot, the SpriteBox app is a coding adventure game. SpriteBox starts kids out programming with simple icons and works them up to using real Java and Swift syntax. Like LightBot, you’ll have to pay to play SpriteBox, but at a cost of only $4.99, it’s a great value.
Hopscotch
The popular Hopscotch app is in the kid’s section here, but that doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy and learn from the app too. Designed for ages nine and up, the Hopscotch app for iOS is the ultimate coding playground.
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Users learn programming fundamentals by coding games that are available for everyone to play. Hopscotch also features competitions and participates in the Hour of Code. The Hopscotch app is currently not available for Android users. You can get started for free, but you can also subscribe to the Play Pass for $1.99/month or Unlimited for $9.99/month (with discounts available for yearly purchases), as well as paying for a lifetime family access for $98.40.
Tynker
Tynker is one of the most popular coding apps for kids, with over 60 million users. Like Hopscotch, Tynker users learn programming and development skills through coding challenges, games, camps, and other learning activities.
Individual plans on Tynker cost either $36 quarterly, $120 annually, or $312 for a lifetime plan. Tynker is also well-known for its resources for learning Minecraft. Tynker is available to both Android and iOS users.
LightBot
From the same developers as SpriteBox, the LightBot app teaches coding to kids through learning games. LightBot users solve puzzles that teach kids programming logic. The LightBot app is available on iOS with a one-time cost of $2.99.
What Is the Best Coding App for Beginners?
Coding apps are excellent educational tools, and there are plenty of great options out there for beginners and even more advanced learners. If you’re just getting started, you should consider downloading a coding app to keep your skills sharp on the go.
Coding apps are an invaluable tool when you want to learn to code, but they shouldn’t be used alone. You can advance your skills further by checking out some popular coding bootcamps or other training programs, considering a computer science degree, or even taking self-paced online courses.
Best Coding Apps for Beginners FAQ
The easiest language to learn is HyperText Markup Language, more commonly known as HTML. This coding language is one of the pillars of web development, and it is used to structure pages. Some of the other easiest programming languages to learn include CSS and JavaScript, which are also essential to web development.
No, you don’t need to have a laptop to learn coding. Nowadays, there are many apps that allow you to master coding skills from your mobile phone. Some of the best coding apps to learn coding from your phone include Enki, CodeHub, and SoloLearn.
Yes, learning coding on a mobile device is absolutely possible these days. There are hundreds of useful apps on Android and iOS where beginners can take their first steps in coding. An excellent coding app for beginners is Mimo, which allows you to work on real-life projects of your choice.
The best way to learn coding for beginners is to find an app with tons of exercises to practice your skills daily. There are other efficient ways to learn to code for beginners, such as enrolling in an online lesson or signing up for an online coding bootcamp. Then, it’s important to continuously be learning in order to stay up-to-date on the latest tools and trends and to keep your knowledge sharp.
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