Key takeaways
- Coding skills are a valuable way to enhance your current and future career prospects, despite recent slowdown in the job market and the emergence of artificial intelligence.
- There are several paths toward learning to code depending on what you want to learn—and how much time and money you’re willing to spend.
- In-person coding bootcamps vs. online coding courses: Online coding courses may offer a more flexible, efficient, and affordable journey toward learning in-demand skills.
- With dozens of options to choose from, we break down some of the many paid and free online coding course options for you.
Online Coding Courses in 2025
Do you want to learn to code without committing to an intense, time-consuming bootcamp? Online coding courses offer a more customizable, inexpensive, and time-efficient alternative for those with personal and professional commitments. Find out all you need to know below, plus get our take on some of the most popular coding courses, paid and free.
What You Need to Know
- Online coding courses offer more variation in curriculum and format than coding bootcamps, can be tailored to your needs, and are often more affordable.
- Both coding bootcamps and online coding courses are great ways to change careers, but coding courses might work better for those just looking to add some specialized technical skills.
- While there are some great paid coding courses out there, many are completely free.
- As these are entirely remote, having access to a stable internet connection and a distraction-free learning environment are a must.
Why Should You Take an Online Coding Course?
Coding is an important skill to have under your belt. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts the median software developer salary in 2024 at just over $133,000 annually, with a projected job growth rate of 18% through 2033.1,2
But even if you’re not looking to become a software developer, software engineer, or web developer, coding skills are a crucial asset for professionals working in industries that are increasingly employing data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence solutions. Generative AI is evolving the way we think about coding; those with the know-how to work with AI and shape next-generation software development may find themselves with a competitive advantage, according to McKinsey’s Technology Trends Outlook 2025.3
Technology jobs don’t have to be your only path forward: If you’re looking to be an influencer, start your own business, or just level up your side hustle, web development skills can help you stand out.
The bottom line: for those looking to future-proof their career path or unlock higher earning potential, an online coding course can be a great way to do so.
What Does a Coding Course Teach?
While a coding course’s curriculum will vary depending on the featured subject and difficulty level, common areas covered include:
Programming basics: Behind each programming language are fundamental tasks, procedures, and concepts that every programmer should know, including syntax, variables, data types, troubleshooting, debugging, functions, loops, and conditionals.
Programming languages: Many online coding courses teach one or several of the following popular programming languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C++, C#, and more.
Web development: Some online coding courses include or feature web development through languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Databases: Especially for data-heavy applications like data science, online coding courses will cover the basics of working with databases, including how to write SQL scripts to efficiently access, modify, and store data.
Software development practices: Especially when it comes time to work on independent projects, online coding courses will introduce key software development practices and tools like version control with Git, testing, troubleshooting, debugging, and how to write maintainable and easily understood code.Other specialized development topics: Some online coding courses cover special subjects in software development like mobile app development for iOS and Android, game development, API development, or Amazon Web Services (AWS).
What’s the Difference Between a Coding Course and a Coding Bootcamp?
A coding bootcamp is an integrated, intensive program aimed at helping participants land an entry-level coding job. They generally last around 12–24 weeks of full-time or part-time study and can cost between a couple thousand dollars to more than $20,000.4,5 Usually included are a suite of career services that, together with bootcamps’ other features, have led to some considering online coding bootcamps a viable alternative to a degree from a 4-year computer science education program for those looking to break into tech. The key is finding a reputable program that works well with your schedule, learning style, and career goals.
So how do coding courses differ?
Customizability
If a coding bootcamp is a tasting menu, where you pay a set price for whatever dishes the chef wants to serve up, think of coding courses as à la carte: whether you’re choosing just one course or assembling an entire meal for yourself, you’re in control of your education.
Affordability
Online coding courses generally cost less than a coding bootcamp (many are free!), so they’re seen as a more affordable option, especially if you are just curious about coding or want to pick it up as a hobby.
Variation
While there are certainly some differences between coding bootcamp curricula, look at enough and you’ll start to see some pretty strong patterns. Because coding courses are generally shorter and not integrated into a larger program, you’ll see far more variation, whether that means focusing on just one programming language, one particular application of coding skills, or one industry.
Format
While coding bootcamps usually feature live online (if not in-person) instruction, coding courses more frequently offer asynchronous instruction through an online learning platform. While this allows for lots of flexibility when studying, it does come at the expense of human interaction with teachers and classmates, and it requires users to be self-disciplined and self-directed in their hands-on learning.If you’re interested in learning more about these coding schools, check out our guides on choosing the best full stack bootcamp and how to pick the best software engineering bootcamps for our latest advice. If instead you think that a coding course will better help you meet your goals, read on to learn our thoughts on some of the many online coding courses out there.
Popular Paid Online Coding Courses
All data on paid courses has been collected from institution websites as of July 2025.
- Codecademy6
Website: https://www.codecademy.com/
Length: Varies
Price: Tiered (free, $14.99/month, $19.99/mo)
Codecademy offers a massive catalog of courses in areas like Python, C#, cyber security, and web development, as well as skill and career paths that can help you skill up to interview for full stack engineer, iOS developer, and data scientist jobs. A mobile app lets you practice your new skills on the go, and Pro-level subscribers can even access technical interview prep materials and personalized job postings.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
2. MIT xPRO Professional Certificate in Coding: Full Stack Development with MERN7
Website: https://executive-ed.xpro.mit.edu/professional-certificate-coding
Length: 26 weeks, 15–20 hours per week
Price: $6,897
MIT xPRO’s Professional Certificate in Coding, presented in collaboration with Emeritus, gives students the opportunity to learn from real MIT faculty members and earn a certification from MIT that they can proudly display on their resume. Along the way, students can drop into office hours with industry professionals and communicate with each other through a message board feature.
3. Python for Everybody Specialization (University of Michigan)8
Website: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/python
Length: 2 months, 10 hours per week
Price: Free, or $60/month for a certificate with Coursera Plus
If you’re a coding newbie looking to learn Python for data science, machine learning, or just as a hobby on your own time without breaking the bank, look no further than the University of Michigan’s Python for Everybody Specialization, available on Coursera. Students can audit the course for free or subscribe to Coursera Plus to be eligible to earn a certification (for this specialization and thousands of other courses).
4. The Complete Full-Stack Web Development Bootcamp9
Website: https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-web-development-bootcamp/
Length: 61+ hours
Price: $16/month (Udemy subscription) or $22.99
Sporting a 4.7 rating with over 440k reviews and nearly 1.5+ million participants worldwide, Dr. Angela Yu’s web development bootcamp on Udemy teaches Javascript, React, Node and Web3 development across 16 portfolio-ready projects. Though a bit of a misnomer, this bootcamp is really more like a coding course with over 60 hours of self-directed video-watching rather than instructor-led content. Though while you do receive a certificate of completion, a certification from Udemy likely carries less weight with potential employers than one from MIT, for example.
5. Treehouse10
Website: https://teamtreehouse.com/techdegree
Length: 4–6 months
Price: $199/month
Treehouse’s Techdegree programs offer bootcamp-like online courses that allow learners to set the pace and prepare them to complete with a well-rounded portfolio of projects. Students can pick from Front End Web Development, Full State JavaScript, Python Development, UX Design, and Data Analysis. Treehouse has a robust support community and career advisors, so students never have to go at it alone, even if they’re learning completely online.
6. Codefinity11
Website: https://codefinity.com/
Length: VariesPrice: Tiered ($49/month, $99/months, $144/month)
Codefinity offers more than 85 courses in high-demand technology skills, from “Python from Zero to Hero” to “Supervised Machine Learning” and everything in between. There’s something for everyone, with ample intro courses and options for those who consider themselves intermediate or advanced. They also offer “Career tracks” that group several courses together to create a more cohesive skillset over 10 to 30 hours, but these are available to Ultimate subscribers only.
7. Brilliant12
Website: https://brilliant.org/
Length: Varies
Price: $13.49/month annually, or $27.99/month monthly
Brilliant is an app dedicated to helping people up their skills level in bite-sized chunks—think Duolingo for quantitative skills. Unlike other online coding courses, Brilliant doesn’t use pre-recorded lectures; they use interactive, game-like discovery so students can learn by doing. Computer science and programming courses include Thinking in Code, Programming with Python, Creative Coding, Computer Science Fundamentals, and more.
Popular Free Online Coding Courses
You can also learn to code without spending a dime. There are many free resources out there that offer entryways to a programming career, whether they’re community-maintained, open-source university courses, or non-profit. All data on free courses has been collected from institution websites as of July 2025.
1. Harvard University’s CS50: Introduction to Computer Science13
Website: https://pll.harvard.edu/course/cs50-introduction-computer-science
Length: 11 weeks, 10–20 hours per week
Price: Free
One of the most well-known free computer science massive open online courses (MOOCs), Harvard’s CS50 has long been the self-taught programmer’s first stop when starting out. The in-person version is Harvard’s largest, and through edX, aspiring coders from around the world can learn the basics of computer programming from Harvard faculty for free. Of course, this comes at a price: while other courses offer extensive independent real-world projects, CS50 focuses on problem sets, meaning that to start really applying their skills, students will have to pair CS50 with online coding challenges and projects.
2. The Odin Project14
Website: https://www.theodinproject.com/
Length: Self-paced
Price: Free
If you’re interested in web development, the Odin Project is a great way to get up and running. Students can choose from two tracks—Full-Stack Ruby on Rails or Full-Stack JavaScript—and pace their learning themselves. Toward the end, students take a professional development module to get them ready for the job hunt. As with other course on this list, it’s important to note what this course isn’t: it won’t prepare you for the coding necessary to work as a data scientist or software engineer, and, while many have used TOP to land web dev jobs, a TOP certification won’t carry as much weight outside coding circles as one from a more recognizable education provider.
3. freeCodeCamp15
Website: https://www.freecodecamp.org/
Length: Varies
Price: Free
freeCodeCamp is a great option if you’re looking to branch out past web development: they have a tutorial for just about any coding task you can think of. Click on one and you’ll open up an integrated coding environment right in your browser. Need help, and you can ask someone in the forum or on the Discord channel. This can work well for students who don’t need much guidance, but if you are new to the coding world and need more direction, you might find freeCodeCamp difficult to use, at least at first.
4. Alison16
Website: https://alison.com/
Length: Varies
Price: Free
Alison, founded in 2007, offers more than 5,500 CPD-accredited free courses to empower individuals around the world. Example courses include: JavaScript Application Programming, Python Programming, C# Fundamentals, Understanding Bash Scripting & Commands, HTML5 and CSS3 Fundamentals, ChatGPT for Programmers, and many more. These courses are entirely self-directed generally over a few hours.
5. Programming with a Purpose (Princeton University)17
Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/cs-programming-java
Length: Self-paced, approximately 2 months to complete at 10 hours/week
Price: Free
Delivered on Coursera, this Princeton University programming course covers coding fundamentals and the mathematical reasoning behind the work. Many reviewers appreciate the recorded lectures and real-world examples, but some caution that it may not be beginner-friendly.
What’s Next?
Now that you know what exactly to expect from a coding course, how they differ from coding bootcamps, and what some great options are (free and paid), you can make a decision about where and how you can build your coding skills with confidence.
Still looking for some more guidance and thinking a coding bootcamp might be for you? Take the first steps towards finding the right course for you today.
Sources
1https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm#tab-5
2https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm#tab-6
3https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-top-trends-in-tech
4https://www.computerscience.org/bootcamps/resources/how-long-are-coding-bootcamps/
5https://www.learningrevolution.net/bootcamp-market-statistics/
7https://executive-ed.xpro.mit.edu/professional-certificate-coding
8https://www.coursera.org/specializations/python
9https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-web-development-bootcamp/
10https://teamtreehouse.com/techdegree
13https://pll.harvard.edu/course/cs50-introduction-computer-science
14https://www.theodinproject.com/
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
