woman drinking tea while on a laptop with text that says best codecademy alternatives comparisons core content layout and more

10 Best Codecademy Alternatives in 2024

Today we’re looking at the best Codecademy alternatives for this year.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation if you buy something. Read my disclosure for more details.

Codecademy Pro is not for everybody.

Now don’t get me wrong. There are some great things about Codecademy Pro.

It’s got a pretty decent interactive workspace.

And it covers many tech topics such as:

  • 14 languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.)
  • web development
  • data science
  • computer science
  • game development
  • cybersecurity
  • interview prep

And more.

But as you may have experienced, a lot of the times it just brushes the surface of what you need to know.

For example, if you want to get into game development, you can Create Video Games with Phaser.js… but that’s it. No canvas. No Unity. Just Phaser.

Or perhaps you’re looking to master data science. Well, good luck finding more than a few scant references to Tableau and Power BI.

So maybe you need to focus more on freelancing, want to get data structure chops or are just looking to dive deeper into computer science.

No matter what direction you’re taking, we’ve got you covered with today’s best Codecademy alternatives.

TLDR: Best Codecademy Alternatives

🔥 Best Overall 🔥
Zero to Mastery

💥 Best for Newbies 💥
One Month

💸 Best Value 💸
Educative.io
and
RealToughCandy.io

Best Codecademy Alternatives: At a Glance

Interactive or video-based learningCertificateCost
Educative.ioInteractive$59 per month / $199 per year
Zero to MasteryVideo$39 per month / $279 per year / $799 lifetime
RealToughCandy.ioVideo$24.99 per month / $199 per year
AlgoExpertBoth$99 per year
CourseraVideo$39-$79 per month
One MonthVideo$299 per year
DataCampBoth$25 per month
PluralsightVideo$29 per month / $299 per year
Wes BosVideo$89-$139 per course
TreehouseVideoOnly for Techdegrees$25 per month

10 Best Codecademy Alternatives

Now let’s look at some of the best Codecademy alternatives for this year. You’ll discover their:

  • Features
  • Layout
  • Price
  • And much more.

1. Educative.io

💰 Cost: $59 per month or $199 per year for all courses and Learning Paths
🖥️ Format:
Interactive
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

Alright, so Codecademy has over 1,800 courses and Educative.io is looking at about 300 courses (and counting). So how can these two possibly compare?

Well for starters, both platforms have an interactive learning environment. But Educative.io doesn’t have any videos.

So if you aren’t keen on videos, there’s your first bonus.

Educative best sql courses Introductory Guide to SQL syllabus and diagram
Lesson in the course An Introductory Guide to SQL on Educative.io

➡️ In our opinion, Educative.io is one of the best Codecademy alternatives packing a great value for your buck. 🤑

Educative.io’s interactive learning environment is a bit different than Codecademy’s. Instead of a full-scale embedded code editor, you’ll work through coding problems with code playgrounds (mini code editors embedded throughout the course).

🔥 Geena’s Hot Take

If you want my personal opinion, I think Educative.io does a way better job at explaining concepts compared to Codecademy. Plus they use a TON of illustrations which are super helpful.

So now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a look at some of Educative.io’s course offerings. They’re similar to Codecademy and cover:

✅ programming languages

✅ data science

✅ data structures and algorithms

✅ interview prep

And beyond.

You’ll learn everything from Introduction to Programming in Go to A Visual Introduction to Algorithms to Advanced Kubernetes Techniques.

Learn why this platform is so valuable in our Educative.io review.

best kubernetes course with code snippets
Lesson in the course Advanced Kubernetes Techniques on Educative.io

Most courses are beginner-friendly, but you’ll also find some intermediate and advanced courses tossed in there as well.


2. Zero to Mastery

💰 Cost: $39 per month/$279 per year/ $799 lifetime for all courses and Learning Paths
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

Let’s just jump right into what makes Zero to Mastery so awesome. One of the main components is founder and instructor Andrei Neagoie.

A former Senior Software Developer in Toronto and Silicon Valley, Andrei is perhaps best known for his course The Complete Web Developer. And with around half a million students and counting, we think he’s doing something oh so right.

Andrei Neagoie headshot creator of The Complete Web Developer in 2020 Zero to Mastery
Andrei Neagoie

➡️ We think Zero to Mastery is one of the best Codecademy alternatives overall.

So like Codecademy, Zero to Mastery has courses and Career Paths. But you’ll also find workshops and ebooks on Zero to Mastery.

Now there aren’t nearly as many courses on Zero to Mastery (24+), but don’t let that deter you. These courses are massive. They are quality. They are the video-based education you’ve always dreamed of!

Find out what makes this platform so great in our Zero to Mastery review.

JavaScript code in video on Zero to Mastery
JavaScript lesson in The Complete Web Developer on Zero to Mastery

Most of the courses on Zero to Mastery are meant for absolute beginners with no prior programming experience. The goal is to bring you from newbie (Zero) to experienced developer (Mastery). Some courses include:

But you’ll also find some more advanced courses like Master the Coding Interview: Big Tech (FAANG) Interviews.

Each of these courses is jam-packed with dozens of hours of video, downloadable resources, and projects galore.

Smartbrain project from The Complete Web Developer in 2020 Zero to Mastery course
SmartBrain project in The Complete Web Developer on Zero to Mastery

And Zero to Mastery has one thing Codecademy hasn’t got: lifetime memberships.

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3. One Month

💰 Cost: $299 per year for all courses
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

Now one could argue that One Month isn’t one of the best Codecademy alternatives because it “only” offers 20+ video-based courses. But don’t let that deter you: It’s the quality, not the quantity that we’re going for here.

one month best css courses with cookie monster and man in corner
Project you’ll build in the HTML & CSS course on One Month

➡️ We believe One Month is one of the best Codecademy alternatives for learning the basics of a new programming language.

The idea behind One Month is that you can learn a new skill in… You got it… One month. In just 4 weeks, you can go from absolute beginner to intermediate developer in:

  • HTML & CSS
  • JavaScript
  • Python
  • jQuery
  • Ruby
  • SQL

See what stands out about this platform in our One Month review.

one month javascript video of where your tax dollar went breakdown
Project you’ll work on in the JavaScript course on One Month

You’ll also find courses covering the command line, WordPress, blockchain, and more. You’ll even find a pretty badass introductory course: Programming for Non-Programmers.

So if you’re just getting started in the realm of programming, One Month might be the way to go.

🚨 Use our One Month link and SAVE 25%


4. RealToughCandy.io

💰 Cost: $24.99 per month or $199 per year for all courses / $9.99-$79.99 for courses a la carte
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
No

RealToughCandy.io is the newest tech education kid on the block.

In fact, it’s in a league of its own (cue Geena Davis).

Whereas Codecademy will teach you how to code, it doesn’t teach you what to do with those skills. In fact, most platforms don’t.

Lesson in Portfolio Surgery on RealToughCandy.io

➡️ RealToughCandy.io is arguably one of the best Codecademy alternatives for self-taught developers.

Too often, developers have got a brain full of newly-acquired skills without a clue how to get to to the next phase.

And that’s where RealToughCandy.io comes in.

It takes you to the next level with practical, actionable steps.

You’ll learn to navigate some of the most important steps of your tech career with courses such as:

And that’s just for starters.

Some courses you’ll find on RealToughCandy.io

But don’t expect these courses to be a snooze. Oh no. These courses are shorter, video-based and jam-packed with information, projects, and mock scenarios.

Learn more on what it’s all about in our full RealToughCandy.io review.

Another lesson from Freelance Newbie on RealToughCandy.io

RTC doesn’t want to waste your time (or hers) babbling on about irrelevant information. You get in, get the information in a fun, engaging way, then take the next step in your developer career.

And if you’re looking for inspiration, you’ll find plenty of interviews with tech experts on the RealToughCandy.io blog.

brad traversy from traversy media headshot

RTC is a fantastic instructor. Her passion shows in everything she puts out.

– Brad Traversy, Traversy Media

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5. AlgoExpert

💰 Cost: $99 per year
🖥️ Format:
Interactive and video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

AlgoExpert is worlds apart from Codecademy Pro. Sure, Codecademy will teach you the fundamentals, but AlgoExpert is next-level. We’re talking the FAANG interview prep world of data structures and algorithms.

That’s right, AlgoExpert was created by Clément Mihailescu so he could pass his Facebook interview (it worked!) And now you can ace your FAANG interview.

Discover more of what makes us head over heels for this platform in our AlgoExpert review.

clément mihailescu headshot co-founder of algoexpert
Clément Mihailescu

➡️ AlgoExpert is possibly one of the best Codecademy alternatives because of its interactive learning environment.

Let’s check out AlgoExpert’s 4-pane integrated workspace for starters:

4-pane integrated workstation environment in AlgoExpert
Workspace on AlgoExpert

Peep all the features you can manipulate like syntax highlighting, editor, font size and layout.

Another bonus is that you can code your solutions in 9 programming languages:

JavaScriptTypeScriptPython
SwiftKotlinC++
JavaC#Go

In addition to working on over 160 coding interview questions, you’ll find:

✅ 100+ hours of video explanations

✅ data structures crash course

✅ 4 curated assessments

✅ mock coding interviews

But the AlgoExpert fun doesn’t stop there.

The AlgoExpert platform also hosts other courses:

SystemsExpert: Nail the systems design interview

MLExpert: Dominate the machine learning interview

Frontend Expert: Ace the frontend interview

ProgrammingExpert: Learn to code

Now these all have a similar setup to AlgoExpert, so we won’t get in too much detail here. Head over to AlgoExpert and check them out to see what features and benefits they offer.

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6. Coursera

💰 Cost: $39-$79 per month for courses and Specializations
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

Like most other platforms on our list of Codecademy alternatives, Coursera contains video-based courses. So if you’re looking for interactivity, you won’t find that here.

What you will find however, is a massive library of courses by renowned educational institutions such as Yale and Duke. You’ll also find courses put out by tech companies such as Google and IBM.

best css courses calendar with css code
CSS calendar project on Coursera

➡️ Coursera is perhaps one of the best Codecademy alternatives if you’re looking for course quantity.

While Codecademy has 1800+ courses, Coursera doubles that with over 3000 courses.

In addition to courses, they offer Specializations.

A Specialization is a combination of multiple courses to train you in a specific discipline.

Coursera is a bit different than other platforms on our list because its course offerings aren’t limited to tech. You’ll find all sorts of courses on things like health and business.

Learn more about what we like about this platform in our Coursera review.

Kali Linux penetration testing tools best hacking courses
Course on penetration testing and hacking on Coursera

But for tech you’ll find:

✅ computer science

✅ programming languages

✅ data science

✅ information technology

✅ math

And beyond.

Courses are typically heavy in both projects and exercises.

So whether you want to take an introductory course on Python or delve into a machine learning Specialization, Coursera has you covered.


7. DataCamp

💰 Cost: $25 per month for all courses and Learning Paths / $33.25 per month for all courses, Learning Paths and projects
🖥️ Format:
Interactive and video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

Codecademy has plenty of courses on data science, right? Well… Kind of. Around 35 actually, and a few data science Skill Paths and Career Paths. So it’s nothing to shake a stick at.

But DataCamp? NOW we’re cooking with gas. DataCamp’s got:

✅ 350+ data science courses

✅ 50+ data science Skill Paths

✅ 12+ data science Career Paths

video presentation of calculate bmi with formulas and man explaining is datacamp worth it
Example video from one of the many Python courses on DataCamp

➡️ If you’re interested in pursuing a career in data science, we think DataCamp is one of the best Codecademy alternatives out there.

You’re looking at everything from absolute beginner courses like Introduction to Data Science in Python to Career Paths like Data Analyst with SQL Server.

Find out why we go here for all things data science in our DataCamp review.

DataCamp Introduction to SQL group by practice instruction and embedded code editor
SQL practice problem on DataCamp

Because DataCamp is dedicated exclusively to data science disciplines, you’ll find that the only languages covered are R, Python and SQL.

And the great thing about DataCamp is that its layout is surprisingly similar to Codecademy: You’ll find an interactive coding environment mixed with videos explaining more difficult concepts.


8. Pluralsight

💰 Cost: $29 per month or $299 per year for all courses and Learning Paths
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
No
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

So in the beginning of this post, we mentioned how Codecademy doesn’t really cater to the gaming community. Luckily, Pluralsight has you covered in that department.

best game development courses Pluralsight image of circles in black square
Creating animations in the course Unity Game Dev: Programming on Pluralsight

➡️ In our opinion, Pluralsight is one of the best Codecademy alternatives for learning about game development.

You’ll find tons of game development courses and even Learning Paths such as Unity Game Dev: Programming.

In this video-based tech education platform, like other video-based platforms, you’ll do all work locally on your computer.

You’ll find over 7,000 courses covering:

✅ computer science

✅ data science

✅ programming languages

✅ cybersecurity

And much more.

Explore what else we like about this platform in our Pluralsight review.

Kyle Simpson explaining Closure: loops + block scope in Pluralsight Advanced JavaScript course
Legend Kyle Simpson teaching the Advanced JavaScript course on Pluralsight

But there is a drawback: Because Pluralsight’s library is so damn huge, it can be hard to navigate. So to find the best courses, be patient. Check the reviews and make sure you’re choosing courses that current.

Also, take notice of the instructors. You’ll find a few diamonds sprinkled in there like Kyle Simpson teaching Advanced JavaScript. 💎


9. Wes Bos

💰 Cost: $89-$139 per course
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
Yes
🎖️ Certificate:
Yes

Who is Wes Bos? And how did he make the list of best Codecademy alternatives?

Good question, and we have an even better answer for you.

Wes Bos is a fullstack JavaScript developer who also happens to make kick-ass courses.

wes bos headshot
Wes Bos

➡️ In our opinion, Wes Bos is one of the best Codecademy alternatives for learning JavaScript.

He’s currently got 13 courses on all things JavaScript such as:

And more.

Now let’s take a look at how these courses are broken down. We’ll use Beginner JavaScript as an example.

First of all, each course is broken down into two tiers: Start Course and Master Package. So this all depends on what you want to get out of the course:

wes bos review starter course vs master package
Two course tiers for Beginner JavaScript on Wes Bos

And assuming you go for the master package, you’ll find a full range of JavaScript projects to work on. But keep in mind: Wes Bos’ courses are video-based, so you’ll build all of these projects on your local computer.

Learn more about why we love Wes Bos’ platform in our Wes Bos review.

wes bos beginner javascript projects
Some projects you’ll build in Beginner JavaScript on Wes Bos

Each module contains a series of exercise-heavy videos where you’ll learn specific JavaScript concepts:

Wes Bos JavaScript course with modules and thumbnails

The great thing about these video modules is that you can move at your own pace. Another benefit is that you can choose your own integrated developer environment (IDE) instead of being forced to use Codecademy’s which you may not like.

Wes Bos’ courses are designed to be “skippable.” What this means is that you can hop around from concept to concept, or take the course in a linear fashion.

It’s all up to you with courses by Wes Bos.


10. Treehouse

🚨 ALERT 🚨

As of September 2021, Treehouse has laid off 90% of its staff. The future of Treehouse is unknown.

💰 Cost: $25 per month for all courses and Learning Paths / $199 per month for Techdegrees
🖥️ Format:
Video
💪 Support:
Support
🎖️ Certificate:
Only for Techdegrees

treehouse best css courses with html code snippet
Video lesson in the course CSS Basics on Treehouse

Treehouse is very similar to Codecademy in that it’s a grab bag of tech topics to choose from.

➡️ But there are some core differences that make Treehouse one of the best Codecademy alternatives.

For example, Treehouse is geared primarily towards absolute newbies. And with over 300 video-based courses, you’re going to be swimming in beginner-friendly courses such as:

  • Getting Started with TypeScript
  • Go Language Overview
  • AWS with S3
  • Build a Simple Android App with Java
  • CSS Basics
  • Introduction to Algorithms

And many more.

But Treehouse has something Codecademy hasn’t got: Techdegrees.

These Techdegrees are kind of like Career Paths on Codecademy, but they go a step further.

For any Techdegree, you can expect to spend between 3 and 9 months, depending on your skill level and how much time you dedicate to it.

With these guided Techdegrees, you’ll learn professional, technical and soft skills. There are currently 5 Techdegrees available:

  • Web Development
  • Front End Web Development
  • Full Stack JavaScript
  • UX Design
  • Python Development
UX Design video on semantic colors in treehouse techdegree review
Semantic colors in the UX Design Techdegree on Treehouse

So whether you want to get your feet wet into programming basics or dive head first into a Techdegree, Treehouse has options for students of all levels.


Codecademy Alternatives: Conclusion

Now let’s recap what we learned about Codecademy’s competitors.

Today we looked at the best Codecademy alternatives including:

🔥 Best Overall 🔥
Zero to Mastery

💥 Best for Newbies 💥
One Month

💸 Best Value 💸
Educative.io
and
RealToughCandy.io

So if you’re on the hunt for Codecademy alternatives, we think this list has your covered.

The next step is to sign up and start learning.


Students reading Best Codecademy Alternatives are also reading:


  1. What are the best Codecademy alternatives?

    The best Codecademy include the following: Overall, we think Zero to Mastery is the way to go. If you’re looking for value, we recommend Educative.io and RealToughCandy.io. And if you’re a newbie just getting started with programming, we think One Month might have what you’re looking for.

  2. Which is better Codecademy vs Treehouse for beginners?

    In our opinion, we think Treehouse is the better option if you’re an absolute beginner. Most of their courses, Learning Paths and Techdegrees are geared towards newbies looking to get their feet wet with programming. But while treehouse is video-based, Codecademy uses video and interactive lessons. So it all depends on what learning style works better for you.

  3. Codecademy vs Pluralsight: Which is the better platform?

    In our opinion, we think Pluralsight is the better platform for a number of reasons. For starters, Pluralsight has over 7000 video-based courses. Codecademy has around 1800 interactive lessons with some videos. Because of its vast library, you’re likely to find more courses you can take on Pluralsight. And because they’re a subscription service, there’s no extra cost.

  4. Codecademy vs Coursera: What platform is better?

    We think Coursera is the better platform because it offers courses and Specializations by educational institutions like Duke and Yale. These courses are often higher quality than Codecademy and tend to dive deeper into concepts. For more information on Coursera, you can check out what we have to say in today’s article.

  5. What are the best alternatives to Codecademy?

    We found 10 platforms we think are the best alternatives to Codecademy. They include Educative.io, Zero to Mastery, One Month, RealToughCandy, AlgoExpert, Coursera, DataCamp, Pluralsight, Wes Bos and Treehouse. You can learn about all of these platforms in today’s post.