Once you’ve decided you want to learn coding, you’ll be spoiled for choice with numerous online tools designed to help you do just that. That’s why we’ve written this article to give you a first overview of the offers and help you choose.

Why should you learn coding?

If you have reached this point in the article, we probably don’t have to convince you that learn coding programming is a good decision. We’ll do it anyway and maybe you’ll find some additional points that will strengthen your decision:)

• Programming is a skill that is in high demand in many sectors of the industry.
• You can implement and realize your own projects and ideas.
• You don’t need any prior knowledge or degrees to start learn coding.
• Many of the interesting fields, such as Machine Learning or cryptocurrencies, are based on programming code. With programming skills, you can work in these exciting areas and better understand their fundamentals.

What helps to learn coding?

Before we get to the actual tools that can guide you on the path to becoming a programmer, you should ask yourself the following questions to pick a tool:

1. Which programming language do you want to learn? Although the number of programming languages is not as large as the number of natural languages, there are some to choose from. Some of them, such as Python, are easier to get started with than others. You should also be aware of what you want to achieve with your programming skills because not every language can be used for the same applications.
2. How do I want to learn? The learning process can vary from person to person, depending on how you learn best. Some platforms offer more practical examples, while others explain the material much faster and more theoretically. Be aware of how you learn best and choose the platform accordingly.
3. Do I understand the basics? Depending on what your goals are, you should make sure you understand the basics before you start the actual programming learning. This will make learn coding much easier later. If my goal is to be able to program websites, then I should have a basic understanding of how they are built and how they work. If I want to learn Python programming to train my own Machine Learning models, then my math skills should be well enough developed to understand the basics. This will make the process of learn coding much easier later on and I can fully concentrate on programming.

Where can you learn coding?

In this section, we have compiled a total of 13 different sites that offer free services and are good introductions to various programming languages.

1) Codecademy

On the platform, aspiring programmers can learn 12 different languages such as Python, Java, Go, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, C#, Swift, and Sass, but also HTML and CSS. In addition, the course is structured according to different subject blocks such as web design, machine learning, game design, and data analysis.

The individual modules contain interactive projects and quizzes that match your learning level. Your own level of knowledge is thus checked again and again. In addition to practical tasks, Codecademy also offers discussion forums, programming language glossaries, blog posts, and articles to help you learn to program. According to their own data, 45 million learners have improved their programming skills via their website in just seven years – are you one of them?

2) freeCodeCamp

The open-source community provides various programming challenges, projects, certificates, and networking opportunities. Unlike Codecademy, there is no fixed learning path here, so you can acquire very specific skills. Especially cool are the projects with non-profit organizations – so you can learn coding and do good at the same time!

3) HackerRank

Here you compete directly with participants who learn coding to improve your development skills by solving code challenges. The competition is fun because you earn points for solving the challenges and compete for a top spot on the HackerRank leaderboard. Again, there are no set lessons – the clear philosophy is “learning by doing”, so as a beginner you might want to use the program more as an exercise alongside another curriculum.

4) MIT OpenCourseware

The educational platform allows you to use the famous elite MIT Institute for free. The online library includes all topics that are taught at the university as well. Computer science courses can be found at the School of Engineering. Compared to the other courses mentioned here, there is no gamification approach. Working through this material requires a lot of discipline and homework and tests must be completed and graded independently. For more experienced programmers, there are impressive courses here that you should take a closer look at during your learning journey.

5) Hasso-Plattner-Institut

The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) also offers educational opportunities that are not only open to its own students. On its interactive education platform, you can find free online courses without admission restrictions. The courses in the areas of design thinking, information technology, and computer science are offered in German or English.

6) TechLabs

The volunteer tech community offers four tracks each semester: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Web Development, and User Experience. TechLabs offers a unique, hands-on learning experience for all participants – with e-learning tools, individual learning paths for each participant, and experienced mentors. Typically, courses last 6 months with a learning commitment of approximately 5 hours per week. Regardless of prior knowledge and individual background, anyone and everyone can apply and learn coding. Don’t worry, in fact, most new participants have no or very limited programming experience.

7) Cousera

You can learn just about anything on Coursera – including programming. The courses are not completely free, because certifications, unfortunately, have to be paid for. But you can still learn introduction to programming, HTML, CSS, loT programming, Python, Java, and much more for free from a beginner level or higher.

8) edX

edX brings together free online courses from renowned universities like Harvard, MIT, and Georgetown. Take a closer look at the Computer Science and Data Science categories. Here you can get comprehensive courses on full-stack development, Javascript, Python, AI, machine learning, and more. Again, you’ll have to pay for an audited certificate. In addition, there are some paid courses, but in most cases, you can learn quite a bit just by taking the free courses.

9) Udemy

On Udemy you will find the largest collection of user-generated courses. In addition to a large number of free courses, there are also paid programming courses for every level of knowledge. When choosing, be sure to check the course rating – it’s usually a good indication of which courses are particularly worthwhile.

10) Udacity

This platform offers a wide range of courses to practice theoretical skills in real projects. You can master the topics of programming, data science, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing at your own pace.

11) SoloLearn

Learning to program becomes social and interactive here. In addition to providing 25 courses, SoloLearn is working to create a community of developers where learners can interact, earn points, and appear in the Top Learners section. Like Codeacademy, SoloLearn is available via both the web and a mobile app. So you can learn to code anytime, anywhere. Moreover, you can become part of the conversation, ask or answer questions, and exchange ideas with other learners. With courses on Python, C++, Java, Javascript, SQL, PHP, HTML & CSS, React, and Angular, you can find pretty much anything that has to do with code.

12) Microsoft Learn

Microsoft Learn helps learners get hands-on with programming languages, whether they are beginners or advanced. As a programming learner, you can choose to stay online and learn at your own pace or join instructor-led lessons. You can also get certified by the platform.

13) Hackr.io

Comparable to Udemy, anyone can post a course here. With the positive reviews of other users, the best courses are placed at the top. With filters, you can hide irrelevant courses and tutorials and select those that meet your personal needs.

There are many free ways to learn coding online. Depending on the program you choose, you can learn coding more or less at your own pace, explore interesting topics in-depth, and connect with virtual communities.

14) DataScientest.com

This website is still comparatively new and has been offering training for private individuals or the corporate environment since 2021. Programs in the areas of Data Science and Machine Learning are also available, which delve deeper into programming, among other things. Compared to the other sites presented, datascientest.com’s programs are significantly more extensive and correspondingly more time-consuming. Thus, it is not suitable if you only want to gain a brief insight into a subject area or a programming language for the time being.

DataScientest is a valuable resource especially if you have already decided on a subject area and now want to delve deeper into it. Then, however, it offers a solid platform to also be able to take relevant continuing education courses for the profession. The previously mentioned offers can be a decision-making aid if one wants to try out programming, for example.

The resources listed above are only an initial guide to learn coding. You’re sure to find plenty of others on your individual learning journey. So what should you take away? Every educational resource has its strengths and its areas for improvement. So use different websites and browse around a bit – try a lot. That’s the only way you’ll find the learning medium that works for you (and your current skill level). And if you find something cool, let us know!

You now have the basics to learn coding so start your journey… for questions and specific projects, you can find everything else on our site!

This is what you should take with you

• Meanwhile, there are countless possibilities and reasons to start programming.
• This article has presented a total of 13 different sites and tools on which you can learn coding with the help of courses, lectures, games, or forums.
• You can use these offers to put together your own individual learning program.

Other Articles on the Topic of Learn Coding

• This blog post goes even further and recommends a total of 27 courses and sites to learn to code.