The Best Online Platforms to Learn Programming Languages

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The internet is the most popular place to learn new things, and while YouTube is extremely popular, you would not believe how popular online courses are.

We believe that the online learning industry is the best place to learn any programming language.

Programming languages have been around for hundreds of years. Coding is not going away, and it remains one of the most difficult skills to learn in the IT industry.

But, regardless of how difficult coding appears, have you ever attempted to learn a programming language?

If you don't have the right teacher or learning platform, it can be a daunting process. As a result, some of the best platforms for learning programming languages are listed below.

Why online coding courses are worth investing in?

Sure, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of programming books available. You've probably heard of the book Beginning Programming for Dummies, right?

Even though these books are appealing and may be useful, we believe that online coding courses provide far more value for the money.

Isn't it better, after all, to learn step by step on the computer than to try to follow and understand something from a book?

We love online coding courses because they allow you to learn at your own pace while also providing the most up-to-date training on a specific programming language.

Communication in the courses is almost always excellent (regardless of the teacher), and it simply provides a better learning and working environment.

Course investment can definitely pay off in the long run if you commit and keep learning. However, if you're a competent learner, you won't need to spend a lot of money on one-on-one instruction.

Fortunately, there are hundreds of online course platforms that can teach you almost any programming language you want.

So, let us begin with our favourite option! Continue reading to learn about the best training courses available.

Top online platforms for learning programming

Pluralsight

The reason Pluralsight is our number one choice is because it’s an online educational platform that specializes in providing training courses for software developers, IT administrators, and creative professionals that rely on any of the most used programming languages.

Therefore, it’s a go-to platform if you are looking to learn a new programming language. It’s ideal for both beginners that haven’t had any prior experience and also experienced programmers who would like to improve their skills.

Some of the most popular programming languages you can learn on Pluralsight are:

  • JavaScript
  • Python
  • C#
  • Angular

Although, there are many other programming languages so you don’t have to worry if you didn’t find your pick on the list above. Anyone can join for a trial that lasts 10 days and we believe that this is more than enough to experience all features of the platform and even learn plenty of things as a beginner.

Some of the best features we were intrigued by are:

  • In-depth courses led by industry experts
  • Short skill assessments that help you get on the right track
  • In-course guided learning
  • Hands-on learning

Each one of the programming languages has about 10-15 courses and we like how Pluralsight organized their platform. The goal is to either learn new skills or take your career and existing skills to another level.

There are 3 pricing plans:

  • Monthly – $29.60/month
  • Annual – $302.16/year ($25.18/month)
  • Premium – $456.32/year ($38/month)

We also like the team plans that are ideal for growing companies who would like to educate their employees further instead of hiring more skilled programmers.

After all, there is no better place to learn from than a platform that specializes in providing training to programmers of all skill levels.

Udemy

Almost everyone has heard of Udemy. It’s one of the most popular platforms you’d go-to for any kind of training.

The great thing about Udemy is that it features a lot of programming language courses and you can find almost any programming language course at a very reasonable price.

Since Udemy features a lot of different courses (not only in the programming niche), they offer a wide range of courses on the same topic.

However, Udemy works a bit differently than the first two platforms. They’re an open platform which means that anyone can create a course and offer it on Udemy.

Therefore, you’ll be able to choose your instructor and choose a course that will fit your needs and skill level appropriately.

The course prices for programming usually range from $20 to $60, yet you can also find a couple of higher-priced courses.

Most courses on Udemy are video courses which are ideal if you love learning by video and you can preview a couple of lesson from each course to see if it is for you before you purchase it.

No matter the prices, we believe that you can find quality courses that will at least get you started with programming without breaking the bank at first.

CodeCademy

CodeCademy has been around for almost a decade. If you haven’t heard of it – it is a platform that specializes in coding and it features 11 different programming languages which include:

  • Python
  • Go
  • Java
  • JavaScript
  • Ruby
  • SQL
  • C++
  • Swift
  • Sass
  • HTML
  • CSS

But what’s most interesting about CodeCademy is that it’s absolutely free. Yes, you’ve read it right!

You can get started with a basic (free) membership that offers 180 hours of content and allows you access to interactive lessons and daily practices. This is more than enough to get you started, especially considering it’s free.

However, if you stick with the training and you’d like more from CodeCademy, they also have a paid membership.

It’s called Pro and for $20 a month, you get the ability to learn & practice longer using more lessons with 1,800 hours of content, but also have access to real-world projects and jobs that fit your skill level.

If you’re on a budget and yet you’d want to be a part of a learning platform that specializes in programming languages – we don’t think that there’s a better option than CodeCademy.

Coursera

If you are trying to get into coding and start a new career by learning a new skill – Coursera might be an ideal place to learn from.

They build and publish courses with a focus to get you ready for a career. You can even earn a certificate or a degree to help you start a new career and even move up the ranks afterward.

You will be able to find over 3,900 courses on Coursera, get more than 13 professional certificates, and even find 20+ degrees & MasterTrack certificates to complete.

Even though Coursera is a platform that doesn’t solely focus on programming, we believe that their selection of programming courses is decent.

In fact, some of the most popular courses on Coursera are Python for Everybody, among all other courses available on the platform.

And the thing we like the most about the courses over at Coursera is that they are usually created by academics who teach at colleges.

But are you ready to hear the best thing about Coursera? It’s free to join for individuals! Most courses are free, however, degrees and certificates will cost.

But we still think that this is a great place to start if you’re changing a career.

You’ll probably have questions about…

What should I look for in a programming course?

If you’re a total beginner, the first thing you should look out for is an explanation of the basics. It’s important to get the basics right or even refresh your memory if you’re an experienced programmer.

Since programming is all about problem-solving, you would want a course that doesn’t only explain things – but also gives you assignments and tasks to do so you can follow the training and learn by doing rather than just learn by watching.

If you know which programming language you’re interested in, you should carefully read the course description and everything it will teach you so you know exactly whether this is something you’d love to learn from.

Which online coding platform is the best for me?

Any of the previously mentioned platforms and course providers will be ideal for everyone who’s reading this post.

However, there’s one important thing you should do. You should consider the level and authority of the course you’ll learn from.

As you could’ve noticed, some courses are ideal for beginners and people who want to see whether programming is for them.

On the other hand, we have listed programming courses that allow you to get certified, or even finish a degree and start finding jobs in the field.

Budget is also a great determining factor so even if the budget isn’t a problem – we highly recommend starting slow and then move on as you learn.

This way, you won’t end up spending lots of money before even knowing if you’ll stick with coding.

What are the necessary skills for coding?

How do you know if coding is for you? Even though you might have never touched a programming language – you could still know if you’ll do well.
Coding requires some of the skills some of us have:

  • Self-reliance
  • Patience
  • Strong memory
  • Attention to detail
  • Logic

Don’t be too harsh on yourself, and even though these can guide you – we still believe that everyone should give programming a try & stay consistent with it before making a decision.

How long does it take to learn a programming language?

Everyone learns at a different pace, however, to learn the basics of most programming languages – it takes between 3 to 6 months.

Some people can learn to code faster and others will take longer – but we think that this time frame is quite realistic.

Also, remember that the beginning is always the hardest part. Once you get the basics down, you’ll be able to move at a quicker rate.

That’s just one of the reasons why you shouldn’t ignore basics either, as they’re a foundation of everything you’ll be learning down the road.

Conclusion

Programming skills aren’t as hard to learn as many people think. It requires proper instructions, patience, and a lot of dedication.

And in return, you will be able to work in an industry that’s on the rise, providing a skill that will hardly go out of demand.

Any of these courses are ideal for everyone. They’re even made for someone who doesn’t even know what’s programming to someone who knows the basics and is looking to learn more.

It’s up to you to choose a learning platform that will fit your needs and goals. However, since we put up a list of only the best training platforms, you won’t have to worry about the rest! Best of luck and happy coding.