Where to start
Pick a starting point by what you want to build, not by which language is popular:
| Your goal | Start with |
|---|---|
| Never written code before | freeCodeCamp, the MDN Getting started modules, W3Schools |
| Websites and web apps | The Odin Project, Full Stack Open, MDN Learn web development |
| Computer science basics | CS50x, MIT OpenCourseWare |
| Python for data and automation | Python for Everybody, freeCodeCamp's Python certification |
| Practice a language you started | Exercism |
| Children | Scratch |
MDN says its Getting started modules are where complete beginners should begin, before they have even installed a code editor. Our list of free code editors helps you pick one when you get there.
Free certificates and credits
Learning is free on every site here, but a certificate is not always included:
| Platform | Certificate |
|---|---|
| freeCodeCamp | Free developer certifications, from Responsive Web Design to Python and Back-End Development |
| Full Stack Open | Certificate and University of Helsinki ECTS credits at no cost |
| CS50x | Certificate options through edX and Harvard's Extension and Summer Schools |
| Codecademy Basic | No certificates on the free plan |
| MIT OpenCourseWare | No credit or certificates |
Whatever you choose, keep the projects you build along the way in one place, so you can show your code later.
Practice with real developer tools
Courses teach the syntax; everyday work also means reading data and fixing small mistakes. These free tools run in your browser:
- Regex tester: try a regular expression against your own text and see every match.
- JSON formatter: make API responses readable and find syntax errors.
- HTML formatter: indent messy markup so the structure is easy to follow.
- SQL formatter: lay out queries from a course exercise or your own database.
Our guide JSON vs YAML vs CSV explains the data formats you will meet in almost every course.
How we checked
We opened each platform's own about page, course page, pricing page or repository on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. If a page does not mention a certificate, the column says "Not stated". For courses on other subjects, see our list of free online courses.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really learn to code for free?
Yes. freeCodeCamp says its curriculum is completely free and self-paced, The Odin Project offers a free full stack curriculum, and Exercism says it is 100% free, forever. Harvard's CS50x can be taken for free through OpenCourseWare.
Which free coding course gives a certificate?
freeCodeCamp offers several free developer certifications, and Full Stack Open from the University of Helsinki gives a certificate and ECTS credits at no cost. Codecademy's free Basic plan does not include certificates, and MIT OpenCourseWare offers none.
Is CS50 free?
Yes. Harvard says you are welcome to take CS50x for free via OpenCourseWare. It starts with C, then moves to Python, SQL, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. To submit problem sets and the final project for feedback you need an edX account.
Where can kids learn to code for free?
Scratch says it is free for everyone and calls itself the world's largest creative learning community for kids. It is run by an independent nonprofit.
What does Codecademy include for free?
Codecademy's always free Basic plan gives limited access to courses and the AI Learning Assistant, plus the mobile app and workspaces. Career paths, certificates of completion and portfolio projects are not available on Basic.