Codecademy review

Codecademy is the most direct way for an adult to start coding. Lessons run in the browser, so you write code from the first screen, and an AI Learning Assistant explains errors and checks answers. The Basic plan is always free with limited courses. Plus, at $14.99 a month billed annually or $29.99 billed monthly, adds skill paths, certificates of completion, portfolio projects and skills tracking. Pro, at $19.99 a month billed annually or $39.99 monthly, adds career paths toward roles like data scientist or AI engineer, certification paths for AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA and ISC2, plus interview prep, an interview simulator and a job-readiness checker. Annual plans include one complimentary live workshop. The scope is the main limit: Codecademy covers programming, data and AI, not design, business or creative topics. Monthly billing also costs twice as much as annual, so commit to a year only once the format suits you.

Who it is for

Adults learning programming, data or AI skills by writing code in the browser.

Price

Free Basic plan; Plus from $14.99 per month billed annually or $29.99 billed monthly.

$14.99 a month, billed annually or $29.99 billed monthly
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• Basic plan that is always free with limited courses
• Skill paths on Plus, career paths and certification paths on Pro
• Certification paths for AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA, ISC2 and more
• Certificates of completion and portfolio projects on paid plans
• Technical interview prep, an interview simulator and a job-readiness checker on Pro

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Hands-on coding in the browser from the first lesson
• Strength: Free Basic plan to try the format
• Strength: Annual plans include one complimentary live workshop
• Weakness: Focused on tech skills only
• Weakness: Career paths and interview prep need Pro at $19.99 a month billed annually
• Weakness: Monthly billing costs twice the annual rate

Key facts

• Free plan: Basic, always free
• Plus: $14.99 a month billed annually, $29.99 billed monthly
• Pro: $19.99 a month billed annually, $39.99 billed monthly
• Mobile app: iOS and Android

Where it ranks

Codecademy is No. 3 in our Best Online Course Platforms for Learners verdict.