Quick: Programming is one of the best skills that can lead you to obtain many job opportunities, both in the present and in the future. Have you ever heard that the secret to finding a job is learning to code? Well, it is true!

Programmers are one of the most demanded emerging professionals even in difficult economic times. Without the need for a university degree, increasing numbers of developers are learning how to code individually.

In this regard, you can launch yourself fully into training by taking advantage of the helpful resources available on the Internet, which is always a good idea and an excellent kickoff.

If you want to go one step further and embark on a career in the programming world, you are in the right place. Here are 11 platforms where you can access free online courses to become a programmer.

Codeacademy

Codeacademy is one of the most popular platforms where you can learn to program. It has a lot of potential thanks to its simple teaching system. With courses ranging from introductory programming to more advanced languages, over 24 million people have learned to program using Codeacademy.

In Codeacademy, you first choose the programming language of your interest, and in a few minutes, you’re already writing code. With the project you’ve created, you’ll receive quick feedback to see if you are on the right track.

Codeacademy also offers programming language guides for beginners to learn how to program according to their professional objectives. To integrate from being a beginner to an experienced programmer, here are common languages ​​you can learn at Codeacademy:

• HTML
• CSS
• PHP
• Ruby
• jQuery
• Python
• JavaScript

freeCodeCamp

freeCodeCamp is another option that you should know if you want to learn to program. This non-profit, open-source platform facilitates interactive code teaching with free courses for people anywhere in the world. The site seeks to build a community and create real-life relationships around coding education.

Here you learn how to program by meeting different challenges. To complete each challenge, you’ll have access to free guides and programming tutorials with which you can advance while learning to program. The free programming courses that freeCodeCamp offers are:

• CSS3
• D3.js
• HTML5
• Node.js
• React.js
• JavaScript
• Databases
• Git and Github

More so, you won’t be programming alone as there’s a community of programmers who are learning alongside you, which you can meet to share knowledge.

Coursera

Coursera is a platform where you can access hundreds of programming-related courses from the best universities in the world.

Coursera partners with some of the best professors from top-rank universities to develop the courses. It means that you’re learning to program directly from the resources available.

The courses the platform offers are free. You only pay if you want to access a certificate that supports it.

On Coursera, you will find:

• C
• Java
• Python
• HTML and CSS
• Introduction to programming
• IoT (Internet of Things) programming

edX

edX is a huge learning site where you can access free and paid courses with different topics you can imagine. On edX, you can also find courses from Harvard University, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and many other high-value institutions.

The courses are free, aimed at all levels, and you can take them at your own pace. edX will help you on the way from wondering how to learn to program to more advanced phases of your learning.

On edX, you’ll find different programming tutorials that teach you languages and skills, such as:

• C#
• SQL
• Java
• C++
• Python
• jQuery
• HTML and CSS
• Mobile application development

Udemy

Udemy is a virtual training platform that has improved the lives of many people. Thanks to its extensive catalog of free courses in different areas. You will find many development courses, where you can learn things like:

• Web development
• Game development
• Creation of e-commerce sites
• Mobile application development

Codewars

In Codewars, you will find free courses to learn to code with more than 20 programming languages. Once you sign up for the platform, you become part of an educational community where they train software development through the programming challenges known as “kata.” Codewars enables you to achieve mastery through challenge.

As you progress through each kata, the challenges get more and more difficult. Once you complete a challenge, you have the opportunity to compare your progress with others. 

With this, you will have different techniques to solve a particular development problem. Some of the languages ​​you can learn at Codewars include:

• C#
• Java
• SQL
• Ruby
• Python
• JavaScript

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a platform with free courses where recognized experts from the world of programming conduct all the programming tutorials. You will also access a community of other programmers where they share knowledge and other helpful resources for learning how to program.

Khan Academy is ideal for programmers to learn from scratch. They have every detail ranging from basic computer programming principles to advanced applications. They also encourage candidates to share what they have learned in the process. With Khan Academy, you can learn programming languages ​​such as:

• CSS
• HTML
• JavaScript
• Databases

You can even access free courses focused on other programming-related areas, such as computer science in general. There are also introductory courses that teach you the ideas and skills behind computer programming as a whole.

GA Dash

General Assembly offers free online learning through web development, all within your web browser. With Dash, you will gain a broader understanding of website development. Dash is one of the free learning sites that teach how to create a Tumblr theme from scratch. It is a place for beginners without prior development experience to learn the basics of:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript

In addition, Dash teaches how these languages ​​work together to create an attractive and advanced web. You will have to do some tasks that are combined at the end to show you how to build your website.

Odin Project

Learning to code on your own can be a difficult task. To put all the skills you have learned together, Odin Project is the right programming platform to choose. The platform undertakes all criteria needed for learning web development. The Odin Project has created a logical process from the best sources available on the web. 

With this, you will gain skills to build projects along the way. It also connects you with an active community of experts that will help you as you learn:

• Git
• JavaScript
• Databases
• HTML and CSS
• Ruby and Ruby on Rails

MIT Open CourseWare

MIT is one of the free programming learning sites that offer online courses for both undergraduate and graduate. Once you are determined to complete a task, you will get an MIT-level education, even without signing up for it.

There are many different subjects available, one of which is computer science. You can complete the entire degree program or take individual courses. You will find a variety of introductory computer programming courses, such as:

• C
• C++
• Java
• Python

Code Player

The Code Player offers a catalog of programming tutorials through online videos. It guides you through the learning process from starting point to the end. For advanced learning, you can combine Code Player with other programming sites or courses.

The basic concept of Code Player is that it plays video code to help aspiring programmers learn the front end technologies such as:

• CSS3
• HTML5
• JavaScript
• jQuery, and more.

At your preferred learning level, you can access both paid and free options. As the catalog of free courses increases daily, there are programming language options you can choose to start learning from today. But the only difficult thing will be to decide between so many.

On the other hand, you are sure to find the programming language that best interests you if you dedicate time to check out the 11 platforms discussed above.