10 Free Coding Classes for Adults

Since the advent of the first programming language in 1883, the digital world and indeed the world has been run by codes. If you want to join the exciting programming world, try these free coding classes for adults.

Coding is the art of communicating with machines. It is the process of creating instructions for a computer to interpret and follow. As Steve Jobs said, “Everyone should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think”. This statement suggests that coding is a way of productively thinking to solve problems.

In this article, I will show you some of the best websites to learn coding for free. You will also learn about free coding classes for adults that can help you become a seasoned programmer.

See other Free Online Courses and The Best Websites to Find Them.

Which Website is Best for Learning Coding?

There are several websites where you can learn coding. Websites such as Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp, Coursera, and Udemy, among many others, are excellent for learning coding. However, in my own opinion, W3Schools is the best website to learn coding.

Many of these websites provide free coding classes for adults. In these classes, you learn programming languages ranging from Python to HTML.

Beyond the classroom, these coding websites have interactive communities to foster learning. They also offer personalized instructors to guide you through the learning process.

Top 10 Websites to Learn Coding for Free

CodeCademy

CodeCademy is an online platform that offers free coding classes for adults. However, it has a paid pro membership package for more advanced programming.

CodeCademy provides an interactive learning community that carries every student along. Learning at CodeCademy is also flexible, making it more convenient for people from all walks of life.

Subjects taught at CodeCademy include AI, WE development, and Computer Science, among many other tech-related topics.

Visit the CodeCademy to learn more.

W3Schools

W3Schols is a website where you can access free coding classes for adults via several tutorials and references covering all popular coding languages. It also offers certificates of completion for the courses.

For you to gain mastery at the craft of coding, W3Schools has offers boot camps where you can learn directly from instructors. You can learn several programming languages at W3Schools, including the most popular ones: HTML, CSS, Javascript, SQL, and Python.

W3Schools also offers in-app exercises and quizzes to help you practice, as consistent practicing is the key to mastery in coding.

Visit the W3Schools to learn more.

Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform with free courses in several fields, including coding. It is one of the best websites offering free coding classes for adults.

Coursera partners with over 200 universities and colleges to make these free courses available. The courses on Coursera are flexible to give you an optimal learning experience.

Coursera offers crash courses on several programming languages, including HTML, Javascript, CSS, Python, and C++, among many others.

Visit the Coursera to learn more.

edX

edX is an online learning platform that operates like Coursera. On edX, you can access several free coding classes for adults.

edX offers flexible coding classes from beginner to advanced levels. Even if you have no prior knowledge of coding, the courses on edX are enough to take you to the next level. Several courses from top universities and institutions, such as Harvard and MIT, are available on edX.

Visit the edX to take free online courses.

MIT OpenCourseWare

MIT OpenCourseWare is an online platform established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). You can access several free coding classes for adults via the platform.

MIT OpenCourseWare offers introductory programming courses such as Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python and other programming languages. It also offers other courses in Data Science and critical thinking. These courses taught by expert professors in the field, provide training on problem-solving and how to apply it in writing codes.

Visit the MIT OpenCourseWare to learn more.

Sololearn

Sololearn is an online platform specifically designed to help people learn coding. Sololearn organizes its free coding classes for adults in a step-wise manner to take you from beginner to advanced level.

The platform also offers in-app quizzes to practice what you have learned. You can also join interactive communities on the platform, and follow the blog posts to learn other aspects of coding the classes may not expose you to.

Upon completion of the courses, you earn a certificate. The certificate increases your chances when applying for programming jobs.

For more information, see Sololearn: Learn to Code.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a non-profit online platform that offers free classes in various fields. At Khan Academy, you learn coding through instructional videos. You can also track your learning through a personalized dashboard.

Another feature that distinguishes the free coding classes for adults at Khan is the practice exercises available on the website. The exercises help you to practice what you have learned, helping you gain mastery in a shorter period.

Visit the Khan Academy to learn more.

GeeksforGeeks

GeeksforGeeks is an online platform that offers free coding classes for adults. It offers computer science materials and coding challenges to programmers and technology lovers.

On the GeeksforGeekswebsite, you can access interviews and exam preparation materials as an aspiring professional. It has become a trusted site for over 12 million registered users globally, with a strong emphasis on improving coding skills and knowledge.

GeeksforGeeks offers a series of programs, including programming languages, DSA concepts such as Arrays, and web development.

Visit the GeeksforGeeks to learn more.

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is an online platform offering free and paid courses on various subjects. It is one of the best websites to take free coding classes for adults.

The coding courses at FutureLearn are taught by professionals from some of the best universities in the world. The courses range from basic programming languages to AI and Robotics.

Visit the FutureLearn to learn more.

Udemy

Udemy is a vast marketplace for online courses, including coding. Udemy, like Coursera and edX, has gained popularity over the years for quality teaching. The instructors at Udemy are professionals from diverse tertiary institutions across the world.

Udemy offers some of the most reliable coding courses for adults. The platform provides several free courses where you can learn the fundamentals of coding. Udemy also has advanced paid coding classes.

Visit the Udemy to learn more.

10 Free Coding Classes for Adults

Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming

Here is an overview of the course:

• Platform: Coursera
• Course duration: approximately 11 hours

If you are a beginner who wants to learn coding for the first time, this course is for you. It is available as a free course on Coursera. It is one of the best free coding classes for adults that teaches you from scratch till you start to write codes.

The University of Edinburgh and Universidad ORT Uruguay provide the course. The course is available in English but subtitled in 19 other languages.

The course comprises 5 units spread across a few weeks. However, the deadlines are flexible to fit your schedule. You receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course, provided you completed the quizzes that follow each unit.

For more information about this course, see Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming.

Learn Python 2

Here is an overview of the course:

• Platform: CodeCademy
• Course duration: approximately 25 hours

Python 2 is one of the fastest-growing programming languages commonly used among data scientists and analysts, software engineers, and machine learning engineers. The Learn Python 2 course is one of the basic free coding classes for adults.

As a beginner, you can learn Python 2 as your first language because it is easy to understand. It is also widely used in several aspects of programming, including web development.

The course comprises 20 lessons, 9 projects, and 9 quizzes. The course awards a certificate of completion. However, the certificate is only available after a paid subscription.

For more information about this course, see Learn Python 2.

Python for Everybody Specialization

Here is an overview of the course:

• Platform: Coursera
• Course duration: 2 months at 10 hours a week

Python for Everybody Specialization is a 5-course series that introduces fundamental programming concepts using Python. You can learn the course in 20 different languages.

Offered by the University of Michigan, the course is a package of 5 sub courses:

• Programming for Everybody (Getting Started With Python)
• Python Data Structures
• Using Python to Access Web Data
• Using Databases With Python
• Capstone Project: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualising Data With Python

By the end of the course, you will be able to create your application for data retrieval, processing, and visualization.

For more information about this course, see Python for Everybody Specialization.

Flutter Course for Beginners

Here is an overview of the course:

• Platform: FreeCodeCamp
• Course duration: 37 hours

Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit used to create cross-platform applications for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and other software. FreeCodeCamp offers this beginner course in video format.

It is one of the best free coding classes for adults who are only learning coding for the first time. Due to the wide application of Flutter in modern mobile phone application software, this course is a valuable way to kick-start your coding journey.

In the course, you will learn how to use the free code editor Visual Studio Code to write a Flutter application. By the end of the course, you will have learned enough to create an application in flutter that you can make available on the Google Play Store and App Store.

For more information about this course, see Flutter Course for Beginners.

Coding 101: Python for Beginners

Here is an overview of this course:

• Platform: Skillshare
• Course duration: 2 hours 6 minutes

Coding 101: Python for Beginners is one of the free coding classes for adults offered by Skillshare. It is a beginner course where you learn Python from scratch.

In this beginner course, you learn enough to start coding using Python. Basic concepts the course will cover include Data types, expressions and variables, Functions, Objects, and Control Logic. The class will also provide links to other external resources where you can further practice and improve your coding.

For more information about this course, see Coding 101: Python for Beginners.

CS50 Web Programming With Python and Javascript

Here is an overview of this course:

• Platform: edX
• Course duration: 12 weeks (6–9 hours per week)

Harvard University offers several free coding classes for adults, and this web programming course is one of them. The course provides training on the design and implementation of web apps using Python, Javascript and SQL.

It is an intermediate-level course that requires prior experience in programming in at least one language. It is a continuation of the CS50 course. However, you may not need to take the prerequisite course if you already have some programming knowledge.

For more information about this course, see CS50 Web Programming With Python and Javascript.

Introduction to Python Programming

Here is an overview of this course:

• Platform: Udacity
• Course duration: self-paced

Introduction to Python Programming is one of the beginner-level free coding classes for adults available on Udacity. It is a self-paced course with no prerequisites, meaning you do not need any background programming knowledge to take this course.

The course comprises 7 lessons, including an introduction to data types and operators. You will also learn about data structures, which all form the building blocks in Python. There are optional advanced topics included in the course curriculum.

For mroe information about this course, see Introduction to Python Programming.

Programming Languages

Here is an overview of this course:

• Platform: MIT OpenCourseWare
• Course duration: self-paced

Programming Languages is one of the available free coding classes for adults on MIT OpenCourseWare. It is an intermediate-level course that you can learn online. You can also download readable material if you prefer.

The teaching centers on the principles of functional, imperative, and logical programming languages. Topics covered include meta-circular interpreters, semantics (operational and denotational), type systems (polymorphism, inference, and abstract types), object-oriented programming, modules, and multiprocessing.

Assignments, exams, and other kerning tools are also available in the course material to help you practice.

For more information about this course, see Programming Languages.

Computer Programming

Here is an overview of this course:

• Platform: Khan Academy
• Course duration: self-paced

Computer programming is a free coding course available at Khan Academy. It is a self-paced course comprising 8 units. The last unit is where you meet the professional for more personalized learning.

In the course, you will learn how to code in the major programming languages, including Javascript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. You will also learn how to use these programming languages to create web pages, games, and natural simulations, among many other things.

For more information about this course, see Computer Programming.

HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers

Here is an overview of this course:

• Platform: Coursera
• Course duration: approximately 40 hours; 3 weeks at 13 hours a week

In this course, you will learn all you need to know to develop a standard web page using HTML, CSS, and Javascript. The course includes 5 modules.

The first module is an introduction to HTML 5. You will learn how to implement web pages using HTML and CSS. 

You will also learn how to set up the components of a web page such that they can rearrange and resize themselves to fit the user’s screen. In the fourth and fifth modules, you learn about Javascript, and how to use it to build a fully functional web page.

Included in the course is a certificate that requires a paid subscription to earn. See the HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers course for more information.

For more information about this course, see 13 Free Online Courses With Certificates in Ontario.

How Can Adults Learn to Code for Free?

Before I show you some ways to learn to code for free, you must know that consistency is the most essential tool for learning coding. The following tips should guide you on how to learn to code for free:

• Free coding classes for adults: there are several free coding classes for adults that you can take to learn coding.
• YouTube tutorials: YouTube is a free platform to learn anything in the world. On YouTube, you will find hundreds of coding tutorials.
• Open community forums: some coding communities set up online and on-site forums to teach coding for free. FreeCodeCamp and r/learnprogramming are among the top online coding communities.
• Free eBooks: some coding eBooks are accessible for free.

Should Adults Learn to Code?

Absolutely! Adults should learn to code for various reasons.

Firstly, a career in computer science is one of the most lucrative fields in the world today. Learning to code, regardless of your age places you in the front seat of this moving train.

The usual uncertainty with choosing to learn coding as an adult is the age factor. Coding can be challenging, but if you stay consistent and practice often, you can become a pro. You can also take free coding classes for adults to boost your learning.

Coding, like math, also helps you think and solve other problems in your life. The technical nature of codes and the critical thinking they require increases your ability for logical reasoning, which will be helpful in other areas of your life. Coding requires some competency in math, so you should consider the 20 Best Free Online Math Courses for Adults to speed up your learning process.

What Age Is Too Late to Learn Coding?

The best part of coding is that you are never too old to learn it. Unlike some other fields that may discriminate against older people, coding is open to all and sundry. A recent survey of adults aged 60 years and older showed that 14% of them learned to code as it became a job requirement, 9% of them to increase their efficiency and relevance at work, and another 22% to make up for missed opportunities when they were younger.

The notion that coding is only for the younger generation has been proven false. Coding as an older person may be more interesting if you channel your problem-solving abilities from past years towards it. However, coding is a daunting challenge, so it is best to keep an open mind and be willing to learn.

Read also: 21 Best Free Online Courses For Adults.

How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Code?

Coding is a continuous journey. While it may take you six months or a year to learn basic coding, it will take a lifetime to learn everything there is to coding. This is because new technologies develop, so learning does not ever stop.

However, the first step is to start by taking free coding classes for adults. Consistent practice of what you learn from these classes can make you become a professional in up to 4 programming languages in less than a year.

FAQs on Free Coding Classes for Adults

Conclusion

Free coding classes for adults are a great way to begin your programming journey. The courses range from beginner to advanced level courses. Whether or not you know anything about programming, taking these courses in a step-wise manner can help you become experienced in several programming languages.

It is also important to note that no age is too old to start. No matter your age, the best time to start programming is now.

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