Codecademy Reviews, Alternatives, Pricing, & Offerings in 2025

Codecademy is a popular online coding education platform that lets students learn programming by doing exercises. Since its founding in 2011, it has built interactive courses for beginners and advanced learners in tech. This article provides details on Codecademy’s reviews, pricing, and features to help college students and parents compare coding learning platforms and make informed choices.

Codecademy Reviews and Testimonials

Trustpilot

Trustpilot shows 1,458 reviews for Codecademy with an average rating of 2.7/5. Many students praise the platform’s clear, interactive lessons and wide range of content. However, many also report issues: common complaints include outdated or shallow course material and aggressive billing practices. For example, reviewers mentioned unwanted renewals and lack of support when problems arise.

G2

On G2, Codecademy has 169 reviews with a 4.3/5 average. Users often highlight the hands-on learning experience, noting that writing code from the first lesson and structured paths make learning easy and effective. Some users criticize the depth of advanced topics and desire more real-world projects. Overall, learners on G2 find Codecademy a good platform for acquiring new skills, but note it can be costly for students.

Official Site Testimonials

Codecademy’s own site features learner stories and testimonials. They emphasize being “beginner-friendly” and providing an interactive, hands-on approach. The company highlights that students value the structured learning pathways and robust course catalog. These internal testimonials align with external reviews praising the clear, practice-based lessons. However, since this is promotional, it does not mention pricing or support issues.

Is Codecademy legit? Yes – Codecademy is a legitimate and well-known coding education company (now owned by Skillsoft). There are no scam reports, though many say its value for money varies. For example, one student noted “Codecademy is absolutely legit, yet not worth the price”, reflecting mixed opinions from users rather than fraud concerns.

Summary: In summary, users generally agree that Codecademy’s interactive coding platform is helpful for learning programming basics. It earns praise for clear lessons and a broad curriculum. On the downside, many find the content outdated or incomplete in parts, and its subscription model draws criticism for unexpected charges. These mixed reviews suggest Codecademy is effective for hands-on learning but has drawbacks in cost and content depth.

Codecademy Pricing

Pricing Range

Codecademy offers a free Basic plan with limited courses. Paid plans start at about USD $14.99 per month for the Plus plan (when billed annually) and go up to $39.99 per month for the Pro plan (monthly billing). These subscriptions unlock additional content, projects, and AI tools. There are no per-subject fees; all coding topics are included under these tiers. (Codecademy also has team plans for businesses, but pricing is custom.)

Unlike traditional tutoring sites, Codecademy charges a flat subscription rather than hourly tutor rates. For context, industry platforms vary: Udemy sells individual courses (often $10–$20 on sale), and Coursera offers course certificates around $50–$100. Codecademy’s $15–40 monthly pricing is higher than many one-time course fees.

What students say about Codecademy Pricing

Many users feel Codecademy is expensive. In online forums, students note free alternatives exist (e.g. freeCodeCamp) and say Codecademy’s subscription can be high for the content delivered. For example, one Reddit commenter said it’s “too expensive” compared to other learning resources. Another observed Codecademy “is legit but not worth the price”. In short, users often compare its monthly cost unfavorably with cheaper or free courses elsewhere.

Hidden Costs

There are no extra fees beyond the subscription, but note the small details. A $1 pre-authorization hold is placed at signup to verify payment, but this is removed in a few days. Other than this and normal taxes, Codecademy does not charge registration or cancellation fees. However, users must be aware subscriptions auto-renew. If you forget to cancel before a renewal, you may get charged a full month or year automatically.

How Codecademy’s Pricing Works

Codecademy bills either monthly or annually in advance. Payments are made by credit/debit card or PayPal. (They now also offer Afterpay for U.S. annual plans, letting you split an annual subscription into four installment payments.) New users can start a free 7-day trial, which requires a payment method; if the trial isn’t canceled, the card is charged at the end of the trial. They offer no student or group discounts on the site’s pricing page, but Codecademy does list special discounts: for example, eligible students get ~35% off Pro, and military/first responders/teachers in select countries get ~50% off.

Free Trial

Yes. Codecademy gives a 7-day free trial of their Plus or Pro subscription. You must enter payment details when signing up. If you cancel within 7 days, you won’t be charged. Otherwise, after trial you will be billed per your chosen plan (monthly or annual).

Refund Policy

According to Codecademy’s policy, they do not offer refunds for cancellations (neither full nor prorated). In practice, many users report being charged despite canceling before the end of the trial or billing period. Most say that contacting support can often get their money back. For example, one user who was charged after cancellation eventually received a refund after emailing support. Reviewers advise removing payment info after cancelling to prevent unwanted charges. So while the official stance is “no refunds”, users often do get refunds by reaching out, and caution is recommended when cancelling.

Codecademy Alternatives

Students often look beyond Codecademy for other learning platforms that fit their needs. For example, some may want university-style courses with certificates, or cheaper one-time courses. Below is an overview of popular alternatives to Codecademy. These include platforms that offer video lectures, open courses, or tutoring. Note: we include My Engineering Buddy (MEB) among these as a tutoring-based alternative for advanced STEM help.

Udemy

Pros: Udemy has a massive course library (~250,000 courses), covering programming and many other topics. Courses are usually affordable (often on sale for $10–$20) and you pay per course, so you own it forever. There are thousands of coding courses, and many teach similar languages (Python, JavaScript, etc.).

• Cons: Quality varies since courses are made by independent instructors. There’s no interactive code workspace like Codecademy’s. Certifications are not official (just Udemy course certificates). Also, Udemy lacks a structured learning path; you have to choose courses yourself.

Coursera

Pros: Coursera partners with top universities (200+ institutions) and offers 12,300+ courses. Many courses and specializations (e.g. data science, AI) are free to audit, with optional paid certificates. They also offer online degrees and professional certificates. Content can be more rigorous and career-oriented.

• Cons: Most materials are video lectures, not live coding in-browser. To get certificates or graded assignments you often pay $50–$100 per course. Less focus on immediate practice; courses may be less interactive. For beginners, some courses may be too fast or advanced.

edX

Pros: Founded by Harvard/MIT, edX has millions of learners (around 33M users) and offers thousands of university-level courses (e.g., computer science, data science). Many courses are free to audit (certificates cost ~$100–$200). They provide MicroMasters and Professional Certificate programs for career skills.

• Cons: Like Coursera, most learning is through videos and readings. Less focus on in-browser coding exercises. Programs are longer-term (micro-degrees), so may be overkill for casual learners. Also, pricing for certificates or degrees can be high.

freeCodeCamp

Pros: freeCodeCamp is a nonprofit that offers a fully free curriculum in web development and data analytics. It is project-based and community-supported. You can earn certifications (e.g. Responsive Web Design) by completing hands-on projects and challenges.

• Cons: The learning path is mostly self-guided with no paid support. It can be harder to use alone if you need personal help. Topics are focused on web tech; less variety (no formal data science or CS degrees). There is no slick interface, just website exercises.

My Engineering Buddy

Pros: My Engineering Buddy (MEB) is an online tutoring service with live 1:1 help in engineering and STEM subjects. MEB specializes in advanced topics (math, physics, EE, etc.) up to Master’s level. Tutors are hand-picked experts, offering personalized attention. Many students report high satisfaction and success with MEB’s personalized help. MEB’s average hourly fee (~$25) is lower than many competitors.

• Cons: It is human tutoring, so there is no self-paced course library. Scheduling sessions is needed. Subjects are more limited to STEM/engineering, not general (no arts/humanities courses). Pricing is per-session (which can add up), and there’s no fixed monthly plan. Also, it is less known globally than big platforms.

How it Works

For Students

Sign-up: Students create an account on Codecademy’s website. You can start with a free Basic account or enter payment for a 7-day Pro trial. It only takes a few minutes (email and password). There is no geographic restriction; anyone in the US, UK, AU, etc. can sign up. After verifying your account (via email), you gain access immediately.

Learning Process: On Codecademy, you browse by subject (e.g., Python, Web Dev) and select courses or learning paths. Each lesson is interactive: you write code in the browser and get instant feedback. You don’t need to schedule sessions – it’s self-paced. If you want help, Codecademy provides community forums and coding “clubs” to ask questions. (They are also introducing live virtual bootcamps taught by instructors for more interactive learning.)

Scheduling: There is no tutor scheduling on Codecademy. You log in anytime to continue lessons. If you enroll in a live bootcamp (coming soon), those have scheduled classes; otherwise all study is done on your own timeline.

FAQs

How does Codecademy compare to My Engineering Buddy? Codecademy is a self-study platform focused on coding courses, while My Engineering Buddy (MEB) is a live tutoring service for engineering and STEM. Codecademy is good for hands-on coding practice (especially for beginners), but MEB offers personalized help for complex engineering problems. MEB typically charges per session, whereas Codecademy is a flat subscription.

Is Codecademy worth it? It depends on your goals. Many beginners find the interactive lessons helpful, but some users feel it’s expensive for what it offers. Reviews are mixed: the platform is well-designed, but only paying users get full content. If you need guided coding practice, it can be worth it, especially during a free trial.

Is Codecademy free? Codecademy has a free Basic tier (some courses labeled “Free” are open to all). To get full access to all courses, projects, and tools, you must subscribe (Plus or Pro). The free tier lets you try basics of many languages, but advanced tracks require payment.

How do I cancel Codecademy? You can cancel a subscription at any time through your account settings. Go to your account page, navigate to “Payment and plan,” and follow the prompts to cancel. Your access will remain active until the end of that billing cycle, but you won’t be charged again. (If on trial, cancel before day 7 to avoid any charges.)

Does Codecademy offer certificates? Codecademy grants its own course completion certificates for paid plans, but these are not officially accredited. They also offer “Skill Paths” that prepare you for external industry certs (e.g. AWS, Microsoft). However, Codecademy certificates mostly serve to show completion of their courses, not a college credit.

Can I learn multiple coding languages on Codecademy? Yes. Codecademy covers many major programming languages and tech skills. For example, it offers courses in Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Java, SQL, Ruby, PHP, and more. It also has content in emerging fields like data science, machine learning, cybersecurity, and AI. This breadth lets students explore various topics on one platform.

Comparison & Final Thoughts

Codecademy’s strengths lie in its interactive approach and extensive catalog. Students often mention they learn quickly by coding in-browser. Its beginner-friendly structure and clear pathways are also highlighted. However, weaknesses include a high subscription cost and a no-refund policy. Technical depth can be shallow in parts, and some courses may lag behind industry changes.

By contrast, My Engineering Buddy offers advanced STEM tutoring and homework help for complex topics – a service area Codecademy does not cover. As MEB users note, its tutors are experts in subjects like engineering and math, which may make MEB a better choice for college-level assignments and difficult coursework. In summary, Codecademy is a solid platform for learning programming interactively, but for advanced or specialized tutoring needs, My Engineering Buddy can provide more personalized support at a competitive price.

Conclusion

Codecademy’s interactive lessons and broad course selection make it an attractive option for beginners to learn coding. Its strengths are easy-to-follow coding practice, support for many languages, and new AI-driven tools. However, its weaknesses include relatively high cost for full access, rigid subscription terms (no refunds), and only English content. For students needing affordable, in-depth help in advanced STEM topics, My Engineering Buddy is a strong alternative. MEB’s personalized tutoring, lower fees, and strong user satisfaction make it a compelling choice for complex homework and specialized learning needs.