Top Websites to Learn Python

Python is an extremely popular and widely used programming language, consistently ranked among the top across various platforms. As of March 2024, Python holds the top spot in the TIOBE index, extending its lead over other languages. In Stack Overflow’s 2023 developer survey, it ranked as the third most popular language overall. According to GitHub’s 2022 Octoverse report, Python is the second most-used language on GitHub, with usage growing over 22% year-over-year.

Why Is Python so Popular?

Python’s popularity stems from its broad range of uses. In data analysis and data science, it’s the preferred language for machine learning, analytics, and research. It’s also widely used in web development, especially with frameworks like Django. Software developers use Python to create web applications, and it’s commonly used for scripting and task automation. Python is integral to machine learning and AI projects, as well as scientific computing and academic research. In DevOps and system administration, Python is favored for automating tasks, and it also plays a role in Internet of Things (IoT) development.

Python is known for being easy to learn and read while remaining versatile and flexible enough for a wide variety of applications. Python has a massive, active community and offers extensive libraries and frameworks, making it efficient for rapid development and prototyping. Its strong presence in academia ensures that many students are introduced to programming through Python. This all plays a roll in making Python one of the most widely adopted programming languages in the world.

How do I learn Python?

The internet! There are more online resources now than ever before that help people learn Python. I (david, the guy writing this article the website you are on) began to learn how to code from resources like these. The following list is made up of some of our favorites, from college courses to online tutorials. During your journey, bookmark you favorite tutorials, organize them in google sheets, or use a specialized tool like Linkidex to keep track of your favorite resources.

Section 1: Platforms for Kids or Absolute Beginners

CodeCombat

• Pricing: Free for the first unit, subscription required for full access
  CodeCombat is an educational game designed to teach coding through an interactive, game-based experience. Primarily targeting younger learners aged 9-16, the platform teaches programming languages like JavaScript, Python, and HTML while introducing foundational computer science concepts. Players advance through levels by writing code, making it a fun and engaging way to learn programming.

CodeCombat Pros

• Engaging Learning Format: CodeCombat uses a game-based format, making coding more engaging, especially for younger students, by immersing them in a fantasy world where they write code to progress.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: The platform offers 11 units, covering topics like game development, web development, and core computer science concepts, providing a broad introduction to coding.
• Accessibility: CodeCombat works with schools and districts for classroom use and also offers a self-paced learning option through a subscription model, making it widely accessible to different types of learners.

CodeCombat Cons

• Limited Depth: While CodeCombat is excellent for teaching beginner concepts, it may not provide the depth required for mastering advanced programming skills.
• Age-Specific Design: The fantasy theme and design are tailored for younger students, which might not resonate with older learners or adults seeking to learn programming.
• Subscription Cost: Although the first unit is free, access to additional content requires a paid subscription, which could be a barrier for some users.

Visit CodeCombat

Scratch

• Pricing: Free
  Scratch is a block-based visual programming language developed by MIT, designed to teach coding concepts to children ages 8-16. It allows users to create interactive stories, games, and animations by dragging and dropping code blocks instead of typing. This makes it an excellent platform for beginners, especially young learners, to get started with coding in a fun, creative way.

Scratch Pros

• Beginner-Friendly: Scratch’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to understand programming concepts without dealing with complex syntax, ideal for those completely new to coding.
• Creativity and Engagement: Users can create their own interactive stories, games, and animations, making the learning process more engaging and enjoyable.
• Comprehensive Learning: Scratch introduces fundamental concepts like loops, conditionals, and variables in an accessible format, laying a solid foundation for further programming studies.

Scratch Cons

• Limited Depth: While great for beginners, Scratch’s block-based approach may not provide the advanced depth needed as learners progress to more complex programming.
• Transition Challenges: Moving from Scratch’s visual blocks to text-based coding can be difficult for some users as they adjust to more traditional programming languages.
• Age-Specific Design: Tailored primarily for children, Scratch might not appeal to older learners or adults looking for a platform to learn coding fundamentals.

Visit Scratch

Section 2: Interactive Learning Platforms for Students or Professionals

Codecademy

• Pricing: Free and Paid Courses
  Codecademy is an online interactive platform that offers coding classes in languages like Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, and more. It focuses on hands-on learning, allowing users to write and execute code directly in the browser. The platform provides both free and paid courses, making coding accessible for beginners and advanced learners.

Codecademy Pros

• Interactive Learning: Codecademy offers real-time coding within lessons, letting users immediately see results and reinforce concepts effectively.
• Diverse Course Offerings: The platform covers a wide range of programming languages and topics, including web development, data science, and machine learning.
• Structured Learning Paths: Codecademy provides curated paths for specific career goals like Full-Stack Engineer or Data Scientist, helping users build a strong foundation before advancing.

Codecademy Cons

• Limited Free Content: The most in-depth courses are behind a paywall, with some users feeling the free version lacks sufficient depth for complex topics.
• Lack of Active Community Support: While Codecademy has discussion forums, users sometimes find it hard to get timely help compared to platforms with more robust community engagement.
• Inconsistent Course Quality: Some users report that certain courses can feel outdated or unclear, causing frustration when tackling more advanced concepts.

Example Courses

• Learn Python 3
• Getting Started with Python for Data Science

freeCodeCamp

• Pricing: Completely Free
  freeCodeCamp is a nonprofit offering a full-stack coding curriculum at no cost. It provides thousands of coding challenges, projects, and tutorials in areas like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, data visualization, APIs, and machine learning. Learners can earn certifications by completing projects, making it a great option for those looking to build skills and portfolios in software development.

freeCodeCamp Pros

• Free Curriculum: Access thousands of hours of coding lessons and projects with no hidden fees, making it accessible to anyone interested in learning to code.
• Real-World Projects: Users build practical projects throughout the curriculum, which not only reinforces learning but also helps create a portfolio to show potential employers.
• Community Support: freeCodeCamp has an active global community where learners can get help, collaborate, and connect via forums, chat rooms, and meetups.

freeCodeCamp Cons

• Self-Paced Challenges: The flexibility of the self-paced curriculum can be difficult for some users to manage without structured deadlines or instructor guidance, leading to motivation issues.
• Shallow Depth in Some Topics: While covering a broad range of subjects, some topics may lack the depth that more advanced learners are seeking, requiring supplementary resources.
• UI and Navigation Issues: Some users report that the platform’s user interface can be less intuitive, making navigation and finding specific resources challenging.

Learn Python - Full Course for Beginners on Youtube Learn Python Basics – A Guide for Beginners

SoloLearn

• Pricing: Free with Paid Subscription Option (SoloLearn Pro)
  SoloLearn is a mobile and web-based platform offering free coding courses in languages like Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It’s beginner-friendly and provides an interactive learning experience with bite-sized lessons, quizzes, and coding challenges. Users can track progress, engage with the community, and participate in coding competitions, making it an accessible and enjoyable platform for learning programming.

SoloLearn Pros

• Interactive Learning: Users can write and execute code directly on the platform, reinforcing concepts through immediate hands-on practice.
• Wide Variety of Courses: SoloLearn offers a diverse selection of programming languages and topics, making it easy for users to explore different technologies and find what suits their interests.
• Community Engagement: With an active community, users can share code, join discussions, and challenge others in coding competitions, fostering collaboration and feedback.

SoloLearn Cons

• Limited Content Depth: While great for beginners, SoloLearn’s courses may not dive deep enough into advanced topics, leading some users to seek additional resources.
• Inconsistent Lesson Quality: Some courses can feel outdated or unclear, with varying quality that may impact the learning experience.
• Ads and Paid Features: Although free to use, ads can be disruptive, and certain advanced features are locked behind a paid SoloLearn Pro subscription.

Introduction to Python

Coursera

• Pricing: Free and Paid Courses (with certificates and degrees)
  Coursera is a global online learning platform that offers access to a wide range of courses, specializations, and degrees from top universities and companies. Founded in 2012 by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, it covers subjects like computer science, business, and arts, allowing learners to study at their own pace through video lectures, quizzes, and hands-on projects.

Coursera Pros

• High-Quality Content: Coursera partners with over 300 prestigious institutions like Stanford, Google, and IBM, ensuring access to top-tier educational materials and industry-relevant skills.
• Flexible Learning Options: Courses can be audited for free, with learners able to study at their own pace and choose from formats like guided projects or professional certificates.
• Recognized Credentials: Upon completion, learners earn certificates that are valued by employers and can be showcased on resumes or LinkedIn profiles.

Coursera Cons

• Cost of Certificates: While courses can be audited for free, obtaining a certificate requires payment, and some users find the costs high compared to other platforms.
• Variable Course Quality: The quality of courses can vary, leading to frustration for learners if a course doesn’t meet their expectations.
• Limited Instructor Interaction: Some users feel the lack of direct engagement with instructors or personalized feedback makes the learning experience less interactive.

Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) Python for Data Science, AI & Development

edX

• Pricing: Free Courses with Paid Certificates
  edX is a nonprofit online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012. It offers university-level courses and programs from top institutions worldwide. Users can enroll in free courses or pay for verified certificates, MicroBachelors, MicroMasters, and full online degree programs. With its diverse range of subjects, edX is a great option for learners looking to enhance their skills or pursue formal education.

edX Pros

• High-Quality Content: edX partners with over 90 leading institutions, including Harvard, MIT, and Microsoft, providing learners with reputable, industry-relevant education.
• Flexible Learning: Many courses can be audited for free, allowing users to study at their own pace and fit learning into their schedules without financial commitment.
• Diverse Course Offerings: edX provides a wide variety of courses, from programming and data analysis to leadership and humanities, giving learners the opportunity to explore multiple fields.

edX Cons

• Cost of Certificates: While auditing is free, obtaining a verified certificate typically costs $50-$100, which some users find expensive compared to other platforms.
• Inconsistent Course Quality: Users have reported variability in course quality, which can lead to disappointment if a course doesn’t meet their expectations.
• Limited Instructor Interaction: Some learners express dissatisfaction with the lack of direct engagement with instructors, making personalized feedback difficult to obtain.

University of Cape Town: Data Science with Python HarvardX: CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python

Udemy

• Pricing: Paid Courses (with frequent discounts)
  Udemy is an online learning platform offering a vast array of courses across multiple subjects, including technology, business, arts, and personal development. Founded in 2010, Udemy allows instructors to create and sell their own courses, making it a marketplace for both learners and educators. With thousands of self-paced courses available, learners can find content that fits their schedule and interests.

Udemy Pros

• Diverse Course Selection: Udemy offers a wide variety of courses across different fields, catering to various interests and skill levels, from programming to personal development.
• Flexible Learning: The self-paced nature of Udemy courses allows users to start and complete courses at their convenience, making it easy to fit learning into any schedule.
• Affordable Pricing: Udemy frequently offers discounts and promotions, making its courses accessible to learners at a low cost.

Udemy Cons

• Variable Course Quality: Since anyone can create a course, quality varies, and some users have reported dissatisfaction with outdated or poorly structured content.
• Limited Instructor Interaction: Many courses lack real-time interaction with instructors, which can frustrate learners who need personalized feedback or guidance.
• Certification Value: Udemy certificates may not carry the same weight as those from accredited institutions, which can affect how users showcase their skills to employers.

The Complete Python Bootcamp From Zero to Hero in Python 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp

Section 3: Python on Youtube

• Pricing: Free
  Everyone knows what youtube is - an online platform where anyone in the world can upload videos. YouTube can be a fantastic tool for learning a programming language or other technical skills. The quality of the matterial of you are watching can vary widly creator to creator, so do some diligence researching good courses on youtube before you dive in and you should be good to go. The following two courses are by creators we know you can trust.

YouTube Pros

• Diverse Learning Resources: YouTube offers a wide variety of programming tutorials and courses from different creators, catering to various learning styles, including step-by-step tutorials, project-based lessons, and theoretical content.
• Visual and Engaging Format: Video tutorials provide an interactive and engaging way to learn coding, with instructors often demonstrating coding concepts in real-time to help learners apply what they’ve learned through practical examples.
• Accessibility and Flexibility: Free to use and accessible to anyone with an internet connection, YouTube allows learners to watch at their own pace, pause, rewind, and revisit content as needed, making it easy to fit learning into a busy schedule.

YouTube Cons

• Variable Content Quality: Since anyone can upload content, the quality of tutorials can vary greatly. Some videos may be outdated or lack clarity, causing confusion for learners trying to master programming concepts.
• Lack of Structure: Unlike formal educational platforms, YouTube doesn’t offer a structured curriculum, which can make it challenging for learners to navigate and find comprehensive, organized lessons.
• Limited Instructor Interaction: Although comment sections allow for questions, the interaction with instructors is limited and not as personalized or immediate as on platforms that offer mentorship or direct feedback.

Python 3 Tutorial for Beginners by Net Nijna

• Note on Net Nija: Net Ninja is one of my go-to resources when learning any new technical skill. I have not taken his python course, but I have taken his courses on react context & Hooks, typescript, PWAs and I highly recommend his channel. - David

Python Programming Beginner Tutorials by Corey Schafer

Section 4: Python for Coding Interviews

If you are just learning to program, the following websites are probably not yet what you should be focusing on. Learning how to code and learning how to pass coding interviews are similar but not identical skillsets. Focus on the above courses will give you are more realistic view of how code is used in the real world. The following sites are specifically for helping one pass technical interviews.

LeetCode

• Pricing: Free with paid premium options
  LeetCode is an online platform designed for software engineers to enhance their coding skills and prepare for technical interviews. With a vast collection of problems across varying difficulty levels, LeetCode helps users practice coding, submit solutions, and receive instant feedback, making it an essential tool for those aiming to improve their problem-solving abilities.

LeetCode Pros

• Interview Preparation: LeetCode is a go-to resource for preparing for technical interviews, offering problems that closely resemble those asked by top tech companies.
• Skill Enhancement: The platform provides a wide range of problems that allow users to systematically improve their coding and problem-solving skills, making it ideal for honing algorithmic thinking.
• Competitive Programming: LeetCode regularly hosts coding contests, allowing users to practice solving problems under time constraints and benchmark their skills against others.

LeetCode Cons

• Lack of Structured Learning Path: LeetCode doesn’t offer a structured curriculum, which can make it difficult for beginners to figure out where to start and how to advance in their learning.
• Focus on Algorithmic Problems: While excellent for algorithm practice, LeetCode focuses primarily on coding challenges and may not cover broader aspects of real-world software development.
• Potential for Discouragement: The platform’s challenging problems and competitive nature can be intimidating for beginners and experienced programmers alike, leading to frustration and potential discouragement.

Visit LeetCode

HackerRank

• Pricing: Free with paid premium options
  HackerRank is a platform designed for developers to solve coding challenges and compete in programming contests across multiple languages, including python. Widely used by tech companies for technical recruiting, HackerRank provides challenges across various domains, including databases, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and more, helping developers improve their skills and prepare for interviews.

HackerRank Pros

• Interview Preparation: HackerRank is frequently used by companies for technical recruiting, making it a great resource for practicing coding challenges that mirror real-world interview questions.
• Skill Enhancement: With a vast array of programming challenges in different domains and difficulty levels, HackerRank systematically improves users’ problem-solving and coding skills.
• Competitive Programming: HackerRank’s CodeSprints and contests allow users to benchmark their skills and gain experience solving problems under time pressure, fostering growth in competitive programming.

HackerRank Cons

• Focus on Algorithmic Problems: The platform emphasizes algorithmic problem-solving, which may not fully prepare users for practical software development tasks outside of coding interviews.
• Competitive Nature: The ranking system and leaderboards can be discouraging for beginners, potentially leading to frustration for those who find certain challenges difficult.
• Lack of Structured Learning Path: HackerRank lacks a guided learning path, making it harder for complete beginners to determine where to start or how to advance in their coding journey.

Visit HackerRank