Which course is best for web development?
This depends on your budget, schedule, and specific skills that you want to learn.
Budget
Like other things, the price of web development courses widely ranges. The spectrum starts with free courses on the other end and expensive coding bootcamps on the other. Somewhere in the middle are mid-priced courses.
A common question people ask is if there are free or affordable courses, why pay for bootcamps?
Again, as with most cases, you get what you pay for. Free courses will not provide the level of training and guidance that you need to be a professional developer within months. You’ll have to do it all on your own, and that is a longer and lonelier journey up ahead.
Free courses are a good starting point to get a glimpse of what coding is like and see if it’s something you’ll really enjoy.
If you are 100% sure that you want to pursue a career in web development, and if you have the budget for it, I will suggest coding bootcamps or at least a mid-priced course on Udemy.
Availability
Another thing you have to consider is your schedule and the level of commitment you’re willing to make. If you have a full-time job, you need a course with flexible scheduling. Lots of courses have pre-recorded videos that you can watch in your free time.
On the other hand, full-time bootcamps require a minimum of 40 hours of your week. But what sets them apart is the personal coaching and assistance you’ll get. Some bootcamps even help you land a job after you graduate.
Skills to learn
You also have to pay close attention to the skills or topics that the course will cover.
Some courses focus on a specific language/framework such as Python or React. Because the focus is on one skill, the discussion will likely be more comprehensive and in-depth.
This is the ideal choice if you already have the basic foundations of web development or if you have prior experience and you’d like to add a skill to your toolkit.
On the other hand, some courses teach several languages and the fundamentals of web development in general to give you a wider perspective on the different facets of web development.
Aside from these, you also have to consider if the course gets regularly updated to discuss new tools, languages, and other relevant industry information.
The Best Web Development Courses in 2023 (Expanded)
Web Design for Web Developers (Udemy) – FREE
This is a best-selling Udemy course created by Jonas Schmedtmann, a full-stack web developer and designer since 2007.
The simple flow and Jonas’ clear explanations about the 25+ guidelines of amazing web design including color theory, typography, and other design elements make this course great for ultimate beginners.
All you need to take this course is time and a stable internet connection. You have nothing to lose and it’s a great way to get a sneak peek into the amazing things you can do as a web developer.
This free course also gives you instant access to the e-book “Best Resources for Web Design and Development with HTML5 & CSS3”.
View Course Here →
CSS Grid – FREE
This free course will help you master CSS Grid from scratch with the help of Wes Bos, a Canada-based full stack developer and teacher. CSS Grid is a layout system that makes it 10x easier to create columns and rows than older methods.
Because it builds upon existing skills, it’s ideal for developers who have prior experience in CSS.
View Course Here →
The Web Developer Bootcamp - $
This is an excellent course for beginners. It's one of my favourite courses and I always recommend it to those on a budget. Colt and the rest of the instructors explain everything so well.
It’s got everything you need to start coding – you will learn how to build a responsive and beautiful website, a web-based game, and even an app. After the course, you will have a range of outputs that you can continue working on or show to potential clients.
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Web Design & Beyond - $
What many new developers don’t realize is the work doesn’t stop once you learn how to code. If you’re planning to build a freelance business or even land a full-time job, you also have to learn how to build websites that actually get the results your clients want, and that is to convert visitors into customers. You have to think like a marketer.
In my eBook, I’ll help you not only create better websites so you can charge more and deliver a better service to your client, but also fundamental skills in marketing, pricing, branding, and more to help you build a lucrative freelance business.
View eBook Here →
The Result-Oriented Web Developer Course (Udemy) - $
This is another affordable course for absolute beginners to learn HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Flexbox, Node.js, and more.
It has nine major projects where you’ll build real-life, useful websites and applications, which means you’ll finish the course with a slew of outputs to show potential employers or clients. Students love the easy-to-digest teaching style of this course.
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Modern HTML + CSS for Beginners (Udemy) - $
I'm a huge fan of Brad Traversy and this course is excellent.
I highly recommend it for both beginners and experienced developers who want to learn how to build responsive websites and user interfaces with modern HTML5 and CSS3+ technologies like Flexbox and CSS Grid as well as the Sass pre-compiler. With Brad’s clear teaching style and the projects you’ll be working on, this course will make you a better developer.
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#100DaysofCode Web Developer Bundle - $$
Todd is the man. He's a Google Developers Expert, which says a lot about his experience, and a world-renowned course instructor known for his incredible teaching skills.
This course will teach beginners all about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and gives you access to their members-only Slack community. If for some reason you feel like the course isn’t worth your time and money, they have a 100-day money-back guarantee.
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Complete Python Masterclass (Udemy) - $
Python is a versatile coding language that can be used not only for web development but also for backend development, software development, writing system scripts, and others.
Learning this language can be a great resume booster, and this top-rated online course is a great place to start. As of this writing, more than 200,000 students already enrolled, and the 4.6 rating says they like it.
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Modern JavaScript from the Beginning - $
This is another exceptional course by Brad where he teaches JavaScript from scratch with no previous experience required.
What sets this course apart from other JS courses is it uses pure JS without relying on libraries or frameworks. This approach will help you master this language and do basic to advanced applications as you wish. The course has 10 projects that you can work on including building a loan calculator, a Chuck Norris joke generator, and a calorie tracker.
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The Complete React Developer Course (Udemy) - $
If you want to learn how to build and launch React web applications from start to finish, this course is a great choice.
It teaches how to use React v16, Redux, Webpack, React-Router v4, and more not only through discussions but also by applying what you learn. Throughout the course, you will build two cool React web apps, and the instructor is quick to answer any questions when you get stuck.
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Thinkful Coding Bootcamp - $$$
My top recommendation for becoming a full-stack developer. This coding bootcamp really ticks all the boxes. It’s one of the few bootcamps that offers 1-on-1 teaching, which means each student gets partnered with a personal mentor. This is incredibly helpful when you hit a roadblock and you need someone you can quickly reach out to for help.
Thinkful also helps students land a job after graduation by preparing you for job interviews, introducing you to companies, and even giving a 1-on-1 career coach for 6 months or until you get hired. They also have a job guarantee where they refund your tuition if you don’t get a job within 6 months. If you want more involved support from mentors, a community of students you can learn with, and real-life experience that can help you land a job, this bootcamp is for you.
Read More Here →
