Best online Python courses in 2026: we took 6 courses and wrote the same app after each one
We completed 6 Python courses on 6 different platforms, then tested ourselves by building the same project — a web scraper that collects job listings, stores them in a SQLite database, and generates a summary report. The project tests fundamentals (variables, loops, functions), intermediate skills (file I/O, error handling, libraries), and practical application (web requests, HTML parsing, database operations). Each course was scored on how prepared we felt to build that project after completion. The results were not what the star ratings on each platform would predict.
Best overall: 100 Days of Code by Dr. Angela Yu (Udemy) — $15.99 on sale, 60+ hours, project-based learning that produces genuine competence. Our highest project test score.
Best for academic depth: Python for Everybody by Dr. Chuck (Coursera) — Free to audit, university-paced, best conceptual foundation. Ideal if you want to understand why, not just how.
Best for interactive practice: Codecademy Pro — $35/mo, code-in-browser exercises, instant feedback. Best for absolute beginners who want to type code from minute one.
Best for data science path: DataCamp — $25/mo, Python specifically oriented toward data analysis with Pandas and NumPy.
Best free option: freeCodeCamp — genuinely free, comprehensive, community-supported. The best $0 you'll spend.
Skip: Brilliant for Python specifically — excellent for math/STEM concepts but Python coverage is too shallow for practical skill-building.
The comparison data
| Course | Platform | Price | Duration | Teaching Style | Certificate | Our Project Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Days of Code | Udemy | $15.99 (sale) | 60+ hours | Video + daily projects | Udemy (limited value) | 92/100 |
| Python for Everybody | Coursera | $49/mo (or free audit) | 8 months suggested | University lectures + quizzes | U of Michigan (strong) | 85/100 |
| Learn Python 3 | Codecademy | $35/mo Pro | 25 hours | Interactive browser IDE | Codecademy (weak) | 78/100 |
| Python Programmer Track | DataCamp | $25/mo | 36 hours | Video + browser exercises | DataCamp (weak) | 74/100 |
| Scientific Computing with Python | freeCodeCamp | Free | 56 hours | Self-paced projects | freeCodeCamp (recognized in dev community) | 81/100 |
| Programming with Python | Brilliant | $162/yr | ~10 hours | Interactive puzzles | None | 52/100 |
#1: 100 Days of Code — Dr. Angela Yu (Udemy)
This is the most popular Python course on the internet for a reason. Dr. Angela Yu structures learning as 100 daily projects that escalate from "Hello, World" to building functional web applications with Flask. By Day 15, you understand object-oriented programming through building a coffee machine simulator. By Day 50, you've built a web application. By Day 83, you've created a portfolio website. The course covers Python 3.11+ syntax, modern best practices, and real-world libraries (Selenium, Flask, Pandas, Beautiful Soup).
Our project test score of 92/100 was the highest because Angela's project-based approach builds muscle memory. After 100 projects, the syntax is automatic and problem-solving patterns are internalized. At $15.99 on sale (never pay full price — Udemy sales cycle every 2–3 weeks), this is extraordinary value. The downside: at 60+ hours, it requires significant time commitment. And Udemy's certificate carries minimal weight with employers — pair this with a Coursera certificate if credentials matter. For a full platform comparison, see our Coursera vs Udemy vs Skillshare analysis.
100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp — Dr. Angela Yu
$15.99 on sale (reg. $84.99) · 60+ hours · Lifetime access · 1M+ students enrolled
100 daily projects from absolute beginner to professional. Covers Python fundamentals through web development with Flask, data science with Pandas, and automation with Selenium. Our highest project test score (92/100). Wait for a Udemy sale to purchase — they happen every 2–3 weeks.
Check current price on Udemy →#2: Python for Everybody — Dr. Chuck Severance (Coursera)
Dr. Chuck's course is the pedagogical opposite of Angela Yu's bootcamp. Where Angela prioritizes building things fast, Dr. Chuck prioritizes understanding deeply. The 5-course specialization covers Python fundamentals, data structures, web data access, databases, and data visualization — with graded quizzes and peer-reviewed assignments at every stage. You won't build a portfolio project as quickly, but you'll understand data structures, algorithmic thinking, and database design at a level the Udemy course doesn't reach.
The free audit option makes this the best risk-free starting point. If you want a certificate (University of Michigan stamp), you'll need Coursera Plus ($59/mo or $399/yr) or the individual specialization subscription ($49/mo). The suggested 8-month pace is conservative — an aggressive learner can complete it in 3–4 months. Best paired with Coursera Plus if you're taking additional courses alongside it.
Python for Everybody Specialization — University of Michigan
Free to audit · $49/mo for certificate · Included in Coursera Plus ($399/yr) · 1.8M+ enrolled
5-course specialization covering fundamentals through databases and data visualization. Taught by Dr. Chuck Severance, one of the best programming instructors alive. University of Michigan certificate. Free to audit all content — pay only when you want the credential.
Start free on Coursera →#3–#6: The rest of the field
#3: Codecademy Pro — Learn Python 3 ($35/mo). Best for absolute beginners who want to type code from minute one. The in-browser IDE provides instant feedback on every exercise. Weakness: the exercises are guided to the point of hand-holding — you learn to follow instructions more than you learn to solve problems independently. Our project test score (78/100) reflected this: Codecademy graduates knew the syntax but struggled with open-ended problem-solving. Good as a complement to a more substantial course, not as a standalone path to competence.
#4: DataCamp Python Programmer Track ($25/mo). Python with a data science focus from day one. You'll learn Pandas, NumPy, and data visualization alongside Python fundamentals. Excellent if your goal is data analysis. Our project test score (74/100) was lower because DataCamp teaches Python-for-data rather than general Python — web scraping and database operations (our test project's focus) received less coverage. If your goal is data science specifically, DataCamp beats all alternatives. For general Python proficiency, the Udemy or Coursera courses are stronger. See also: Best data science courses.
#5: freeCodeCamp — Scientific Computing with Python (Free). The best free Python course available. 56 hours of self-paced content with 5 certification projects that test genuine competence. freeCodeCamp certificates are respected in the developer community (not by HR departments, but by hiring managers who know what they represent). Our project test score (81/100) was higher than Codecademy and DataCamp, which is remarkable for a free resource. The trade-off: no video instruction (text-based curriculum), no real-time help (community forums only), and the self-directed format requires strong motivation. More free options in our complete free courses guide.
#6: Brilliant — Programming with Python ($162/yr). Brilliant teaches Python through interactive puzzles and visual problem-solving. It's genuinely innovative for learning computational thinking and algorithmic logic. But at ~10 hours of Python content, it's too shallow for practical skill-building. Our project test score (52/100) was the lowest. Brilliant excels at math and STEM concepts — see our Brilliant vs Khan Academy comparison — but for Python specifically, every other option on this list delivers more practical competence.
The AI coding assistants that increasingly pair with Python development — GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude — are reviewed on PickAI. Understanding Python fundamentals from any of these courses makes you dramatically more effective with AI coding tools than someone who relies on AI without understanding the code it generates.
Our recommendation path
If money matters: freeCodeCamp → supplement with Dr. Chuck's free audit on Coursera. Total cost: $0. Time: 4–6 months.
If time matters more than money: 100 Days of Code on Udemy ($15.99) for practical speed, then one Coursera professional certificate for the credential. Total cost: ~$150–$400. Time: 3–4 months.
If employer credentials matter: Coursera Plus Annual ($399) → Python for Everybody + Google IT Automation with Python. Two university-backed certificates for the price of one. Time: 6–8 months.
If the skills you build here evolve toward creating your own Python course, our best platforms to sell online courses guide covers where to sell it.
Get our Python course comparison cheat sheet + weekly course picks
Join 4,200+ learners. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked
Which Python course is best for absolute beginners?
Codecademy's Learn Python 3 has the lowest barrier to entry — you write code in the browser from the first minute with instant feedback. 100 Days of Code (Udemy) is a close second and produces better long-term results, but assumes you can handle a faster pace. Python for Everybody (Coursera) is the most patient and thorough for true beginners who want to understand every concept deeply.
Do I need a certificate to get a Python job?
A certificate alone won't get you hired, but the right certificate combined with a portfolio of projects significantly improves your chances. The Google IT Automation with Python certificate and the University of Michigan Python for Everybody certificate both carry recognizable weight. Udemy and Codecademy certificates are essentially worthless to employers. What actually gets you hired: a GitHub portfolio with 3–5 real projects that demonstrate the skills the job requires.
Is Python hard to learn for someone with no coding experience?
Python is widely considered the most beginner-friendly programming language. Its syntax reads like plain English compared to languages like Java or C++. Most beginners can write functional Python programs within 2–4 weeks of consistent study (1–2 hours daily). The difficulty increases at the intermediate level — object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithms require more mental effort — but the learning curve is gentler than virtually any other programming language.
Can I learn Python for free?
Yes. freeCodeCamp's Scientific Computing with Python curriculum is comprehensive and genuinely free. Coursera's Python for Everybody can be audited for free (you see all content but don't get a certificate). Python.org has an official tutorial. YouTube has excellent free content from channels like Corey Schafer and Tech With Tim. The only thing you can't get for free is a recognized institutional certificate — that requires a paid platform.