What Is The Best Online Course To Learn Coding?

[Soupy123]

After many years in the digital marketing industry, I've made the decision to switch career paths and moving into website development.

I want to avoid university so online courses seem to be the best alternative. However, I'm now stuck with how to proceed in this area.

I've found two courses that differ massively and would love some advice on which to go for:

1. https://www.learningpeople.com/uk/course/code-institute/full-stack-developer/
This option is a 12 month course with a commitment of £6500 but seems to come with accreditations and career help/advice.

Pros:
- Recognised diploma
- Career advice and support

Cons:
- £6500! Do I need to spend this much to learn coding?
- Doesn't seem to be as up to date

2. https://www.shecodes.io/workshop-pro
This is a course that could be completed in around 6 - 9 months for £990 but doesn't seem to have any industry recognised certificates.

Pros:
- Cheaper
- Less time
- Teaches modern coding platforms (React and uses Bootstrap)

Cons:
- Doesn't seem to be industry recognised
- Not as much career advice or progression support

I'm trying to avoid making a commitment of £6500 just to realise halfway through that I don't like the structure or the support isn't to the standard as advertised.

On the other side with SheCodes, I don't want wish I went with TLP 9 months down the line.

Any advice would help massively!

[Buenchico]

If you're planning on becoming a self-employed website developer, it won't matter what type of certification you've got (or even if you've not got any type of certification at all) as long as you can do the job. (Your portfolio of work should be sufficient to convince potential clients that you've got the relevant skills). So the cheaper course might well be sufficient.

However if you'll be seeking employed positions, unrecognised certificates will be all but worthless. You'll definitely need to find a course that leads to a qualification recognised throughout the industry.

You also need to be aware that opportunities for web developers to work their way up in the industry are becoming very limited. At one time almost every small business that wanted a website would turn to a full-time professional web designer to produce their site. These days, many small businesses use sites designed by online tools or by part-time hobbyists who're using WYSIWYG software such Xara Designer Pro+ (which can produce stunning websites without any coding knowledge at all).

[pixie374]

Neither sound entirely what you want. I was taught it by a friend in the industry. Do you know anyone who can help and give contacts? If not, I would keep looking.