Best Platforms to Learn Coding

TechAppsCodingEducation
Written By PIRATE KING

The best investment is always investing in yourself. A couple of dollars a month invested in acquiring a six-figure-salary skill could be well worth it. 💰

Best Online Platforms

Hey pirates, PK here. Today, I'm introducing a few of the best online platforms I recommend for learning how to code. I'm genuinely suggesting these because they are effective, job-relevant, flexible, and, most importantly, affordable; one of them is even free! 🤩 In this video, I will review each and share why I recommend them. You can also find my suggested courses for each platform in the descriptions and comments below, so check them out afterward. 😉

Coursera

The first platform I recommend is Coursera. What really sets Coursera apart from other platforms is its partnership with world-class universities and companies; you even earn professional certificates they issue directly upon course completion. For example, Crash Course on Python by Google, Frontend Developer curriculum by Meta, Introduction to Programming by the University of Pennsylvania, and Web Developers program by Johns Hopkins University. These certification courses are great because not only do they help you acquire industry-relevant skills, but also provide visibility of your accomplishments. For example, you can demonstrate your new skills by putting the certificates on your professional profiles, such as your resume and LinkedIn.

Let's talk about pricing. You have a wide variety of options. Some courses are free; others you must purchase on a standalone basis, which I recommend. For serious learners, however, consider Coursera Plus. Coursera Plus is a subscription with unlimited access to more than 7,000 courses, Guided Projects, and Professional Certificates, all for just $59 a month or $399 a year. You can get started for free with my link, and yes, it includes the Google, Meta, U Penn, and Johns Hopkins courses I mentioned earlier. Remember, there's no limit on the number of certificates you can earn with Coursera Plus. You can shop around for the courses yourself or just get started with my recommended list. Some of them are affiliate links meaning I may earn some commissions. But hey, that's how I can make a free video like this! So if you want to support me, please, use my links to sign up. 😉

To wrap up my opinion on Coursera, the platform's real value comes from the strength of its partnerships with acclaimed institutions and the recognition of their certificates. Countless other online platforms issue their own version of certificates. Still, they don't usually carry the same weight as Coursera's because they aren't issued by renowned institutions and universities like Google, Meta, and Stanford. Coursera is one of the few online learning platforms to offer that meaningful, career-relevant certificates, and definitely the number one platform on my recommended list.

Careerist

Let me introduce Careerist. Pirates, I know how hard and complicated it can be to start a tech career and find a high-paying job, especially if you have no technical background. But that's why we have platforms like Careerist, an online learning platform that makes this process easy. Even if you don't have any technical experience, a tech background, or tech education, Careerist will teach you everything you need and help you land a well-paying tech job, such as Software Testing. You can also learn other tech careers that do not require any technical background, such as Sales Engineering, Systems Engineering, or UX Design. The programs include built-in internships and 1-on-1 mentorship, helping you with the resume, interviews, and preparing for what matters the most, landing a job! Careerist graduates already work in more than a thousand companies, of which more than 30% are remote positions. Students usually find jobs on average in 2 to 4 months, and their starting salaries range from 69k to 105k. Just follow my link to get a special 10% Discount on the course of your choice.

SkillShare

The second platform I recommend is SkillShare. I like SkillShare for three reasons.

One, unlimited access. Unlike Coursera, SkillShare is purely subscription-based. That means you get unlimited access to all of SkillShare's more than 40,000+ classes without time limitation with one subscription alone. So you won't encounter a situation where you have the subscription, but hey, you have to pay extra for this particular class; nothing like that on SkillShare.

Two. A large selection and a wide variety of course topics and lengths. SkillShare isn't limited to tech; its topics include web development, UX design, illustration, design, photography, video, and even freelancing! World-famous YouTubers are instructors on this platform, too! For example, MKBHD teaches how to become a successful YouTuber, and the ex-Doctor, Cambridge-medical-school-graduate Ali Abdaal, teaches how to study for exams! SkillShare is an excellent deal if you want to take things casually. You could spend a few hours learning how to code and the next few hours learning something else, like how to sing, play the guitar or a piano, or even write your own music!

Three. It's affordable. Use my link below for a 40% Discount on the subscription. You get all this for an annual rate of $165, which is less than $14 a month. SkillShare also has a mobile app allowing you to access any courses anytime. Compared to other e-learning platforms, I honestly think SkillShare is cost-effective because there aren't any hidden fees or courses that require additional payments. Every single class is included in one SkillShare subscription, and you can try 30 days for free.

Pluralsight

The third platform I recommend is Pluralsight. What's unique about Pluralsight is that it offers something called Paths. The biggest hurdle in learning a new skill is that you often don't even know where to begin. That's where Pluralsight's Paths come in. Paths combine specific courses and tools into one experience to teach you any skill from start to finish. They're aligned to an individual's knowledge level to help you develop the right skills in the right order. I especially recommend Pluralsight to those interested in information security or who wish to become security engineers because Pluralsight has a great Path related to security engineering. For example, Ethical Hacking, The Information Security Big Picture, and Intro to Security and Architecture on AWS. What's best? Use my link to grab the LIMITED-time deal and get 40% OFF its annual subscription. The subscription has access to more than 2,500 most-popular courses on Pluralsight.

PIRATE KINGDOM

The last platform I recommend, which is also entirely free, is my own website! Duh 🤷 For all of you who wish to learn to code and become software engineers, I recommend my website for several reasons.

One, it's free-free. There are no upfront costs, no subscriptions, no hidden fees, or any hard requirements, etc. It's free.
Two, it's complete. The website includes my downloadable resume, my leetcode cheat sheet, my tips on how to write an effective resume, ace coding interviews, and even FREE curriculums on software and web development.
Three, the website is basically a summary of how I would learn to code if I were to start over. I've been in this industry for a while, so I know how crucial and career-relevant the resources I'm sharing are.
Four, you can get discounts and even free access to several platforms I've partnered with. For example, you can get a $1,000 Discount on all bootcamp courses on Springboard, including Software Engineering, Data Science, and Machine Learning. You can also get a personalized 1-on-1 career mentorship from leading professionals at companies like Google, Meta, Uber, Amazon, and more with Pathrise. I was a mentor at Springboard and Pathrise, so I know their programs are legit. If you are interested, follow the links in the descriptions.

Advantages of Paid Learning

Before I wrap up, let me discuss the advantages of paid online learning. Free courses are great, cuz well, they are… free, but their biggest drawback is also the fact that it comes at no charge; you have nothing to lose. But by paying for a course, you put your skin in the game. There's a reason why those who pay for education have a higher tendency to finish. It's because their money's at stake! Also, paid ones are more likely to be accredited and have higher quality. They can help you land a better career result. Lastly and most importantly, adopt the learning mindset. A certificate is meaningless if you leave the podium without any sense of growth. Think of it as a reward for your accomplishments, not the ultimate goal. Your skills and learnings are the greatest assets to your success. Remember, the best investment is always investing in yourself. A couple of dollars a month invested in acquiring a six-figure-salary skill could be well worth it.

Final Thoughts

What do you guys think? Do my strategies make sense? Let me know in the comments below. Check out my website for free resources on coding. Don't forget to follow my links for my recommended courses and Careerist programs. Make sure to like and subscribe. I'll see you at the next one. Bye.

“The best investment is always investing in yourself. A couple of dollars a month invested in acquiring a six-figure-salary skill could be well worth it.”
— PIRATE KING
 
PIRATE KING

YouTuber & Software Engineer

https://www.youtube.com/piratekingdom
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