Trying to choose between Codecademy vs Pluralsight vs Treehouse to up your skills? With so much on offer, it can get overwhelming trying to decide which platform is the right one for you.
The good news is that, because there’s so much choice, you’re sure to find the solution best suited to you. All it takes is a little digging to see which platform has the features you need to take your first steps into coding, or to give your career a boost.
In this article, we’ll compare three popular platforms for learning professional web development skills. Along the way we’ll share advice on what type of student each is best suited to. Let’s get started!
Introducing the platforms
The three platforms we’ll discuss all provide online courses for people wishing to learn skills related to web development, and adjacent industries in some cases. However, each has unique features to make it ideal in certain circumstances.
For example, Codecademy is highly accessible, with free beginner’s courses and an easy-to-use interface. Many of its features are appealing to learners just starting out, and to those who are pursuing coding as more of a hobby than a full-time career:
On the other hand, Pluralsight markets itself largely to those who are already working web professionals and want to expand their skills. Freelance developers and agency employees alike can improve their careers:
Meanwhile, Treehouse offers courses for those who know they want a career in web development, but may not have any relevant experience. Their platform provides opportunities to build your portfolio and network with other students and teachers:
No matter which platform you choose, you’ll have access to hands-on learning opportunities that can get you where you want to go in your web development education. It’s just a matter of narrowing down which has the more useful features for you.
Codecademy vs Pluralsight vs Treehouse: Which platform is right for you? (4 key aspects to consider)
While all of these platforms have valuable lessons to learn about web development, each is geared towards different types of students. Considering the aspects listed below will help you determine which is right for you.
1. What types of courses do you hope to take?
One of the most important things to think about when choosing your online education platform is what you’re hoping to learn. While Codecademy, Pluralsight, and Treehouse all have valuable courses, their catalogs have a few key differences.
Firstly, if you want to learn skills adjacent to development – such as cyber security or data and computer science – Treehouse probably isn’t the solution for you. Its five ‘Techdegrees’ focus specifically on different areas of development.
Web Development is also one of four paths you can choose to follow at Codecademy. However, you can also learn Data Science, Computer Science, or just stick to your Coding Foundations. This provides a little more variety and could help you create a more well-rounded resume.
That said, Pluralsight has by far the most extensive course catalog of these platforms, with lessons in a variety of coding languages, mobile development, cyber security, and IT ops. You can choose certain paths to become well versed in a specific area, or pick and choose courses to learn individual skills.
2. Which learning mediums suit you best?
Every student learns a little differently, so considering your preferred learning style might help you decide which platform is best for you. The last thing you want is to waste your time (and money) on video courses when you need a more hands-on approach, or vice versa.
If you choose Codecademy, you’ll gain access to their self-guided, hands-on beginner classes. You’ll get to practice skills as you go, and you can progress at your own pace. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can also look into their advanced classes, which offer personalized support from experienced professionals.
Pluralsight’s most unique offering is their assessments, which enables students to test their skills and can provide helpful information on what you need to work on. Expert-led video courses will help you fill in the gaps, and you can practice your skills with hands-on projects.
Finally, Treehouse offers a more traditional learning experience, with assigned projects and in-house teachers with regular office hours. Their online chat community provides a classroom-like experience, and enables you to interact with other students while working on projects for your portfolio.
3. What kind of student are you?
All types of people can benefit from learning web development skills. Whether you’re a hobbyist, an experienced professional, or someone in between makes a big difference to which platform is best for you.
For example, Codecademy provides an easy-to-use platform for complete coding beginners. Its structure and pricing also make it ideal for students learning on their own, or hobbyists who just want to dabble in code but aren’t planning to make a living on it.
Pluralsight is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. While beginners and hobbyists could pick it up, it’s designed for those who are already working web professionals. Their team packages enable entire agencies to bring their employees up to speed. Though they offer beginner courses, these lessons still tend to build off of prior knowledge.
If you fall somewhere in between those two descriptions, you might try one of Treehouse’s Techdegree programs. These are ideal for students who know they want to pursue a career in web development, but have little experience with coding. By building your portfolio, these courses can help you break into the industry.
4. How much are you willing to spend?
Of course, price is also an important factor to consider when choosing a platform. The cost of these platform varies widely, so you can almost certainly find something to fit your budget.
If you want to start your development education for free, you’ll definitely want to try Codecademy. Their self-guided beginner courses are available at no cost. More experienced students might prefer their affordable advanced projects and classes at $15.99 per month, or their 6–10 week intensives at $199 each.
Pluralsight personal plans start at $29 per month or $299 per year. Depending on what you want to learn, the price may be worth it. Their team plans – $579 per user, per year – are pricey, but include access to additional features and the ability to collaborate with team members.
Last but not least, you can earn a Treehouse Techdegree for $199 per month. It’s quite an investment, but considering the extra guidance and networking opportunities for new professionals, it makes sense. They also offer self-guided courses for $25 per month.
Overall, you get what you pay for with these platforms. If you’re not sure if you want to dedicate money to learning development skills, we’d recommend trying out Codecademy’s free courses, then moving to another platform if you want to expand your knowledge beyond what you can learn there.
Codecademy vs Pluralsight vs Treehouse: Which platform is right for you?
The decision is ultimately up to you, but based on the criteria we explored above, we’d recommend Codecademy for hobbyists and anyone who wants to dip their toes into the water before diving headfirst into a development career. Their free self-guided courses are great for those just starting out.
If you’re a professional developer working for an agency and want to work with your team to improve your skills, Pluralsight is definitely the way to go. Additionally, freelancers looking to expand their skills and increase their rates could also benefit from Pluralsight’s personal plans.
With their relatively high prices, Treehouse probably isn’t for casual coders or those who aren’t fully committed to a future career in web development. That said, their portfolio-based classes and the chance to network with teachers and other students are ideal for those breaking into the industry.
Conclusion
You may be interested in learning code as a hobby, or have hopes of launching a web development career. Regardless, online technology education platforms are a useful place for beginners to start learning, and for experienced professionals to brush up on their skills.
When comparing Codecademy vs Pluralsight vs Treehouse, consider these important questions:
- What types of courses do you hope to take?
- Which learning mediums suit you best?
- What kind of student are you?
- How much are you willing to spend?