Had to pick between freeCodeCamp and Codecademy for my first month of learning

I started learning to code 3 weeks ago and spent like 4 days going back and forth between these two. I went with freeCodeCamp first because it's free (obviously) and I figured I could always switch later. By day 2 I was getting frustrated with how slow the first JavaScript section felt, so I switched to Codecademy and paid $20 for a month. Honestly it was way better for me because of the instant feedback on their exercises, but now I'm worried I'll feel pressured to keep paying after this month runs out. Has anyone else tried both and stuck with one over the other?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wyatt13d ago

I feel that "worried I'll feel pressured to keep paying" line hard. I did the exact same thing month one, paid for Codecademy and then rushed through everything trying to get my money's worth, which actually made me learn worse. What finally worked for me was using freeCodeCamp for the fundamentals during the day when I had more patience, then hopping on Codecademy's free trial weekends or the free tier stuff for the interactive practice when I felt stuck. You could also just pause your subscription for a month after this one ends and see how far you get on your own before paying again. Did Codecademy help you actually finish more projects or just feel more productive?

scott.jana13d ago

Tbh that rushing feeling is the worst, I get it completely. Last month I paid for a Python course and spent every evening racing through lessons like it was a speedrun, not learning. I'd finish a module and realize I couldn't actually remember what I just did because my brain was too busy worrying about the clock. The freeCodeCamp thing is smart, I've been using their JavaScript section during lunch breaks where there's no pressure and it actually sticks better. Pausing the subscription after this month sounds like a solid plan too, gives you time to figure out if you're actually using it or just paying for the guilt.