Top Free Websites to Learn Coding as a Beginner

 

Top Free Websites to Learn Coding as a Beginner
By a High School Student Who Just Figured Out What HTML Means 😅

Hi there! If you’re like me—a curious high school student who’s always wondered how websites and apps are made but didn’t know where to start—you’re in the right place. A few months ago, I had zero experience with coding. Honestly, I thought "HTML" was some kind of energy drink. 😂

But after trying out a few free websites (thank you, Google!), I finally started to understand how fun and creative coding can be. And guess what? You don’t need to be a genius or have tons of money to start. There are some amazing totally free websites that make learning to code super beginner-friendly.

So here are my top favorite websites that helped me start my coding journey:

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1. freeCodeCamp.org

Why I love it: It’s like a coding school, but without the pressure or price tag.
freeCodeCamp gives you small, bite-sized lessons you can do at your own pace. I started with their “Responsive Web Design” course and learned how to build a simple website using HTML and CSS. The best part? You actually build projects as you go, so you can see what you’re creating in real time. That made me feel like a legit web designer, even if my first site was just about my cat. 😸

Tip: Stick with one course at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

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2. Codecademy (Free version)

Why I love it: It feels interactive, like a game.
Codecademy walks you through each line of code and explains what it does. I used it to learn some basic Python (a popular programming language). You type the code right on the site and get instant feedback, which is super helpful when you're just starting out.

Heads up: Some content is locked unless you pay, but the free stuff is still very solid.

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3. Khan Academy

Why I love it: It’s perfect for visual learners.
Their computer programming section teaches coding through videos and drawings. I especially liked their “Intro to JavaScript” course where you create drawings and animations with code. It made learning way more fun and creative—almost like coding art!

Tip: Try their challenges and projects to really see what you’ve learned.

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4. W3Schools

Why I love it: It’s straight to the point.
Whenever I got stuck or forgot how something worked (which happened a lot), I’d search it and W3Schools would pop up. It’s like an online coding dictionary but with mini tutorials and examples. You can even try out code right there on the page.

Tip: Use it as a reference when you're doing projects or practicing on other platforms.

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5. CS50 from Harvard (on edX)

Why I love it: It’s more advanced, but super cool.
Okay, I’ll admit this one was a bit challenging at first, but CS50 is an actual Harvard course—free for everyone! The instructor is really engaging, and it gave me a glimpse into how computer science works behind the scenes. I’m saving this one for when I feel more confident, but definitely worth checking out.

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Final Thoughts 😊

Starting to learn coding felt a little scary at first. But using these websites made it fun, step-by-step, and totally doable—even for someone with no experience (like me!). My biggest advice? Don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick one site, one course, and just start. Even 15 minutes a day can make a difference.

Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll build your own app, game, or website. Or at least impress your friends with some cool code. 😎

Let me know if you try any of these—I’d love to hear what you think!

Happy coding! 💻✨