Codecademy vs edX
Both Codecademy and edX promise to help you learn new skills, but they take different approaches to education. After completing multiple courses on each, I've identified where each platform excels. edX leads with 8.9/10 overall.
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Quick Answer
edX beats Codecademy for most users. It scores 8.9/10 vs 8.5/10 and courses from harvard, mit, and top universities. Choose Codecademy if you need interactive in-browser coding.
Codecademy
Interactive coding courses for beginners to job-ready
Starting from
$17.49/mo
edX
WinnerUniversity courses from Harvard, MIT, and top institutions
Starting from
$25/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.5/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Starting Price | $17.49/mo | $25/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Content | ||
| Courses | 300+ | 3500+ |
| Certificates | ||
| Degrees | ||
| Free Content | ||
| Features | ||
| Projects | ||
| Subtitles | ||
| Offline Access | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Business | ||
| Enterprise | ||
| Financial Aid | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Codecademy
- Interactive in-browser coding
- Free courses available
- Career and skill paths
- Strong community support
- Mobile app (Codecademy Go)
- 15 programming languages
- Variable course quality
- Some outdated content
- Certificates not widely recognized
edX
- Courses from Harvard, MIT, and top universities
- Free audit option for most courses
- MicroMasters and MicroBachelors programs
- Accredited online degrees available
- Financial assistance available
- Mobile app with offline access
- Verified certificates can be expensive ($50-$300)
- Customer support issues reported
- Less courses than some competitors (3,500+ vs 7,000+)
Key Difference
The core difference lies in approach: Codecademy focuses on interactive in-browser coding, while edX emphasizes courses from harvard, mit, and top universities. Both philosophies have merit depending on your priorities.
Which Should You Choose?
Codecademy
Choose Codecademy if you prioritize interactive in-browser coding, want to start with a free tier, or value free courses available.
edX
Choose edX if you prioritize courses from harvard, mit, and top universities, want to start with a free tier, or value free audit option for most courses.
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, edX is our winner with a rating of 8.9/10 compared to Codecademy's 8.5/10. edX stands out for its courses from harvard, mit, and top universities and free audit option for most courses. edX also offers better value at its price point. However, Codecademy remains an excellent choice if interactive in-browser coding is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Consider the migration effort before switching. Most services offer data export, but rebuilding workflows and configurations takes time. Evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the switching costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Codecademy better than edX?
edX scores higher in our testing (8.9/10 vs 8.5/10). edX excels at courses from harvard, mit, and top universities, while Codecademy is better for interactive in-browser coding.
Which is cheaper, Codecademy or edX?
edX is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $0.00/mo. edX offers NaN% savings.
Codecademy vs edX: which should I choose?
Choose Codecademy if you prioritize interactive in-browser coding. Choose edX if you need courses from harvard, mit, and top universities. Both are solid online learning options.
What's the main difference between Codecademy and edX?
The main difference is Codecademy offers interactive coding courses for beginners to job-ready, while edX focuses on university courses from harvard, mit, and top institutions.