With the seemingly endless number of coding bootcamps online these days, it can be difficult to decide which is the best choice. We poured over dozens of options to determine the top ten best online coding bootcamps based on cost, full-time and part-time options, weekly time commitment, skills they teach, scholarship opportunities, and amount of support both during the course and following completion.
- Top 10 Best Coding Bootcamps Online
- Best Online Bootcamps by the Numbers
- Tips for Doing Coding Bootcamps Online
- Methodology
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Top 10 Best Coding Bootcamps Online
1. Altcademy – Best Overall
- Cost: $1,090-$1,670
- Length of Program: 12 to 50 weeks
- Weekly Commitment: 5-10 hrs/wk (part-time) or 40 hrs/wk (full-time)
Altcademy offers three courses focused on coding: full-stack, front-end, and back-end web development. These programs are all designed for beginners and are entirely self-paced. The full-stack web development program teaches students the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, jQuery, and more. This course costs $1,090, but students can add on career support for an additional $560. With this add-on, students benefit from technical interview question help, mock interview training, and resume reviews.
2. Udacity — Best for Variety of Course Offerings
- Cost: $1,596 for four months
- Length of Program: Four months+
- Weekly Commitment: 10 hrs/wk
Courses through Udacity take anywhere from one day to complete to up to four months. These longer courses are referred to as “nanodegrees,” and Udacity has many that focus on coding and web development. For beginners, Udacity offers an intro course for programming, which covers the basics of HTML, CSS, Python, JavaScript, and SQL. However, students with some working knowledge of coding languages can opt for intermediate programs in full-stack, front-end, and back-end development. Additionally, students have access to a proprietary forum of questions and answers, personalized feedback, and support from technical mentors.
Four-month courses cost $1,596, with a slight discount for paying in full. However, students must complete the course within four months or risk paying more for additional months of access.
3. Coding Dojo — Best for Amount of Skills Taught
- Cost: $16,995
- Length of Program: 16 to 30 weeks
- Weekly Commitment: 10-15 hrs/wk (part-time) or 70-90 hrs/wk (full-time)
Although it’s one of the more expensive options at $16,995 for tuition, Coding Dojo‘s software development bootcamp teaches students significantly more skills than its competitors. Additionally, Coding Dojo offers a lot of support throughout the course, with a dedicated Discord server for students to connect with instructors and peers, teaching assistants available throughout the week to help, and direct feedback from instructors. Students who complete Coding Dojo’s course also gain access to resume development help, mock interview training, and a career services manager.
>>MORE: Need help with your resume? Check out Forage’s Resume Writing Masterclass!
4. CareerFoundry — Best for Job Guarantee
- Cost: $7,650-$8,500
- Length of Program: 10 months
- Weekly Commitment: 20 hrs/wk
CareerFoundry has a job guarantee, wherein if a graduate does not land a job in their new field within six months of completion, they get full tuition reimbursement. However, not everyone is eligible for this program, and no one is required to opt-in. The full-stack web development bootcamp is primarily self-paced, making it a great option for those looking for a flexible program, but the course also has a few deadlines to keep students on track. Students taking the full-stack program will learn the fundamentals, like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, but they will also learn cloud computing and SQL.
5. SheCodes — Best for Women
- Cost: $99-$1,990
- Length of Program: 1 week to 8 months
- Weekly Commitment: 5-20 hrs/wk
SheCodes is a program exclusively for women and features four difficulty levels. For those looking to dip their toes into coding, the “basics” program gives an overview of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, the “max” program goes far beyond the basics and includes coursework in peripheral topics like search engine optimization (SEO). All SheCodes programs are primarily self-paced, though there are weekly homework deadlines. Additionally, students gain access to support from instructors and peers through Slack and help with resume-building and networking advice.
>>MORE: Learn how to ace your technical interviews with the Girls Who Code Technical Interview Prep Program.
6. NuCamp — Best for Time Commitment
- Cost: $458-$5,644
- Length of Program: 4 weeks to 11 months
- Weekly Commitment: 10-20 hrs/wk of self-study and one 4 hr/wk workshop
NuCamp offers several programs, ranging from a short, four-week course on the fundamentals of web development to an 11-month complete software development program. The complete software engineering bootcamp teaches students fundamental skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, cloud computing, react-redux, Python, and SQL. However, students can choose an in-between course, focusing exclusively on back-end, front-end, or full-stack development. NuCamp students also have access to instructor feedback during the weekly workshops.
Additionally, NuCamp offers a career development course (included in the software engineering bootcamp) that gives students mock interviews, technical interview question support, and personalized career coaching.
7. Springboard — Best for Intermediate Students
- Cost: $9,900-$15,955
- Length of Program: 9 months
- Weekly Commitment: 20-25 hrs/wk
Springboard‘s software engineering coding bootcamp is an online intensive program that allows students to learn at their own pace. While the program is designed to take nine months, highly motivated students who can devote more than 20-25 hours per week to studying may be able to finish much quicker. Springboard’s program also has a job guarantee — students are guaranteed to find a software engineering job within six months of completing the program, or their tuition is refunded. However, not every student is eligible for this, and no one is required to opt-in.
This program is not for beginners, though. Students with a foundation in coding can benefit from the more in-depth teachings on topics like DOM manipulation, Flask, Node.js, Express, and jQuery. Additionally, Springboard offers one-on-one support from a mentor, career coach, and student advisor, and community managers are always available to help answer questions.
>>MORE: Experience what a career in software engineering is really like with the Electronic Arts Software Engineering Virtual Experience Program.
8. Fullstack Academy
- Cost: $19,910
- Length of Program: 17 to 28 weeks
- Weekly Commitment: 15-30 hrs/wk
Fullstack Academy offers full-time and part-time coding bootcamps, beginner programs for those starting in tech, and the Grace Hopper online coding program for women and non-binary students. Since all of Fullstack Academy’s programs are live, students can get real-time support from instructors and mentors and work collaboratively with peers in virtual classrooms. Students learn to use SQL, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS while working on real-world projects, like building a functional e-commerce website.
Additionally, although Fullstack Academy is pricier than some competitors, scholarships are available for eligible students.
9. Codesmith
- Cost: $20,925
- Length of Program: 12 to 38 weeks
- Weekly Commitment: up to 63 hrs/wk
The immersive software engineering program from Codesmith prepares students for a career in coding, giving them the basics in application UX optimization, JavaScript, and SQL. Codesmith also has shorter intro-style courses for students to refresh their knowledge or advance existing skills. Additionally, Codesmith offers monthly payment plan options and full and partial scholarships to eligible students.
However, Codesmith’s programs aren’t self-paced — students must dedicate 11 hours per day, Monday through Friday, and an additional seven and a half hours on Saturday for full-time programs. But, because these are live programs, students can ask questions during the lectures, and Codesmith offers career support like interview prep, networking opportunities, and resume building.
10. Hack Reactor
- Cost: $17,980
- Length of Program: 12 to 36 weeks
- Weekly Commitment: 20-60 hrs/wk
On top of being one of the more expensive programs on our list, Hack Reactor is also a big commitment. The full-time coding bootcamps require around 10 hours per day, six days per week. However, for this time commitment, students learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and the fundamentals of development security operations.
Hack Reactor also has scholarship opportunities available for qualifying students, and all the lectures are live, meaning students can ask their instructors questions in real-time. Students also gain access to one-on-one career coaching services, including resume building, mock interview training, and professional development workshops.
>>MORE: Interested in software engineering but not sure if you’re ready for a coding bootcamp? Learn fundamental skills from top employers with Forage’s free tech virtual experience programs.
Best Online Bootcamps by the Numbers
| Bootcamp | Cost | Length of Program | Weekly Time Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altcademy | $1,090-$1,670 | 12 to 50 weeks | 5-10 hrs/wk (part-time) or 40 hrs/wk (full-time) |
| Udacity | $1,596 | 4 months+ | 10 hrs/wk |
| Coding Dojo | $16,995 | 16 to 30 weeks | 10-15 hrs/wk (part-time) or 70-90 hrs/wk (full-time) |
| Career Foundry | $7,650-$8,500 | 10 months | 20 hrs/wk |
| SheCodes | $99-$1,990 | 1 week to 8 months | 5-20 hrs/wk |
| NuCamp | $458-$5,644 | 4 weeks to 11 months | 10-20 hrs/wk of self-study and one 4 hr/wk workshop |
| Springboard | $9,900-$15,955 | 9 months | 20-25 hrs/wk |
| Fullstack Academy | $19,910 | 17 to 28 weeks | 15-30 hrs/wk |
| Codesmith | $20,925 | 12 to 38 weeks | up to 63 hrs/wk |
| Hack Reactor | $17,980 | 12 to 36 weeks | 20-60 hrs/wk |
Tips for Doing Coding Bootcamps Online
Stay on Track with Self-Paced Programs
It is easy to fall behind with self-paced programs because there isn’t anyone to check in and keep you accountable. Be sure to set up a good plan going into the program and find methods to keep you on track and motivated! Some good options are daily to-do lists, motivational mantras or music, and asking a friend to check in on your progress.
Seek Support From Friends and Family
Bootcamps are intense experiences — especially the full-time ones! So, talk to your friends and family beforehand to see if there’s any way they can help make the process easier. For example, see if your friends can check in periodically or bring snacks to help you get through the longer, more-intense days.
Get Prepared Before Starting
Make sure you know what the program you choose requires beforehand. For example, some may have specific computer operating system requirements for the applications they use. Additionally, with any online course, it’s always a good idea to ensure you have reliable internet, a dedicated space to work, and a dependable laptop or computer.
Weigh Your Options
There is no one right program for everyone. You should figure out your main goals for taking a coding course and what you want to do once you’ve learned how to code. If your ultimate goal is to get a job in software engineering, a program with a job guarantee could be a good option. However, if you want to learn to code for personal projects or even just for fun, a cheaper or more flexible program may be the right fit.
Remember that online bootcamps aren’t the only option, either. Online bootcamps are great, but if you’re someone who learns better in the classroom, an in-person coding program may be a better choice. Additionally, there are college programs, free coding courses, virtual experience programs, and paths to self-teach coding. It’s best to find the program that fits your life and learning style.
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Methodology
We chose the initial programs based on criteria including relative affordability, online vs. in-person learning, third-party reviews, student feedback, and location. Our ultimate goal was to find programs that are cost-effective, comprehensive, and flexible for students and working professionals.
The final list was ranked based on the following criteria and weights:
- Cost: 20%
- Minimum time commitment per week: 20%
- Amount of skills taught: 20%
- Full-time and part-time options: 10%
- Scholarship opportunities: 10%
- Student support during course: 10%
- Student career support after completion of course: 10%
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