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10 Free Great Online Courses for Web Development

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Web developers are the professionals working behind the scenes of the internet. They are in the business of creating and maintaining websites. That may sound simple, at first. However, web development is an art. When you land on a site that looks awesome, loads fast, and provides you with a seamless user experience, you can be sure a good developer has been hard at work.

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Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.

The field is broad, and encompasses many different sectors, including:

• Website development

• Mobile development

• Security development

• Game development

• Backend development

• Front-end development

• Full-Stack development

Often, these various roles overlap, and many web developers become master of several disciplines.

There are so many great resources and free online courses to learn web development that it can be a challenge to choose the best. In this article, our editors have had an in-depth look at the top options and narrowed them down using Online Course Report’s exclusive methodology. These free online web development courses are listed in descending order with our favorite choices at the top but remember that each of these options provides an excellent place to start.

If you’re ready to start learning online how to be a web developer, read on.

Ranking 10 Free Online Courses for Web Development

1. Web Development

Offered by The Odin Project

The Odin Project offers a complete full stack curriculum supported by a dedicated open source community. For those who are not familiar with the project, you could say it’s the place to learn about web development.  Founded in 2013, it is maintained by a passionate group of volunteers and is completely free to one and all. To date, nearly 300,000 students have taken part in courses offered on the platform.

There are three main learning tracks—Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, and Front End Only. Each gives a comprehensive overview of web development (31 lessons), CSS, HTML, and thorough step-by-step tutorials for each topic. It’s a pretty remarkable resource, which is why we have listed it as the best free online course in web development we have found.

You can start learning at the Odin Project whenever you want. There are no sign-ups or complicated enrollment schemes, and students can work at their own pace. And while there is no certification offered, the courses are all industry-recognized.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Varies

Curriculum: Introductory to Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Smooth and easy-to-navigate interface

• Excellent community forum

• Unique platform with a cult following

Cons:

• None

2.  Learn Web Development

Offered by Mozilla

Mozilla earned its stellar reputation when its team created the Firefox web browser, and they offer some of the best resources for learning web development online. Through tutorials and self-paced classes, there are plenty of ways to learn developing here.

The platform caters to beginners as well as seasoned pros, which is one of the things that makes it so valuable. Students can start with something simple or go straight to a more advanced lesson. And you can go back to the materials time and again for a refresher whenever you choose.

Choose from a wide range of topics, including HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Web Performance, Front End, Back End, and lots more. No signup is necessary. Jump right in wherever and whenever you choose and start learning immediately.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Varies

Curriculum: Introductory to Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Learn from the experts in web design and development

•Helpful discussion community of developers

•Lots of great downloadable resources and reference guides

Cons:

•Certification not offered

3. Go Full-Stack With Node.js, Express, and MongoDB

Offered by Open Classrooms

Open Classrooms is one of Europe’s top e-learning platforms, and they offer both free and paid courses in web development, design, and project management. Registration is free, and you can follow any of the offered courses at no charge. Upgrading to a premium membership will give you access to certification, and a premium plus membership can earn you a bachelor’s degree in your course of study. However, if you’re short on cash, we recommend checking out the free version, which is packed with learning content.

This free online course for web development—Go Full-Stack With Node.js, Express, and MongoDB—is just as described. It’s designed to give students the tools they need to create a RESTful web API using Node, Express, and MongoDB. You will need some prior JavaScript, Git, and GitHub knowledge as this is a more intermediate course. 

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with an upgrade

Time to Complete: 10 hours

Curriculum: Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Taught by industry expert Will Alexander

•Great user experience

•Hands-on learning

Cons:

•Certification can only be achieved by upgrading to the premium membership

4. Web Development Career Path

Offered by Codecademy

If you want to become a web developer, you’re going to need to learn to code. The coding language you need to learn will depend on the task you want to perform, so it’s worth doing a little research before you start. Codecademy is the ideal place for aspiring developers to start. Their web development career path covers HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and React. Plus, you’ll also learn The Command Line, Git, SQL, and Databases, Front and Back-end Development, and more.

There are 14 courses packed into the learning track, and you can complete the lessons at no charge. A pro-membership on the platform gives students one month of free access, the ability to save projects, and official certification. It’s around $20 a month if you choose the Pro option. However, there is plenty of material in the free lessons to get what you came for.

Another advantage of Codecademy is their free and open forums. This is an excellent place to go when you need help with any learning challenges you have.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with Pro Membership

Time to Complete: 30 weeks

Curriculum: Intermediate to Advanced

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•One of the best free online coding resources on the web

•Excellent user interface

• Comprehensive

Cons:

•Students who opt for the free version will need to save their projects on their own computer or in GitHub to avoid losing them.

5.  Introduction to Web Development

Offered by the University of California via Coursera

This offering through UC Davis is the perfect starting point for students interested in learning more about a career in web development. It has a whopping 96 percent positive review rate and has been taken by over 95,000 students.

One of the great things about this free introductory web development course is that you won’t just be learning theory. You will actually be applying the lessons to real life projects. Naturally, you will learn about networks, the internet, websites, and hosting, which will give you a broad overview of the topic. But you will spend the majority of this 25-hour course on things like:

• Learning the basics of HTML to design your own website

• How to use JavaScript and how to create simple programs

• Using CSS properties to control layouts, fonts, colors, and more

• Creating HTML forms

• Creating Web Applications

Coursera is one of the top free online learning platforms for technology, and this course can be taken in audit mode at no charge. If you opt for the paid version, you will unlock a final capstone project and certification. If you really need the certification, but can’t afford it, you can apply for financial aid on the site.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with fee

Time to Complete: 25 hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Taught by a top instructor at UC Davis

•Ideal for beginners

•May be able to obtain certification if you qualify for financial aid

Cons:

•Certification and other components require an upgraded membership

6. Responsive Website Development and Design Specialization

Offered by University of London via Coursera

Taught by five expert instructors from the University of London, this robust offering on the Coursera platform is one of our favorite free web development specializations. It has a 4.5 star rating and has been completed by over 8,000 students. Featuring six separate courses, it is designed to teach students how to create the best user experience possible.

There is no fee to take each of the courses separately in audit mode. Auditing the classes allows you to experience the lessons at no charge, but you won’t receive certification or be able to participate in the class project. If these extras don’t matter to you anyhow, this specialization is fantastic for your needs.

By chipping away at the courses for around four hours each week, you can complete the entire specialization in about seven months. However, the platform is designed for individuals to go at their own pace, so you can lengthen or shorten that time frame based on your own schedule. The free online web development courses include:

• Responsive Website Basics: Code with HTML, CSS, and Responsive Web Design

•  Introduction to Meteor.js Development

•  Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB

•  Responsive Website Tutorial and Examples

•  Responsive Website Development and Design Capstone

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Seven months

Curriculum: Introductory to Advanced

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Excellent user-friendly learning platform

• Offered through a prestigious college

• Go at your own pace

Cons:

• Certification requires an upgrade

7.  Become a Junior WordPress Developer

Offered by LinkedIn Learning

This 31 hour course offered through LinkedIn Learning provides students with a strong foundation in what it takes to become a Junior WordPress developer. It goes beyond basic WordPress skills, covering topics like site administration, workflows, version control, CSS, HTML, child themes, JavaScript, and more. By the end of the course, you will have a solid understanding of basic WordPress essentials as well as advanced developer techniques and tools.

There are 13 modules in all, taught by 7 industry experts, so you get a good mix of teaching styles and personalities. If you already have a LinkedIn premium account, you may be surprised to learn you can take this web development class for free, plus earn a completion badge to post on your page. Students who do not already have a premium account can upgrade, which opens the door to thousands of free courses on the platform. If you only want to complete this particular class in web development, signing up for a free trial will give you a month of unlimited access.

Cost: Free Try a free trial for Linkedin Learning.

Certificate: Yes (Completion badge)

Time to Complete: 31 hours

Curriculum: Introductory to advanced

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Great mix of instructors

•Receive a completion badge for your profile or CV

•Excellent user interface

Cons:

•Must cancel LinkedIn premium before the trial is up to avoid fees

8. Front End Web Development

Offered by W3C via edx

If you want to learn front end web development online for free, this is an excellent choice. It’s a learning path consisting of five separate courses, and it’s part of a professional certificate. Although certification requires a fee, you can take each course at no cost in audit mode and save yourself hundreds.

Each course covers in detail a different aspect of front end development, including:

• HTML5 and CSS Fundamentals

• CSS Basics

• HTML 5 Apps and Games

• HTML 5 Coding Essentials and Best Practices

• JavaScript

You can take the courses at your own pace and fit them into your schedule whenever you have time. If you have five to seven hours a week to devote to the learning path, it can be completed in around seven months. Students who want to move on to more advanced topics can check out other offerings on the platform, including: Advanced CSS Concepts, Angular JS: Framework Fundamentals, Designing the User Experience, and dozens of other free courses.

Note: When you land on the homepage, you will need to navigate to each course in the specialization and sign up for them individually to complete them in audit mode.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Seven months

Curriculum: Introductory to Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Presented by The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (W3Cx)

•Taught by nine expert instructors from Microsoft, Intel, and University Côte d’Azur

•Optional certification with a fee

Cons:

•None

9. Learn HTML & CSS: How To Start Your Web Development Career

Offered by Udemy

This short free developer course features four hours and 30 minutes of on-demand video. Taught by front-end web developer and designer Michael Bower, it is strongly recommended by many of the course’s 50,000 former students. There are no prerequisites. All you need is Chrome and an internet connection and you are good to go.

There are four learning modules in the course: HTML, CSS, a code challenge final, and a course project. The project is one of the most exciting parts—students will clone a BBC.com website from scratch.

Code challenges, quizzes, and hands-on exercises will help you retain the information you’ve learned, and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime. It’s a great free online course for those who just want to get their feet wet in the world of web development.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: 4.5 hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Good

Pros:

• Taught by a successful developer

• Ideal for beginners looking into a career in web development

• Well-reviewed

 Cons:

• Too short

10.  Web Page Development

Offered by Alison

Alison is a cool online learning platform developed by Mike Feerick. It is one of the best places to go for no-cost online web development courses with certifications, and this free course is no exception. It covers HTML, cascading style sheets, and Dreamweaver and takes just three to four hours to complete.

There are four modules covering 11 topics in this short course. The fourth module is an online assessment.

A passing grade of 80 percent or better is needed to receive a learner achievement verification report at no charge. If you want something fancier, you can also purchase a shareable certificate from the Alison store for a small fee.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with fee

Time to Complete: Three to four hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Great option for those who are crunched for time

•Course is separated into user-friendly modules

•Video tutorials

Cons:

•Too short

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Web Development Courses

If you are considering taking some free online courses in web development, you probably have lots of questions. In this section, you will find more information about becoming a web developer and how online learning platforms work.

What Are the Requirements and Prerequisites for Free Web Development Courses?

Most of the time, there are few requirements for enrollment in a free web developing course. You will need a computer and internet connection, and some courses will recommend that you have a bit of coding experience under your belt. Of course, you need basic technology skills, and a little bit of patience is helpful as well.

How Long Do Free Online Courses Take?

Because the programs on our list are all self-paced, there are no specific start or stop times. Enrollment is open and students can complete their lessons whenever they want. This is one of the great things about taking classes online. There are no time constraints, and you can work them into your own schedule. Our list includes courses that take only a few hours and others that take several months to realistically complete.

What Skills Should Web Developers Have?

To learn web development, you should be someone who enjoys solving complex problems and who possesses a degree of patience and creativity. If you end up in an organization, you will likely be a “go to” person solving a myriad of technical issues and glitches, so flexibility is a must. Students with a strong computer science background will already have many of the skills needed for web development.

When it comes time to work in the field, either as an employee or freelancer, there are several technical skills you will need to land a job or contract. Front end developers will need solid experience in HTML, CSS JavaScript, jQuery, and XML. Back end developers need Java, PHP, SQL, Ruby on Rails, Python, C#, and .net. If all of these terms seem confusing, don’t worry. The courses on our list all cover one or more of these technologies.

What Is the Difference Between Front End, Back End, and Full-Stack Development?

Front end developers are primarily focused on the elements that users interact with like apps, pages, forms, etc. This role overlaps a bit with web design, as a front end developer often works with things like layouts and appearance.

Back end developers are focused on server connections, databases, and API’s. They also deal with programming and the mechanics of apps and websites. Although nobody really ever sees their work (hence the term back end), they play a vital role in keeping everything together.

Full stack developers are individuals who have mastered both skill sets and can do it all. They are jacks-of-all-trades, capable of working on web development projects from beginning to end. 

Do Web Developers Need a Formal Education to Succeed?

There is no one learning path or degree intended to educate you in web development, and it’s definitely possible to break into a career in the field without a formal education. There are successful self-taught developers all over the world. A solid portfolio of projects that highlight your relevant skills is more important than a computer science degree.

A knack for learning is important, however. If you love technology and have the necessary motivation and self-discipline to tackle learning on your own, you can carve out a relatively lucrative career for yourself.

What Should I Expect to Earn as a Web Developer?

According to PayScale, web developers typically make between $44,000 to $111,000 annually, with the average salary being $68,524. It’s a growing field as well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for web developers will increase by 13 percent through 2028, making it a low-risk career choice.

What Are the Career Options for Web Developers?

If you want to break into web developing, your options are wide open. That’s because almost every other field you can imagine has a web presence of some sort. Whether you are interested in healthcare, education, business, hospitality, technology, travel, construction, architecture, or any other industry, you can make a home for yourself as a web developer.

If you want to be your own boss, web development is also an ideal career choice. As a freelance developer, you can specialize in any number of skills, work anywhere you want, and practically write your own paycheck. The sky’s the limit. 

How Do I Get Started?

The best way to get started as a developer is to check out some of the best free online web development courses we have listed. Investing a bit of time in learning a few skills and gaining an overview of what it takes to be a developer is an important first step. From there, you can choose the aspect of web development that interests you the most and begin tackling the programming languages and skills relevant to that discipline.   

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