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Codecademy vs Laracasts: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)

Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Codecademy and Laracasts side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.

On the data: On the data below, Codecademy leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

Data comparison compiled by Toolradar, not hand-reviewed Methodology
Data comparison 191 user reviews compared Pricing checked Nov 5, 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:

Codecademy

Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects.

Best for you if:

  • • You want a free tier before you commit

Laracasts

Learn modern PHP and Laravel development through expert-led video tutorials and practical examples.

Best for you if:

  • • You want to learn modern PHP and Laravel development through expert-led video tutorials and practical examples
At a glance: Codecademy vs Laracasts
At a Glance
Codecademy Codecademy
Laracasts Laracasts
Starts at
Free plan, paid from $19.45/mo, billed monthly Pro plan
From $25/mo, billed monthly Forever Solo plan
Category
Education & Learning Learning & Training
Learning & Training Online Course Platforms
Rating
4.5/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.5 · SourceForge 5.0 179 reviews 4.2/5 G2 4.6 · Trustpilot 2.8 12 reviews
Free plan
Yes No
Watch out for
n/a No free trial: the full $25/mo applies from day one

Choose Codecademy or Laracasts?

Codecademy

Choose Codecademy if

  • You want a free tier before you commit
  • You want to learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects
  • Budget matters ($19.45/mo, billed monthly vs $25/mo, billed monthly)
Laracasts

Choose Laracasts if

  • You want to learn modern PHP and Laravel development through expert-led video tutorials and practical examples

In-Depth Analysis

Codecademy Codecademy

Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects.

Good value

Codecademy's pricing is quite fair, offering a generous free tier and well-differentiated paid options.

Strengths

  • Pro: Excellent for hands-on, interactive learning
  • Pro: Beginner-friendly interface and content
  • Pro: Wide variety of courses and technologies
  • Pro: Immediate feedback on code
  • Pro: Structured paths help guide learning

Weaknesses

  • Con: Free content is limited compared to Pro
  • Con: Can sometimes lack deeper theoretical explanations
  • Con: Reliance on in-browser editor might not suit all advanced users

Key features

Interactive coding environment Structured learning paths (Career Paths, Skill Paths) Quizzes and projects Code challenges Community forums Certificates of completion (Pro)

Laracasts Laracasts

Learn modern PHP and Laravel development through expert-led video tutorials and practical examples.

Good value

At $25/mo for a single all-access tier, Laracasts sits in the middle of the developer-education market: pricier than a one-off Udemy course but far cheaper than a full Pluralsight subscription, and the 50% yearly discount brings it to roughly half that monthly rate.

Watch out

No free trial: the full $25/mo applies from day one

Strengths

  • Pro: High-quality, expert-led instruction
  • Pro: Focus on practical, real-world application
  • Pro: Comprehensive coverage of Laravel ecosystem
  • Pro: Engaging and easy-to-follow video format
  • Pro: Active community for support and learning

Weaknesses

  • Con: Primarily focused on PHP and Laravel, less diverse for other stacks
  • Con: Subscription-based model, no free tier
  • Con: Some content might become outdated over time (though regularly updated)

Key features

Extensive library of video lessons and screencasts Courses on PHP, Laravel, JavaScript, Vue.js, React, Testing, etc. Practical, hands-on coding examples Regularly updated content with new lessons Community forum for discussions and support

Plans and prices: Codecademy vs Laracasts

Plans and prices of Codecademy and Laracasts, as read on each vendor's pricing page. Each plan keeps its own billing unit.
Tool Plans and prices Source
Codecademy
  • Basic: Free
  • Plus: $29.99/mo flat, billed monthly
  • Pro: $19.45/mo, billed monthly
codecademy.com/pricing read Nov 5, 2026
Laracasts
  • Forever Solo: $25/mo, billed monthly
laracasts.com read Nov 2, 2026

Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Codecademy pricing and Laracasts pricing.

Key Takeaways

Codecademy

  • Lower entry price: $19.45/mo, billed monthly vs $25/mo, billed monthly
  • Has a free plan

Laracasts

  • Choose Laracasts if you want to learn modern PHP and Laravel development through expert-led video tutorials and practical examples

What the data shows

On the data below, Codecademy leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

  • User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 179 reviews for Codecademy, 4.2/5 from 12 reviews for Laracasts; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
  • Codecademy has the lower entry price: $19.45/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $25/mo, billed monthly (Forever Solo) for Laracasts.
  • Only Codecademy has a free plan.

Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Codecademy and Laracasts compare in 2026?

On the data below, Codecademy leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 179 reviews for Codecademy, 4.2/5 from 12 reviews for Laracasts; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Codecademy has the lower entry price: $19.45/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $25/mo, billed monthly (Forever Solo) for Laracasts. Only Codecademy has a free plan.

What are Codecademy and Laracasts used for?

Codecademy: Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects. Laracasts: Learn modern PHP and Laravel development through expert-led video tutorials and practical examples.

What does Codecademy cost vs Laracasts?

Codecademy's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $19.45/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Laracasts's cheapest paid plan is Forever Solo at $25/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 5, 2026.

What's the main difference between Codecademy and Laracasts?

Codecademy's main strength: excellent for hands-on, interactive learning. Laracasts's main strength: high-quality, expert-led instruction.

Spotted an outdated price or a wrong fact? Suggest a correction: we check it against the vendor's own page. Work for one of these vendors? Claim your listing to update it yourself.

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