Codecademy vs Udemy: 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 Udemy side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Codecademy leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
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 excellent for hands-on, interactive learning
Udemy
Affordable online courses on virtually any topic
Best for you if:
- • You want huge course library
| At a Glance | Codecademy | Udemy |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $16.20/mo, billed monthly Plus plan | Free plan, paid from $30/user/mo, billed monthly Team plan |
Category | Education & Learning Learning & Training | Education & Learning Online Course Platforms |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.5 · SourceForge 5.0 179 reviews | 3.3/5 Trustpilot 1.7 · G2 4.5 · SourceForge 4.3 2,610 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Instructor revenue share can drop to 37% without promotion. |
Choose Codecademy or Udemy?
Choose Codecademy if
- You want excellent for hands-on, interactive learning
- You want beginner-friendly interface and content
- Budget matters ($16.20/mo, billed monthly vs $30/user/mo, billed monthly)
Choose Udemy if
- You want huge course library
- You want affordable sales
In-Depth Analysis
Codecademy
Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects.
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
Udemy
Affordable online courses on virtually any topic
Udemy's pricing for instructors is generous, offering a free tier with a 37% revenue share, which is competitive for a marketplace.
Watch out
Instructor revenue share can drop to 37% without promotion.
Strengths
- Pro: Huge course library
- Pro: Affordable sales
- Pro: Lifetime access
- Pro: Mobile app
- Pro: Many topics
Weaknesses
- Con: Quality varies greatly
- Con: No curation
- Con: Constant sales tactics
- Con: No subscription model
- Con: Certificate value low
Key features
Plans and prices: Codecademy vs Udemy
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Codecademy |
| codecademy.com/pricing |
| Udemy |
| udemy.com |
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 Udemy pricing.
Key Takeaways
Codecademy
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 3.3/5
- Lower entry price: $16.20/mo, billed monthly vs $30/user/mo, billed monthly
Udemy
- Choose if you want affordable online courses on virtually any topic
What the data shows
On the data below, Codecademy leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Codecademy has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 179 reviews for Codecademy, 3.3/5 from 2,610 reviews for Udemy).
- Codecademy has the lower entry price: $16.20/mo, billed monthly (Plus) against $30/user/mo, billed monthly (Team) for Udemy.
- Both have 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 Udemy compare in 2026?
On the data below, Codecademy leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Codecademy has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 179 reviews for Codecademy, 3.3/5 from 2,610 reviews for Udemy). Codecademy has the lower entry price: $16.20/mo, billed monthly (Plus) against $30/user/mo, billed monthly (Team) for Udemy. Both have a free plan.
What are Codecademy and Udemy used for?
Codecademy: Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects. Udemy: Affordable online courses on virtually any topic.
What does Codecademy cost vs Udemy?
Codecademy's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $16.20/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Udemy's cheapest paid plan is Team at $30/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan.
What's the main difference between Codecademy and Udemy?
Codecademy's main strength: excellent for hands-on, interactive learning. Udemy's main strength: huge course library.