We rated 6 popular ways to learn programming — from bootcamps to YouTube — on five criteria. No made-up rankings of specific schools, just an honest look at the formats.
How to read this page: the grades below are our editorial assessment of the learning format as a whole (not a specific company or platform), based on the typical pros and cons of that format.
Evaluation Criteria
💰 Entry cost⚡ Speed to start🛠️ Practice💬 Feedback🔄 Schedule flexibility
🎥
Paid video courses (Udemy, Coursera, and similar platforms)
A huge selection of topics and instructors at an affordable price for a single course. But there's usually no feedback on your code — just videos and, if you're lucky, a forum for questions.
B
Cost
Medium
Speed to start
High
Practice
Medium
Feedback
Low
Flexibility
High
Pros
Affordable price
Huge range of topics
Learn at your own pace
Cons
Usually no homework review
Easy to abandon halfway
Quality depends heavily on the instructor
🏕️
Bootcamps (intensive coding schools)
A structured program, deadlines, and often help with job placement. But they're expensive and require near full-time commitment for months.
B
Cost
High
Speed to start
Low
Practice
High
Feedback
High
Flexibility
Low
Pros
Clear structure and deadlines
Live feedback from mentors
Often help with job placement
Cons
High cost
Requires a lot of free time
Inflexible schedule
📺
Free YouTube channels
Completely free, with a huge amount of content for any level. But there's no start-to-finish structure and no one to check with when you get stuck.
B
Cost
Low
Speed to start
High
Practice
Medium
Feedback
Low
Flexibility
High
Pros
Completely free
Huge variety of creators and styles
You can find an explanation for almost any topic
Cons
Easy to get lost in scattered content
No homework review
Requires high self-discipline
🎓
University / formal education
Gives you a deep theoretical foundation and a degree. But for entering development specifically, it's a long and expensive path if the goal is simply to start working in IT.
C
Cost
High
Speed to start
Low
Practice
Medium
Feedback
Medium
Flexibility
Low
Pros
Deep theoretical foundation
Accredited degree
Networking with classmates
Cons
Takes years
High cost
Curriculum often lags behind the market
📖
Self-study via documentation and articles
Free, and it teaches you to read primary sources — a valuable skill for your whole career. But without experience it's hard to know where to start or in what order to study topics.
C
Cost
Low
Speed to start
Low
Practice
Low
Feedback
Low
Flexibility
High
Pros
Completely free
Teaches you to work with documentation
No dependence on someone else's schedule
Cons
No clear sequence of topics
Very easy to abandon
Hard to spot your own mistakes
🍌
BananaMaster course (free, with practice)
A free JavaScript course with a homework assignment after every lesson — combining the structure of a video course with the practice that's usually missing from free formats.
A
Cost
Low
Speed to start
High
Practice
High
Feedback
Medium
Flexibility
High
Pros
Free, no hidden payments
Practice after every lesson
Clear sequence of topics
Cons
Focused on JavaScript and the web
Not suited if you want a different language from scratch
How to Choose Between Formats
If you're unsureStart with a free format — it's the cheapest way to check whether you actually enjoy programming.
If you're short on timeA bootcamp gives you structure and deadlines fastest, but requires near full-time commitment in return.
If practice matters most to youPick a format where every topic comes with a concrete task, not just a video.
If you need a degreeUniversity is still an option, but it isn't the only way into development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which course format should I choose with no experience at all?
A practical free course with homework assignments — it combines structure and practice with no financial barrier to entry, and lets you find out whether you actually enjoy programming.
Is it worth paying for a bootcamp on a limited budget?
Not necessarily right away. It's worth trying a free format first to see if you really enjoy programming, and only then deciding whether to invest in an expensive bootcamp.
Can YouTube fully replace a structured course?
Partially. YouTube is great for explaining specific topics one at a time, but without a clear sequence it's hard to build a coherent curriculum on your own.
Do I need a degree to get hired as a developer?
No. In development, employers look primarily at your portfolio and problem-solving ability, not at whether you have a relevant degree.
Ready to try the format with an A?
A free JavaScript course with practice after every lesson — no hidden payments.