I Tried 5 Free Coding Websites for 7 Days Each — Here's What Actually Worked

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As a student, I wanted to learn coding but had zero money to spend. So I did something most people don't — I actually sat down and tried 5 popular free coding websites, spending 7 days on each one. Here's my completely honest experience.


Why I Did This

Every blog I found just listed websites without actually telling me what it feels like to use them as a beginner. I wanted to know — is it confusing? Is it boring? Does it actually teach you anything in 7 days? So I tested them myself so you don't have to waste your time.


1. freeCodeCamp — Day 1 to 7

When I first opened freeCodeCamp I was honestly surprised. It doesn't feel overwhelming at all. You start with HTML basics and each lesson is tiny — like 2 to 3 minutes each. By day 3 I had already built a basic webpage which felt incredible as a complete beginner.

What I liked: Very structured, no confusion about what to do next, completely free forever.

What I didn't like: It can feel repetitive sometimes but that's actually how learning works.

Verdict: Best for absolute beginners. Start here.

👉 Visit: freeCodeCamp.org


2. The Odin Project — Day 8 to 14

This one felt like a big step up. The Odin Project doesn't hold your hand as much — it gives you a roadmap and pushes you to figure things out yourself. By day 5 on this platform I had set up my first coding environment on my laptop which felt very professional.

What I liked: Feels like real world coding, very complete curriculum, strong community on Discord.

What I didn't like: Can feel hard if you jump here without any basics. Do freeCodeCamp first.

Verdict: Best for students who already know a tiny bit and want to go deeper.

👉 Visit: theodinproject.com


3. Harvard CS50 — Day 15 to 21

I was nervous about this one because it's Harvard. But honestly the professor David Malan explains everything so well that even a complete beginner can follow. The lectures are long — around 2 hours each — but they are genuinely interesting. By day 7 I understood what computer science actually means, not just how to write code.

What I liked: Best quality teaching I have ever seen for free, builds real understanding not just syntax.

What I didn't like: Lectures are long and assignments are challenging. Not for people who want quick results.

Verdict: Best for students who want to truly understand coding from the ground up.

👉 Visit: cs50.harvard.edu


4. Khan Academy Computing — Day 22 to 28

Khan Academy felt the most beginner friendly of all five. Everything is broken into tiny videos with exercises after each one. It felt more like school which some people like and some don't. By day 7 I had a solid understanding of basic JavaScript.

What I liked: Very gentle learning curve, great for people who get frustrated easily, completely free.

What I didn't like: Doesn't go very deep, you'll need to move to another platform after finishing.

Verdict: Best for students who are scared of coding and need a confidence boost first.

👉 Visit: khanacademy.org


5. Kaggle — Day 29 to 35

Kaggle was the most different of all five. It focuses on Python and data science which is one of the most in demand skills right now. By day 7 I had written my first Python code and understood what machine learning actually means.

What I liked: Very practical, directly job relevant skills, free certificates, huge community.

What I didn't like: Not for web development — only for data and AI focused learning.

Verdict: Best for students interested in AI, data science, or Python.

👉 Visit: kaggle.com


My Final Recommendation

If I had to tell every student in India just one thing it would be this — start with freeCodeCamp for 2 weeks, then move to The Odin Project. That combination alone can take you from zero to building real websites completely for free.

The best part? You don't need to spend a single rupee. Just your time and consistency.

If this helped you, share it with one friend who wants to learn coding. It might change their life.

— Saieshwar P, GrindZone

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