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25 Best Programming Basics Courses Online

We compared 25 Programming Basics courses currently listed on Udemy, Coursera and edX, priced from $19.99 to $680.40. 7 come from a named university or institution, including University of Colorado System, University of Michigan and University of Leeds. They are ordered by our CourseAsk score, which is built from how thoroughly each course describes what it teaches, whether it comes from a named institution, and how it compares on price — not from star ratings, which our course data does not include.

Courses compared
25
Price range
$19.99 – $680.40
Providers
Udemy, Coursera, edX
Last updated
18 Sep 2026
How these 25 courses were chosen

Every course below is a real, currently listed course from Udemy, Coursera, edX, matched to "programming basics" by our catalog and ordered by our CourseAsk score. Courses whose own title names the topic rank above those only tagged with it.

The grade on each entry scores how much the provider publishes about the course before you pay — the length and detail of the description, whether it lists learning outcomes and objectives — and whether a named university or institution stands behind it. A is fully documented and institution-backed; E is little more than a title and a price. Courses with almost nothing published are left ungraded rather than marked down, because an unknown course and a poor one are not the same thing.

There are no star ratings on this page — the course feeds we license do not include them, and we would rather leave a column out than fill it with a number we cannot stand behind. What we do have is price: these range from $19.99 to $680.40, as listed by the provider when we last updated the page.

  1. 1
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    Create Your Calculator: Learn Python Programming Basics Fast

    Why learn Data Analysis and Data Science?According to SAS, the five reasons are1. Gain problem solving skillsThe ability to think analytically and approach problems in the right way is a skill that is very useful in the...

    $199.99
    listed price
  2. 2
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Algorithms, Data Collection, and Starting to Code

    Offered by University of Colorado System

    This course starts you on your journey learning about computational thinking and beginning C programming. If you’d like to explore how we can interact with the world in a rigorous, computational way, and would also like...

    $49.00
    listed price
  3. 3
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Web Applications for Everybody

    Offered by University of Michigan

    This Specialization is an introduction to building web applications for anybody who already has a basic understanding of responsive web design with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Web Applications for Everybody is your introd...

    $49.00
    listed price
  4. 4
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    C# Programming for Unity Game Development

    Offered by University of Colorado System

    This specialization is intended for beginning programmers who want to learn how to program Unity games using C#. The first course assumes no programming experience, and throughout the 5 courses in the specialization you'...

    $49.00
    listed price
  5. 5
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Programming for Data Science

    Offered by University of Leeds

    Explore the basics of programming and familiarise yourself with the Python language. After completing this course, you will be able to write Python programs in Jupyter Notebook and describe basic programming. In this cou...

    $49.00
    listed price
  6. 6
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

    Offered by Goldsmiths, University of London & University of London

    This specialisation covers topics ranging from basic computing principles to the mathematical foundations required for computer science. You will learn fundamental concepts of how computers work, which can be applied to...

    $49.00
    listed price
  7. 7
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    R Programming Fundamentals

    Offered by Stanford University

    This course covers the basics of R: a free programming language and software environment used for statistical computing and graphics. R is widely used by data analysts, statisticians, and data scientists around the world...

    $99.00
    listed price
  8. 8
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Build Real-world Projects Using Replit and Ghostwriter

    Offered by Board Infinity

    Welcome to "Build Real-world Projects Using Replit and Ghostwriter", the introductory course to understand the basics of Replit and Ghostwriter. This course will introduce you to the essentials of using Replit as an inte...

    $49.00
    listed price
  9. 9
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Web3 Development for Beginners - No Coding Skills Required

    Offered by Packt

    This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the co...

    $49.00
    listed price
  10. 10
    Coursera Certificate Grade B University-backed

    C and Go: Classical and Modern Programming

    Offered by University of California, Santa Cruz

    This specialization is intended for all programming enthusiasts, as well as beginners, computer and other scientists, and artificial intelligence enthusiasts seeking to develop their programming skills in the classical l...

    $49.00
    listed price
  11. 11
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade B University-backed

    Introduction to Python Programming

    Offered by The Georgia Institute of Technology

    This course serves as a foundational introduction to Python programming, perfect for those looking to get started with coding. You'll learn about basic syntax, data structures, and programming concepts that are essential...

    $680.40
    listed price
  12. 12
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Object-Oriented Java: Inheritance and Encapsulation

    Offered by Codio

    Code and run your first Java program in minutes without installing anything! This course is designed for learners with limited coding experience, providing a solid foundation of not just Java, but core Computer Science t...

    $49.00
    listed price
  13. 13
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Apply C++ Programming Fundamentals for Beginners

    Offered by EDUCBA

    By the end of this course, learners will be able to explain core programming concepts, write and execute basic C++ programs, apply variables, operators, and expressions, and design structured programs using functions and...

    $49.00
    listed price
  14. 14
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Building iOS Games with SpriteKit - From Zero to Hero

    Offered by Packt

    This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the co...

    $49.00
    listed price
  15. 15
    Coursera Certificate Grade B

    Core Java for Beginners

    Offered by LearnKartS

    Java remains one of the top programming languages in the world, powering over 3 billion devices globally. With its widespread use in enterprise systems, mobile apps, and cloud-based applications, Java continues to be a k...

    $49.00
    listed price
  16. 16
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Scala Fundamentals

    Offered by Packt

    This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the co...

    $49.00
    listed price
  17. 17
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course)

    Offered by CentraleSupélec

    What you’ll achieve: In this project-centered course*, you’ll design, build, and distribute your own unique application for the Android mobile platform. We’ll provide you with a set of customizable building blocks that y...

    $49.00
    listed price
  18. 18
    Udemy Certificate Grade B Lowest price here

    PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

    Kickstart your Python journey and prepare for the PCEP-30-02 certification with this comprehensive practice test course. Designed for beginners, job seekers, and anyone aiming to improve their Python skills, this course...

    $19.99
    listed price
  19. 19
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Aprobar PCEP Python: 6 Simulacros Reales +200 Preguntas 2026

    ¿Quieres aprobar el examen PCEP de Python en tu primer intento?Este curso te prepara con simulacros diseñados a partir de preguntas altamente similares al examen real, para que llegues con confianza y sin sorpresas.Inclu...

    $34.99
    listed price
  20. 20
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    PCEP Python Exámenes Simulados 2026

    Bienvenido a tu paquete completo de exámenes simulados para la certificación Python Institute PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer.Nuestro objetivo es simple: ayudarte a aprobar el examen en tu primer intento.E...

    $99.99
    listed price
  21. 21
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Build a Birthday Reminder System with Apps Script & Gmail

    Have you ever forgotten an important birthday and felt terrible about it?You are not alone. With busy lives, large families, and endless social circles, it is almost impossible to keep track of every important date. What...

    $19.99
    listed price
  22. 22
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    Complete Unity Guide: Make a 3D Endless Runner Game with C#

    Have you ever wanted to create your own video game but didn’t know where to start? This course will guide you step by step through the process of building a complete 3D Endless Runner game using Unity and C#, even if you...

    $29.99
    listed price
  23. 23
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    Learn C#: Learn to Code C# like a Pro Developer Course

    This course provides the fundamental building blocks for programmers that wish to use C# to build desktop or web based applications in C#.  This course fully supports .Net core with all examples and coding exercises...

    $19.99
    listed price
  24. 24
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    PHP for Beginners: PDO, MySQL, phpMyAdmin

    Welcome to PHP, PDO and MySQL for Beginners!This course is intended for those who wish to develop their understanding and skills in PHP and MySQL in order to develop data driven websites.Every line of code is explained a...

    $44.99
    listed price
  25. 25
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    Introduction to SwiftUI - Create Your First App

    Do You Want To Create Your Own iPhone and iPad iOS Apps but are not sure where to start or even begin? Are you ready to jump right into the exciting world of mobile development but have little or no programming expe...

    $19.99
    listed price

Best Programming Basics Courses Online compared

# Course Provider Offered by Price
1 Create Your Calculator: Learn Python Programming Basics Fast Udemy $199.99 View →
2 Algorithms, Data Collection, and Starting to Code Coursera University of Colorado System $49.00 View →
3 Web Applications for Everybody Coursera University of Michigan $49.00 View →
4 C# Programming for Unity Game Development Coursera University of Colorado System $49.00 View →
5 Programming for Data Science Coursera University of Leeds $49.00 View →
6 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Coursera Goldsmiths, University of London & University of London $49.00 View →
7 R Programming Fundamentals edX Stanford University $99.00 View →
8 Build Real-world Projects Using Replit and Ghostwriter Coursera Board Infinity $49.00 View →
9 Web3 Development for Beginners - No Coding Skills Required Coursera Packt $49.00 View →
10 C and Go: Classical and Modern Programming Coursera University of California, Santa Cruz $49.00 View →
11 Introduction to Python Programming edX The Georgia Institute of Technology $680.40 View →
12 Object-Oriented Java: Inheritance and Encapsulation Coursera Codio $49.00 View →
13 Apply C++ Programming Fundamentals for Beginners Coursera EDUCBA $49.00 View →
14 Building iOS Games with SpriteKit - From Zero to Hero Coursera Packt $49.00 View →
15 Core Java for Beginners Coursera LearnKartS $49.00 View →
16 Scala Fundamentals Coursera Packt $49.00 View →
17 Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course) Coursera CentraleSupélec $49.00 View →
18 PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Udemy $19.99 View →
19 Aprobar PCEP Python: 6 Simulacros Reales +200 Preguntas 2026 Udemy $34.99 View →
20 PCEP Python Exámenes Simulados 2026 Udemy $99.99 View →
21 Build a Birthday Reminder System with Apps Script & Gmail Udemy $19.99 View →
22 Complete Unity Guide: Make a 3D Endless Runner Game with C# Udemy $29.99 View →
23 Learn C#: Learn to Code C# like a Pro Developer Course Udemy $19.99 View →
24 PHP for Beginners: PDO, MySQL, phpMyAdmin Udemy $44.99 View →
25 Introduction to SwiftUI - Create Your First App Udemy $19.99 View →

Prices shown are the provider's listed price when we last updated this page. Confirm on their site before enrolling.

What the prices here tell you

The 25 priced courses on this page run from $19.99 to $680.40, with the middle of the range around $49.00 — a spread of $660.41. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.

Who is behind these courses

These courses come from Udemy, Coursera and edX. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 7 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including University of Colorado System, University of Michigan and University of Leeds — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.

Before you enrol

Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page on 18 September 2026 — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.

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