Pluralsight Vs Codecademy: What You Need To Know!

When you’re looking to improve your skills, it can be difficult to find the right learning platform. You need to consider several factors before you commit to learning anything. Nowadays, many budding programmers want to develop their skills, but not everyone learns in the same way.

Two great options for newbies are Pluralsight and Codecademy. Pluralsight allows you to learn any programming language, while Codecademy is a great host of some of the most popular skills to learn if you prefer interactive learning. 

In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of using Pluralsight vs Codecademy. We’ll be taking a closer look at the features available on each diverse online training platform to help you identify which one you should use.

But first, let’s talk about the features of each. By the end of this article, you shouldn’t have any issues finding the right learning platform for you to learn. So, let’s take a closer look at Codecademy vs Pluralsight. 

What Is Pluralsight?

Pluralsight is an interactive learning platform that contains numerous courses that experts in the industry have authored. Using Pluralsight, businesses, and individuals have been able to gain more experience so they can build reliable and secure products.

There are over 7,000 courses available in its catalog, and it has been used by a host of companies to help improve their training.

What Can You Do On Pluralsight?

We’ve mentioned how there are numerous courses available on Pluralsight. They teach a wide range of subjects. There are free courses that users can do, and you’ll also find they have two paid plans which have different resources available. 

On Pluralsight, you’ll find video lessons you can partake in. An expert instructor has authored these lessons. However, on the free plan, you can only access a limited number of courses in their library. 

When you’re using Pluralsight, you have access to five free courses that change each month, including over 50 free courses to improve your skills.

Alongside the free courses are Skills IQ tests, allowing you to test your knowledge in specific fields. You can also set up a learning path for where you want to go and prepare for certifications.

Once you upgrade, you’ll find access to more courses, with a core library of 2,500. You can take assessments to improve your skills and see how you would handle different roles. To help, you could also create and curate your own specialized customized learning paths and channels.

If you paid extra for a Premium skill plan, you could access a larger library of over 7,000 courses and more hands-on content and coding projects. Not only will you get certification preparation, but you’ll be able to prepare for major certifications.

While a plan for more hands-on content is more expensive, it offers more opportunities for anyone who wants to learn a wide range of skills. 

Why Should You Use Pluralsight?

Pluralsight has a much larger course library available for its students, but the free plan is limited. Plus, it depends on how you would like to learn. Ultimately, Pluralsight isn’t a completely interactive platform, and many of the courses rely on video learning.

If you enjoy learning from videos, it’s better to access Pluralsight, as you can absorb information from a tutorial video instead.

There’s plenty of content available on Pluralsight, with many courses having a curated skill path to help users find the right lesson plans for them. If you want to find a variety of interactive courses to learn from, then you will have plenty of options using Pluralsight.

They will teach most subjects and will also contain plenty of topics available for beginner and intermediate learners. As they’re taught by experts, you won’t have any issues finding a course that will be explained by someone who understands the subject thoroughly.

If you want to find out how the courses are run, you can use the Free plan, but you also need to consider the price before you begin. The Premium and Standard Skills plans are fairly expensive, and an annual subscription can cost $299 per year.

However, if you get it monthly, it will cost $29 per month. While they do run offers, it isn’t as affordable as Codecademy. You need to commit before you buy it, which is why you should ensure you have the time to commit to a subscription too.

What Is Codecademy?

Codecademy is an interactive online learning platform that offers a variety of coding classes. They will teach you how to code in 12 different programming languages, and you can also learn about HTML and CSS markup languages.

What sets Codecademy apart from Pluralsight is that it allows all learners to access personalized learning plans. When using Codecademy, you can read through the courses at your own pace and have access to cheat sheets, quizzes, and projects that you can actually do on Codecademy itself.

What Can You Do On Codecademy?

As we mentioned, Codecademy is an online learning platform that has its own console which you learn from. You don’t learn from video courses. Instead, you focus solely on the theory and the practical experiments on their console. You can learn 12 different programming languages too.

Among these languages, you can learn Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, SQL, C#, C++, Swift, and Ruby. As mentioned earlier, you can also learn how to use HTML and CSS too.

There are many benefits to using Codecademy; for example, it’s carefully curated to allow you to develop your skills in the programming sector.

You can learn the skills to understand data science, web development, computer science, and machine learning. In some cases, they will also teach you how to create your own short games. 

In the Pro plan, you can identify why you want to learn certain skills, and then you can have a set curriculum to follow. If you want to learn to change careers, you can learn the foundational skills you need to understand how you can progress in your chosen industry.

We find that in Codecademy, you can also access community forums to get answers. 

Using Codecademy, you can learn not only the skills to develop websites but also have the opportunity to partake in different projects.

It allows you to focus on your own creative projects. So, you cannot only learn about web development but also focus on design and machine learning.

Overall, there is more opportunity to utilize code in different ways and offer the opportunity for understanding through practical work.

Furthermore, on the Pro plan, you can even get more context on interview preparation and a roadmap to professional certification. Over the years, they have continued to add to Codecademy so that you can fully invest in your career.

Why Should You Use Codecademy?

Whether you use Codecademy is dependent on the way you want to learn. Unlike Pluralsight, Codecademy focuses more on practical skills than the theory behind programming. Instead of video learning, if you learn better by doing instead of by listening to lectures, then Codecademy may be better for you.

Even though there isn’t as wide a range of online courses, if there is a path that interests you, then you can focus on this and actually gain experience.

However, it does mean that you can’t use Codecademy offline or participate in passive learning. Ideally, the content is more substantial because of this, as you can apply what you have learned by actually doing so.

Even though the lectures will not explain anything to you, you will gain access to cheat sheets to ensure that you have the materials on hand to learn about your chosen language. 

While you don’t have quite as many courses to choose from, it will also save you from the worry of choosing the wrong course. Much like Pluralsight, you need to invest carefully in the right learning platform for you.

The Free version of Codecademy doesn’t offer the same features as the Pro version, and you won’t have access to skills platforms. However, you will still be able to access smaller modules to do your work.

On the Free plan, you won’t have access to skill paths or interview preparation. The Pro version has carefully curated materials for what you want to do. More materials are available, and you can join a full selection of courses instead of one module. 

Generally, these courses are still expensive, with a yearly plan costing $191.88 per year or a monthly cost of $19.99. Generally, both platforms are still expensive, but it’s better, to begin with, a free trial or a free version if you’re unsure how to learn. (Check out ‘How To Cancel Your Pluralsight Free Trial [Guide]‘)

How Can You Choose Between Pluralsight Or Codecademy?

Deciding between a learning platform can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the programming world. However, if you’re torn between Pluralsight and Codecademy, we can briefly summarize what you should consider before you commit to either of them.

How Do You Learn?

Everyone learns in a different way, so you want to find the right platform that will allow you to learn the most. If you want video lectures, then it’s better to focus on Pluralsight. Passive learning allows you to learn while you’re on your commute to work.

However, Codecademy offers more practical processes when you’re working. You can see how the code works on Codecademy’s console, and you may find it easier to learn with the words in front of you at your own pace.

How Much Content Is There?

There’s no doubt that Pluralsight has much more content than Codecademy. The Premium plan offers over 7,000 courses for you to watch. However, Codecademy offers more specialized courses. If you invest in Pluralsight, will you be able to commit to the amount of content available?

If you use Codecademy, will you be satisfied with the more specialized content? Consider how much you want to learn, and see if there’s anything specific you want to focus on. 

How Much Is It?

Price is a significant factor when you’re considering your next learning platform. Neither is especially affordable, and both are expensive due to the quality of information you get.

You should compare the monthly and annual plans and consider which of these will suit your budget. You can always start with a free trial or a free plan and then move on to a Premium or Pro trial, depending on your interest in the subject.

Will You Be Able To Dedicate Time To It?

There’s a lot of content on both Codecademy and Pluralsight, but will you be able to commit to a long-term learning program? If you work full-time, you might not be able to dedicate as much learning time as you might think.

However, you may find that you can commit more time to your learning if you’re a student or a part-time employee. Ultimately, if you plan a subscription, you should ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Are There Discounts Available?

If you’re not sure if you can focus on the time or budget, but you still want to commit, you can always wait to purchase a subscription when they make a sale. Both Pluralsight and Codecademy offer sales, so if you’re uncertain of how much you should pay, try to get it for a more affordable price.

If you’re a student, consider if there are any student discounts that you could look for. Luckily, there are sales that take place throughout the year to make Pluralsight and Codecademy more affordable for prospective customers.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the platform you choose depends on how you learn and how much time you have available. Both Codecademy and Pluralsight have strengths and weaknesses, but they are both incredibly good platforms to learn from.

If you’re not sure which one to choose, don’t hesitate to sign up for a free trial to examine the different teaching or learning style. If you want to wait, stick to the Free plan until you’re certain of what you want to do with your learning.