Best for short daily practice on a paid plan
Learn Python 3 is the right pick for beginners who want to build a daily habit with 20 to 30 minute sessions, because every exercise has a small goal and an instant check. Across 13 modules it moves from Hello World through files and classes, with 14 projects along the way. The certificate needs Plus or Pro, and the in-browser setup can leave you unsure how to work on your own machine. If you will not pay, use freeCodeCamp; if you want data skills, choose DataCamp or Kaggle instead.
What we liked
- Short, well-paced exercises with instant feedback
- 14 projects, including Receipts for Lovely Loveseats and Magic 8-Ball
- Covers files, modules and classes, not only the basics
- AI Learning Assistant explains errors in context
- Teaches current Python 3.13
What we didn't
- Certificate requires a Plus or Pro subscription
- Little video or conceptual explanation
- In-browser editor means little practice setting up Python locally
- Completion certificate carries little weight with employers
Who it's for
Take it if you…
- want to study in short daily sessions
- prefer reading and typing code over watching lectures
- plan to continue into a Codecademy skill or career path
Skip it if you…
- want a fully free course with a certificate
- need Python mainly for data analysis
- want a university-branded certificate
What you'll learn: the 10 courses
- Hello WorldPython syntax, printing, numbers and strings, with a furniture-store receipt project.
- Control Flowif, elif and else statements, booleans and logical operators.
- ListsStoring and working with ordered groups of data.
- LoopsReading and writing for and while loops.
- FunctionsWriting reusable functions, applied to physics formulas.
- StringsCreating, slicing, splitting and reassembling text.
- ModulesHow Python modules work and how to import them.
- DictionariesCreating and using key-value pairs.
- FilesReading and writing text, CSV and JSON files.
- ClassesData types, classes, objects and interfaces.
Skills you'll practise
Codecademy’s Learn Python 3 is worth it if you want to learn Python in short daily sessions by typing code in the browser, and you are happy to pay for a Plus or Pro plan. It is a 24-hour beginner course covering Python 3.13 basics through classes, with 14 lessons, 14 projects and 13 quizzes. Codecademy lists a 4.6 rating from 12,230 ratings and more than 3.3 million enrolled learners on Codecademy’s course page. It is the best fit for busy beginners who want 20 to 30 minutes of guided practice a day. If you need a free path, or you learn better from lectures, a different course will serve you better.
Learn Python 3 is an interactive, text-based course built by Codecademy’s own instructional design team, led by Senior Instructional Designer Alisha Grama. Each lesson pairs a short explanation with an editor and a run button, and an AI Learning Assistant can explain errors in context. Below we cover the syllabus, the real US cost, difficulty and how it compares with DataCamp’s Introduction to Python and Python for Everybody.
Is Codecademy Learn Python 3 worth it in 2026?
Yes, for beginners who value structure and short sessions over depth. It covers more general Python than DataCamp’s four-hour starter and moves faster than university courses. It is weaker on explaining why things work, and the certificate is completion-only.
The strongest part is the rhythm. Lessons are split into small exercises, each with a clear goal and an automatic check, so a 20-minute session ends with visible progress. The projects then ask you to apply a lesson, for example printing a furniture-store receipt in Receipts for Lovely Loveseats or writing the Magic 8-Ball with control flow. Codecademy also covers files and classes, which shorter starters skip.
The weak spot is independence. Because the editor and tests are always there, some learners finish and then struggle to set up Python on their own computer. Plan to rebuild two or three of the projects locally once you are done.
Learn Python 3 is a strong pick for habit-building beginners on a paid plan. If you will not pay, freeCodeCamp or Kaggle teach similar basics free.
When the answer flips
- You will not pay a subscription. freeCodeCamp’s Python track is interactive and free, certificate included.
- You want Python for data analysis. DataCamp or Kaggle Learn Python get to NumPy and pandas sooner.
- You want a university certificate. Python 3 Programming or CS50’s Python carry a university name.
- You learn from video. 100 Days of Code or the Python Mega Course will hold your attention better.
What does Learn Python 3 cover?
The course has 13 modules, two of them optional code-challenge sets:
| # | Module | What you learn |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hello World | Syntax, printing, numbers and strings; a point-of-sale receipt project |
| 2 | Control Flow | if, elif and else, booleans and logical operators |
| 3 | Lists | Storing and working with ordered data |
| 4 | Loops | for and while loops, reading and writing your own |
| 5 | Functions | Reusable code, applied to physics formulas |
| 6 | Python: Code Challenges (Optional) | Extra practice problems |
| 7 | Strings | Slicing, splitting, joining and formatting text |
| 8 | Modules | Importing and using Python modules |
| 9 | Dictionaries | Key-value pairs |
| 10 | Files | Reading and writing text, CSV and JSON files |
| 11 | Classes | Creating your own classes, objects and interfaces |
| 12 | Python: Code Challenges II (Optional) | Harder practice problems |
| 13 | Next Steps | Where to go after the course |
Codecademy estimates 24 hours in total. At 30 minutes a day, that is roughly seven weeks.
How much does Codecademy Learn Python 3 cost?
Codecademy’s free Basic plan gives limited course access. The certificate of completion needs Plus or Pro. US list prices in 2026 are $14.99 a month billed yearly or $29.99 month to month for Plus, and $19.99 or $39.99 for Pro. Prices vary by region.
| Plan | US list price | Seven weeks of study | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | $0 | No |
| Plus, monthly | $29.99/month | About $60 (two months) | Yes |
| Plus, yearly | $14.99/month ($179.88/year) | $179.88 up front | Yes |
| Pro, monthly | $39.99/month | About $80 (two months) | Yes |
For this course alone, two months of Plus on monthly billing is the cheapest paid route. Yearly billing only pays off if you continue into a skill path or career path. Codecademy often runs discount codes on annual plans, and the pricing page offers a free trial of Plus and Pro. Our Codecademy review compares the plans in full.
How hard is Learn Python 3?
It is gentle. The course assumes no experience and teaches one small idea per exercise. Functions and Classes are where the difficulty first rises, and the optional code challenges are the hardest part.
Do the optional challenges. They are the closest the course comes to blank-page problem solving, and skipping them is the fastest way to finish without really learning. The AI Learning Assistant helps when you are stuck, but try for ten minutes before you ask it.
Codecademy Learn Python 3 vs alternatives
| Course | Length | Cost | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecademy Learn Python 3 | 24 hours | Plus or Pro | You want short, guided daily sessions |
| DataCamp Introduction to Python | 4 hours | Chapter 1 free, then Premium | You only need Python for data |
| freeCodeCamp Python | Long, self-paced | Free | You want the same style at no cost |
| Python for Everybody | 5 courses | Lessons free on py4e.com; paid certificate | You prefer lectures |
| Automate the Boring Stuff | Video course | One-off Udemy price | You want practical scripts for work |
Codecademy beats freeCodeCamp on polish and pacing, and loses on price. It covers more general Python than DataCamp, but less data work. For a ranked view, see our best Python courses list and the Python subject hub.
Will it help your career?
It is a starting point, not a job credential. The certificate shows you finished the course. Your projects and what you build next are what employers look at.
If you are heading for development, Codecademy’s career paths continue where this course stops, and our software engineer guide lists what to add. For web work, pair Python with our web development courses.
FAQ
Is Codecademy Learn Python 3 free?
Not fully. Codecademy’s free Basic plan gives limited access, and the certificate of completion requires Plus or Pro. Plus lists at $14.99 a month billed yearly in the US.
How long does Learn Python 3 take?
Codecademy estimates 24 hours. At 30 minutes a day that is about seven weeks; at an hour a day, under four.
Which version of Python does it teach?
The course page says it teaches the basics of Python 3.13.
Is Learn Python 3 enough to get a job?
No. It covers the fundamentals. You will need larger projects, Git and a specialisation such as web development or data analysis before applying for roles.
Should I choose Codecademy or DataCamp for Python?
Choose Codecademy for general programming basics in short sessions. Choose DataCamp if your goal is data analysis and you plan to continue into pandas.