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Best Online Web Development Classes: Reviews, Ratings, and Comparison

Learning web development equips individuals with skills that are highly in-demand in today's digital age. By understanding the languages that power the web, like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, among others, individuals can create, manage, and enhance websites, giving them a degree of creative and professional freedom.

Web development can also open doors to diverse industries such as tech, marketing, finance, and more, that rely on online presence and functionality. It aids in personal branding as well, enabling individuals to create their own online portfolios or blogs. Furthermore, web development is a field known for its potential for remote work, providing flexibility in terms of work location and schedule. Lastly, it's a continuously evolving field, providing lifelong learning opportunities and a chance to stay at the forefront of technology trends.

The # Best Online Web Development Classes

  1. General Assembly––Front-End Web Development (Online)
  2. Noble Desktop—Web Development with HTML & CSS (Online)
  3. Flatiron School—Software Engineering Bootcamp (Online)
  4. Coding Dojo—Software Development Bootcamp (Online)
  5. BrainStation––Web Development Course (Online)
  6. Fullstack Academy––Full-Time Software Engineering Immersive (Online)
  7. Devmountain—Web Development Immersive (Online)
  8. Mozilla Developer Network—Learn Web Development (Online)
  9. FreeCodeCamp—Front-End Development (Online)
  10. V School—Web Development Program (Online)

#1: General Assembly—Front-End Web Development (Online)

General Assembly’s online Front-End Web Development class provides students with hands-on experience using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build interactive websites. The curriculum for this class is developed by considering proven best practices, the skills employers seek, and effective teaching methods. General Assembly prides itself on creating classics that are relevant to the real-world, meaning that students gain practical skills to help them start or advance a chosen career. The Front-End Web Development course teaches the skills needed to work as a Front-End Web Developer or in a related role. These skills include understanding how to code using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build web pages, websites, and web-based applications. This class teaches students how to use HTML and CSS to build and style web pages. It also teaches how to add interactivity using JavaScript. Students complete portfolio projects that give them first-hand experience with these skills. These projects also showcase their skills to employers as part of a professional portfolio. Students also receive support from professional instructors who are available to offer personalized feedback, answer questions, and guide a student’s progress. 

Key Information

This class is made for beginners from a variety of professional backgrounds. The tuition for this class is $4,500 with installment plans and interest-free loans available. In addition, students can check with their employers to see if they qualify for an employer scholarship based on benefits.

This is a part-time class that takes place on weekday evenings with multiple start dates available. The class runs for approximately two months. This course does not have any prerequisites, but students may access pre-course lessons to help them prepare. These optional lessons can help students to get a jump-start on key concepts and skills covered in the course. 

More Details

General Assembly’s course differs from others in that students can get a headstart by working through pre-course lessons that help them understand key skills and concepts before class begins. This is especially beneficial to students who do not have a coding background. Students receive 60 hours of instruction from experts. They also gain access to alumni discounts, career workshops, and networking events. Each student earns a certificate upon completion of the course.

Reviews for the course, according to Course Report, are generally positive, earning four and five stars in most categories. A few reviews highlight that follow-up can be frustrating when attempting to contact instructors regarding feedback and grades, and that certificates of completion were not issued in a timely manner for some students. Most reviews report the classes as being engaging and helpful, but a few felt overwhelmed coming into the class with no prior coding experience.

#2: Noble Desktop––Web Development with HTML & CSS (Online)

The Web Development with HTML & CSS class is the first class in Noble Desktop’s Front-end Web Developer Certificate program. It can also be taken as a standalone class. In this course, students learn how to start building web pages and websites using HTML and CSS. Students learn how HTML is used to structure content such as text, images, lists, and links. CSS is used to style these pages by coding color, font, size, spacing, width, and more. In this class, students learn how to code from scratch and how to modify existing web pages and websites. The curriculum also covers how to code for responsive websites (websites that adjust for different screen sizes and devices) and how to upload files and make websites live.

Students work with specific projects created by Noble Desktop. The instructor is available at any time during the class to offer guidance and answer questions as students work through these exercises. Beginners without prior coding experience are welcome to join this class.

Key Information

The price of this course is $975 if taken as a standalone course. This class is also included in several Noble Desktop certificate programs at a discounted rate. If you are taking the class as a standalone course, the full tuition is due prior to the start of class.

The class includes 18 hours of instruction, including hands-on activities. Noble offers a weekday or weeknight option for this course. The weekday scheduling option lasts a total of three days from 10 am to 5 pm Eastern. The weeknight option is a part-time enrollment option that meets twice a week for three weeks. Each weeknight class meets for three hours. 

Beginners are welcome to take this class and do not need prior experience coding. Students will need to be comfortable using a computer and will need a stable internet connection when taking the course online. 

More Details

Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS course includes a free retake within one year. The class also includes supplemental materials that students can use to practice their skills before and after the class. One-on-one mentorship is not included if the class is taken as a standalone course, but is included in all Noble Desktop certificate programs. 

This class has a rating of 4.9 stars based on ratings from more than 200 students. Recent reviews state that the class is very accessible to beginners, even those with little or no coding background, and that it covers the basics of how to build and launch a webpage.

#3: Flatiron School—Software Engineering Bootcamp (Online)

Flatiron School teaches front-end web development as part of its Software Engineering Bootcamp. This bootcamp also teaches about front-end web applications, back-end developments, and back-end web APIs so that students gain the skills needed to become Full-Stack Web Developers. Students complete a cumulative project to prove their skills and gain hands-on experience. This project also serves as part of a professional portfolio. The Software Engineering Bootcamp is taught by expert instructors who guide students, provide personalized feedback, and answer questions in real time. Students have the option of enrolling full-time or part-time, which allows students to choose the schedule that best fits their needs. 

Key Information

The Software Engineering Bootcamp offers full-time and part-time enrollment. The full-time course takes 15 weeks to complete while the part-time course takes around 40 weeks on average. The full-time course is also taught by an instructor in real time while the part-time course consists of pre-recorded (on-demand) lessons. Both options have a tuition of just under $18,000. 

Flatiron Schools’ Software Engineering Bootcamp requires a $99 deposit. Tuition can be paid upfront, with a loan, or through 12 installments. 

Flatiron School does not require students to have prior experience coding to join this course. Admission requirements include being 18 years or older, having either a high school diploma or equivalent, and being highly proficient or fluent in English. The class does require around 40 hours of prep work covering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and this prep work must be completed prior to Day 1 of class. 

More Details

Unlike classes that focus exclusively on front-end web development, this class provides the knowledge needed to work as a Full-Stack Web Developer, meaning that students know how to code for front-end (user-facing) and back-end (server-side). The class covers multiple programming languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Flask, and Python. The school offers both career counseling and has an employer partnership team. They report that 90% of graduates find jobs in the Tech industry, with details and recent information available through their yearly Jobs Report. 

Recent reviews from Course Report show that students have a favorable impression of the Software Engineering Bootcamp. Reviews cite strong support from instructors and the community. The school’s job support has mixed reviews. Some students report that it took several months to secure a job in coding, but the school appears to have a good success rate, especially for students seeking to pivot to a new career. 

#4: Coding Dojo—Software Development Bootcamp (Online)

Coding Dojo’s online Software Development Bootcamp teaches full-stack web development, meaning that students learn how to develop and manage front-end (user-facing) and back-end (server-side) web components. This bootcamp is designed to give students the skills needed to start a career as a Full-stack Web Developer. The program emphasizes its focus on teaching both depth and breadth through a curriculum aimed at helping students maximize their chances of success in starting a coding career. Since jobs will differ regarding the exact skills needed in a coding role, the more students know, the more options they have to find a career in software development.

Key Information

The online Software Development Bootcamp is available as a full-time and part-time course. The full-time course takes 16 weeks with 70 to 90 hours of learning time required each week. The Part-Time Accelerated course offers the same curriculum spread out over 18 to 34 weeks with around 30 hours of learning required each week. 

Tuition for the course is just under $17,000. Coding Dojo allows students to pay multiple ways, offering installment plans and financing options. Partial scholarships are also available based on specific criteria, for example income or military service. 

More Details

Coding Dojo’s Software Development Bootcamp differs from others by teaching three distinct “full stacks.” The first portion of the program teaches students how to code using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the web. The next section teaches Python. Next, students learn more about JavaScript, and then follow that up with Java. 

Career Services are offered during and after the program with no expiration date. Students can receive one-on-one coaching and access resources offered to students and alumni.

Recent reviews for the Coding Dojo Software Development Bootcamp are mixed. Some reviews are very positive, but do confirm that the full-time option requires several hours and intense focus, which may not be doable for everyone depending on personal circumstances and your personal support network. Negative reviews cite the high cost of tuition and an overly ambitious curriculum crammed into a short time frame.

#5: BrainStation—Web Development Course (Online)

BrainStation’s online Web Development Course is a part-time class led by an instructor. Students learn how to create responsive websites and develop professional portfolios. The course begins by introducing foundational knowledge for building websites, setting up the developer environment, and understanding HTML anatomy and syntax. Next, the class dives into HTML and CSS coding, covering the use of tools like Visual Studio Code and Google Chrome. Students then learn about web components like Flexbox, then finish with a unit on responsive web design.

Key Information

This class meets once a week for eight to ten weeks. Classes are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 PM Central time. The cost for this class is around $3,000. 

This class is intended for beginners, including those with no existing knowledge of coding. There are no prerequisites for this class.

Students can communicate with their instructor in real time during class. Classmates and instructors can also communicate through a dedicated Slack channel.

More Details

Recent reviews give the course five stars in all categories, with one reviewer giving four stars for the curriculum. Students note that the course was very helpful and they appreciated the guidance of an expert instructor. One student notes that the density of the curriculum made some units feel rushed due to how much there was to cover in a limited amount of time.

#6: Fullstack Academy––Full-Time Software Engineering Immersive (Online)

Fullstack Academy offers a Full-Time Software Engineering Immersive that teaches you full-stack development in 16 weeks. The class starts with a unit on front-end (user-facing) development foundations, followed by a unit on coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Next, you’ll learn about back-end development using JavaScript, Redux, and React. You will also learn about SQL, prototyping, and finish off the course with a capstone project. 

The class meets live online on weekday mornings through the evening. Students participate in hands-on projects to both practice their skills and build a professional portfolio. 

Key Information

This is a full-time web development class covering the full-stack, meaning it covers both front-end and back-end web development. Tuition for this course is around $20,000. Fullstack Academy allows upfront payment, personal loans, and offers scholarship and veteran benefits options. 

Admission is required to join the class. Fullstack Academy states that it looks for students who are committed to a fast-paced curriculum, considerate and team-oriented, and who possess a growth mindset. 

More Details

This class includes professional portfolio development and career coaching. 

Reviews for this class are positive with four and five stars in most categories. Students note that the instructors are excellent and that the course helped them change careers.

#7: Devmountain—Web Development Immersive (Online)

The Web Development Immersive course from Devmountain is a bootcamp intended to prepare students for a career in web development. The curriculum covers topics including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, React, and Git. Students gain first-hand experience with web development skills by completing real-world projects. With part-time and full-time enrollment available, this bootcamp offers scheduling options suited to many different students. This section will discuss the online version of this course, but in-person classes are available in select locations, as well.

Key Information

Full-time students complete the online Devmountain Web Development Immersive bootcamp in 16 weeks while part-time students complete it in 24 to 36 weeks. Full-time classes meet Monday through Friday during daytime hours while part-time students meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Both options cost $9,900. Devmountain offers financing options through various lenders. Students who opt to pay through a loan can choose between immediate repayment loans, interest-only loans, deferred loans, and income share loans. Devmountain also offers scholarship opportunities on a limited basis. 

To be accepted to Devmountain’s courses, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, be 18 years old or older, and complete a skills review.

More Details

All of Devmountain’s full-time classes include career counseling to help students find work in tech professions. Career services include one-on-one training, career advice, interview prep, and employer networking. Recent reviews for Devmountain’s web development classes are favorable with reviewers giving four and five stars in most categories. Reviews praise the class’s knowledgeable instructors, but also note that students should be prepared for a face-paced, dense curriculum. 

#8: Mozilla Developer Network—Learn Web Development (Online)

The Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) offers a free, self-paced Learn Web Development course. Unlike many bootcamps online, MDN does not attempt to oversell the course. Instead, they make it clear that students can expect to progress from “beginner” to “comfortable” rather than “expert.” This means that the course is a great option for students looking to build a solid foundation in understanding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Beginners can feel comfortable taking this course as it is designed with beginners in mind, but MDN also offers a Getting Started with the Web module that will help those new to coding better understand web development. The course starts by teaching HTML and CSS, then teaches JavaScript. Next, students learn about client-side web development tools and server-side website programming. Topics covered include getting started with web development, structuring web pages with HTML, styling pages with CSS, using JavaScript for client-side scripting, working with web forms, making websites accessible to users regardless of disability, optimizing web performance, and testing sites.

Key Information

This class is a free, self-paced online course. This means that students work through the courses any time and at any pace they choose. There is also no financial risk involved.

More Details

To participate in course exercises, you will need to install Git.

Online reviews state that the course is excellent, providing dense and thorough content. This density of the curriculum can make it a bit intimidating for beginners, but as noted above, MDN offers options for first gaining a better understanding of web development prior to starting this course.

#9: FreeCodeCamp—Front-end Development Libraries (Online)

The freeCodeCamp Front-end Development Libraries is a class for students who are already familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This free online resource teaches you how to style web pages more quickly and easily with Bootstrap and how to add logic to your pages using CSS styles and Sass. Finally, you will build web applications, including a shopping cart, to gain hands-on experience creating powerful Single Page Applications with Redux and React. Topics covered in this class include Bootstrap, Sass, jQuery, Redux, and React. 

Key Information

This is a free, self-paced course, meaning that students complete the work at their own pace. This course consists of static materials and does not include instructor feedback. Students should be familiar with the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before taking this course. 

More Details

There are eight reviews for this course on freeCodeCamp’s website. Based on these reviews, this course has a 4.8 star rating. All reviews rate the course as either four or five stars.

#10: V School—Web Development Program (Online)

The V School’s Web Development Program is a fully online program that teaches students full-stack JavaScript Web Development. This means that students learn how to use JavaScript with both front-end (user-facing) and back-end (server-side) components, enabling them to work as a Front-end or Full Stack JavaScript Developer. This class is designed to give students real-world skills and experience to succeed in a tech career. The V School’s students have a 86% employment rate with a median salary of $72,000. Rather than focus on a specific number of hours, the curriculum focuses on mastery-based learning, so students progress by proving their skills and abilities rather than just sitting through a certain number of lectures. 

The program consists of six levels. Level 1 introduces JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Debugging, and Git. Level 2 covers more intermediate JavaScript, HTML, and CSS skills, as well as HTTP and AJAX. Students progress to learn React, JSK, Sketching, controlled components, servers and databases, Node.js, Express, and MongoDB. Each student also completes a group full-stack project, a professional portfolio, resume, and capstone project.

Key Information

The V School’s website does not state the cost of the course outright, but instead requires prospective students to make an appointment to talk with an admissions professional to learn more. Bootcamprankings.com states the cost of V School classes to range from $12,000 to $20,000. V School offers various financing options including upfront payment, income share agreement, and student loans. They also offer scholarships for military members and their families, and partial and full scholarships for other qualifying students.

More Details

Students can connect with professionals each day for assistance with learning material, preparing for job interviews, searching for a career, and more. 

Recent reviews rank V School’s class as being four and five stars in all categories, with a couple of reviews rating the Job Assistance aspect of the program a bit lower (rating it three or four stars). Some reviews noted that they found a job within just weeks or months of completing the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Different Types of Online Web Development Classes?

There are two types of online web development classes: on-demand and live online. 

On-demand classes (also called self-paced classes) consist of largely static material such as pre-recorded videos, online quizzes, and downloadable files. The advantage of a self-paced class is that you can progress at whatever speed you wish. If you have the time and drive to finish more quickly than average, you can do so. You can also go slower. On-demand classes also provide the most flexibility in learning when, where, and for how long you choose. They are also typically affordable and can be found on paid subscription learning platforms like Coursera for around $50 per month. The major drawback to on-demand classes is that you either have limited instructor access (communicating mostly by email or during specified office hours), or you have no instructor access at all. Because the course content is largely static, it may also consist of outdated information and materials.

Live online classes take place in real time on platforms such as Zoom. This allows you to learn from an expert instructor, ask questions, and receive personalized feedback and guidance. You can also work in real time with your classmates, learn from one another, and network virtually. The main advantage of live online courses is the real-time guidance you receive from your instructors. You don’t have to wait for an emailed reply to have your questions answered. You also gain hands-on experience with various projects, learn best practices, and receive up-to-date information. Live online classes also encourage accountability and structure by meeting at specific times. You can find live online classes that meet on weekdays, weeknights, and evenings. And since you are learning remotely, you can take these classes from home or anywhere with a stable internet connection. You can also explore options from schools around the world, regardless of their location. 

What Will I Need for an Online Web Development Class?

To take an online web development class you will need a computer and a stable internet connection. You may also need to install certain tools and software. For example, coding classes will require you to have a code source editor. A popular, free tool is Visual Studio Code. Live online classes will also require access to a teleconferencing platform such as Zoom.

Can I Learn Web Development Online for Free?

Some free web development courses and resources are available online. These courses can introduce basic concepts and skills regarding web development. You can watch free online webinars, find videos on Youtube, and take free on-demand courses, as well. The major drawback to all of these options is that you do not have access to an instructor, so if you have questions or issues arise, you are often left on your own to solve them. These classes are also usually limited in scope, covering only introductory topics without diving deeper into the skills needed to start a web development career.

Is It Better to Learn Web Development in a Live or Self-paced Class?

You may wonder whether you should take a live or self-paced web development class. Both have their advantages and disadvantages to consider. 

Self-paced classes are flexible and affordable. Therefore they work well for self-motivated learners that may have busy schedules. Such classes are largely static, though, meaning materials such as pre-recorded videos, quizzes, and projects may be outdated. You also have limited instructor access, if any, and must wait for office hours or an emailed response. Self-paced classes also require strong self-discipline as there are no regular meeting hours or due dates. 

Live online classes meet in real time, which provides structure and the opportunity to connect with classmates and your instructor. You can learn alongside classmates, receive personalized feedback, get answers to your questions, and participate in real-time, hands-on assignments. You can also share your screen so your instructor can offer feedback or help you troubleshoot any issues. Live online classes also offer several scheduling options. Since you can participate from anywhere with a solid internet connection, as can your instructor, you can explore classes from schools around the world. You can also find a variety of scheduling options including weekday, weeknight, and weekend classes.

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