Partly. Codecademy has a free Basic plan, but Codecademy says it only gives you the lessons in courses labelled Free Course. Quizzes, practice content, projects, Skill Paths and Career Paths sit in its Plus and Pro plans.
So Codecademy free is a real way to learn the basics of a language, not a full catalogue. The good news is that free learners now get some AI help and a one-off set of AI Builder credits. Here's exactly what Basic includes, what you'd be missing and how the trial works.
What Codecademy's Basic plan includes
- Lessons in courses labelled Free Course, which Codecademy says is the limit of Basic access.
- The AI Learning Assistant with 5 prompts a day. Codecademy says the 5 prompts reset 24 hours after you use the first one.
- 50 AI Builder credits, once. Codecademy says free accounts get a one-time set of credits that don't regenerate, and they expire if you don't use them within a year.
Codecademy Basic vs Plus vs Pro
| Feature | Basic | Plus | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lessons in Free Courses | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| All courses and most Skill Paths | No | Yes | Yes |
| Quizzes, practice content and projects | No | Yes | Yes |
| Codecademy Go app and walkthrough videos | No | Yes | Yes |
| Career Paths and Interview Prep paths | No | No | Yes |
| Code Challenges, exams and professional certificates | No | No | Yes |
| AI Learning Assistant | 5 prompts a day | Unlimited | Unlimited |
The table comes from Codecademy's Help Center. Plus used to be called Pro Lite, which is worth knowing if you're reading older reviews.
How the Codecademy free trial works
Codecademy says new accounts can get a free trial of Pro or Plus. Here's what its Help Center says about it:
- You need a valid credit or debit card to start the trial.
- The trial lasts 7 days, and Codecademy moves you onto the plan after day 7 unless you cancel.
- If you don't carry on, your progress isn't lost, but your quizzes, paths and projects are locked until you upgrade.
- Codecademy suggests pushing your projects to GitHub or saving them on your computer before the trial ends.
That last tip is the one to act on. If you build something during the trial, save a copy before day 7 so you're not locked out of your own work.
Is there a Codecademy student plan?
Yes. Codecademy offers a Pro Student membership for qualified students. Its Help Center says you start with a free 7 day trial and verify your student status at checkout through a service called Proxi.id.
- You must be 16 or over, or 18 or over to verify through Proxi.id in India.
- You must be enrolled at an educational institution that Proxi.id approves.
- Proxi.id can only verify students in certain countries, and the list differs for university and high school students.
Codecademy describes Pro Student as a special plan for qualified students, not a free one, so treat it as a student route into Pro rather than free access.
AI Builder credits by plan
Codecademy's AI Builder uses credits for each project you generate and each interaction. Its Help Center lists how many each plan gets:
| Plan | AI Builder credits |
|---|---|
| Free (Basic) | 50, one time only |
| Free trial | 100 |
| Plus | 150, renewed monthly |
| Pro, Pro Student and All Access Pass | 300, renewed monthly |
Codecademy says free users can't get more credits once the 50 are gone, so save them for a project you care about.
Codecademy Teams trial
If you're setting up learning for a team, Codecademy has a separate Teams trial. Its Help Center says it gives full access to Teams features for 14 days, you can cancel at any time, and your Teams plan starts at the end unless you cancel.
Is Codecademy free enough to learn to code?
For a first taste of Python, HTML or JavaScript, the Free Courses are a fair start, and the 5 daily AI prompts help when you're stuck. You'll hit a wall when you want practice projects, because that's what Plus and Pro add. If you'd rather stay free for longer, my list of free coding courses has options with projects included, and my guide to the best vibe coding tools covers building apps with AI if you don't want to write every line yourself.
One more useful detail: Codecademy says its AI Learning Assistant sits inside lessons, projects and articles, so even on Basic you can ask it to explain an error message in the exact lesson you're working on, rather than copying code into another tool.
My verdict: Codecademy is free in a limited way. The Basic plan gives you real lessons and a little AI help, but projects and paths need Plus or Pro. Start on a Free Course, and only try the 7 day trial when you've got a week clear to use it, with your projects saved before it ends.
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For other ways to learn a skill online, see Udemy free trial options.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codecademy completely free?
No. Codecademy's Basic plan is free, but it only covers lessons in courses labelled Free Course. Quizzes, projects, Skill Paths and Career Paths need Plus or Pro.
How long is the Codecademy free trial?
7 days. Codecademy says you need a credit or debit card to start, and you move onto the plan after day 7 unless you cancel.
Do I lose my progress after the Codecademy trial?
No. Codecademy says your progress isn't lost, but quizzes, paths and projects are locked until you upgrade, so save your projects first.
Do free Codecademy users get the AI assistant?
Yes. Codecademy gives Basic learners 5 AI Learning Assistant prompts a day, resetting 24 hours after the first one.
Who qualifies for Codecademy Pro Student?
Students aged 16 or over, or 18 or over in India, at an institution Proxi.id approves, in a country Proxi.id can verify.
How many AI Builder credits do free Codecademy users get?
50, once. Codecademy says free credits don't regenerate and free users can't get more.
Can a team try Codecademy for free?
Yes. Codecademy offers a 14 day Teams trial with full access to Teams features, and you can cancel at any time.
What's the difference between Codecademy Plus and Pro?
Plus covers all courses, most Skill Paths and projects. Pro adds Career Paths, Interview Prep paths, Code Challenges, exams and professional certificates.
Does Codecademy Plus include Career Paths?
No. Codecademy says Plus doesn't include Career Paths, Interview Prep paths or Bootcamps. Career Paths come with Pro.
