Coding has transformed into a vital skill, sparking a wave of online coding bootcamps designed to equip you with this in-demand expertise.
Because coding is an in-demand career skill, opportunities to finetune your coding abilities through online courses have proliferated in recent years. The best online coding bootcamps help potential programmers learn the ropes and discover if website development is their calling — or if they enjoy creating and customizing software tools in their free time. But with so many bootcamps available, how do you choose the best fit?
We've got you covered with our comprehensive list of the 22 best online software engineering bootcamps. Ready? Set? Let's code!
Is coding bootcamp right for me?
If you'd like to learn a specific skill in a designated amount of time and don't want the high cost of college tuition, a coding bootcamp might be the right fit. Alternatively, those who are coding hobbyists looking to learn in a laid-back, easygoing manner might find that an intensive isn't the right match.
What are the best online coding bootcamps?
- Coding Dojo
- General Assembly
- Flatiron School
- App Academy
- Devmountain
- Hack Reactor
- Springboard
- Lamba School
- Byte Academy
- Fullstack Academy
- Le Wagon
- Iron Hack
- Thinkful
- Tech Educators
- CareerFoundry
- SheCodes
- Skillcrush
- Tynker
- Brainstation
- Codesmith
- Altcademy
- Actualize
Let's break down this list into four categories — the best full-time coding bootcamps, best free coding bootcamps, best coding bootcamps for beginners, and part-time coding bootcamps.
What are the best full-time coding bootcamps?
If you're considering a job transition and prefer to dive into coding to kickstart your new career, a full-time bootcamp may be the right fit. Here are some of the best full-time bootcamps you can find.
1. Coding Dojo
Coding Dojo offers software development, data science, cybersecurity, and UI/UX design courses. The course boasts excellent outcomes; over 83% of graduates found a relevant job within 180 days of graduating. Not to mention over 8,000 people have graduated from Coding Dojo.
Coding Dojo offers both full-time and part-time bootcamps for students. Full-time courses are 14 weeks in length and are in-person or online, while part-time options are entirely online with options including flexible coursework schedules and self-paced learning.
What we like: With classes in some of the most in-demand technologies — including HTML, CSS, jQuery, and VS — Coding Dojo is a great starting point for your career.
2. General Assembly
General Assembly offers several disparate learning tracks: students can enroll in a 10-13 week immersive experience, in-person courses, part-time evening or weekend classes, or flexible online lessons that allow them to learn anytime, anywhere. With courses covering everything from software engineering to UX design to front-end web development, assembling the learning program that best suits your needs is simple.
What we like: General Assembly offers a variety of payment options — you can learn first and pay after you get hired, opt for payment plans, or even access tuition discounts.
3. Flatiron School
This is one of the best online coding bootcamps because it will help you build your future with software engineering, data science, and even product design courses. You can complete the program at your own pace — there's a 15-week intensive, or you can spread your coursework out with 20, 40, or 60-week online options. And, what Flatiron is doing seems to be working — a whopping 86% of graduates find jobs within their industry with an average starting salary of $75,000.
What we like: In 2021 alone, Flatiron school earned awards across the board for best coding bootcamp, best data science bootcamp, and best online bootcamp from Career Karma.
4. App Academy
If you don't have any pre-existing coding knowledge, you can become a software engineer with the help of this bootcamp. Over 4,500 App Academy students have joined over 2,000 companies. The program is also one of Switchup's best coding bootcamps in 2022. This program is flexible whether you want to complete an in-person or online full-time option. (Of course, you can also complete your courses part-time if you prefer.)
What we like: App Academy has a track record of placing students at high-performing companies like Google and Netflix — and doesn't charge tuition until you get hired.
5.Devmountain
Devmountain offers live, real-time instruction, scheduled lectures, community networking, and career support — regardless of whether you'd rather learn online or in person. This coding bootcamp offers everything from web development to Java and Python courses to QA software and coding basics to help meet you wherever you are in your coding journey. If you want to test the waters before committing, there's the option to begin with its Coding Basics course, which is just $49.
What we like: Is there something holding you back from enrolling? Tell Devmountain, and you could get up to $500 off tuition.
6. Hack Reactor
Hack Reactor trains you to think like a software engineer to help reinvent your career. This online bootcamp offers 9-week full-time and 12-week part-time coding courses, making it possible for you to fully immerse yourself in learning or keep your day job while bolstering your skills — the choice is up to you.
What we like: Hack Reactor grads are in demand — alumni work at top companies, including Apple, PayPal, and Microsoft. You also have the option to defer tuition until you make at least $60,000/year.
What are the best part-time coding bootcamps?
If you're curious about pursuing a career in coding but need more flexibility (which we understand), a part-time bootcamp could fit your lifestyle seamlessly. We've rounded up some of the best part-time coding bootcamps. (And don't forget — many companies with a full-time bootcamp option also offer part-time, so check those out, too.)
7. Springboard
With the help of Springboard, you can make your coding career aspirations a reality. It offers ML engineering, cybersecurity, software engineering, and UI/UX design courses. Springboard's project-based curriculum and flexible courseload provide you with the tools necessary to succeed.
What we like: We're big believers in the power of mentorship, and Springboard offers a one-on-one program. Paired with flexible classes, the actionable feedback you receive from your mentor will impact your coding education positively.
8. Bloom Institute of Technology
Formerly known as Lambda School, this online coding bootcamp offers courses in data science, full-stack web development, and web 3 development. In addition, Bloom Institute of Technology also has a free HTML and CSS course. Students master in-demand technical skills by working in teams to build real-world projects, and you'll have the opportunity to join live and on-demand classes so your coursework can fit into your lifestyle.
What we like: If you don't get a job offer, you'll owe nothing. (Of course, some conditions do apply.)
9. Byte Academy
Ready to take a bite out of coding camps? Byte Academy may be your best fit. The focus of this live, online software education camp is finding you a job. This is one of the best part-time online bootcamps because it combines small class sizes with relevant, career-focused coursework. Thanks to this, Byte helps you get started on the path to paid programming.
What we like: Post-bootcamp, you can expect guidance on your resume and Linkedin, interview prep, and networking assistance. And, you don't have to pay until you get a job.
10. Fullstack Academy
Want to learn Javascript? Develop cybersecurity skills? Learn more about data analytics? Fullstack has you covered. It offers flexible scheduling that lets you acquire in-demand skills when and how you want. And, did we mention the support from the company's Career Success team? The program received a 4.9 student rating.
What we like: With more than 5,500 alumni, Fullstack provides a strong career network to help turn coursework into a career.
11. Le Wagon
Le Wagon is an international coding bootcamp located in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Le Wagon can help students discover global opportunities for their new coding skills by offering both full and part-time web development and data science courses. This bootcamp has already seen almost 15,100 graduates achieve a 93 percent employment rate worldwide.
What we like: Le Wagon also teaches students to be self-starters: over 210 startups have been created by Le Wagon grads.
12. Iron Hack
The central goal of Iron Hack is to acquire tech skills to build a career you love. Enroll in remote or on-campus courses in data analytics, web development, UI/UX design, or cybersecurity, then leverage the expertise of a “Career Coach” to find your best fit after graduation.
What we like: Iron Hack offers location-specific financing options, and flexible payment plans to increase accessibility for students.
13. Thinkful
Thinkful is another bootcamp that lets you defer tuition payments until after you find employment. This online coding bootcamp offers intensive full-time coding options and flexible part-time solutions to fit your schedule — full-time courses require 50 to 60 hours per week and see you graduate in five months, while part-time courses take 25-30 hours per week and you graduate in six months.
What we like: Thinkful walks the walk — if students don't begin their new career within six months of graduating, they don't have to pay tuition.
14. Tech Educators
Tech Educators is a UK coding bootcamp with seven locations throughout the country. It offers bootcamps in both Software Development and Games Development in Unity: Students will complete a number of projects in either track, not only learning the core skills needed to progress into a career in tech, but also the soft skills required to move from 'ready to work' to 'ready to contribute'.
With full career support throughout the program, and a commitment to lifelong support and community, the Tech Educators programs are designed to support you from "hello world" to "world class."
What we like: Tech Educators offer both an online track and a variety of ways to learn either in person, hybrid, or remotely. Due to their partnership with the UK Skills Bootcamp program, many UK residents are able to access their course for free.
What are the best online coding bootcamps for free?
Free is always great — and while these online coding bootcamps still have for-pay options, they also offer free resources to help get you started.
15. CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry can help you get your first tech job in as little as five months, even if you have no previous experience. Choose a career in UI design, UX design, web development, or data analytics — and get your tuition refunded if you don't get a job within six months of graduation. And the results speak for themselves — graduates now work at Amazon, Meta, Netflix, Google, and more.
What we like: To help you discover which path is right for you, CareerFoundry offers free short courses in wireframes, UI design, and website coding.
16. SheCodes
SheCodes is dedicated to teaching coding skills to busy women seeking a career change. This online coding bootcamp offers courses for absolute beginners that teach critical skills in HTML, CSS, and Javascript, along with more in-depth studies in product design and management.
Not sure if SheCodes is right for you? Check out its 60-minute free coding session for beginners.
What we like: With women holding just 25 percent of all coding jobs, SheCodes is helping close the gender gap.
17. Skillcrush
Skillcrush is an inclusive coding bootcamp that's online, project-based, and mentor-led to help you build technical and transferable skills. It also offers a 14-day refund on all courses for any reason, making it easy to get started without the risk of lost investment if classes aren't a great fit.
What we like: Skillcrush lets you try before you buy with a free, no-credit-card-required online coding camp that teaches CSS and HTML essentials, UX basics, and offers expert insights on working in the tech industry.
18. Tynker
Tynker is a coding platform for kids interested in learning what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite video games. Most of the courses focus on Minecraft coding. From simple coding challenges for kids ages 5-7 to more in-depth art and design courses for kids 8-13 or 14 and up, Tynker is a great online coding camp for beginners.
What we like: This program offers a great way to get kids interested in coding by making it fun and capitalizing on the inherent creativity provided by one of the world's most popular video games.
What are the best online coding bootcamps for beginners?
Are you just getting started with coding? These online bootcamps can help get you on the right track.
19. BrainStation
BrainStation is about helping you future-proof your coding skills by providing in-demand training applicable across multiple job roles. Get started with a bootcamp in data science, digital marketing, or UX design and learn from the best in the business — some of BrainStation's instructors work at leading companies like Amazon, Zapier, and Spotify. These bootcamps are 400 hours and project-based. You can opt for part or full-time.
What we like: BrainStation has a network of more than 100,000 professionals to help you navigate the coding career landscape.
20. Codesmith
Codesmith offers full and part-time immersive online classes to help students prepare for careers in full-stack software engineering, software development, and machine learning. This bootcamp also provides a host of beginner courses in CSX, Javascript, and CS to help you prepare for more in-depth coding education.
What we like: Codesmith graduates gain substantive earning potential: The median salary of NYC graduates was $124,000, while LA graduates earned just over $124,900.
21. Altcademy
Altcademy offers courses entirely online. They're beginner-friendly and designed by industry experts to help you turn coding interest into career potential. With classes in full-stack, front-end, and back-end web development, Altcademy has you covered.
What we like: Altcademy lets you learn at your own pace on your schedule and connect with mentors anytime for questions or concerns.
22. Actualize
Actualize offers one of the best online coding bootcamps because it’s designed and taught by expert educators to help foster genuine connections between students and instructors. While the staff has in-depth coding knowledge, they're educators first and foremost, meaning they have the expertise and experience to help students excel.
What we like: Actualize is about mentorship and mindset — helping students discover new ways of thinking that empower their careers long after courses are over.
Ready to join one of the best online software engineering bootcamps?
If you're ready to deepen your coding interest and improve your skills, any of the online coding bootcamps above can help provide a structured and engaging learning environment.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.