Codecademy review

Codecademy gives career changers a structured path at the lowest subscription price on this list. Its Data Scientist: Machine Learning Specialist career path is a beginner path with no prerequisites, estimated at about 95 hours, and it has 27 units, 81 lessons, 59 projects and 58 quizzes. The syllabus starts with data literacy and SQL, moves through Python, pandas and portfolio projects such as a U.S. medical insurance analysis, and ends with machine learning and neural networks using scikit-learn and TensorFlow. An AI Learning Assistant reads your code and gives feedback, and a job-readiness checker compares your skills with job requirements. Pricing in November 2026 was $14.99 a month billed annually for Plus or $19.99 for Pro, and passing all exams for a professional certification requires Pro. Monthly billing is $29.99 and $39.99, so committing for a year matters. The path is shorter than Dataquest or edX, so plan to add your own projects.

Who it is for

career changers who want a low monthly price

Price

Plus $14.99 a month billed annually or $29.99 monthly; Pro $19.99 a month billed annually or $39.99 monthly; free Basic plan.

$14.99 a month, billed annually or $29.99 billed monthly
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Data Scientist: Machine Learning Specialist career path: about 95 hours, 59 projects
• 27 units, 81 lessons and 58 quizzes, no prerequisites
• Covers Python 3, SQL, pandas, scikit-learn, Matplotlib and TensorFlow
• Professional certification available with Pro after passing all exams
• AI Learning Assistant and a job-readiness checker

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Cheapest paid plan here at $14.99 a month billed annually
• Strength: 59 projects in the data science path
• Strength: Annual plans include 1 complimentary workshop
• Weakness: Professional certification needs Pro, at $19.99 a month billed annually
• Weakness: Monthly billing doubles the price to $29.99 for Plus
• Weakness: Course hours are shorter than the Dataquest or edX programs

Key facts

• Career path: Data Scientist: Machine Learning Specialist
• Time to complete: About 95 hours
• Projects: 59
• Free plan: Basic, always free
• Pro: $19.99 a month billed annually

Where it ranks

Codecademy is No. 3 in our Best Online Data Science Courses verdict.