18 Best Python Courses to Sharpen Your Skills

Python is quite possibly the most useful programming language to know. With applications ranging from data analytics to machine learning, it’s highly versatile and is also considered to be one of the easiest and most intuitive languages to learn. 

Due to the high demand for Python programmers, there are many bootcamps and online courses that teach python. However, the sheer number of programs available also makes it difficult to know which one to pick. 

To help you with the process, we’ve put together a list of the top 18 Python courses that will provide you with an understanding of both the syntax and application of the Python language. Our list is compiled from some of the best tech education websites and contains a wide variety of top-rated courses.

What Is a Python Course?

A Python course will teach you how to code with Python. No matter your background or where you are in your programming education or career, a Python course can help you develop your skills and is a great way to advance your career as a developer.

18 Best Python Courses

Here are the 18 best Python courses:

Data Science Career Track – Springboard

Rating

SwitchUp: 4.6 out of 5 (1362 ratings)

Overview

Springboard’s Software Engineering Bootcamp is a great way to learn Python. The course provides key resources, including 1:1 mentorship, and classes taught by development expert Colt Steele. Coursework ranges from front-end and back-end development to production-ready web app development. Mentorship is provided through experts who are working in the field and who will provide key insights, networking tips, and interview advice.

Related Read: 41 Python Interview Questions [+ Answer Guide]

Best For

The Springboard Software Engineering Bootcamp is a great course for anyone who is pursuing a career as a software engineer or web developer. It is an ideal option for beginners or intermediate developers but is also suitable for more advanced developers.

Duration

800 hours over a 9-month period.

Price

$9,900, with multiple flexible payment options and a money-back job guarantee.

Python for Everybody Specialization – University of Michigan on Coursera

Rating

Coursera: 4.8 out of 5 (194,919 ratings)

Overview

This course covers the fundamentals of Python by introducing concepts like data structures, databases, and application interfaces. Not only does it give you access to great practice and materials, but it also includes a capstone project that looks great on a portfolio or CV. 

Best For

This course is best for data scientists, data analysts, or data engineers who are just beginning their process of learning Python. Through this course, beginners will be able to excel to an intermediate level and acquire valuable skills in both software engineering and data analytics.

Duration

Approximately 8 months if you complete at least 3 hours of the course per week.

Price

$399 for a one-time purchase, or $59/month if you purchase the Coursera Plus subscription.

Professional Certificate in Introduction to Python Programming – Georgia Institute of Technology on edX

Rating

Class Central: 5 out of 5 (1 rating)

Overview

This is an introductory course for developers who are new to Python. The course material is directly from the Georgia Tech curriculum and gives a unique perspective of concepts that apply to Python as well as other programming languages. This approach provides a holistic understanding of the concepts as applied specifically to Python. 

Best For

This course is best for beginners who are hoping to learn how to apply Python to a broad range of problems. No matter what specialization of programming you are in, you are likely to find an element of Python programming that will apply to you.

Duration

4 courses in 5 months, at 9-10 hours/week.

Price

$536.40

Python for Beginners – Full Course [Programming Tutorial] – freeCodeCamp.org on YouTube

Rating

N/A

Overview

This free course, provided by the instructors at freeCodeCamp.org, is a fundamental of Python course designed for beginners who have little experience with Python or programming. The instruction provided gives the student practical applications and teaches how to construct programs from scratch using Python.

Best For

This course is best for complete beginners with little to no experience in programming.

Duration

4 hours

Price

Free.

Python Tutorial – W3Schools

Rating

SiteJabber: 4.21 out of 5 (42 ratings)

Overview

This course is a comprehensive series of lessons and tutorials that covers the Python language in a holistic way. There is something in this course for anyone who is trying to gain a strong understanding of Python.

Best For

This course is best for beginners to intermediate Python developers. As it is self-paced and not laid out the same way most other courses are, it’s a great option if you are able to organize your tasks well and prioritize your study time.

Duration

Self-paced

Price

Free

The Python Bible™ | Everything You Need to Program in Python – Ziyad Yehia on Udemy

Rating

Udemy: 4.7 out of 5 (145,620 ratings)

Overview

This course is an introduction to the many fundamentals of the Python language. Taught with 11 different Python projects, it is a great option for any beginner. The projects are not only used as teaching tools but will also be very useful in your portfolio as examples of your proficiency with a number of different applications of Python.

Best For

This course is designed for beginners who are new to Python language and are in the process of building a project-based portfolio. The help that this course provides with building Python projects will give any beginner the ability to build a strong portfolio.

Duration

9 hours 8 minutes.

Price

$109.99

Learn Python Programming Masterclass – Udemy

Rating 

Udemy: 4.6 out of 5 (392,840 ratings)

Overview

This course is a masterclass designed specifically for Python. It covers enough material to give you the ability to begin confidently looking for programming jobs upon completion. The skills that you will learn in this course are intended to help you advance in different career paths that utilize Python, like data analytics and web development.

Best For

This course is best for beginners who have had little to no experience with Python. The focus of the course is on a quick pace of learning to get students the information that they need in a short period of time. 

Duration

72 hours 

Price

$139.99

Learn Python 3 from Scratch – Educative

Rating

N/A

Overview

The Python 3 course from Educative is a free course that offers lessons, quizzes, and challenges along the way to allow you to test your knowledge. It teaches beginner programmers the basics of Python, like syntax, data types, and Python libraries. The course also gives 2 assessments to help you gauge how well you are learning the information.

Best For

This course is best for beginners who have had little exposure to Python. As the instruction is very holistic, it is also a good option for students with little exposure to programming at all. 

Duration

10 hours

Price

Free

Crash Course on Python – Google Career Certificates on Coursera

Rating

Coursera: 4.8 out of 5 (26,564 ratings)

Overview

This course is a great option for beginners who want to begin solving complex programming problems early on in their education. As a Google Career Certificate, it was designed by the education team at Google to help train engineers in the Python language. It incorporates a number of teaching methods to show how Python plays a pivotal role in IT and how the many different features of the language can be pieced together to build efficient solutions.

Best For

The Google Crash Course is intended for beginners. The instruction is very high-quality and is part of the larger IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate.

Duration

29 hours

Price

$399 for the course, or $59.00/month if you have a Coursera Plus subscription.

Applied Data Science with Python Specialization – University of Michigan on Coursera

Rating

Coursera: 4.5 out of 5 (24,899 ratings)

Overview

This course specializes in applying Python to the field of data science. Python has many libraries that are specially developed for data science and data analytics, making it one of the most important languages to know in that field. Using the information from this course, students should be able to use the Python language in a number of data-related applications.

Best For

This course is best for those who are pursuing a career in data science or data analytics. As it is a data-focused Python course, those who take it will benefit greatly from already having a good understanding of statistics and data analysis.

Duration

5 months, at 7 hours of work per week.

Price

$59/month for Coursera Plus.

The Modern Python 3 Bootcamp – Colt Steele on Udemy

Rating

Udemy: 4.7 out of 5 (27,039 ratings)

Overview

This Python course covers the basics and fundamentals of the language with 200 exercises and quizzes. The purpose of the course is to introduce the concepts to the student one piece at a time through frequent exercises. Using this method of assessment, the course allows you to gain a deep understanding of Python in a relatively short period of time. The exercises are a great way to learn Python and its core concepts in a relatively short period of time.

Best For

This course is best for beginners who enjoy an active learning environment and want to learn as much about Python as possible without spending weeks doing so.

Duration

29.5 hours

Price

$119.99 

CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python – Harvard University on edX

Rating

Class Central: 4.7 out of 5 (1 rating)

Overview

This is an introductory course that is taught by Harvard faculty on the basics of the Python language. Through lectures, lessons, and practical application exercises, you’ll explore Python and focus your learning efforts specifically on the language as a whole. As a university-designed course, it follows a very standard format for an academic course and is taught by faculty who have a lot of experience in the Python language.

Best For

This course is best for beginners with little experience in Python. For some who may be concerned about the credentials of non-academic sources, this course is offered by a traditional school and is a course that Harvard undergraduates take as a part of their coursework.

Duration

30 hours

Price

$119.99

Advance Your Python Skills for Data Science – LinkedIn Learning

Rating

N/A

Overview

LinkedIn Learning’s Data Science course covers the basics of Python and teaches how to apply those principles to the field of data science. This is done in a self-paced course that contains lectures and practical skill checks, all done in a self-paced style that allows you to learn at your convenience. The certificates completed through LinkedIn learning can be applied directly to your LinkedIn profile to show proof of your completing these courses of study.

Best For

This course is designed to help those with little to no experience with Python apply their skills to data science. 

Duration

15 hours 

Price

$19.99/month billed annually, or $39.99/month when billed monthly

Introduction to Data Science in Python – Datacamp

Rating

Upskillwise: 4.2 out of 5

Overview

This course is an introduction to many key uses of Python within data science. It’s a great introduction for anyone who is breaking into data science and wants to begin to develop or improve their Python skills within that specialty. In addition to this course, there are exercises, challenges, and projects made available through the DataCamp website.

Best For

This course is best for those interested in data science or data analytics who are at an introductory level. Datacamp provides many resources for those who are interested in data analytics and data science.

Duration

4 hours

Price

Free

2022 Complete Python Bootcamp From Zero to Hero in Python – Jose Portilla on Udemy

Rating

Udemy: 4.6 out of 5 (437,336 ratings)

Overview

This course is a comprehensive bootcamp that teaches you the fundamentals of Python. As a course that starts from zero, it uses a number of methods to help those with little to no exposure to Python develop a strong understanding of the language through applications and games.

Best For

This course is designed for beginners who are interested in application development. As Python is often used in game development, this course is a great way for those interested in designing games to learn how they can begin that line of work using the Python language.

Duration

22 hours

Price

$139.99

Learn Python 3 – Codecademy

Rating

N/A

Overview

This course is provided by the highly-rated platform Codecademy, and is a beginner’s guide to the fundamentals of Python. The course contains great interactive learning features, as well as 4 beginner coding challenges and 4 advanced coding challenges that all utilize principles learned through the course. Codecademy’s platform is highly praised and has given many the opportunity to learn to program.

Best For

This course is best for beginners who have had little to no exposure to Python. It begins with the basics and gradually introduces coding challenges to help you master your skills.

Duration

25 hours

Price

$24.99/month when billed yearly

100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2022 – Dr Angela Yu on Udemy

Rating

Udemy: 4.7 out of 5

Overview

This course is a bootcamp that covers the fundamentals of the Python language in 100 days. It’s built around 100 different projects that are intended to help the student learn a number of complex projects and techniques. By the end of the course, you should be able to build a website, games, and applications through the practical projects that are made available through this course.

Best For

This course is best for beginners who want to master Python in several different areas of application. As a broad Python course, it is a great option for those who are not completely sure what area of Python they want to go into just yet. Through this course, you should be able to make a more informed decision on what ways you want to apply your newly acquired knowledge of the Python language.

Duration

64 hours 

Price

$84.99

Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL Specialization – IBM on Coursera

Rating

Coursera: 4.6 out of 5

Overview

Developed by IBM, this is a course that focuses on data analysis using data sets that contain data from real-life scenarios. The course focuses not just on Python, but also on R Studio, GitHub, Watson Studio, and others. Throughout the course, you will learn about many of the Python libraries that are essential to Data Science Processes. By offering instruction in a number of programming languages and techniques, this course stands out as a great option for those who are pursuing a career in data science.

Best For

This course is best for beginners who are new to Python, Jupyter, and SQL. As the course also specializes in SQL, it is an ideal option for those going into a data-related role. 

Duration

7 months

Price

$39/month

How Do You Choose a Python Course?

Knowing how to choose the right course is a difficult process. Even with a list that helps to narrow down your options, it still takes some experience and knowledge to know what to look for in your course. One of the best ways to be sure that the course that you choose will meet your needs is to be sure of a few key features. Take time before you commit to a course to ensure that it will provide you with a quality learning experience that is worth your time, effort, and potentially your money. Here are some of the main factors that you should be considering:

Syllabus

It’s important that you choose a course that not only meets your education goals but also allows you to build out a strong portfolio. For programming courses, this usually comes in the form of projects that you complete during the course. Many courses offer these as practical application opportunities that can then be incorporated into your programming portfolio.

Career Path (i.e. Data Science, Data Analytics, Software Development)

Python is a highly versatile language. Many different courses will cover different use cases of Python and even the many different industries it’s used in. Knowing what use you’ll need to learn Python for can help make the process much simpler. Software development, data science, and data analytics all use Python, so make sure that the course you choose is the right course for your career path. Each carer will have its own elements of Python that it uses more often. While a general understanding of Python will help with all of them, it is important to practice for your specific specialty.

Reviews and Ratings

Reviews are usually by third-party sites or by individuals who have taken the course for themselves or with the purpose of reviewing how effective it is. As such, you may get very different ratings depending on which source is reviewing the course. When looking for a course, read the comments that people make to see if they meet your career goals.

Pricing 

Python courses have a wide range of prices and payment plans. Talk to the admissions staff for courses that you’re interested in to find out more about their payment plans. Free courses are always great options but often lack the mentorship and occasionally certification that a paid-for course can provide. 

Payment options are also a key factor to consider. Many courses offer flexible payment schedules, with some even offering you the option to pay after you get your first high-paying role. Pricing options and payment plans are important in your decision-making process. There are plenty of affordable roles and plenty of payment plans that will help you to meet your goals.

Time Commitment

How well and how quickly you learn a new programming language depends on how much time you are able to commit to the process. If you are only able to work an hour a day, it’s a good idea to dedicate several months to the process. Ultimately, you want to maximize your time and your productivity while avoiding burnout. Be honest with yourself up front and commit to a regular schedule of practice on a daily basis.

Assignments, Projects, and Practical Experience

When deciding on a course, look into what kind of practice you’ll be doing. The best courses will have a good combination of assignments, projects, and exercises that give you practical experience. Programming requires an active learning process. The best way to ensure that you choose the right course is to make sure that it offers programming assignments, assessments, and peer reviews of your work. These are the best ways to solidify the concepts that you learn. If the course doesn’t offer any of these options, it might not be a good investment for you.

Certificate

After putting in the time and effort that it takes to complete a course, it only makes sense to have a certificate to show for your efforts. Many courses offer a certification to show completion and mastery of that subject. This can be a great addition to your portfolio. Finding a certification that will help you break into the role that you are looking for is a great way to help you decide on which course to take. If your course is leading up to certification, you will likely have to take a certification exam in order to complete it. If a course is designed this way, they will most likely have preparation materials available for you. Certifications are a great asset to have on a CV or a portfolio to show that you have proven your proficiency with an accredited source and that your experience has been legitimized. 

Making the Most Out of Your Python Course

Each course has its own unique approach to teaching you Python. But there are some universally applicable things to consider if you hope to make the most out of your course. Ask yourself these questions before you commit to a course:

Should You Pursue a Free or Paid Course?

While both a paid course and a free course will give you valuable tools and instruction, certifications are usually acquired through paid-for sources. This isn’t always the case, as there are many that issue certifications regardless. Using your certification on job applications and in your portfolio is a good way to ensure you have sufficient proof that you have mastered your subject matter. 

Both a paid and free course should be able to provide you with valuable information and valuable skills within Python. When deciding on what course to take, consider the quality of the certification and the benefits that it can provide for your career. Most positions that employ Python developers pay very well. Salaries for data analysts, data engineers, and data scientists are all well worth the investment that many paid courses may require. Whether you decide on a free or paid course, making sure you take advantage of every bit of content that you are given access to is the greatest investment that you can make. 

How Will The Course Work?

When deciding on a Python course, look at the curriculum and make sure that you understand up front what kind of resources you’ll need to have ready. You may be required to download a certain IDE (integrated development environment) or read certain materials along with the course. Make sure that you do a thorough read upfront before you spend time and money on a course to ensure you are able to commit to it. 

The best knowledge that you can have when making your choice is how the course is arranged. Many courses will have flexible scheduling, while some will have a rigid learning schedule. Some courses may provide one-on-one coaching and hands-on exercises, while others may leave the learning completely up to you. Knowing how your course is designed is one of the best ways that you can best utilize the resources that it will provide for you.

What Should You Expect to Learn During a Python Course?

A Python course should cover the syntax, data types, and applications of the language. Depending on the specialty that you are pursuing, it may teach you how to use certain libraries and how to perform analytical functions. As Python is a very versatile language that can be used for most industries, it’s a good idea to begin broadly and then specialize. Many courses allow you to learn the language for several modules before then giving you the option to specialize further. This can help you to have more confidence about your career path of choice as time goes on.

What Will Your Schedule Look Like?

When deciding on the right course for learning, take time to consider how many hours you’ll be able to dedicate to the learning process in a day. On a regular basis, it is advised that you spend at least an hour a day programming. Many students aren’t limited to an hour and can handle much more per day. Be honest with yourself, and don’t be in a rush to learn. The best approach is a sustainable learning process that delivers mastery of your subject.

FAQs About Python Courses

These are some questions that are frequently asked about Python courses.

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