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There is no doubt that Python is currently the world's #1 programming language and the biggest advantage of that is that it's bringing more and more people into the programming world.
In recent years, I have seen more people learning Python than any other languages, yes, even JavaScript. Many of them are learning Python to explore some awesome data science and machine learning libraries provided by Python.
Some people are also learning Python for web development and there are still many developers who are learning Python for scripting and automating trivial tasks. It doesn't matter why you are learning Python at the moment, it's a great thing in itself that you have decided to learn Python.
Even though I am a Java programmer and have spent all my career coding in Java, I value Python for its versatility.
It's always a good decision to learn Python, so don't worry if you are a beginner programmer or C++/Java expert trying to learn Python. Any time or money invested will go a long way and pay rich dividends, much like learning Unix, SQL, data structure, and algorithms.
In short, Python is here for the long run and I believe it has already survived the crucial 20+ years.
Some people like to start with free resources. This isn't a bad idea, as it encourages you to explore. Also, free doesn't mean garbage or bad. Even though they are not as comprehensive as some of the paid resources, they are still worth it.
If you are looking for some awesome resources then you have come to the right place. I am going to share some free courses for learning Python with you in this piece.
If you don't mind paying for something worth learning, you can also take a look at Jose Portilla's Complete Python 3 Bootcamp course on Udemy. This is one of the best courses to learn Python online.
13 Free Python Programming Courses for Beginners and Intermediate Programmers
Without further ado, here is my list of 13 free Python programming courses for beginner and intermediate Python programmers.
The courses don't just contain basic programming courses but also things like using OOP and data science with Python.
1. Python Core and Advanced
This is a comprehensive course to learn Python and we should thank the instructor for keeping it free.
In this course, you will learn how to install Python, execute your first Python program, logic, programming constructs, Python syntax, command-line Python, object-oriented programming, and many more advanced concepts.
Here is the link to join the course: Python Core and Advanced.
The course is eight hours long and teaches topics like pattern matching using a regular expression, reading and writing files using the files API, and building interfaces that are not taught in many free courses.
2. Programming for Everybody on Coursera
This is one of the great free resources to learn Python 3 on Coursera. This course aims to teach everyone the basics of programming computers using Python.
It covers the basics of how you can construct a program from a series of simple instructions in Python. The course has no prerequisites and avoids all but the simplest mathematics.
Here is the link to join this course for free --- Python for Everybody
Anyone with moderate computer experience should be able to master the materials in this course. This course will cover chapters one to five of the textbook Python for Everybody.
Once a student completes this course, they will be ready to take more advanced programming courses.
This course is part of the Python for Everybody specialization which contains four more courses, including Python for data structure and using it to access web data.
All the courses in the specialization are free-to-audit, which means you can learn for free but you need to pay if you need a certification to include in your resume or LinkedIn profile.
3. Programming With Python: Hands-On Introduction for Beginners
This is another awesome course and, as the name suggests, it focuses more on hands-on training than anything else.
The courses aim to remove roadblocks that beginner programmers face when starting with Python. It starts with teaching you how to download and install, set up your development environment, and write your first project.
Here is the link to join the course: Programming With Python.
It slowly builds on the foundations and explains key programming concepts likes variables and data types, numbers, operators, string, list, tuple, dictionary, conditional statements, loops, functions, and exception handling.
This course is taught by Febin George and helps you to build a project.
4. Learn Python 2 on Codecademy
If you like interactive learning, this is the best online resource to start with. This online, interactive course will teach you the basics of the world's fastest-growing and most popular programming language, used by software engineers, analysts, data scientists, and machine-learning engineers alike.
Here is the link to join this course for free --- Learn Python 2
This course is a great introduction to both fundamental programming concepts and Python. In the end, you'll be comfortable programming in Python and taking your skills from the Codecademy platform onto your own computer.
The only drawback of this course is that it covers Python 2 and not Python 3, but never mind, it's still a good resource. You can also go on to join their Learn Python 3 course, but it is not offered for free.
5. Deep Learning Prerequisites: The NumPy Stack in Python
This course is for my programmer friends who are learning data science and machine learning using Python.
You will explore some of the exciting Python libraries, such as the NumPy, SciPy, pandas, and Matplotlib stacks, which provides a perfect base to explore deep learning, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Here is the link to join the course: The NumPy Stack in Python
The course is hands-on and deeper than you think. You will not just learn about these libraries but also understand the pros and cons of various machine learning models, including deep learning, decision trees, random forest, linear regression, boosting, etc.
6. Learn Programming With Python in 100 Steps
This is my favorite and a great course to learn Python 3 step-by-step. It's created by a fellow blogger and instructor Ranga Karnan, a popular Udemy instructor.
You will not only learn about Python programming concepts but also about tools and IDEs like PyCharm by JetBrains and Python Shell.
Here is the link to join: Learn Programming With Python in 100 Steps
You will get a chance to solve a wide variety of hands-on exercises on different Python topics, such as data structures, OOP concepts, error handling, file handling, and you'll develop an awesome Python project.
Most importantly, this course will teach you how to think as a Python programmer.
7. Learn Python 3.6 for Total Beginners
If you love to learn a new programming language by solving coding problems then this course is for you. It's a good comprehensive course which has more than six and a half hours of content.
The best thing about this course is that it will not only teach you Python but also how to install and use Jupyter Notebook, a popular Python IDE.
The course covers programming basics, such as data types, operators, control flow statements, loops, functions, handling errors, and common string operations like a slice, split, join, and formatting.
Here is the link to join the course: Learn Python 3.6 for Total Beginners
It explains data structures in detail, including lists and range, tuples, dictionaries, and then you have exercises to use the knowledge you have learned.
An interesting, free course.
8. Python OOP
This is another free Python course on Udemy, focused on teaching object-oriented programming using Python 3.
In this course, you will learn about essential object-oriented concepts, such as class and objects, attributes and methods, abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. The four pillars of OOP and how to use them in a Python program.
Here is the link to join the course: The Python OOP
You will also build a final project to simulate a system using object-oriented design techniques.
9. Python 3 Bootcamp for Novice: Start Programming in Python 3
If you like a boot-camp-style course then this one's for you.
This is a detailed, simple, and straight-forward course for beginners to learn the basics of Python 3. It doesn't matter if you know how to code or not, the course assumes no prior experience with programming or coding.
Here is the link to join the course: Python 3 Bootcamp for Novice: Start Programming in Python 3
This means that, even if you've just started programming and coding, you can take this course. It's perfect for anyone wanting to learn to program with Python.
10. Try Django 1.11 // Python Web Development
Django is one of the popular Python libraries for web development. If you are learning Python for developing web applications, learning Django can be very beneficial.
In this course, you will learn the basics of Django 1.11. You will start with web development basics like HTML and Django templates, and then move on to more advanced concepts like forms, views, models, and more.
Here is the link to join the course: Try Django 1.11 // Python Web Development
Overall, this is a nice, free course to learn Django quickly.
11. Introduction to Python Programming
This is a really nice course for beginners. You will start by downloading and installing Python, which is always a hard task for beginners, and then you'll create your first Python project.
The course explains most of the basics like syntax, operators, functions, loops, class, object, and some standard data types.
Here is the link to join the course: Introduction to Python Programming
The course has been trusted by more than 170,000 students and the instructor, Avinash Jain, has made an effort to update the course regularly.
12.Learn Python - Full Course for Beginners by FreeCodeCamp
This course will give you a full introduction into all of the core concepts in python. Follow along with the videos and you'll be a python programmer in no time! You can watch it on Youtube for free, here is a table of content
Here is the link to join the course: Learn Python - Full Course for Beginners
13. Learn Python: Build a Virtual Assistant
If you are someone who likes to learn a new programming language by building something useful then this course is for you.
In this course, you will build a virtual assistant for your computer. You will also learn how to get data from Wikipedia and Wolfram|Alpha, as well as create a GUI.
Here is the link to join the course: Learn Python: Build a Virtual Assitant
This course will help you add something fun to your portfolio and give you good practice using Python. You will go from beginner to intermediate level by creating a real-world application.
14. Python Fundamentals
This is an awesome course from Pluralsight to learn Python programming from scratch.
It will teach you how to install it on Windows, Linux, and Mac, so the course will benefit you, regardless of your working environment.
Here is the link to join the course: Python Fundamentals.
They offer a 10-day free trial without any commitment, which is a great way to access this course for free. After the 10 days, you would need a Pluralsight membership, which cost around $29 per month or $299 annually.
Other Programmign Articles and free courses you may like to explore
- The Complete Web Developer RoadMap
- My favorite free JavaScript tutorials for Beginners
- 15 Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS courses for Web Developers
- 10 JavaScript Frameworks Web Developers Can Learn
- Top 5 Courses to learn Web Development
- My favorite free Courses to learn HTML and CSS
- 5 Free Docker Courses for Frontend Developers
- 7 Free Courses to learn SQL and Database for Beginners
- The Complete React.js Developer RoadMap
- 10 Books and Courses to learn Angular in 2020
Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like these web development courses then please share with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback then please drop a note.
Conclusion
That's all about best and free Python courses for beginners. Anyone who wants to learn Python for web development, data science, machine learning, deep learning, or automation can benefit from these free courses.
I have also included some courses on Django, a popular web development framework for Python developers, so you can take a look at those as well.
Thanks for reading this article so far. You might be thinking that there is so much stuff to learn, so many courses to join, but you don't need to worry.
There is a good chance that you already know most of this stuff and there are also a lot of useful free resources you can use.
Good luck with your Python journey! It's certainly not going to be easy, but by following this roadmap and guide, you are one step closer to becoming the Python programmer you always wanted to be.
P. S. - If you need a comprehensive Python course and don't mind paying a small bucks leanring something as valuable as Python then you can also take a look at Jose Portilla's Complete Python 3 Bootcamp course on Udemy. This is one of the best courses to learn Python online.