Courses for kids in a beginner level making an app and games.
To understand the mindset and attitude of kids required encourage programming to them.Tools and links to the best websites and apps for introducing code to kids. All the resources you need to take your kids to the next level and continue challenging them well into the future.
Every day, we’re surrounded by technology. As a result, coding has become an important second language for children and adults alike. For kids especially, learning to code can improve problem-solving abilities and computational thinking skills and give them more career opportunities in the future. Our favorite coding websites for kids are made to do exactly that.
Parents may find it difficult to teach programming to children if they don’t have any experience themselves. Learning to code is literally learning a new language. Young kids can learn languages faster and easier than adults because their developing brains are made for learning, so childhood is a great time to start learning coding concepts. Luckily, there are plenty of resources like coding games and coding apps for kids that can guide your child through basic programming and are easy enough to understand if you’re new to coding too.
Coding websites for kids are a popular choice to teach coding for kids, but which one is best for your child? There are plenty of free and paid coding websites for kids to explore, but we’ve narrowed it down to our favorites. These websites are a great place to start and present coding to your kids in a fun and relaxed way!
Best Coding Websites For Kids In:
- Elementary School
- Blockly
- Code Combat
- Stencyl
- Code Monkey
- Code.Org Studio
- Kodable
- Scratch
- Tynker
- Middle School
- App Inventor
- Code Avengers
- Code Monster
- GameBlox
- Codemoji
- Lightbot
- High School
- Glitch
- Codecademy
- Code HS
- Pluralsight
- Code Wars
- Khan Academy – Computer Programming
- Vidcode
- Best Coding Website For All Ages
- CodeWizardsHQ
Coding Website for Kids in Class
Coding Websites for Kids in Elementary School
1. Blockly
Coding website for kids, Blockly
Ages: 8+
Pricing: Free
Blockly teaches programming principles and introduces JavaScript using a block-based programming approach. It’s just like doing a puzzle, except you connect pieces of code and you don’t end up with any missing pieces under the couch.
Puzzle pieces will appear on the screen and the goal is to complete the “story” that makes up the software program by completing the puzzle. Each puzzle piece represents a block of code, which is similar to a paragraph in a story. Kids can drag-and-drop the puzzle pieces to create a sequence of code.
As long as your child can read, he or she can learn coding with Blockly. However, some of the games include using the number of degrees to define the direction an object moves and others concepts that may be difficult for really little kids despite it using a gamification approach and simple graphics.
Overall, Blockly is a simple, straightforward coding website for kids who don’t have any experience with coding. Its aim is to prepare kids to learn conventional text-based computer programming languages.
2. Code Combat
code combat logo
Ages: 5-17
Pricing: Free for core levels. Monthly subscription for additional levels.
Code Combat is a coding game for kids that teaches Python and JavaScript coding using text-based programming. Kids get to play through different levels of an RPG (role-playing game) and, along the way, they will learn to code in Python and JavaScript. This coding website for kids features fun graphics and the ability to connect with other players in the community making coding a team sport.
Players visit the Dungeons of Kithgard where they direct the hero, Anya, by writing code. After successfully completing a level, students move up to more complex tasks and coding. There are multiple worlds and levels to explore to encourage kids to learn more and take on harder coding challenges.
If you are a teacher, Code Combat developers even provide course guides and wikis for your classrooms. They also promise a Course-in-a-Box containing a semester’s worth of course content to add to your curriculum.
3. Stencyl
Stencyl logo
Ages: 6+
Pricing: Free. Annual subscriptions.
Stencyl is game creation software that lets users publish iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, HTML5 & Flash games without code. They use a graphical interface similar to Scratch, but with new functionality and even more ready-to-use blocks. Kids can build their own worlds and characters and edit them in detail to make them more complex.
The graphics are kid-friendly and, for advanced students, there is the option to see and edit the text-based code in their game. It requires a software download and setup, but offers extensive support in their forums. Stencyl is great for the kid who appreciates game development and detail in design.
4. Code Monkey
Code Monkey, coding website for kids
Ages: 9+
Pricing: Annual Subscription Fee
Code Monkey is a coding website that teaches kids coding through playful online games. Children write code with the goal of helping a monkey gather bananas. The player works through a series of challenges and eventually learns enough code to be able to build his or her own game.
Eventually, kids get to write code with a text-based editor and learn CoffeeScript, a language that uses a syntax similar to English but compiles into JavaScript. Their stories cover all of the important coding concepts such as logic, loops, direction, sequencing, and algorithms
Code Monkey is made with 1st and 2nd graders in mind, but they also teach younger kids on their Code Monkey Jr. app. You do not need to download an application to play and no coding experience is required. If your child loves a good story, start with Code Monkey.
5. Code.org Studio
Code, coding websites for kids
Ages: 4-14
Pricing: Free
Code.org is a non-profit organization that organizes the annual Hour of Code. In addition to providing curriculum to schools, they also host a coding website for kids with a series of four courses that teach computer science fundamentals. At the end of each course, students are able to create interactive games or stories for sharing online. Your child will get to see and be a part of the over 74 million projects showcased.
Each course is made up of a series of puzzles, videos, and activities that teach the principles behind computer science. Course 1 is made for early readers (age 4-6) and can be skipped if your child is already reading proficiently.
Later courses use a block-based approach for programming activities, but students can choose to see the text-based code that is generated. Taken together, this series of four courses make up a curriculum that has been organized for use in the classroom and is aligned with ISTE standards. Best of all, each of their courses is available at no cost.
6. Kodable
Kodable, coding websites for kids
Ages: 4-11
Pricing: Free for the basic curriculum. A parent plan, available for a flat fee, includes an advanced curriculum and access on any device.
Kodable teaches computer science fundamentals through kid-friendly, self-directed lessons. Students get to create and play alongside bright, cute characters.
Starting with coding games at the Kindergarten level, the student progresses to reading and writing JavaScript. Along the way, they get to build their own characters, create levels, and take on other coders.
Organized as a classroom curriculum, each unit includes a teacher’s script, an unplugged activity, an independent practice activity, and some kind of assessment or quiz. Kodable is a great way to take students from block programming and transition to real code.
7. Scratch
Scratch, coding websites for kids
Ages: 8-16
Pricing: Free
Scratch is the platform we use for our elementary school coding program, so we obviously love it. It’s a free block coding website for kids, developed by the MIT Media Lab. Scratch is its own programming language and consists of graphical blocks that snap together.
In addition, Scratch has a large online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world. The Scratch platform is designed especially for kids ages 8 to 16. Younger children can also try ScratchJr, a simplified version of Scratch designed for ages 5 to 7.
We use Scratch in our coding curriculum because it’s the perfect way for younger kids to develop their problem-solving, communication, and reasoning skills. It doesn’t teach any real coding language, but it’s a stepping stone to computer programming and coding languages.
8. Tynker
Tynker, coding websites for kids
Ages: 4-14
Pricing: A sample of coding lessons is available at Tynker for free. Access to the complete library and a private Minecraft server requires a monthly subscription.
Tynker is a self-paced online programming course for kids. It’s a coding website for kids created for them to build their own games and apps as well as learn how to program Minecraft mods. Tynker teaches in both block programming and text-based courses.
The programming courses are game-based and space-themed with space aliens and rocket ships. Kids progress through three levels of games/classes for the track that matches their age.
A collection of courses related to the popular Minecraft game teaches kids about mods and skins, how to create mods, and how to build multi-player Minecraft games. With a paid subscription, kids have access to their own private Minecraft server, providing a safe environment for them to build mods and then play online with their invited friends.
There is no structured curriculum in Tynker, so kids progress at their own pace. It’s great for kids at any stage in learning to code whether they are beginners or advanced.
Coding Websites for Kids in Middle School
9. App Inventor
App Inventor, coding websites for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Free
App Inventor is a visual, blocks language for building Android Apps. Their coding website for kids features video tutorials and courses in a box.
Originally created by Google, App Inventor makes it possible to program Android apps just by moving objects around the screen. This approach is similar to block-based programming. The course begins with setting up App Inventor and moves through building progressively more complex Android apps. Students learn how to build mobile apps and share them using App Inventor. It’s educational, easy, and fun.
MIT now hosts App Inventor online, so, lucky for us, it available for free. The tutorials have been refined for use by teachers and gathered into a Course-in-a-Box that includes video and text-based lessons. Instead of keeping your kids off the phone, App Inventor will help kids go inside the phone.
10. Code Avengers
Code Avengers, coding websites for kids
Ages: 12+
Pricing: A limited-time free trial or a monthly subscription is available.
Code Avengers is a coding website for kids that uses self-paced, mostly text-based courses. The courses include introduction to coding, introduction to web development, and coding in Python, HTML & CSS, or JavaScript.
Kids work through the lessons, debugging code, and completing challenges before. Code Avengers will automatically track your child’s achievements as they work through lessons and activities. They give you a Parent Dashboard, where you can view your children’s progress through the courses, the projects they’ve created, and the concepts they’ve learned.
When they hit a snag, kids have access to online support and technical support. This live help can be lacking in many other self-paced programs.
11. Code Monster
Code Monster, coding websites for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Free
Code Monster is an interactive game that gives kids a place to practice writing JavaScript. From the moment you get to the site, you will be coding. Code Monster assumes that the student already knows some JavaScript and just needs a place to practice syntax.
All you have to do is follow the monster’s instructions on this coding website for kids, but there is little help otherwise. There’s a How to Play page, About page, and a FAQ. That’s it. The FAQ encourages the student to search for JavaScript tutorials and textbooks elsewhere.
The purpose of Code Monster is to provide a fun, immersive platform to practice, not necessarily learn, syntax.
12. GameBlox
Gameblox, coding website for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Free
GameBlox is a block-based programming site for making games online for web and mobile devices. It allows anyone to develop games that you can play online and on your mobile phone.
You can use their starter projects as a base and make them more fun or use the “Make a Game” button to go straight to the code editing screen. This coding website for kids offers five getting started tutorials, but that’s all you need. There is an online forum on the site where questions can be posted and some video tutorials on YouTube.
The games students make can be played online at the GameBlox site or on a mobile device using the GameBlox app. If your child is mainly interested in game development, try starting here.
13. Codemoji
Codemoji Coding Websites for Kids
Ages: 5-13
Pricing: Free trial. Tiered annual subscriptions.
Codemoji uses images to teach coding and they’ve developed their platform with a deep belief that typing proficiency is not required to code. Students formulate solutions and learn to problem solve using images, so kids as young as 5 can build basic coding skills with Codemoji.
14. Lightbot
LightBot Coding Website for Kids
Ages: All ages
Pricing: Free trial. Monthly and annual subscriptions.
LightBot lets kids solve puzzles using programming. It’s a puzzle game, based on coding, that secretly teaches you programming logic as you play.
Kids will learn sequencing, overloading, procedures, recursive loops, and conditionals without feeling like they’re learning. The games revolve around a robot and blocks, similar to the popular game Minecraft. LightBot was designed with first-time coders in mind, so it’s simple for beginners.
Coding Websites for High School Kids
15. Glitch
Thimble, coding website for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Free
Glitch is a simple tool for creating web apps. They’re evolving and simplifying developer tools, making it ideal for older kids who are learning to code. Coding on Glitch is like working together in Google Docs–multiple people can work on the same project at the same time. There’s no setup, and you can see changes live on the web as you type. Students can use simple, yet powerful tools to build their website and remix projects from real-world languages and frameworks.
Kids can work collaboratively on projects or on a team. It’s easy and fun to express yourself in code on Glitch. Not only that, they have a community of developers at all levels to support their learning.
Students don’t have to worry about fussing with servers and setup. They can now create industry-standard code from start to finish.
16. Codecademy
Codecademy, coding website for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Free. A PRO track is available for a monthly subscription.
Codecademy offers a comprehensive set of text-based courses on web development and related programming languages. Students can pick which language they want to learn and advance through lessons with instant feedback on their code.
Aimed at those interested in becoming professional web developers, Codecademy courses cover how to build a website and a whole slew of related coding languages, including HTML & CSS, Ruby on Rails, Python, JavaScript, jQuery, SQL, PHP, and more.
General access to Codecademy courses is free. The paid PRO track adds a personalized learning plan, quizzes, projects, and access to live advisors. For kids dreaming about a job in programming, the final project in the paid PRO track covers how to build a professional online portfolio.
17. Code HS
CodeHS, coding website for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Limited free trial. Three paid levels.
Code HS is a coding website for kids that delivers a blended learning approach to high school computer science classes.
Code HS offers online, self-paced classes by blending video lessons, coding exercises, quizzes to assess subject mastery, and access to live tutors (for the paid levels).
Courses include two Intro to Computer Science classes, one in JavaScript and the other in Python. The catalog also lists two AP classes: AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science in Java.
A limited free level is available. The three paid levels add quizzes, handouts, lesson plans, various dashboards, and access to live tutors.
18. Pluralsight
Ages: 14+
Pricing: Monthly subscription
Pluralsight offers one of the largest selections of coding courses online for new and aspiring developers.
Over 50 separate expert-led courses are organized into seven paths. Each path covers the fundamentals of a single coding language or topic such as Ruby, JavaScript, HTML & CSS, iOS, and databases. If you child is interested, they can also learn about IT, Data, and Cybersecurity.
Each course is built around a storyline that gamifies the material taught. Instruction is delivered via video and reinforced through coding challenges. Courses come with skills and assessment tests to make sure the concepts are solidified and an online community forum to answer students’ questions.
19. Code Wars
Codewars, coding website for kids
Ages: 14+
Pricing: Free
Code Wars is a coding website for kids who like competition. At Code Wars, you improve your skills by training with other coders. Coders pursue mastery by completing coding challenges in CoffeeScript, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Java, Clojure, Haskell, or C# (Csharp).
In an approach based on the Japanese martial arts practice of kata, the first step in Code Wars is to choose a language and prove your skills. The coder is ranked and given a challenge based on this initial challenge. The challenges get progressively more difficult. Coder gains Honor points for each challenge that he or she successfully completes.
Once a challenge is successfully completed, the coder has access to other coders’ solutions who’ve completed the same challenge. By studying other people’s approaches, the coder gets new insight into how the code works.
It’s a unique and fun approach to learning and practicing coding skills. It can especially help kids who are trying to master a language or expanding their knowledge of newly learned languages.
20. Khan Academy – Computer Programming
Khanh Academy, coding website for kids
Ages: 13+
Pricing: Free
Khan Academy offers expert-created content and resources for free online courses and practice. For computer programming, Khan Academy has courses in JavaScript, Processing JS, HTML & CSS, HTML & JavaScript and SQL.
Each of these courses presents a comprehensive introduction aimed at building a base for professional level skills. There’s also a section called “Meet the Professional” which contains interviews with 11 computer programmers from around the world working in a variety of industries.
Normally Khan Academy presents their courses via video, but for its programming courses, they use “talk-throughs” which are more interactive than a normal video. With a talk-through the student can pause the video and “play” with the code listed on the screen. Talk-throughs are followed by step-by-step coding challenges and projects. Both are designed as coding practice. Finally, there’s a community programs area (i.e., online forum) where students can share projects, leave comments, and ask questions.
The computer programming courses are most appropriate for high school students and adults, but a tech savvy tween could probably work through them with some mentoring.
21. Vidcode
Vidcode, coding website for kids
Ages: 11+
Pricing: Limited free access. Tiered annual subscriptions.
Vidcode is a coding website for kids that offers research-backed computer science courses focused on open-ended projects. Their courses teach computer science, object oriented programming, web programming, design, & JavaScript.
Learners can upload photos, illustrations, videos and audio and manipulate them with code right away, allowing tweens and teens to connect computer programming to the media they interact with every day.
Using JavaScript, students learn coding as they produce videos and motion graphics. As they work, students see a thumbnail of the video and code behind it side-by-side. As they make changes to the code they can see the effect in the thumbnail. Share video projects in the Vidcode online community or via social media once completed.
Free access to Vidcode gives access to the software, some beginner tutorials, and an online community. This is a great platform for the kids interested in social media and creating videos for the web.
Best Coding Website for All Age Groups
22. CodeWizardsHQ
Blue CodeWizardsHQ Logo
Ages: 8-18
Pricing: Monthly Fee
CodeWizardsHQ is the leading coding school for kids ages 8-18 and, of course, it’s our personal favorite. We’ve adopted a blended method to teach kids coding principles and practices using a combination of small, online teacher-led classes delivered and build-as-you-learn projects.
By completing our structured curriculum, students are introduced to Scratch, HTML & CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, Responsive Design, App Development, Python, MySQL, and Git.
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