Software Alternatives & Startups

Exercism VS Drops

Compare Exercism VS Drops and see what are their differences

Exercism

Download and solve practice problems in over 30 different languages.

Exercism Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Drops

Visual language learning.

Drops Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Exercism should be more popular than Drops. It has been mentioned 318 times since March 2021.

social mentions
318 vs 34
Online Learning popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Exercism
Drops
Website exercism.org languagedrops.com
Pricing
Open source
Company Startup from Iceland
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Exercism 7 features
Drops 5 features
  • Free Access
    Exercism provides free access to a wide range of coding exercises and learning resources, making it accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation.
  • Mentorship
    Offers personalized mentorship from experienced developers who can provide feedback and guidance on your code submissions.
  • Wide Variety of Languages
    Supports numerous programming languages, which allows users to learn and practice coding in multiple languages.
  • Structured Learning Tracks
    Organizes exercises into structured tracks, guiding learners through progressively challenging problems in a logical order.
  • Community Support
    Has an active community forum where users can discuss problems, share insights, and ask for help.
  • Open Source Contributions
    Encourages contributions to the platform itself, offering an opportunity for users to give back and improve the resources available to others.
  • Focus on Clean Code
    Emphasizes writing clean, well-documented code, which is beneficial for developing best practices.

Possible disadvantages

  • Variable Mentorship Quality
    The quality of mentorship can vary, as it depends on the availability and expertise of volunteer mentors.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a steep learning curve for beginners who may find some exercises too challenging without sufficient initial guidance.
  • Limited Interactivity
    Exercises are primarily text-based without interactive or visual learning aids, which might be less engaging for some users.
  • Dependence on Volunteers
    The platform relies heavily on volunteer mentors, which can lead to delays in getting feedback and may affect the consistency of support.
  • Interface Complexity
    Some users find the interface and workflow somewhat complex and unintuitive, particularly for those new to the platform.
  • No Real-Time Collaboration
    Lacks real-time collaboration features, meaning users cannot code together or get instant feedback.
  • Focus on Individual Learning
    The platform predominantly focuses on individual learning rather than collaborative projects, which can be a downside for those looking to develop team-working skills.
  • Visual Learning Approach
    Drops uses visual associations to help users remember new vocabulary effectively, which can be particularly beneficial for visual learners.
  • Engaging and Fun
    The app uses game-like elements, such as time limits and achievement tracking, to keep users motivated and engaged.
  • Short Daily Sessions
    With sessions lasting only 5 minutes, Drops makes it easy to fit language learning into a busy schedule, promoting consistency without feeling overwhelming.
  • Wide Range of Languages
    The app offers a broad selection of languages to learn, catering to a diverse range of interests and needs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The app's clean, intuitive design makes it easy for users to navigate and stay focused on their learning tasks.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Focus on Grammar
    While Drops is excellent for vocabulary building, it does not provide comprehensive lessons on grammar, which is essential for mastering a language.
  • Requires Consistent Internet Connection
    The app needs an active internet connection for most functionalities, which might be inconvenient for users with limited or unstable access.
  • Premium Subscription Costs
    While the app offers a free version, many of its more advanced features and content are locked behind a premium subscription.
  • Repetitiveness
    Some users might find the repetitive nature of the exercises monotonous over time, which could lead to reduced engagement.
  • Not Suitable for Advanced Learners
    Drops is primarily designed for beginners and intermediate learners, so it might not offer enough depth or challenge for advanced language students.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Exercism
Drops

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Exercism is considered good for learning and improving programming skills.

Why this product is good

  • Exercism offers free access to a wide variety of exercises in over 50 different programming languages, catering to both beginners and experienced programmers.
  • The platform provides a unique mentorship model where volunteers review submitted solutions, offering personalized feedback and guidance.
  • The exercises are well-structured, facilitating both practice and mastery of language-specific concepts and problem-solving skills.
  • Exercism encourages learning through doing, promoting an active learning environment which can be more effective compared to passive learning styles.
  • The platform allows for self-paced learning, enabling users to progress at their own speed and revisit topics as needed.

Recommended for

  • Beginner programmers seeking practical coding exercises to reinforce their learning.
  • Intermediate and advanced developers looking to hone their skills or learn new programming languages.
  • Individuals who appreciate personalized feedback and mentorship to improve their coding practices.
  • Students and educators searching for supplementary resources to support coursework or syllabus requirements.
  • Professionals aiming to practice coding interview problems and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

Overall verdict

  • Drops is a good choice for individuals who want a fun and visually engaging way to learn languages, especially if they are focusing on expanding their vocabulary. However, it might not be sufficient on its own for achieving full fluency, as it doesn't dive deeply into grammar and complex sentence structures.

Why this product is good

  • Drops is an app designed to help users learn new languages through visual association and gamified learning. Its strength lies in its engaging and intuitive approach, which makes language learning feel more like a game than traditional study. The app emphasizes vocabulary acquisition using vibrant visuals and quick, swipe-based interactions, making it particularly effective for visual learners and those looking to build a strong word base in their target language.

Recommended for

  • Visual learners
  • Beginners focusing on vocabulary
  • Those looking for a gamified learning experience
  • People with limited time for language study who benefit from short, daily sessions

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Exercism 3 videos + Add
Drops 3 videos + Add

Learn with Exercism.io

More videos

  • Review - JavaScript Exercise | Learn JavaScript with Exercism | #0 Setup
  • Review - exercism.io 01 hello-world

Drops App Review - Does it Work? (1 Month Usage)

More videos

  • Review - DROPS Language Learning App - 3 Minute Review
  • Review - Drops App Review // Best Language Learning App?!

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Exercism
Drops
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
49% 49%
51% 51%

User comments

Share your experience with using Exercism and Drops. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Exercism no reviews yet
Drops no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Exercism 318 mentions
Drops 34 mentions
  • AI made me lazy. I didn’t notice until it was too late.
    Exercism.org structured deliberate practice, no AI required. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Free Python Resources
    Providing free coding exercises and mentorship, Exercism helps developers practice and improve their programming skills step by step. Their Python Track offers a series of exercises that guide learners from beginner to more advanced levels. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Collaboration Circles for Developers (2026)
    Exercism is a code practice + mentoring platform in 74 languages. Why it can work: although it is not exclusively focused on groups of five, its mentoring and peer review model allows forming mini-circles where participants give each... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago

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Alternatives to Exercism and Drops

When comparing Exercism and Drops, you can also consider the following products.

  • Codecademy

    Learn the technical skills you need for the job you want. As leaders in online education and learning to code, we’ve taught over 45 million people using a tested curriculum and an interactive learning environment.

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  • Duolingo

    Duolingo is a free language learning app for iOS, Windows and Android devices. The app makes learning a new language fun by breaking learning into small lessons where you can earn points and move up through the levels. Read more about Duolingo.

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  • Treehouse

    Treehouse is an award-winning online platform that teaches people how to code.

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  • Babbel

    Babbel is a paid language learning service that aims to strike a balance between thoroughness and cost efficiency.

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