Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

W3Schools VS The Odin Project

Compare W3Schools VS The Odin Project and see what are their differences

W3Schools logo W3Schools

W3Schools is a web developers information website, with tutorials and references on web development...

The Odin Project logo The Odin Project

How it works. This is the website we wish we had when we were learning on our own. We scour the internet looking for only the best resources to supplement your learning and present them in a logical order.
  • W3Schools Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-25
  • The Odin Project Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26

W3Schools features and specs

  • Beginner-Friendly
    W3Schools offers tutorials and examples that are straightforward and easy to understand, making it accessible for absolute beginners.
  • Interactive Learning
    Provides a hands-on learning experience with Try-It-Yourself editor, which allows users to edit code and see results in real-time.
  • Wide Range of Topics
    Covers a broad spectrum of web development technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, PHP, Python, and more.
  • Free Access
    Most of the content on W3Schools is available for free, making it a cost-effective resource for learning web development.
  • Regular Updates
    Content is regularly updated to reflect the latest standards and practices, ensuring learners have current information.

Possible disadvantages of W3Schools

  • Lack of Depth
    While good for beginners, more advanced developers might find the material too basic and lacking in depth.
  • Criticized for Inaccuracy
    Some industry professionals have pointed out occasional inaccuracies in tutorials and examples, which could hinder learning.
  • Limited Community Interaction
    The platform does not offer forums or a strong community aspect, limiting opportunities for peer interaction and support.
  • Ads and Subscription Content
    The free version includes ads, and some advanced content is behind a paywall, which might be a deterrent for some users.
  • Not Comprehensive for Backend Development
    While it's strong in front-end technologies, its coverage of backend development tools and practices is not as extensive or detailed.

The Odin Project features and specs

  • Comprehensive Curriculum
    The Odin Project offers a well-rounded curriculum that covers a wide range of fundamental and advanced topics in web development, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, databases, and Ruby on Rails.
  • Project-Based Learning
    The program focuses heavily on project-based learning, which means students build real-world projects that help in reinforcing the concepts learned and giving them practical experience.
  • Community Support
    The Odin Project has a strong, active community. Students can engage with peers, mentors, and alumni through forums, chatrooms, and study groups, which can be invaluable for learning and networking.
  • Free of Cost
    Unlike many other coding bootcamps and educational platforms, The Odin Project is completely free, making quality education accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation.
  • Self-Paced
    The platform allows learners to progress at their own speed, providing flexibility for those with varying schedules and learning paces.

Possible disadvantages of The Odin Project

  • Self-Discipline Required
    Because the program is self-paced and free, it requires a high level of self-discipline and motivation to complete. Students who lack these qualities may find it challenging to stay on track.
  • Limited Instructor Interaction
    The Odin Project does not provide formal instructors or tutoring services. Students primarily rely on community support and self-study, which may not be sufficient for those who prefer guided learning.
  • Advanced Topics
    While the curriculum is comprehensive, it may not delve into all advanced or niche areas of web development that some learners might be interested in exploring.
  • Resource-Intensive
    Being a project-based learning platform, students need to have access to a good computer and internet connection. Limited resources could hinder the learning experience.
  • Overwhelming for Beginners
    The robustness of the curriculum can be overwhelming for absolute beginners who may find it challenging to understand and keep up with the extensive material without additional guidance.

W3Schools videos

W3Schools is just... Better

More videos:

  • Review - Learn Web Designing from scratch || Website Review || W3Schools || OhMyCode!
  • Review - Is the W3Schools PHP Certification Worth it?
  • Review - W3schools Spaces Review
  • Tutorial - How to Learn Any Programming Language using w3schools

The Odin Project videos

HOW TO FIND PROJECTS FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO - THE ODIN PROJECT

More videos:

  • Review - The Odin Project: advantages and drawbacks of a meta-tutorial - Joe Lee: Free Code Camp OKC

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to W3Schools and The Odin Project)
Online Learning
51 51%
49% 49
Education
53 53%
47% 47
Online Courses
37 37%
63% 63
Online Education
46 46%
54% 54

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare W3Schools and The Odin Project

W3Schools Reviews

  1. Arya Deep Singh
    Simple

    Simple and Modest approach articles are better prepared for young learners.


Best Alternatives to LeetCode For Data Science
W3Schools, as one of the best alternatives to LeetCode, claims to be the world's largest web developer site. It's a simple and no-frills tool to learn web development skills including Python and SQL. Their methods and approach to learning work for many people. Their teaching method is simple and basic. The courses on W3Schools are outlined from simplest to most advanced...

The Odin Project Reviews

We have no reviews of The Odin Project yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

The Odin Project might be a bit more popular than W3Schools. We know about 235 links to it since March 2021 and only 187 links to W3Schools. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

W3Schools mentions (187)

  • Is getting a Degree a good thing for Web Developers?
    I myself, in 2009, started my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Northumbria (in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom) in Web Design & Development. On this degree program we learned how to create websites (both static and dynamic using databases etc.), applications (desktop as well as web based), multimedia (images, video and audio), how to plan and implement a project, work as part of a team of... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • 🔥 Top 10 Best Websites to Learn Coding for Free! 💻
    W3schools W3schools is a classic resource for learning web development. With its extensive tutorials and references on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more, it's a go-to destination for beginners and professionals alike. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Where is the best place to learn web-development?
    I learned from W3Schools. I know it has a bad rep, but seriously. I was 10 years old and was on this site constantly learning stuff. Worth checking out. They have live code editors that allow you to test/modify code immediately in your browser. Source: over 1 year ago
  • I'm 14 and want to be a programmer but I don't know what kind of programmer.
    Go to w3schools.com, and use it as a reference for the upcoming HTML/CSS/JavaScript steps. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Anyone still using PHP to build side projects or webapps
    YES! I'm using PHP to build my Search Engine for Kids Activities (http://twkids.app) and its been great! I love PHP as there's no other language that provides the same simplicity and immediacy of results. I tried learning multiple frameworks but it was just too overwhelming and complicated. With PHP, its very easy to just get started as you can mix it right into your html. I just learned the basics on... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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The Odin Project mentions (235)

  • "Fast is Slow, Slow is Smooth, and Smooth is Fast"
    This year, I'm starting over. I've decided to embrace "beginner's mind" and start learning to code totally from scratch through The Odin Project. - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago
  • Average Reads and "Do It Anyway"
    So, here I am, reviewed the Odin Project curriculum for the nth time, put the sections in a spread sheet to note when they are reviewed or done, and I can continue on with that. I'm sure there will be times I will try and find something that "works better" but for what I need right now to keep going, this should be it. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Add Thumbnails to your project links for better SEO
    I'm a freshman student pursuing a Bachelor's in Information Technology, started to code a year ago, learning WebDev with The Odin Project, check out my Github(mathdebate09) for more of my progress. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Debugging Silent Create Action Failures in Rails
    I often work with beginner Rails developers through The Odin Project and The Agency of Learning. One common pain point people may run into while learning is the dreaded "silent create action" failure. You've written your model, controller, and routes for a new resource, you've built the form view for creating this resource, but when you fill out the form and click the submit button, nothing happens. And the logs... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Question about bootcamp (Skillstorm, Galvanize)
    Why haven't you tried some other affordable bootcamp alternatives - theodinproject.com - open web development bootcamp - fullstackopen.com - free self-paced bootcamp (lack of videos and images could be a hiccup) - webdevopen.com - they offer bootcamps with project building approach and improving your problem solving skills & live support at really affordable prices. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing W3Schools and The Odin Project, you can also consider the following products

Free Code Camp - Learn to code by helping nonprofits.

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.

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

edX - Best Courses. Top Institutions. Learn anytime, anywhere.

Pluralsight - Pluralsight is a learning management system (LMS) that helps aspiring tech professionals learn the basics of the trade and lets established professionals expand their skill sets.

Coursera - Build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies