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Free Resources

The below is a compiled list of recommended free resources that you can use to learn Python on your own. Please note that these resources are NOT official Python Foundation materials, but recommendations for those who want to learn for free.

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If you are looking for Official Python Foundation learning materials that will directly be on the test, please visit our Learning Materials page.

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If you prefer to learn from directly from top instructors and like more interactive, certified instructor-led online courses, visit our Top Bootcamps page to browse our partner programs that will get you prepared to pass the exams.

Python Foundations

Interactive Learning Platforms

  • LearnPython.org — Offers interactive, browser-based Python tutorials with immediate feedback, perfect for getting started quickly.

  • Codecademy — Their free Python courses include hands-on lessons and basic projects to practice core concepts.

  • Exercism — A free open‑source platform where you solve Python exercises and can receive mentorship feedback.

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University-Level & Structured Courses

  • Harvard’s CS50x: Introduction to Computer Science — A highly acclaimed beginner course available through edX or OpenCourseWare. It includes Python alongside core computer science concepts. 

  • MIT’s Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python — Available via MIT OpenCourseWare—a great foundational resource.

  • Google’s Python Class — Developed by Google, this free course offers written materials, lecture videos, and coding exercises. Designed for those with some programming background. 

  • CS50’s Intro to Programming with Python — Highlighted among 2025’s top free programming courses offered by institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Google.

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Practical Learning and Challenge Platforms

  • freeCodeCamp — A nonprofit platform offering interactive Python exercises and project-based learning. It also provides a supportive community and YouTube videos to complement your journey.

  • Practice Platforms (via Reddit recommendations) — Learners on r/learnpython highly recommend:

    • PracticePython, CheckiO, Codewars — great for structured practice.

    • Advent of Code, Python Morsels — slightly more challenging.

    • CodeCombat, Codingame — game-based learning that's fun and engaging.

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Other Noteworthy Resources

  • CS Circles — A browser-based introductory Python course offering over 100 exercises across 30 lessons; ideal for beginners, particularly educators. 

  • Python Wiki Beginners’ Guide — A curated list of tutorials, beginner courses, and tips like “Learn Python in 10 minutes” or Python Koans. 

  • Raspberry Pi Online Courses — Offers beginner-friendly computing and Python courses for learners of all skill levels. 

  • Minimalist Data Wrangling with Python — A free online textbook covering data cleaning, exploratory analysis, and feature extraction in Python. 

  • Google Colab — Not a learning platform per se, but an excellent free, browser-based environment for running Python code with zero setup—great for practice and experimentation

Python Specializations

1. Data Analysis & Machine Learning

  • freeCodeCamp – Data Analysis with Python
    Hands-on modules covering CSV, SQL, Excel, NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn. Ideal for data manipulation and visualization foundations.

  • Kaggle Learn
    Offers interactive micro-courses like "Intro to Machine Learning" and Python basics tailored for data science workflows.

  • Harvard’s Introduction to Data Science with Python (Audit for Free)
    Explores regression and classification models using libraries like scikit-learn, Pandas, Matplotlib, and NumPy.

  • MyGreatLearning – Data Science with Python
    A beginner-level, self-paced course (~17 hours) that covers statistics, data visualization, and core Python data libraries.

  • “Dive into Deep Learning” (Free Book & Code)
    An open-source, notebook-based guide blending theory and executable deep learning code—great if you're stepping into ML.

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2. Cybersecurity

  • Cybrary – Python for Cybersecurity Professionals
    Teaches Python scripting tailored to common cybersecurity tasks. Free access with signup.

  • Raspberry Pi Courses
    Include beginner-friendly topics such as basic Python and an introduction to cybersecurity, delivered in creative, hands-on formats.

  • IBM SkillsBuild
    Offers free courses in cybersecurity (and many others) with optional IBM-branded digital credentials upon completion.

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3. Video Game Development

  • Pygame (Library + Community Tutorials)
    A popular Python library for game development, ideal for creating 2D games. Rich in tutorials and community projects like PyWeek.

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4. Web Development

  • W3Schools – Python, Django, and More
    Interactive tutorials covering Python basics, Django, and full-stack development—complete with live code editors.

  • freeCodeCamp (Full Curriculum)
    Though focused on JavaScript, freeCodeCamp’s curriculum also includes Python, APIs, backend development, and information security.

  • IBM SkillsBuild (again)
    Also includes courses in web development, among other tech disciplines, offering credentials alongside learning.

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