The very best tools to teach coding can make learning this valuable skill not only more easy but also fun and engaging so students want to come back for more.
With the huge wealth of code teaching tools out there specifically designed for education, the main problem is finding the right one for your needs as an educator and for the students that are going to learn.
This guide has compiled only the very best tools to teach coding so you can pick the ideal one for your specific needs. That includes coding with gaming, coding with music, coding in AR and VR, coding with physical gadgets and plenty more.
Crucially, there are a mix of paid and free options in this list, and most work using a browser — so these should be widely accessible.
Best to teach coding overall Kodable
Kodable (Image credit: Kodable)
Kodable
While the front of this is cartoon character-filled fun, behind the scenes students are learning JavaScript that can be used in a future coding career. The ability to build games also makes this a really empowering experience for students who want to learn but also create.
Teachers have a helpful dashboard with lots of information on student progress, which allows them to intervene when needed, but also to control difficulty levels.
With plenty of free resources, as well as premium plans, this offers something for everyone and is a really great way to get started with coding.
READ: Kodable guide
Best real-world coding
OctoStudio (Image credit: OctoStudio)
OctoStudio
OctoStudio
Usefully, this allows kids to get creative on their own devices while also learning code passively as they use it to make their creations. This works using Scratch-based coding, so it’s useful in the real world. Students can make shaking the phone activate a sound or turn on a light, for example.
Thanks to 20 languages coverage, easy-to-use menus, and the ability to share simply, this is a really great way to teach and have students learn.
READ: OctoStudio guide
Best for computer science
CodeHS (Image credit: CodeHS)
CodeHS
The CodeHS
The platform offers a suite of teaching tools that cover more than 100 classes. This uses a sandbox with output window so students can see how their code works, directly.
Usefully, this teaches a range of coding languages including JavaScript, Python, C++, and HTML. Teachers can monitor student progress, or lack thereof, so interventions are possible at the right moment. Tutors, on the paid version, are a useful addition to help students get support while using this platform.
READ: CodeHS guide
Best for fantasy gaming
Ozaria (Image credit: Ozaria)
Ozaria
Learning with Ozaria
Despite this being a proper game, with its own universe and rich character stories, this also fits in with the curriculum to help teachers.
CodeCombat is the game being playing in this world, and through it, students learn Python and JavaScript from grade 3 right to 12 — as individuals or in groups.
The teacher dashboard is there to monitor progress and even make assessments using a dedicated tool. Everything focuses on SEL to help build integrity while learning coding.
READ: Ozaria guide
Best creative
Elementari (Image credit: Elementari)
Elementari
Elementari
Usefully, students can edit projects created by others, helping them spark ideas. Lots of media is available to pick from, including images, music, and illustrations. They then create a story using the coding back end to bring it all to life.
READ: Elementari guide
Best for beginners
Ready Maker (Image credit: Ready Maker)
Ready Maker
Ready Maker
This uses Unity code, so it’s good for app stores publishing, yet starts super simple so it’s easy to pick-up. Lots of helpful tutorials are available, and the Remix button allows students to work with something already created, so they can ease into it.
This also offers more complexity, and games that are made can be played too, with lots from which to pick.
READ: Ready Maker guide
Best for Apple
Swift Playgrounds (Image credit: Swift Playgrounds)
Swift Playgrounds
The Swift Playgrounds
This gamifies learning on iOS and Mac devices by which students can learn the Swift coding language from as young as age four. Students can create games with the platform and use previews to give any a try, while also seeing directly how the code affects end results.
Students can select code chunks or input directly if they know the language a bit more. Thanks to guidance and collecting gems, it creates a pathway that students feel progress along and can come back more often to get further.
READ: Swift Playgrounds guide
Best for AR and VR
CoSpaces Edu (Image credit: CoSpaces Edu)
CoSpaces Edu
CoSpaces Edu
This uses drag-and-drop style controls to let students manipulate objects that can then be coded to have actions in the 3D space. Students can build on desktop then experience it directly on a mobile device.
The layout makes for a great way to teach collaboratively by which groups work on creating their own virtual space and situation for others to play in and enjoy.
READ: CoSpaces Edu guide
Best for younger students
Tynker (Image credit: Tynker)
Tynker
Tynker
Aimed at age five and up, this uses block-based coding to teach the logic of code and coding lessons. This develops as students progress, and also teaches HTML, JavaScript, Python, and CSS coding at a more advanced level, so it can be useful for real-world scenarios.
Lots of community-created projects are available, and students can share theirs easily, making it great for collaboration and assessments.
READ: Tynker guide
Best for teachers
Blackbird (Image credit: Blackbird)
Blackbird
Blackbird
This is aimed at middle schoolers and uses JavaScript as the coding language. That makes this specifically focused on getting kids jobs in coding. The Show Me option is a great way to help students, guiding them to the correct answers if unsure — without the need for teacher intervention.
Thanks to a submissions section, this is built for classwork, allowing students to send coding to teachers for assessment and feedback.
READ: Blackbird guide
Best for curriculum
Codementum (Image credit: Codementum)
Codementum
The Codementum
This is game-based, so students feel as if they’re in a self-paced gaming experience while also learning Python and JavaScript coding options. Since this all works on ability levels, rather than ages, it will help progress students from their specific experience level.
Helpfully, this is broken down in courses that help make teaching easier. Thanks to AI and machine learning sections, this is very up to date and ideal for preparing students for the future job sector.
READ: Codementum guide
Best for robots
Sam Labs (Image credit: Sam Labs)
Sam Labs
The Sam Labs
Use the company’s own blocks or others, such as LEGO, to have coding actions create affects. This is great for STEAM learning, allowing students to get creative by using the app and blocks with DC motors, LEDs, audio devices, buttons, and more.
This is superb for scaling up to add complexity and with lesson packs, activities, and guidance videos, it can be very easy to teach with even for those educators without much coding experience.
READ: Sam Labs guide
Best for fun CodeMonkey
CodeMonkey (Image credit: CodeMonkey)
The CodeMonkey
Students have a monkey main character that they work with across levels for fun continuity through the hundreds of levels. They play while learning Python or CoffeeScript as they go through the various puzzles.
Lesson planning tools are in the paid version that can help make this ideal for educators to use.
READ: CodeMonkey guide
Best for teaching broadly
Code Academy (Image credit: Code Academy)
Code Academy
The Code Academy
The free version is great for getting started but there are paid plans to offer far more depth to the learning available. Career path projects are a great way to learn with specific results, such as a data scientist, for example, which is a 78-lesson plan.
This uses quizzes, projects, and more to make the learning fun and engaging. This is also self-paced and self-contained for focused learning and minimal teacher interaction needed.
READ: Code Academy guide
Best screen-free
Kaibot (Image credit: Kai’s Education)
Kaibot
The Kaibot
This is simple to use, hands-on, and is aimed at K-3 and older. The app offers more complex interactions and learnings, if you want to use a screen. That should mean a very natural move from the physical into the software end of coding, ideal for beginners.
READ: Kaibot guide
Best free
Blockly Games (Image credit: Future)
Blockly Games
Blockly Games
This no-frills offering uses puzzles and games to teach block- and Java-style text coding options. The idea is to offer logic and computational thinking to kids so they can naturally progress into more complex styles of coding.
Students can make their own games for a fun and empowering learning journey.
READ: Blockly Games guide
Best collaborative coding
Pencil Code (Image credit: Pencil Code)
Pencil Code
Pencil Code
This is designed so students can work with each other, collaboratively, on projects — as they may need too when working in this way later in life. They can code with music, drawings, games, and more.
This offers complex coding if needed and uses a creative space to help learners explore and grow naturally.
READ: Pencil Code guide
