Side by side
ALA eLearning vs Codecademy
Both stand on training content libraries. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose ALA eLearning if you want professional development content drawn from ALA units and searchable across library topics and formats. It offers free events and a personal account without a membership requirement. Groups of 16 or more must contact ALA, and organizational accounts cannot log in.
Visit ALA eLearning
Choose Codecademy for guided technical learning with interactive lessons, browser coding, and mobile practice. Teams is suited to organizations that need training administration and LMS or SSO integrations. Look elsewhere if you need full course and path access on the free plan, since Basic is limited.
Visit CodecademyThe facts
| ALA eLearning | Codecademy | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | No |
| Runs on | Web | Android, iPhone, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | See the plans |
| Plans published | None | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | elearning.ala.org | codecademy.com |
| On training content libraries | #6 of 33 | #2 of 33 |
ALA eLearning: what it does well
- Offers free events alongside fee-based eCourses and webinars.
- Catalog search covers subject, format, library type, topic, and division.
- Free personal accounts do not require ALA membership.
- Group checkout discounts registrations of 3–15 by 15%.
- Learners can revisit claimed credits and certificates through their transcript.
What to know first
- Organizational accounts cannot log in.
- Each signup code covers only one registration.
- Paid event recordings and eCourse materials are limited to registrants who redeemed a code and may not be shared.
Codecademy: what it does well
- Interactive courses and paths support self-paced learning.
- Browser editor lets learners write and run code without separate setup.
- AI Learning Assistant can check solutions and explain errors.
- Pro includes interview preparation and job-readiness tools.
- Teams provides content assignment, progress tracking, and an admin dashboard.
What to know first
- Basic limits course access and the AI Learning Assistant.
- Basic excludes skill paths and career paths.
- Teams pricing is billed annually per user.
- Codecademy does not guarantee complete security.
Alternatives to ALA eLearning Alternatives to Codecademy The whole list