In Plain English vs freeCodeCamp

Both In Plain English and freeCodeCamp are popular resources in the developer community, but they serve completely different roles depending on where you are in your coding journey.

1. What Are They? In Plain English: A network of publications (primarily on Medium and their own platform) that curates community-driven articles, tutorials, opinion pieces, and news. Popular sub-publications include JavaScript in Plain English, Python in Plain English, and AI in Plain English. freeCodeCamp: A massive, open-source non-profit platform offering a structured, interactive coding curriculum, hands-on projects, long-form video courses (via YouTube), and a detailed technical blog.
2. Learning Style & Format In Plain English Bite-Sized Reading: Articles usually take 3 to 10 minutes to read. Diverse Voices: Written by individual developers sharing personal insights, quick tricks, frameworks, library updates, or specific problem solutions. Best For: Staying updated on tech trends, learning quick code snippets, or getting practical tips on specific tools. freeCodeCamp Structured & Hands-On: Built around interactive coding environments where you write real code in the browser to pass tests and earn certifications. Comprehensive Paths: Covers full pathways (e.g., Responsive Web Design, JavaScript Algorithms, Backend Development, Data Analysis). Best For: Complete beginners building a foundational skill set from scratch through step-by-step practice.
3. Topics Covered In Plain English: Heavily focused on popular ecosystems—primarily JavaScript/TypeScript, Web Development, Python, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud Tech. freeCodeCamp: Covers foundational to advanced software engineering topics, including HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Python, Relational Databases, Machine Learning, Data Science, and DevOps.
4. Pricing & Accessibility In Plain English: Free to read on their main site, though some articles hosted on Medium may fall under Medium’s paywall depending on your subscription. freeCodeCamp: 100% free forever. All courses, certifications, YouTube tutorials, and articles cost zero dollars. Summary: Which One Should You Use? Choose freeCodeCamp if: You are learning to code from scratch, want a structured, step-by-step curriculum with interactive challenges, or need portfolio projects for your resume. Choose In Plain English if: You already know the basics, want quick daily reading to keep up with industry trends, or enjoy reading practical tutorials written by working software engineers. Are you looking to learn a specific technology or language right now, or are you just trying to figure out the best routine for daily tech reading?