I'm curious about whether paid courses, like those found on platforms such as Udemy, are worth it compared to free resources like YouTube. I'm particularly interested in game development and other skills, and I often find courses on sale that seem tempting. Can anyone share their experiences or thoughts on this? What would you recommend?
3 Answers
If you know what you want to learn, paid courses can definitely be worth it. However, if you’re just starting out as a complete beginner, exploring free resources like YouTube might be a better choice initially. Once you get a grasp of the basics, you can always turn to paid options to fill in the gaps.
I'd say no to most paid courses. Many learners find that the content doesn't differ much from free resources. Instead, concentrating on structured articles and documentation can often be more beneficial. Using platforms like GitHub for guidance can also provide a clearer path compared to paid courses, which can sometimes oversell their value.
It really depends on the course. A lot of the time, free courses are just as good, if not better. For instance, courses like CS50x and mooc.fi offer excellent learning at no cost, while some paid courses may just be convenient compilations of free information.

That's exactly my experience! Once you get the basics down, the free resources and documentation do a much better job at teaching how to actually apply your knowledge.