So, you’re wondering if Python is free? Let me cut right to the chase and tell you that yes, Python is completely free to use. There are no hidden fees anywhere in order to use the language and all you have to do is download it.
However, if you are a new programmer, you might fall into the trap of paying to learn Python because you don’t fully understand the options available to you. So in this article, I want to make it completely clear why Python is free to use and how you can learn it for free.
How Much Does a Python License Cost?
Python is actually licensed under an OSI-approved open source license, according to the Python website. That may sound like some confusing jargon to you, but it essentially means that Python is completely free to use and distribute. Meaning that if I want to write some Python code or give someone else access to Python code, it is completely legal. Unlike distributing DVDs or CDs back in the day, aka piracy!
Can I Sell My Python Code?
Included in the OSI-approved open source license, is the ability to use Python for commercial purposes. This simply means that you can use Python in order to make a profit. That means that, yes, you can sell your Python code or an application made with Python and you do not owe the creators of Python a dime. Pretty cool, right?!
Why Is Python Free To Use?
So why, just like so many other popular languages, is Python free to use? Well, generally speaking, trying to monetize a programming language is actually really hard to do. By adding a paywall to use your language, you essentially cut out 99% of the people that would actually like to use your language. If your language is truly unique and domain-specific such as SQL, you may be able to find someone to pay for it. However, it is unlikely.
By adding a paywall to your language, developers would not have easy access to learning it. Meaning you would have to teach these developers on the job, costing your company a lot of money. Developers also would not see a reason to learn the language outside of work, since very few companies would require it. Solidifying the language into never being an in-demand skill. It certainly wouldn’t make Python one of the most popular languages in the world.
Besides all of this, the developer community prides itself on collaboration. Using open-source tools and software is quite literally the bloodline that keeps our technology-driven world alive. Having to pay for a language leaves a bad taste in most developers’ mouths.
How Doe Python Make Money?
The creator of Python, Guido Van Rossum, does not directly make money from Python. We can only speculate, but Guido likely made the language open-source because you could never create the entire Python ecosystem without getting others involved. Without the help of others, Python would never be what it is today.
Additionally, whether this was on purpose or not, imagine the type of job offers you would get if you were the man who created Python? You could very easily get a ridiculously high paying job and have the achievement of helping build the future of programming.
Is that not reason enough to create Python?
How Can I Learn Python For Free?
Finally, let’s jump into how you can learn Python.
While there are a ton of great options out there to learn Python, there are two things you have to keep in mind.
- while there are a ton of learning reasons out there. Not all of them are free.
- although there are a lot of resources, they are not equal. There are many really terrible resources out there to learn web development, even paid options!
Below I am going to outline some of the best options. I will separate them between free and paid because some of the paid options could be better than the free options. However, you can definitely learn Python for free. So if you don’t have the budget, don’t sweat it!
Luckily for you, Python is also one of the easiest languages to learn right now.
Learn Python Free Options:
- Coursera: is by far my favorite way to learn about programming languages, computer science, DSA, or anything code related! Just make sure to choose to audit the course to get all content for free. If you choose to pay, you can get access to quizzes, professors, and certificates. Check out the free Python course here.
- Youtube: is a great option to learn python for free. There are a ton of resources out there and you can use the view-to-like ratio to gauge its quality. This beginner course might be a good place to start. However, beware because tutorial hell is real and you likely won’t learn as much as you think by just watching videos.
- FreeCodeCamp: Generally highly regarded by the community, relatively challenging, and best of all, free! FreeCodeCamp is a great way to learn Python for free.
If you are brand new to Python, you really can’t go wrong with these options. If you find it hard to start from here, check out these paid options.
Learn Python Paid Options:
- Udemy: is a great option to learn anything programming related. Udemy offers premium videos to help you learn python to an advanced level. Here is one of the top courses.
- Books: are one of my favorite ways to learn how to code! It allows you to start at the most basic levels and work your way up chapter after chapter. It is important to choose a book with practice problems at the end of each chapter. This is my favorite book to learn python quickly and confidently.
Summary
Hopefully, you now understand that Python is completely free to use and learn. You can download Python, use Python, sell your Python apps and code and even learn Python, all for free!
If you’re new to the big wide world of web development, check out this resource here.
As always, happy coding!
