Scrimba Pro vs Free
Scrimba Free gives you ~24 full courses (Learn React, Learn JavaScript, Learn TypeScript) and 10 challenges total. Pro unlocks all 74+ courses, unlimited challenges, 4 career paths, Discord, and certificates. Check current free courses on Scrimba (opens in a new tab). Pro is worth it if you want structure and accountability beyond the basics.
The free vs Pro decision (in plain English)
You do not want to pay for Pro and barely use it, or stay free and cap out at 10 challenges while you are finally gaining speed.
What fixes it: Match your goal to the lock row below. If you need a path, Discord, or unlimited challenges, Pro pays for itself in structure. If you only need one free stack (React/JS/HTML), stay Community until you feel the ceiling.
If you're deciding between free and Pro
You've probably finished (or skimmed) a free course and you're wondering whether the subscription is the next step, or whether the free catalog is enough for your goal. Use the comparison below to see exactly what stays locked until you upgrade, then match that to whether you need a full path, Discord, or unlimited challenges.
Free users get 10 interactive challenges total; Pro includes unlimited challenges.
This comparison table may scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
| Feature | Scrimba | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Number of courses | All 74+ courses | ~24 courses |
| Career paths | All 4 paths (Frontend, Fullstack, Backend, AI) | None |
| Interactive challenges | Unlimited | 10 total |
| Discord community | Full access + private channels | No access |
| Certificates | Yes, for career paths | No |
| New courses | Immediate access | Only if marked free |
| Code download | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive editor | Yes | Yes |
Notable Free Courses
These popular courses are available without a Pro subscription:
- Learn React, 15.1 hours, 157 lessons with Bob Ziroll (in partnership with MDN)
- Learn JavaScript, 9.4 hours, 140+ challenges (in partnership with MDN)
- Learn HTML and CSS, 5.7 hours, beginner-friendly (in partnership with MDN)
- Learn TypeScript, 4.2 hours, types, interfaces, React & Express
- React 19 Tutorial, 1.1 hours, new React 19 features
- Build Serverless AI Agents (Langbase), 49 min, serverless AI agents
What Requires Pro?
The major career paths and advanced courses are Pro-only:
- Frontend Developer Path (81.6 hours)
- Fullstack Developer Path (108.4 hours)
- Backend Developer Path (39.4 hours)
- AI Engineer Path (11.4 hours)
- Advanced React, React Challenges, React Router
- All interview prep courses
Choose Pro vs Stay Free
Choose Pro if you:
- Want a structured career path from zero to job-ready
- Need certificates for your resume/LinkedIn
- Want unlimited interactive challenges
- Value community support via Discord
- Plan to learn consistently for 3+ months
Stay Free if you:
- Just want to try Scrimba's format
- Only need React or JavaScript basics
- Are supplementing another learning resource
How far can you actually get on the free tier?
Further than most people expect. Here is a realistic free-only route, in order, before you ever hit a paywall:
- Learn HTML and CSS with Kevin Powell. You can build and style a static page. No Pro needed.
- Learn JavaScript with Bob Ziroll. Variables, functions, the DOM, events. This is the on-ramp for everything else and it is free in full.
- Learn React with Bob Ziroll. Roughly fifteen hours, free, MDN-reviewed. By the end you can build a small interactive app.
- Learn TypeScript with Bob Ziroll and Rachel Johnson. Adds types to what you already know.
- Build a portfolio project of your own using what those courses taught. This is where most of the real learning happens, and it costs nothing.
That sequence is enough to assemble a small portfolio and decide whether coding is for you. Where the free tier stops you: you cannot follow an ordered career path end to end, you cap out at 10 interactive challenges total, you have no Discord access, and you earn no path certificate. Those four limits are exactly what Pro removes. If you finish the route above and want a structured push to job-ready instead of a self-assembled one, that is the moment Pro starts paying for itself.
Free or Pro? A quick decision flow
Work top to bottom and stop at the first match:
- Just curious whether the scrim format clicks for you? Stay Free. Open Learn React and edit live code.
- Only need React or JavaScript fundamentals to supplement another resource? Stay Free. The core courses cover that without a subscription.
- Capping out at 10 challenges right when you are gaining speed? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited challenges.
- Want one ordered path from zero to a job-ready portfolio, plus Discord and a certificate? Upgrade to annual Pro.
- Will you study consistently for three months or more? Annual Pro is the cheaper-per-month choice; see Scrimba pricing.
- Unsure and on a tight budget? Stay Free, ship two or three small projects, then re-decide. The decision gets obvious once you feel the ceiling.
Location-Based Pricing
Scrimba offers location-based discounts that automatically adjust pricing based on your country. If you're in a lower cost-of-living region, you may see significantly reduced subscription prices, no coupon code needed. This is available on both monthly and annual plans.
Multiple users on Product Hunt have praised this policy as a reason they could afford to subscribe. Check the Scrimba pricing page (opens in a new tab) to see the pricing available in your location.
Long-Term Renewal Value
Many Pro subscribers renew year after year because the value compounds over time:
- Year 1: Work through a career path (Frontend or Fullstack), this alone justifies the cost
- Year 2+: New courses are added regularly (AI engineering, React 19, TypeScript updates), so there's always something new to learn
- Working developers: Even after getting hired, Scrimba remains useful for learning new technologies on the job
For a deeper look at long-term value. See Why I Keep Renewing Scrimba Pro.
Related Pages
- Scrimba Pricing
- Student Discounts
- Scrimba vs Coding Bootcamps, compare Scrimba to traditional bootcamps
- Is Scrimba Worth It?
- Best Free Scrimba Courses
- Why I Keep Renewing Scrimba Pro, long-term subscriber perspective
No. Your progress is saved even after cancellation. You just lose access to Pro-only courses and Discord channels.
Source: Scrimba Help Centre
No. Scrimba only offers subscription plans. There is no option to purchase individual courses.
Source: Scrimba Help Centre
You keep access to free courses and your saved progress, but Pro-only courses become locked until you re-subscribe.
Source: Scrimba Help Centre
Yes. Scrimba automatically adjusts pricing based on your country. Users in lower cost-of-living regions may see significantly reduced subscription rates. No coupon code is needed, the discount is applied automatically.
Scrimba occasionally adds or changes which courses are free. Some new courses launch as free before moving to Pro. Check the Scrimba site for current free offerings, the free catalog may evolve over time.
Unlock every 74+ courses + all paths
Start on free scrims, then upgrade when you want unlimited challenges, Discord, and certificates. 7-day refund on first purchase, cancel anytime, progress saved if you pause.