Bootcamp Cost Calculator
Compare the cost of a traditional coding bootcamp vs Scrimba Pro.
Bootcamp Assumptions
Your Savings
Bootcamp Total (with interest): $14,700
Add a subscription price on the left to see the gap. Without it, the bootcamp total above is the only number we can honestly show you.
How this calculator works
The maths is deliberately simple, so you can check it. Bootcamp total is tuition plus one flat application of your interest rate, which approximates a loan you clear reasonably quickly. Subscription total is the monthly price you enter multiplied by the number of months. The difference is what you would keep.
Two things it does not model, both of which matter. It ignores lost income: most full-time bootcamps expect you to stop working, and for many people that forgone salary is larger than the tuition. It also ignores what a bootcamp adds beyond video, namely cohort structure, deadlines, and career services. If those are the reason you are considering one, a price gap alone should not decide it.
Why the difference is so large
Bootcamps carry costs a self-paced platform does not: live instructors, cohort scheduling, admissions and sales teams, and often physical space. A subscription platform spreads one recording across every learner. The curriculum overlap is real (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React), so the gap reflects delivery model far more than it reflects content.
The honest caveat is completion. A bootcamp's structure is what many people are actually buying, and self-paced learning has a well-known drop-off problem. The cheaper option is only cheaper if you finish it.
Read our full analysis: Scrimba vs Bootcamps Guide
Frequently asked questions
Why does the calculator not fill in the Scrimba price for me?
Because there is no single price to fill in. Scrimba applies regional (purchasing power) pricing, so the monthly figure differs by country and changes over time. Any number hardcoded here would be wrong for most visitors. Check current plans (opens in a new tab) and enter what you actually see.
Is a coding bootcamp worth the money?
It depends on what you are buying. If you need deadlines, a cohort, and career support to finish, that structure has real value. If you are self-directed and already study consistently, you are mostly paying for accountability you may not need. Run the numbers above, then add your forgone salary.
Does this include the cost of not working?
No, and it is usually the biggest number in the comparison. A six-month full-time bootcamp can cost a half-year of salary on top of tuition. Part-time and self-paced options avoid most of that.