Progate Review (2026): Is It Worth It?
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Progate is a Japanese-language site that teaches coding with slides followed by hands-on exercises. It is free to start, and the paid Plus plan is cheap: 1,490 yen a month (about 990 yen a month on the 12-month plan). But the free part is mostly introductory lessons, and we could not find a completion certificate on its official site.
Worth it if you want to build fundamentals slowly, in Japanese, from slides. If you want to write and run real code from the first lesson and also earn a free certificate you can put on LinkedIn, use Coddy alongside it.
What is Progate?
Progate is a coding learning service from Japan. Each lesson explains an idea in illustrated slides with a mascot, then has you write code in an exercise. Its site lists courses in HTML & CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, Go, SQL and Swift, plus React, TypeScript, Node.js, an intro to Git, and newer courses on generative AI and Claude Code. There is also a mobile app (iPhone and Android), and the site suggests understanding a topic quickly in the app and then practicing properly on the web version.
It is the best-known learn-to-code site in Japanese and one of the most searched. Its strengths are clear teaching written in Japanese and small steps that keep beginners from getting stuck. Reviews also say it is great as an introduction but basic for real work. Trying a free Python intro or HTML intro is an easy way to see which style suits you.
Progate vs Coddy at a glance
A fair side-by-side of where each one shines: Progate for Japanese slide-based teaching and course breadth, Coddy for writing and running real code from lesson one.
| Feature | Progate | Coddy |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Japanese | Written by native speakers for Japanese learners, natural and clear | Available in Japanese (translated from English) |
| How you learn | Slides, then exercises; the app is multiple choice, the web version has you type code | Write and run real code in the browser from lesson one, zero setup |
| Courses for Japanese jobs | Ruby on Rails, PHP, Swift, exam-prep courses such as the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer exam | Many languages across frontend, backend and data |
| What is free | Free sign-up with introductory lessons; the rest is paid | Free interactive courses, no credit card |
| Pricing | Plus 1,490 yen a month, about 990 yen a month on 12 months; Pro from 2,490 yen a month | Free tier; affordable Pro |
| Certificates | No completion certificate found on the official site | Free, publicly verifiable certificates |
| Add to LinkedIn | No such option found | Yes, one-click "Add to profile" |
| Mobile app | iPhone and Android apps, handy for quick review | iPhone and Android apps, plus the website |
Pros and cons at a glance
Pros
- Very clear Japanese teaching - explanations written by native speakers, with technical terms that do not trip beginners
- Easy to start with slides and exercises - short read-then-do steps make it hard to give up
- Wide range of languages and topics - web, backend, data, mobile and AI courses
- Cheap paid plan - about 990 yen a month on the 12-month plan, far below a coding school
- Learn in spare moments - review in the app, then practice on the web version
Cons
- The free part is mostly introductory - going further needs a paid plan
- Some find the content basic - good for starting, but real work needs more learning
- The app is mostly multiple choice - typing your own code is mainly the web version
- No refunds on money already paid - the terms say paid fees are not refunded
- No certificate found - nothing on the official site you could show an employer
Pricing: what you actually pay
Progate is free to sign up for, and you pay to go further. We checked the official site (prices include tax) and the App Store listing. Plans and prices change, so confirm on the official pricing page before you pay.
- Free - sign up and try introductory lessons. The site does not clearly list which lessons are free and this can change, so check the screens after you register.
- Plus plan - from basics to fundamentals. The site shows from 990 yen a month. The App Store shows 1,490 yen for 1 month, 7,790 yen for 6 months and 11,900 yen for 12 months (about 990 yen a month on the 12-month plan).
- Pro plan - from fundamentals to professional level. The site shows from 2,490 yen a month. The App Store lists 4,990 yen and 29,980 yen (we could not confirm the terms of each).
- Payment and cancelling - credit card, bank transfer and others. Money already paid is not refunded, and we found no mention of a free trial.
Try the free part first, and if you stay, take the 12-month plan at about 990 yen a month - that is the best value. Paying monthly costs 1,490 yen, so the longer plan wins if you use it for more than about half a year. With no refunds, check you will keep going on the free lessons before paying.
Progate lesson quality and depth
Progate's biggest draw is teaching built for beginners. Slides explain why code is written a certain way before the exercise, so even a first-timer can follow the flow. On the web version you type the code yourself and it points to your mistakes. For getting the basics of HTML and CSS or JavaScript down, it is well made.
Reviews also mention that the content is basic and real work needs more, and that progress in the app and on the web is tracked separately. If you want more time writing and testing code from scratch, or a quick reference such as a Python cheat sheet, pair Progate with other material and practice.
Certificates and LinkedIn
We could not find any mention of a completion certificate on Progate's official site. The certification-related items in its course list are exam-prep courses, such as for the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer exam, not proof that you finished a course. If you want to show what you learned to a recruiter, you will need projects or another credential.
Coddy's certificates are free: when you finish a course you get a publicly verifiable link, and a one-click "Add to LinkedIn profile" button puts it on your profile. No upgrade is needed to earn or share it.
Progate teaches the basics clearly in Japanese but we found no certificate. Coddy has you write and run real code, and its free, verifiable certificate goes on LinkedIn in one click.
Who Progate is best for
Progate is a really good choice for these people:
- Learners who want natural explanations in Japanese - technical terms understood in your own language.
- First-timers - building the basics slowly with slides and small exercises.
- People aiming at languages used in Japanese workplaces - Ruby, PHP, Swift and similar.
- Exam takers - who want the prep courses such as for the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer exam.
- Spare-time learners - who like quick reviews in the app.
If you would rather write and run real code from the start, want a shareable certificate after finishing, or want more of the free tier, a hands-on platform like Coddy is worth trying too.
Is Progate worth it?
Yes - for someone who wants to start coding in Japanese, a paid plan from about 990 yen a month is cheap, and trying the free part first is reassuring. As a first introduction its reputation is generally good.
But do not expect it alone to make you job-ready. The content is mostly basics and we found no certificate. Use Progate for the introduction and add Coddy for practice and a certificate.
A free, hands-on alternative to Progate
Coddy is built around writing and running real code from lesson one. It runs entirely in the browser, so there is nothing to install and no credit card to start. The site and lessons are available in Japanese (translated from English).
- Free to start - real interactive courses, no credit card required.
- Many languages across frontend, backend and data.
- A free, publicly verifiable certificate when you finish.
- One-click "Add to LinkedIn profile".
- iPhone and Android apps as well as the website.
The two work together: Progate for careful Japanese explanations, Coddy for hands-on practice and a certificate. Start with the free Python course, and take the Coddy app on your phone. To compare more options, see our roundup of the best sites to learn coding.
Try Coddy freeProgate review FAQ
Is Progate worth it?
For anyone who wants to start coding in Japanese, yes. The slides and exercises are clear and the paid plan is cheap, from about 990 yen a month. But the content is mostly basics and we found no completion certificate on the official site, so combine it with other learning if you aim for job-level skills or a credential.
How far does the Progate free plan go?
A free sign-up lets you try introductory lessons, and further lessons need a paid plan. Which lessons are free can change and the official site does not give a detailed list that we could confirm, so check the screens after you register.
How much does Progate cost?
The official site (tax included) shows the Plus plan from 990 yen a month and the Pro plan from 2,490 yen a month. The App Store listed Plus at 1,490 yen for 1 month, 7,790 yen for 6 months and 11,900 yen for 12 months. Money already paid is not refunded, so check the official pricing page for the latest before you buy.
What is a good Progate alternative?
Does Coddy give certificates you can add to LinkedIn?
Yes. Coddy issues free certificates when you complete a course - they're public and verifiable, with a real shareable link, and there's a one-click "Add to LinkedIn profile" button that works exactly like a paid platform's. You earn it by writing and running real code, and you never have to pay to claim or share it.
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