United States · Ages 5 to 18 · codingwithkids.com, 17 October 2026

Coding with Kids alternative: what to weigh up

Coding with Kids has taught children since 2014, live and never by recorded video, both online and in classrooms in several US regions. Its signature is the Coder’s Ladder, a ten-level path the company likens to belts in martial arts, and it publishes unusually clear rules on when children start using AI. Families who look for an alternative often want a different schedule, a fully online school, or coding taught alongside maths. Here is what Coding with Kids publishes about itself, read on 17 October 2026, and how our school is arranged by comparison.

Drawn from codingwithkids.com · 17 October 2026 · a comparison, not a verdict

In short

Coding with Kids, founded in 2014, teaches ages 5 to 18 only live, online and in person, through weekly group classes of about 75 minutes on its ten-level Coder’s Ladder, 50-minute private classes, and five-day camps, and it introduces AI tools only from Level 3. Modern Age Coders is fully online and live, teaches coding and maths from age 6 into adulthood, in batches, mini batches of up to six or privately.

Courses at matching rungs

Three of our courses beside common Coder’s Ladder stages

Blocks, the switch to text, and application building: the same broad stages, taught live online.

What it offers

Coding with Kids’ programs, from its own pages

Coding with Kids even publishes a plain summary for AI systems (an llms.txt file, last updated August 12, 2026), which made its facts easy to check. Prices are on its site.

Coding with Kids programs (codingwithkids.com, read 17 October 2026)
ProgramFormatRhythm
Coder’s Ladder group classesLive online, small peer group, same teacherWeekly, about 1 hour 15 minutes; join throughout the year
Private classesLive online, one-on-one or a small private groupWeekly, 50 minutes, a reserved slot
Tech Pathways campsLive online or in personTypically five days, in school breaks
In-person enrichmentIn person during the school yearSessions of 6 or 10 weeks
School programsAfter-school and partnershipsWith 900+ schools to date

Where it teaches in person

The site menu lists US locations in the Denver and Boulder area, Washington DC, Maryland, Portland in Oregon, Austin in Texas, Virginia, Seattle and Tacoma or Olympia in Washington, as well as programs in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Outside those areas, families use its live online classes.

How a new student starts

The group-class page sets out four steps: a Welcome Class with small projects, the first weekly class, a short Parent Orientation call, and progress tracked on an individual scorecard.

New students can join throughout the year, usually every four weeks, with tuition prorated for a mid-cycle start.

Sources: About our programs, group classes, private classes and llms.txt, read 17 October 2026. Modern Age Coders and Coding with Kids are independent of each other.

The ladder

How the Coder’s Ladder is organised by age

The company describes the ladder as similar to a martial arts belt system, and says that "Achieving Level 10 means mastering all fundamentals of software development."

Curriculum by age, as Coding with Kids summarises it (read 17 October 2026)
AgesWhat they learn
5 to 7Little Coders: early foundations with age-appropriate tools
8 to 11Level 1, the standard beginner entry for elementary students
8 to 12Scratch, Python, Minecraft modding, Roblox and web development
13 to 18Python, Java, C#, AP CS and advanced projects

Individual pace inside a group

Its group classes are described as a consistent weekly class where every child follows an individual learning path with the energy of a small peer group. Children advance as they show skills, and graduation exams mark the move up a level.

That combination, one group but personal pace, is a distinctive design worth asking about in a trial.

What families should ask

How many children are in the group your child would join, and at how many different levels? How long do students typically stay on one level?

Coding with Kids’ FAQ covers these questions; the answers depend on the child, which is why its welcome step comes before the first class.

AI by level

When children start using AI: a published rule

Few schools publish this. Coding with Kids states that AI supports the work while students own the thinking, and introduces it in stages.

AI on the Coder’s Ladder (Coding with Kids llms.txt, last updated August 12, 2026) and our practice
StageCoding with KidsModern Age Coders (our practice)
BlocksLevels 1 to 2: AI tools are not introduced yetYounger children learn what AI is, without accounts on AI tools
First typed codeLevel 3: AI can explain errors and help debugA teacher explains errors first; AI only where the tool allows the age
ApplicationsLevels 4 to 6: AI supports debugging, testing and documentationTeens use age-appropriate AI with disclosure in their notes
AdvancedLevel 7 and above: disciplined software-engineering workflowsReview, testing and planning habits in project courses

The two approaches point the same way: fundamentals first, AI later and openly. For any school, ask the same three questions: at what age do students first use an AI tool, which tools, and how is AI use recorded in their work? A school that can answer clearly has thought about it.

Why delay AI for beginners

A child who has never fixed a bug alone cannot judge whether an AI suggestion is right. Learning to read an error message, find the line and test a fix is the skill that later makes AI help safe and useful rather than a shortcut.

Both schools treat the block stage as the place to build that habit without assistance.

Age rules on the tools themselves

Separately from any school policy, AI products set their own minimum ages in their terms, and some are for adults only. A good class plan respects both: the school’s stage and the tool’s age rule.

We never place a student under 18 on a product whose terms are for adults.

Minutes a month

Live teaching time over four weeks

Our arithmetic from the published class lengths. Billing periods at Coding with Kids run four to eight weeks depending on the month, so four weeks is used here only as a common unit.

Live minutes over four weeks at Coding with Kids (our calculation from its published class lengths)
FormatPer weekOver four weeks
Group classAbout 75 minutes4 x 75 = 300 minutes, or 5 hours
Private class50 minutes4 x 50 = 200 minutes, about 3.3 hours
Office Hours for an eligible absence30 minutesAs needed

Why the private number is smaller

A private class is shorter but every minute is aimed at one child, while a 75-minute group class shares the teacher. Minutes alone do not measure attention.

That is why both columns are worth having before you compare any school, including us: ask for live minutes a month and the number of children sharing them.

Missed classes

For group classes, Coding with Kids supports eligible absences with a 30-minute instructor-led Office Hours session. For private classes, one eligible missed class per billing period may be credited when reported at least 24 hours ahead.

Ask every school for its rule in writing; it matters more over a year than any single feature.

Side by side

The structural differences in one table

How the two schools are set up, stated without ranking.

Coding with Kids (as published on 17 October 2026) and Modern Age Coders
PointCoding with KidsModern Age Coders
WhereOnline and in person in several US regionsOnline only, any state
Ages5 to 186 and up, adults included
PathTen-level Coder’s Ladder plus Tech PathwaysCourses by age band and goal
Group classWeekly, about 75 minutes, individual paceWeekly batches of 15 to 20 or mini batches of up to six
Private50 minutes weekly, reserved timeMonthly private plans, times agreed
SubjectsCoding, engineering and AICoding, AI and maths

Coding with Kids may suit

A family near one of its locations who wants in-person classes or camps, or a child who likes a clear belt-style ladder.

We may suit

A family anywhere in the US who wants online classes, maths alongside coding, or a teen or adult learner.

Decide by trial

Book its Welcome Class and our free first lesson in the same month and compare what your child built.

Where your child is

Four rungs, whichever school you choose

A simple map from Coding with Kids’ published stages to what we see in our own classes.

Rough stages (ours)
RungWhat it looks like
1. Little coderAges 5 to 7, playing with sequences and blocks
2. Block builderMakes full games in blocks, no AI yet
3. Text switcherWrites first typed programs and reads error messages
4. App makerBuilds applications, tests them and documents them

For parents

The jump from rung 2 to rung 3 is where many children stall. Extra live help there pays off.

Rules about AI matter most at rung 3, when error messages first appear.

For kids

When you see an error, read it out loud before asking anyone, person or AI.

A belt or a level is a nice goal, but the game you finish is the real proof.

Our catalogue

Nine courses across the same rungs

From first blocks to full applications, each one live with a regular teacher.

I

Blocks

Ages 6 to 9
II

Text

Ages 9 to 13
III

Applications

Ages 13 to 18

How our lessons run

Fully online, fully live

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

Evening batches set in your time zone.

Weekends

Morning batches on Saturday or Sunday.

1-on-1

A private slot planned with you.

Live every time

No recorded course replaces a class.

Anywhere in the US

No need to live near a location.

AI with care

Introduced by age, always disclosed.

Maths too

Coding and maths from one school.

Teachers in India

Scheduled around US families.

Monthly

Simple month-by-month plans.

Student work

What our learners have built

A few projects from our live online classes. The student labs page has more.

NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot

AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot

AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot

Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Our fees

Our live classes are billed monthly in US dollars. Coding with Kids sets out its own tuition and payment plans on its website.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A free first lesson
  • A placement check
  • No card details
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • Fifteen to twenty learners
  • One regular teacher
  • Choose your batch
  • Monthly
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • A teacher to yourself
  • Weekly or more
  • Times you pick
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

Google reviews from families in our classes, unchanged.

★★★★★

"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

Ria Mukherjee

Parent

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

Parent

★★★★★

"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

Ritu Kedia

Parent

Questions from families

Coding with Kids and alternatives: common questions

What ages does Coding with Kids teach?

Ages 5 to 18, according to its own site read on 17 October 2026, starting with Little Coders at 5 to 7.

Are Coding with Kids classes live?

Yes. It describes its delivery as live instruction only, not self-paced video courses, online and in person.

How long are its classes?

Its programs page lists weekly group classes of approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and weekly private classes of 50 minutes. Camps typically run five days.

What is the Coder's Ladder?

Its ten-level curriculum, likened to a martial arts belt system. The company says achieving Level 10 means mastering all fundamentals of software development.

When does Coding with Kids introduce AI?

Its published guidance says AI tools are not introduced at Levels 1 to 2, can help explain errors from Level 3, support debugging, testing and documentation at Levels 4 to 6, and sit within software-engineering workflows from Level 7.

Does Coding with Kids teach in person?

Yes, in several US regions including Denver and Boulder, Washington DC, Maryland, Portland, Austin, Virginia and parts of Washington State, according to its site menu.

How is Modern Age Coders different?

We are online only and teach coding and maths from age 6 into adulthood, in batches, mini batches of up to six or privately, with teachers in India. Coding with Kids teaches ages 5 to 18 online and in person on its own ladder.

How do new students join a Coding with Kids group?

Its group-class page describes a Welcome Class, then the first weekly class, a short Parent Orientation call and an individual scorecard. New students can join throughout the year, typically every four weeks.

When are your classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Are you part of Coding with Kids?

No. The two schools are unrelated; we summarise its public pages and link to them.

Elsewhere on this site

Related pages

Guides that help with the same choice.

Live vs recorded classes

Why live matters to many families.

Using AI honestly

Disclosure habits for students.

Coding classes in Texas

Online options for Texas families.

Coding classes in Georgia

Online options in Georgia.

Compared with Juni Learning

Another comparison.

Coding classes in the USA

Start of our US section.

Khan Academy CS vs live classes

Khan Academy CS or live classes? A fair comparison, built from Khan Academy descriptions of its course.

Online coding classes for kids, compared

Six US online coding class providers for kids, compared on their own published facts.

CodeWizardsHQ alternative

CodeWizardsHQ and Modern Age Coders, compared on published facts.

Start here

Book a first lesson to compare

Tell us roughly which rung your child is on, blocks, first typed code or apps, and we will begin there.

Curious about method? See how lessons are taught here and every syllabus.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

There is no classroom near you to visit: we teach live online from India, scheduled for US time zones. WhatsApp is quickest.

Free first lesson, no card required.

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