Every resource in this list is free to use: Alchemy University and Cyfrin Updraft both state their courses are free, and CryptoZombies says everything is completely free. They differ in format and depth. Alchemy University's Ethereum Bootcamp has 91 in-browser lessons, Cyfrin Updraft lists 150+ lesson hours of video, and Speedrun Ethereum gives you 10 build challenges instead of lessons.
Quick answer
Start with Alchemy University if you are new to coding: it is free, runs in the browser and includes a 91-lesson Ethereum Bootcamp. Move to Cyfrin Updraft for Solidity depth and security, and to Solana Developers if you want to build on Solana.
- 01Alchemy University: best for beginners
- 02Cyfrin Updraft: best for security
- 03Speedrun Ethereum: best for building projects
- 04CryptoZombies: Best first taste
- 05Solana Developers: best for Solana
The 6 best web3 education resources
Alchemy University is free and runs code in the browser, so there is nothing to install. Its list goes from Learn JavaScript (49 lessons) to an Ethereum Bootcamp of 91 lessons, and it reports 108k+ students enrolled.
- Platforms
- Web
- Pricing
- Free
- Company
- Alchemy
Pros
- All courses are free, with coding done in the browser and no setup
- Ethereum Bootcamp has 91 lessons, the longest course on its list
- Also covers account abstraction in an AA Fundamentals course of about 3 hours
Cons
- Focused on Ethereum and EVM; no Solana or Rust course is listed
- Learn Solidity has only 11 lessons, so deeper Solidity work needs another resource
Skip it if you want Solana or Rust: no course for either is listed.
Cyfrin Updraft is run by the audit firm Cyfrin and offers 150+ lesson hours for free, including a 24-hour Smart Contract Security course and an auditor career track. ethereum.org links to five of its courses.
- Platforms
- Web
- Pricing
- Free on-demand courses
- Company
- Cyfrin Inc.
Pros
- All on-demand courses are free
- 150+ lesson hours, including a 24-hour Smart Contract Security course
- Four career tracks, including one for security auditors
Cons
- Video-first, so there is less in-browser coding than on CryptoZombies or Alchemy University
- Tracks center on Solidity and EVM tooling such as Foundry
Skip it if you learn better by typing code into exercises than by watching video.
#3S
Best for building projects
Speedrun Ethereum from BuidlGuidl skips lectures: its 10 core challenges have you build a token, a DEX, a lending app and ZK voting with Scaffold-ETH 2. The site code is open source under the MIT license.
- Platforms
- Web
- Company
- BuidlGuidl
- Open source
- Yes, MIT license
Pros
- 10 core challenges that end in working dApps, not quizzes
- Built on Scaffold-ETH 2, the stack the ethereum.org quickstart uses
- Site code is open source under the MIT license
Cons
- Assumes you can already read JavaScript and basic Solidity
- Pricing is not stated on the homepage
Skip it if you cannot yet read JavaScript and basic Solidity.
CryptoZombies teaches Solidity by having you build a zombie game in the browser. Its homepage says everything is completely free and reports over 400k registered users; lessons exist in 17+ languages.
- Platforms
- Web
- Pricing
- Free
- Company
- Loom Network
Pros
- Completely free, per its homepage
- Lessons translated into 17+ languages in its public repository
- Short game-style lessons suit someone with no coding background
Cons
- Lesson content is not under an open-source license: contributors assign copyright to Loom Network
- Covers Solidity basics; no course on current tooling such as Foundry is shown on its homepage
Skip it if you need current tooling such as Foundry or Hardhat: it sticks to Solidity basics.
The official Solana hub pairs Anchor docs and a Solana Foundation video bootcamp with Solana Playground, where you write and deploy Rust programs in the browser using free devnet SOL.
- Platforms
- Web
- Company
- Solana Foundation
- Free plan
- Solana Playground in the browser with free devnet SOL
Pros
- Quick start runs in the browser with free devnet SOL
- Covers Rust programs with the Anchor framework plus TypeScript clients
- Video bootcamp from the Solana Foundation
Cons
- The old solana.com/developers/courses page now redirects to a GitHub repository archived on Jan 24, 2025
- Several listed courses are run by partners such as Blueshift and RareSkills, not the Foundation
Skip it if you want one structured course: many listed courses are run by partners, and the old courses page redirects to an archived GitHub repository.
ethereum.org is an open-source site led by a core team the Ethereum Foundation funds. Its developer section has the docs, community tutorials and a Scaffold-ETH 2 quickstart, and points to Updraft and Speedrun Ethereum.
- Platforms
- Web
- Company
- Core team funded by the Ethereum Foundation
- Open source
- Yes, MIT license
Pros
- Neutral starting point run by a team the Ethereum Foundation funds
- Site code is open source under the MIT license
- Links to five structured courses of 3 to 24 hours each
Cons
- A hub, not a course: it has no progress tracking or certificates of its own
- Community tutorials vary in age and depth
Skip it if you want progress tracking or a certificate: it is a hub, not a course.
Web3 Education Resources compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank web3 education resources
- 01Price: whether the provider's own page states the resource is free. Every resource ranked here is free to use.
- 02Format: in-browser exercises, video or build challenges, and whether you need a local setup to start.
- 03Depth: published lesson counts or hours, and whether the path reaches security and production topics.
- 04Who runs it: the company or foundation behind the resource, from its own page or repository.
- 05Chain coverage: whether it teaches Ethereum and EVM, Solana, or both.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
How to choose
Pick the chain before the course
Five of the six resources here teach Ethereum and Solidity. If you want to build on Solana, start at Solana Developers with Solana Playground and Anchor instead.
Combine lessons with a build
Lessons teach syntax; building teaches the gotchas. A common path is Alchemy University or CryptoZombies first, then Speedrun Ethereum's 10 challenges.
Learn security early
Smart contract bugs cost real money once deployed. Cyfrin Updraft's Smart Contract Security course runs 24 hours and is free.
Stay on testnets
Every resource here works with testnets or in-browser sandboxes. You do not need to buy crypto or connect a funded wallet to learn.
Who should skip all of these
- People who want to learn to trade or invest in crypto: these resources teach building, not trading.
- Anyone who needs an accredited degree: none of these is a university program.
- Learners who want live instruction and mentorship: every option here is self-paced.
Bottom line
For Ethereum, start with Alchemy University, build with Speedrun Ethereum, and study security on Cyfrin Updraft. All three are free.
For Solana, start at the official Solana Developers hub and use Solana Playground before installing anything locally.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
Can I learn web3 development for free?
±
Yes. Alchemy University, Cyfrin Updraft and CryptoZombies all state on their own pages that their courses are free, and Solana Playground runs on free devnet SOL.
What is the best place to learn Solidity?
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For a first look, CryptoZombies. For depth, Cyfrin Updraft, whose courses range from 3 hours (Blockchain Basics) to 24 hours (Smart Contract Security).
Where can I learn Solana development?
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At solana.com/developers. Its quick start uses Solana Playground to write and deploy Rust programs in the browser with free devnet SOL, and it links to the Solana Foundation bootcamp.
Is buildspace still running?
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No. buildspace has shut down, so it is not in this list.
Do I need to buy crypto to learn?
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No. These resources use in-browser sandboxes and testnets such as Solana devnet, where tokens are free.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: six free web3 learning resources ranked on price, format, depth and chain coverage.