Introduction
By now, it might seem like you’ve reviewed just about every e-learning platform out there. From Coursera to Udacity, you’ve heard just about everything. In our Treehouse review, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this other unique e-learning platform – and why you should give its library of courses a second glance.
What is Treehouse?
Founded in 2011, Treehouse is a relatively young provider of online courses. It was created in Orlando, FL by Ryan Carson, who designed the plan for Treehouse as an evolution of his current business venture. At the time, Carson ran a video-tutorial based service provider known as Carsonified.
Treehouse, or Team Treehouse, is an offshoot of this brainchild, offering technology learning-oriented online courses. It is an MOOC provider, or massive open online course provider, offering a large variety of online courses to the general public.
You don’t have to sign up for a full college degree or pay a fortune in order to receive excellent content quality and get the training you need to advance your career path.
What is unique about Treehouse is that it offers professional courses and learning tracks specifically for individuals who are interstate in pursuing technology-focused fields. You can pursue topics such as game, web, app, and similar kinds of tech product development. The online courses offered by Treehouse, in fact, are great for aspiring coders.
Features
If you’re new to Treehouse, just know that there are plenty of features and online course options to consider.
Individual Courses
When you first start using Treehouse, you might want to start with just one individual course. For most students, this is the most obvious and most accessible place to start.
Treehouse has more than 300 classes in 23 subjects, with most courses covering technology and programming languages. You might tackle topics like Python, Swift, or Android development in these courses.
Learning Tracks
You might also choose to pursue a sequence of courses that all cover the same subject. These courses are aligned and organized into learning tracks that follow a precise sequence so you can go from basic to more advanced, teaching yourself as you go along. Some of Treehouse’s more popular learning tracks include Object-Oriented PHP, Rails Development, and Java Web Development.
Techdegrees
The Treehouse Pro Techdegree program is perhaps one of the platform’s most attractive features. It’s unique to Treehouse and will allow you to obtain the “correct portfolio of skills and experience” so you can go from being a beginner to being job-ready in a matter of just two to twelve months (depending on which Techdegree you choose).
There are plenty of Techdegrees you can choose from, including options like front-end web development, UX design, Full-Stack Javascript, and more. These include anywhere from 82 to 180 hours (or more!) of bonus content along with quizzes, challenges, projects, and mini-courses.
Ease of Use
Treehouse is known for its user-friendly design and for how easy it is to use. It is evident that Treehouse is a good option for beginners even upon merely glancing at the website’s homepage. It has a minimalistic feel that’s easy to navigate and ultimately uncluttered.
When you open the Treehouse homepage, you’ll find a clear sign-up form and a call to action. You can also access information both through the homepage as well as by clicking around to the headers and links at the top and bottom of the page. You’ll notice some additional features offered by the website, a success story, and a partner list – all pretty standard stuff.
You don’t have to worry about navigating a complex platform with Treehouse and it makes a great first impression. You’ll also be able to find the price for any subscription option or payment plan with ease, so you don’t have to worry about hidden fees or confusing costs.
It can be a bit confusing to find the courses from the homepage – you’ll need to navigate to the course library. Once you get there, though, the courses are clearly arranged and organized by date and category.
After selecting a course, you’ll be able to read more about the teacher, what you’ll learn, the syllabus, and more. Just like the rest of Treehouse, this part of the website is designed with simple colors and features so it’s not overwhelming to use.
That’s a feature that’s worth mentioning all on its own. You don’t have to worry about advertisements, flashy logos, or pop-ups. You can just focus on finding the cause that’s right for you. There also are not a lot of gimmicks connected to the courses themselves.
Since Treehouse is subscription-based, the company does not spend a lot of energy on trying to convince you why one class is better than another. Everything is laid out clearly and is equally represented.
Content Quality
With Treehouse, you’ll have access to more than 300 courses, 278 workshops, and 23 topics. You’ll join a large network of more than 50,000 fellow students, too, helping you make valuable connections that will serve you well as you begin your career.
For the most part, every Treehouse review you read online is overwhelmingly positive. Much of this is likely attributable to the fact that Treehouse offers a free trial of the basic plan so you can get an idea of what you’re getting yourself into before you pay a dime (and are potentially dissatisfied).
Because you’re paying for a subscription, you’ll probably find that all of the courses are about the same when it comes to the content quality. One course likely will not be far superior to others, although there are of course some classes that may appeal more to your unique learning style and background.
Customer Support
Treehouse has some of the best – and most unique! – customer support features. You can contact support by sending a message via the website. You can also email help@teamtreehouse.com with any concerns you have.
One fun feature of Treehouse’s customer support options is that you can send an email with a link and a screenshot of any bugs you encounter in the courses. If the issue has not yet been reported, you can get a special “Exterminator” badge as a thank you.
Overall, Treehouse’s customer support response is fast and helpful.
Learning Experience
When it comes to the learning experience while you’re a student of Treehouse, again, it will likely vary depending on your learning style. As a baseline, though, most Treehouse users report that they are satisfied with the courses.
There are occasional complaints but for the most part, Treehouse is user-friendly and offers an interactive learning environment for individuals who want to learn things like web development and coding.
The courses include content that is thoughtfully presented and interactive. They include video tutorials to help mix up the information along with features that make it easy to track your progress. There are even step-by-step methods you can follow after each tutorial to make it even easier for you to move through the material.
Treehouse Pricing Model
Treehouse has several different payment options for you to choose from.
If you want to be able to access the platform’s extensive library of courses and training exercises, you should simply sign up for a Treehouse subscription or basic plan. You’ll be able to access a free seven-day trial and try out all of the unique features of the platform with no obligation. You’ll benefit from the following features, too:
- Ability to download video tutorials for offline learning
- Guided learning tracks and weekly progress reports
- Admission to Treehouse conferences online
- Interactive quizzes, conference content, practice sessions and workshops
- Community support from peers and instructors
- Expert-led courses available on demand
With all types of subscription options, you can choose between paying $19.99 a month billed at an annual rate of $239.88 or $29.99 per month, billed monthly. You’ll get the same services and resources for both.
You might also consider signing up for Techdegree. Techdegrees offer a structured learning environment for you to learn a set of skills that you can bring with you into any career in the tech industry. These programs are also billed at a monthly rate, but the duration of each program varies. Some last only two months while others can take up to 12. You’ll pay $199 per month for your Techdegree.
Treehouse also offers a “team”-based subscription known as Team Treehouse. This is available at the same rates listed above but is a good option for employers or managers.
What Courses are Offered on Treehouse?
Treehouse offers a variety of video-based coding courses with learning tracks and individual courses both available. You can learn languages like Java, Ruby, Swift, HTML, CSS, Python, JavaScript, or PHP.
You might also pursue a learning track in something like web design, web development, iOS development, PHP development, Rails development, Android development, and more. YOu can even pursue a more generalized learning track in starting a tech-focused business!
In general, if it’s a tech-focused field you want to master, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a course in it on Treehouse. You can search from more than 300 video tutorials on the go along with exercises, quizzes, and other tasks that will help you gain experience.
The Advantages (Pros) of Treehouse
Short Sequences
One of the most touted features of Treehouse is the short sequences of courses. You can log in, learn something new, and be in and out in a matter of a few minutes or hours.
This is great for somebody who is already pressed for time or is working a full-time job. These sequences are well-structured and easy to follow so that you can always keep moving forward.
Great for Beginners and Intermediate-Level Students
Treehouse is a good option for beginners and intermediate-level students who want to access online courses that are moderately paced and contextualized for newbies.
You will have access to all kinds of features like built-in code editors, quizzes, and top-notch videos so that you can work your way through the material at your own pace. If you’re new to coding or to tech, Treehouse is a great option.
Excellent Course Quality and Learning Environments
Treehouse offers high-quality content that is relevant and accurate. You’ll be given all the resources you need to practice and hone your craft along with access to a library of more than 300 different videos.
You’ll be able to use workspaces that will grant you access to an editor along with a console that will let you export or download your work for local use. There are plenty of step-by-step guides to teach you how to do everything you might need to know, too.
Skilled Instructors
If you’re having a hard time coding or don’t know what to do next, don’t worry – Treehouse employs instructors who are skilled and highly professional. They know what they are teaching and deliver it well. They’re passionate about teaching their students and approachable if you have any questions you need to ask.
Community Forums
Sometimes, the best kind of learning happens when you’re able to work with a group of peers. Treehouse offers just that. You’ll benefit from an extensive (and highly supportive) community forum on Treehouse where you can ask questions and get helpful answers from fellow students.
The Disadvantages (Cons) of Treehouse
Limited Range of Course Topics
Because Treehouse caters primarily to the student interested in a career path in technology (one that’s growing rapidly, it’s worth noting!), it is somewhat limited in terms of its course offerings. You won’t find online courses in anything but tech here – and even then, there are some limitations.
Many students reflect disappointment in their Treehouse reviews, saying that they wished Treehouse would branch out a bit more (no pun intended!) and offer courses in adjacent fields like digital marketing.
Not the Best for More Advanced Learners
Although Treehouse is known for being accessible for beginners and intermediate-level students, it might not be the best option if you have more expertise. It won’t go much beyond the basics and if you’re a quick study, you might find it too slow for your liking.
Some students complain about Treehouse’s perceived lack of projects, too. Although there are some projects and low-level tutorials for students at a more elementary level, this is something you will likely find lacking if you have a bit more expertise.
No Certificates of Completion
Although Treehouse offers many of the same features you’ve come to know and love with other e-learning platforms, like quizzes and interactive assignments, it’s important to note that it is lacking in one area – it does not offer a certificate of completion. Although you will get a sort of pseudo-credential when you complete a Techdegree, you do not get any kind of formal recognition that you can put on your resume after completing a course.
Treehouse Alternatives
There are several alternatives to Treehouse that you may want to consider as you search for the right e-learning platform for your needs.
Udemy is one of the most popular alternatives to Treehouse. Treehouse is useful if you are solely interested in taking classes in the tech niche, but if your interests lie elsewhere, Udemy is a smart alternative.
The downside to Udemy is that the courses can be taught by anyone – so the content quality may not quite be up to snuff. Although there is certainly some excellent content on Udemy, you may have to sift through some nonsense in order to find a course that is worth your time.
That said, Udemy can also be less expensive. You’ll pay per course rather than for a subscription, so if you just want to take a class here and there it might be more reasonable. It also offers several classes that are completely free.
Of course, Udemy is just one of many Treehouse alternatives for you to consider. Some other popular platforms you might want to check out as you explore your options include Coursera, Udacity, Skillshare, and LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda).
Conclusion
Finding the perfect e-learning platform to help you master the most in-demand coding and tech skills can be a challenge. Treehouse is just one of many options out there, but hopefully, this Treehouse review has helped you decide whether it’s the option that’s right for you.
Consider starting with a free seven-day trial and go from there – after all, what do you have to lose?
FAQ
Is Treehouse worth it?
With a variety of courses and plenty of features to choose from, Treehouse is the e-learning platform you need to consider. Although it doesn’t have some of the features of other platforms, such as projects and a solid video pace, it’s worth it if you’re new to coding and want to learn enough to get yourself up and running.
Is Treehouse legit?
Treehouse offers more than 1000 hours worth of high-quality videos, making it a smart investment for anyone who wants to learn how to code and doesn’t have any experience. That said, it’s also a good option for people with a bit more experience, as the platform offers several courses for intermediate learners and beyond.
Although Treehouse might not end up being the e-learning platform you turn to in order to gain an education in coding, hopefully our Treehouse review will give you a few reasons as to why you might consider it. It’s 100% legit and a great option for newbies to the skill of coding.
How to open a Treehouse account?
Opening a Treehouse account is easy. To sign up, you just need to visit the platform’s website. Here, you can access the thousands of Treehouse step-by-step courses and training exercises so that you can acquire a large array of competitive skills in technology.
To sign up, you’ll just have to provide a name and email address. Even if you’re interested in the free trial, you’ll need to provide credit card or PayPal information. Then, you can join and won’t be charged until your trial period ends.
Does Treehouse have a free plan?
Yes, Treehouse has a free trial plan. With the free trial, you can access all of Treehouse’s unique features without having to worry about paying a dime. The trial lasts for seven days and is zero obligation. Of course, you’ll want to put a reminder in your calendar to cancel your subscription so you aren’t charged for a monthly or annual plan!
How much is Treehouse?
Treehouse has several payment options for you to choose from. You can pay $19.99 per month on the annual plan, allowing you to save 33% on the overall cost of your subscription. You will be paying a total fee of $239.88 once a year. Alternatively, you can choose the monthly payment plan. This costs $29.99 per month, billed once a month.
How much is a Treehouse techdegree?
If you want to go one step beyond your Treehouse subscription, you might want to consider a Techdegree. Techdegrees are job-ready programs for people of all skill levels and backgrounds, offering a structured experience that will prepare you for any career in the tech industry. These vary in length from two to twelve months of completion time, with most containing anywhere between half a dozen or more projects. Techdegrees cost $199 per month.
How much is Treehouse coding?
Treehouse coding costs $29.99 per month or $19.99 per month, depending on how you choose among the various payment options. A techdegree in coding costs $199 per month.
Will Treehouse help me with my career?
Full disclosure – if you’re hoping to pursue a career as a doctor or lawyer, Treehouse probably won’t be of much use to you. It’s not like other e-learning platforms, like Udemy or Coursera, that offer programs in a wide variety of fields and skills. However, if you’re hoping to gain some experience in coding, Treehouse is the way to go. It will undoubtedly help your career as a tech professional.
