Comparison · Computer science and hardware learning resources
Crash Course vs Hardware Theory: which is better in 2026?
Crash Course77.0#6 in best computer science and hardware learning resources
Hardware Theory83.5#3 in best computer science and hardware learning resourcesHardware Theory ranks higher in our list of computer science and hardware learning resources (#3 against #6, score 83.5 against 77.0).
- 77.0Editorial score83.5
- 1Platforms1
- YesFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceNo
Which should you choose?
Choose Crash Course if you want
Video overviews of many subjects.
Short narrated videos on many subjects, free on YouTube, with resources for teachers. They are introductions only, with no exercises, so they suit a first overview.
Choose Hardware Theory if you want
Short reads on how hardware works.
Short articles on how CPUs, caches, memory and GPUs work, arranged in reading paths with latency figures. Each article is brief and written by one author, so each topic gets a light treatment.
Side by side
| Crash Course | Hardware Theory* | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 77.0 | 83.5 |
| Rank in list | #6 of 9 | #3 of 9 |
| Price | Free plan, paid upgradesVideos free on YouTube; a store sells products | Free plan, paid upgradesArticles are free to read; a $24 hardware buying toolkit is sold |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | WebWeb | WebWeb |
| Made by | Hank Green and John Green | Yunus Emre Vurgun |
| Level | Introductory | Intermediate, short articles |
| Format | YouTube video courses | Articles and reading paths |
| Hands-on building | No | No |
| Best for | Video overviews of many subjects | Short reads on how hardware works |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Crash Course vs Hardware Theory
- Is Hardware Theory better than Crash Course?
- Hardware Theory* ranks higher in our list of computer science and hardware learning resources (#3 against #6, score 83.5 against 77.0). Crash Course is best for: video overviews of many subjects. Hardware Theory is best for: short reads on how hardware works.
- Which is cheaper, Crash Course or Hardware Theory?
- Crash Course: Videos free on YouTube; a store sells products. Hardware Theory*: Articles are free to read; a $24 hardware buying toolkit is sold.
- Do Crash Course and Hardware Theory run on the same platforms?
- Crash Course supports Web. Hardware Theory* supports Web.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.
Made by, or connected to, the publisher of this site or people the publisher works with. Listed on the same criteria as everything else, with the lift described in How we rank and Disclosure.