What is fast.ai?
fast.ai is an educational and open source project run by Jeremy Howard and Rachel Thomas, aimed at making neural networks and deep learning accessible to people who already know how to code. Its core offering is a set of practical courses, such as Practical Deep Learning for Coders and How to Solve it With Code, along with a book and a blog covering technical topics and AI's social impact.
The project also publishes software: fastai, a high-level library built on PyTorch, and nbdev, a tool for developing and documenting Python libraries inside Jupyter notebooks. The site lists Solveit, a platform designed to make exploration and iterative development faster. Users can take the courses, use the libraries in their own projects, and follow the blog's writing on topics like tokenization, reading with LLMs, and AI and power.
Key features
- Free practical deep learning courses for coders
- fastai library built on PyTorch
- nbdev tool for writing libraries in Jupyter notebooks
- Solveit platform for iterative development
- Book: Practical Deep Learning for Coders with fastai and PyTorch
- Blog on technical topics and AI in society
Who is it for
- Programmers learning deep learning
- Data scientists and ML engineers
- Researchers and students
- Educators and parents interested in AI and learning
Pros and cons
- Practical, code-first teaching approach
- Open source software and courses
- Courses assume you already know how to code
fast.ai pricing
The vendor does not publish prices in a readable form (often pricing is shown only after signing in).
Is fast.ai free?
The vendor does not state this clearly on the homepage or pricing page.
fast.ai alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 Brainly | not listed | ? | Education |
 Duolingo | not listed | trial | Education |
 Quizlet | not listed | yes | Education |
 Photomath | 9.99 USD/mo | trial | Education |
 Scribbr | 19,95 USD | ? | Education |
 Studocu | not listed | ? | Education |
FAQ
What is fast.ai used for?
Free deep learning courses, the fastai and nbdev libraries, and a Solveit platform for programmers and researchers learning AI.
Is fast.ai free?
The vendor does not state this clearly on the homepage or pricing page.
How much does fast.ai cost?
The vendor does not publish prices publicly or requires sign-in.
What are the best fast.ai alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Brainly, Duolingo, Quizlet, Photomath, Scribbr.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (fast.ai).