WordPress is a remarkable Content Management System (CMS). It’s powerful and flexible enough to create almost any kind of blog or website you could imagine. However, the vast world of WordPress might seem daunting at first, and you may not know how to go about learning all its ins and outs.
Fortunately, the WordPress community is thriving, and there are many people out there willing to help you learn the ropes. A quick Google search reveals thousands of articles and tutorials, along with dedicated YouTube channels such as WPCrafter, Tyler Moore, and WPBeginner. These resources are fantastic, but often you’ll find the best way to make progress is to take part in a more structured course.
That’s why we’re going to recommend five excellent online courses for WordPress in this article. Each is designed with beginners in mind, and will arm you with the knowledge you need to start creating your own websites. Let’s get started!
1. WordPress Quick Start Course by WP Apprentice
Time to Complete: One hour
Price: Free
Price: Free
This first course is a quick and simple tutorial meant for absolute beginners. The WordPress Quick Start Course focuses on the basics: how to find a web host, install WordPress, use the dashboard, and start creating content. All the platform’s central features are explained, such as themes, plugins, and widgets. By the time you finish watching these ten videos, you’ll be ready to start setting up your first site.
Pros
- The course is short and free, so you aren’t risking anything by trying it out.
- It stays at an introductory level, perfect for someone who’s never used the platform.
- You’ll get a general overview of all the primary features of WordPress.
Cons
- The fact that the course is so so short can also be a downside – there’s no room for in-depth explanations.
- Only entry-level topics are covered. If you want to create anything other than a simple site, you’ll probably need further information.
2. Complete WordPress Training for Beginners by Udemy
Time to Complete: Four hours
Price: Free
Price: Free
Complete WordPress Training for Beginners won’t cost you a cent, and it’s relatively comprehensive. Like any good WordPress course, this entry from Udemy covers the basics of setting up a website or blog. It also focuses on the bigger picture, explaining the overall framework of the platform and how it works. Near the end, there is some discussion about using SEO to improve your site’s visibility and rankings.
Pros
- A lot of topics are covered in just a few hours.
- The course includes a step-by-step guide to getting your website up and running.
- It takes a conceptual approach to WordPress, teaching you how and why things work rather than just giving instructions.
- Most of the explanations are simple and beginner-friendly.
Cons
- Some of the later material is fairly advanced, covering complex topics like creating your own themes (in fairness, you may see this as a pro!).
- The course is a little older. So while most of its information still applies, a few things are out of date.
3. WordPress 101: The Basics by WP101
Time to Complete: 90 minutes
Price: $24 (The first eight out of 20 videos are free. WP101 also has subscription options, and their courses occasionally go on sale.)
Price: $24 (The first eight out of 20 videos are free. WP101 also has subscription options, and their courses occasionally go on sale.)
Sometimes a free course doesn’t provide everything you’re looking for, and you’re willing to pay for something a little more professional. WordPress 101: The Basics comes with a price, but provides more support and viewing options than the above courses. It also manages to cover all the basics – themes, plugins, setting up a site – as well as some more advanced material about website settings and customization. Scattered throughout the 20 videos are plenty of helpful tips for WordPress beginners.
Pros
- The course is more accessible than most. It’s closed-captioned, and there is a Spanish language option.
- When you buy the course (or a subscription), you get access to a forum where you can ask questions and get support.
- Once you have the beginner course, the intermediate level course is free.
Cons
- When it isn’t on sale, the course is a little pricey, given its short length.
- It assumes you already have WordPress set up, so it doesn’t cover how to host and install the platform.
4. Various WordPress Courses at Lynda.com
Time to Complete: Depends on the course, but most are about two hours long
Price: A subscription to Lynda.com starts at $20 per month (there is also a ten-day free trial option)
Price: A subscription to Lynda.com starts at $20 per month (there is also a ten-day free trial option)
Maybe you already know a little about WordPress or website creation in general, and you feel like some of the above courses will be to simple for your needs. Or perhaps you just like the idea of being able to learn at your own pace, instead of being led through a structured set of lessons. Lynda.com is a site where anyone can upload their own WordPress courses, which means there’s a lot of information available. You can find courses on setting up WordPress, the basics of creating a site, how to use themes and plugins, specific tips and tricks, and more advanced subjects.
Pros
- You get access to a lot of content for a pretty low price.
- It’s possible to find courses targeted specifically at what you’re trying to learn.
- Once you feel ready for it, certain courses will provide more advanced information and techniques.
- Lynda.com is a more self-directed platform – you can jump from course to course as the need arises.
Cons
- Using this kind of site is not as straightforward as learning through a single course. You’ll have to do some searching to find the information you need.
- The quality of the courses is varied, since each has a different creator.
5. WordPress Development by Treehouse
Time to Complete: 27 hours for the full course, two hours for the ‘beginner’ material
Price: A subscription to Treehouse starts at $25 per month (there is also a seven-day free trial option)
Price: A subscription to Treehouse starts at $25 per month (there is also a seven-day free trial option)
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more thorough course than WordPress Development. The entire track covers almost anything you can think of that’s related to WordPress. There is a very clear progression from beginner content – downloading WordPress and building your first site – to intermediate and advanced material, such as working with plugins and code customization.
Pros
- There is a ton of content, organized in a way that’s easy to follow.
- Step-by-step instructions walk you through building a WordPress website.
- Working through even the beginning of this course provides a pretty clear picture of what WordPress can do and how it works.
Cons
- Once you get past the first couple of videos, it’s more advanced than the other courses on this list.
- Some videos assume prior technical knowledge, especially later in the track.