Mastering WordPress from scratch is tough. It’s a sprawling platform and there’s a lot to learn, including how to properly use the CMS features, build pages with Gutenberg, or extend your website with plugins and code. Beginner training courses for WordPress can help you get started more easily.
Unfortunately, there are tons of classes to choose from, and narrowing down the best ones is no easy task. What you need is a curated list of some of the best courses so you can decide from there. And that just happens to be what we have put together here.
Below, are going over 15+ beginner WordPress courses, crafted by experts and used by thousands of WordPress novices. Whether you’re creating a blog, an online store, or something else entirely, one of these courses is sure to help you get started.
The Best Online Course Providers for WordPress Learners
Before we get into any specific courses, let’s go over a few reputable providers of online learning material. Even if none of the courses we suggest below are quite right, you can use these to expand your search and find more fitting ones.
1. Udemy
If you’re looking for online classes on any topic, most people will point you to Udemy. This is “the” place for comprehensive lessons hosted by experts of all kinds, and a significant WordPress community is present. There are 1400+ WordPress courses to choose from.
Udemy is a paid service. You can either purchase a monthly plan to gain access to most courses, or purchase them individually at a higher price – though with a lifetime license.
There are also ways to get access to Udemy courses for free, such as through your company or even with certain library cards.
2. YouTube
If you’re on a budget – and that budget is $0 – YouTube is the place to go. There’s a massive amount of content here, from sprawling online classes that cover everything related to WordPress to short videos that quickly explain individual concepts you’re struggling with.
The big problem here is that there’s zero quality control. And this doesn’t just mean less than stellar video editing. You could actually receive dangerous misinformation and bad advice without even knowing it.
If nothing else, it’s a good idea to see what people say in the comments or find recommendations for specific YouTube courses.
3. LinkedIn Learning with Lynda
Lynda was a long-running learning hub, offering online courses since 2002. Before Udemy, this was the main hub for online courses on all sorts of creative and business topics. In 2017, Lynda was acquired by LinkedIn and rebranded to LinkedIn Learning.
Luckily, much of the old content remains, including the popular WordPress courses. You can find 1800+ WordPress courses here.
Just like Udemy, you may be able to access LinkedIn Learning for free or with a library card. Otherwise, you can pay for a monthly plan or buy courses individually.
4. Coursera
Coursera is another popular provider for online lessons, though its WordPress content is sparser compared to other platforms. There are only a handful of actual WordPress-focused courses (though plenty of related, general web design classes), and most have just a few hours of content.
The big benefit is that most of them are free to enroll in. That’s not true for all of Coursera. Many trainings are more guided projects that can take months to complete, and these may require Coursera Plus. But you’re free to sample the beginner WordPress lessons.
Once you’ve looked through our suggested WordPress courses, you may wish to return to Coursera and pick up some useful web design and development skills for free.
The Top 17 WordPress Courses for Beginners
Now let’s dig into the best of the best beginner WordPress courses. One of these is sure to have what you’re looking for.
1. Toto Coaching Web Design Courses
Aspiring web designers and WordPress builders should check out Toto Coaching’s suite of courses.
There are four versions to choose from: a simple but very useful DIY website building course, a full course that teaches you everything you need to know and more, and two fast track versions of this, one without live coaching.
All of these are appropriate for beginners, and the “Building DIY Websites” course in particular can help you get off the ground.
2. WordPress for Beginners: Create a Website Step by Step
Absolute beginners who have never worked with WordPress or made a website before will get the most out of this popular and highly-rated course.
WordPress for Beginners will walk you through the very basics of using WordPress and building a website. You’ll learn all about themes, plugins, and page building, and by the end you’ll have your own website with a few pages and useful functionalities – plus, the foundational knowledge you’ll need to create more.
3. Elementor Academy
Finding high-quality, free WordPress courses may be hard, but you can start with these lessons offered by the creators of the popular Elementor plugin.
The classes will teach you all about various WordPress topics, from website design to content creation tactics. Some are full courses and some are just single videos, but all are free and hosted on YouTube.
Not sure where to begin? Try their Get Started With WordPress training.
4. How to Make a Website with WordPress – Full Course
If you’re looking for a crash course on WordPress that you can finish in an afternoon but still covers all the important bases, try this lesson from freeCodeCamp.
In less than two hours, you’ll learn how to set up WordPress, navigate the Dashboard, create a basic website, and install plugins. No time is wasted, but nothing important is left out.
5. Become a WordPress Developer: Unlocking Power With Code
Do you want to become a WordPress developer with almost zero experience? Then this course is perfect for you.
You should already have some basic WordPress knowledge and a rudimentary understanding of HTML. Besides that, you don’t need anything, this 42-hour, 200-lecture course will cover absolutely everything you need to know as a novice developer.
6. WP101
WP101 was created to teach beginners about a variety of WordPress topics. WordPress 101 will walk you through the basics, and from there you’ll find tutorials on everything from WooCommerce to Ninja Forms.
You can get access to all these courses for a yearly fee of $48, and you’re free to trial the lessons for seven days.
7. WordPress 5 Essential Training
You may notice that this course is a little outdated – the latest version of WordPress now being WordPress 6.4+ – but a majority of the lessons still fit perfectly and the sheer quality offered by instructor Morten Rand-Hendriksen makes it more than worth your time.
This community-loved course will teach you not just the basics, but extremely important advice that you’ll use for years to come. Give it a try and see why so many people recommend it!
8. Up and Running by WPShout
Tired of WordPress development courses that only feed you bits and pieces, never the whole picture? Then you’ll love Up and Running. This course will teach you all the skills you’ll need to become a seasoned WordPress developer, leaving little to nothing out.
While this course is targeted at all skill levels, including beginners, you should have some basic knowledge of PHP, HTML, and CSS going in.
The entire course costs $197, and comes with an eBook you can continue to reference with video tutorials for each and every lesson. There’s also a Pro Bootcamp version which will give you a chance to apply your skills in an instructed environment.
9. Learn WordPress
You want to learn WordPress – where better to start than its own official resources? The Learn WordPress team has crafted a variety of video courses and tutorials that will teach you everything from the very basics to WordPress development.
New free content is always being added, so check back often. Start with the three “Introduction to WordPress” courses to get on the right track.
If you prefer learning and applying your skills with a group, check out the Learn WordPress Online Workshops and see if there are any upcoming live events that cover these courses.
10. Complete WordPress Theme & Plugin Development Course
Maybe you’ve already got the WordPress basics down, but instead want to dive into creating your own themes and plugins. If you’re a new developer, this is the course for you.
You’ll need to have the basics of HTML and CSS down, but besides that, you don’t need to know anything. By the end of these lessons, you’ll be able to work with PHP, Javascript, and templates in a WordPress environment.
11. WordPress.com Learning Hub
Anyone new to WordPress and struggling to grasp the basics should check out WordPress.com’s own Learning Hub. Here you’ll find a handful of free, self-guided courses on blogging, SEO, podcasting, and more.
And if you’re hungry for more, you can also watch the webinars, which are less structured but offer guidance and insight on all sorts of topics.
Try the Get Started course if you’re completely new to WordPress. This will help you get on your feet and prepare you for more advanced lessons.
12. The Complete WordPress Website Business Course 2.0
When your interest lies in business and management, it’s hard to find beginner-friendly courses that fit in this niche. This Udemy course covers topics like ecommerce and creating profitable projects with WordPress.
If you’re planning on starting a business, setting up an online store, or selling products and services, then you’ll want to take this one. It will teach you how to set up WooCommerce and plenty of other relevant skills.
13. Build a Full Website using WordPress
Want to learn WordPress in two hours or less? This course is the one for you. You’ll learn WordPress basics like setting up a website, designing a homepage, creating more pages, and publishing blog posts without wasting a second of your valuable time.
By the end, you’ll have a good grasp of WordPress basics and will have the foundations needed to create your own full website.
14. Yoast SEO Academy
Or are you looking to learn more about search engine optimization specifically? SEO is one of the best ways to get more eyes on your content, and Yoast’s SEO Academy offers specialized training in this field.
Besides SEO-tailored topics, there’s also a basic “WordPress for beginners” course, so you can start there if you need to. A handful of beginner courses are available in full for free, but some others you’ll need to pay a yearly subscription. A free sample is available for all the premium courses.
15. WordPress for Beginners – Master WordPress Quickly
WordPress has changed a lot in the past few years, and you’ll often run into outdated courses with completely different UI and features. If this has you frustrated, try this modern WordPress beginner course, which the creators often update with major releases.
With the 20-step website plan and a detailed tutorial on each part, you’ll learn how to create your dream website from scratch in just under 11 hours.
16. Page Building 101
If there’s one YouTube course that’s free and high-quality, it’s Page Building 101. Rather than teaching you to use Elementor, Divi, or any other specific page builder, this course educates you on the fundamentals of page building and web design.
These skills are very useful and will carry over into any web design project you tackle in the future.
If your specific interest is in WordPress design and crafting beautiful websites, you’ll definitely want to check out this one. There are currently nineteen free, in-depth lessons, though more may come in the future.
17. How To Build An Ecommerce Store With WordPress & WooCommerce
Building an online store in WordPress adds some extra complexity you may struggle with as a beginner. With this course, you’ll pick up the necessary skills to both create a WordPress site from scratch and turn it into a thriving business.
You’ll learn how to use WordPress, WooCommerce, and Storefront, all free tools you can use to start your business with a minimal budget. The lessons are also quick and to the point, so you get all the essential skills in only three hours.
What’s Your Favorite WordPress Beginner Course?
Finding the right WordPress starter course is no easy task, especially if you’re looking for something specialized. This can be courses for newbie developers, ecommerce startups, or absolute beginners with zero web experience.
But with 17 courses to choose from, you’re sure to find something tailored to you. This mix of free and paid courses was hand-picked for quality, and we hope you find what you’re looking for among them.
Which course are you going with? Have you tried any of them before? Let everyone know how it went in the comments below!
