How to Learn WordPress: 11 Best Courses, Blogs, Vids and Docs

Why is it a good idea to learn WordPress?

If you’re looking to expand your web development skill set, learning WordPress is a great place to start. W3Techs puts WordPress at 39.5% of all websites, and at 58.2% of sites whose content management system it can identify, so it’s a valuable skill to have. But there are plenty of other reasons to learn WordPress. Let’s explore some of the benefits.

• Whether you’re new to web development or an experienced developer, learning WordPress is an excellent investment in your future.
• It comes with a user-friendly interface and many customization options, making it possible for anyone to create and manage websites without any coding experience.
• Having knowledge of WordPress can open doors to various career opportunities. It’s a wonderful skill to put on a resume.
• Many companies want employees to be proficient in the platform, and having these skills can give you a competitive edge over others in the industry.
• If you’re looking to start your own business or freelance career in web development or design, having WordPress skills can be immensely beneficial. The same can be said for careers in writing, social media management, SEO, and online marketing.
• WordPress is constantly evolving. This ensures that the platform stays relevant and adaptable, making it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.

How to learn WordPress: The best blogs 💻

WordPress blogs offer valuable resources and insights for beginners and experienced users. They cover various aspects of web design beyond just WordPress. Many blogs provide in-depth tutorials, step-by-step guides, and practical tips. While they may be less organized than online courses, they offer flexibility and specific topics related to WordPress. These blogs are valuable online resources for those who prefer a flexible learning approach.

1. Themeisle Blog

The Themeisle blog is built by Themeisle, the team behind WPShout. It’s a great resource for beginners who want to learn WordPress quickly. It offers tutorials and guides that cover everything from installation to customization. The blog is a must-read for those just getting started, since it features articles on best practices, tips, and tricks to improve your WordPress website without any complicated tactics.

💵 Pricing:

• Free tutorials and articles

💡 Topics covered:

• WordPress basics
• Theme customization
• Plugin selection and installation
• SEO optimization
• Ecommerce integration
• Website security

⭐ Experience levels:

• Beginner

2. WPShout

WPShout (this site, which now also hosts the former CodeinWP blog) specializes in tutorials that cater to beginners and advanced users, covering topics like development, security, and optimization. It also features interviews with prominent figures in the WordPress community, and its free developer courses cover Beginner WordPress Development, PHP for WordPress Development, and Command Line and WP-CLI.

💵 Pricing:

• Free

💡 Topics covered:

• WordPress development (frontend and backend)
• Courses
• Hosting
• Server administration
• WordPress stats
• Building a website
• Using WordPress

⭐ Experience levels:

• Intermediate
• Advanced

3. Smashing Magazine

Smashing Magazine publishes WordPress articles alongside its web design and development coverage. The paid extras focus on front-end and UX rather than WordPress specifically: 14 printed books and 67 eBooks, live online workshops, and a Smashing Membership community that Smashing itself pitches at “just 1 coffee a month”.

💵 Pricing:

• Free articles (with paid books, workshops, and membership available)

💡 Topics covered:

• Design
• Development
• Accessibility
• Coding

⭐ Experience levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

How to learn WordPress: top online courses 📚

Online courses provide a comprehensive learning experience. They have organized classes, resources, and certificates of completion. While some have costs, they offer great value for your money. Choose from video courses, modules, ebooks, and more. Check out our favorite online courses below.

4. WP101’s WordPress Video Tutorials

WP101 offers a comprehensive collection of over 200 step-by-step video tutorials that cover all aspects of how to learn WordPress. These tutorials are regularly updated to keep up with the latest version of the WordPress platform. Designed especially for beginners, the videos are easy to follow and understand, even for those with no prior experience in web development.

💵 Pricing:

• $12 per month, $48 per year, or $96 for a one-time payment

💡 Topics Covered:

• Intro to WordPress
• Elementor
• Spectra
• How to blog
• WPForms
• WooCommerce
• WP Rocket

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Mainly beginner courses

5. LinkedIn Learning’s WordPress Tutorials (Formerly Lynda.com)

What makes the “how to learn WordPress” tutorials from LinkedIn so valuable is that they are taught by industry experts who have real-world experience in working with WordPress. With LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), you can enjoy a flexible learning experience with self-paced courses and bite-sized videos. Upon completion, you can showcase your new skills by earning a certificate to display on your LinkedIn profile. Interactive quizzes and challenges are also included to reinforce your learning.

💵 Pricing:

• LinkedIn Learning offers a one-month free trial; check the site for current subscription pricing.

💡 Topics Covered:

• WordPress setup
• Essential training
• Small business websites
• The WordPress structure
• Coding
• Theme building
• Membership sites
• PHP for WordPress
• SEO

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

6. Udemy’s WordPress Courses

Udemy offers affordable WordPress courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Choose the course that suits your needs, covering topics like website design, plugin development, and SEO optimization. With self-paced learning and lifetime access, you can learn at your own convenience. Quizzes and assignments reinforce learning and ensure comprehension.

💵 Pricing:

• Prices are set per course; every course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee

💡 Topics Covered:

• Website design
• Plugin and theme development
• Elementor
• SEO
• WordPress for business

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

7. WPSessions.com

WPSessions.com offers in-depth workshops and courses taught by experienced professionals. The courses cater to both intermediate and advanced users, helping them improve their WordPress skills quickly. Nearly every recording is transcribed and captioned, and annual members can download everything for offline viewing and help direct the live content schedule.

💵 Pricing:

• $29 per month or $299 per year

💡 Topics Covered:

• Plugin and theme development
• UX tips
• Migrations
• Optimization
• Headless ecommerce
• Web design workflows

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Intermediate
• Advanced

How to learn WordPress: free online videos 📺

Video tutorials are a great way to learn WordPress. They provide visual and interactive learning experiences. Whether you prefer hands-on or visual learning, video tutorials offer wonderful insights and best practices.

8. Learn.WordPress.org

Learn.WordPress.org is the official online learning platform for WordPress. It provides free courses and tutorials for beginners and advanced users. Enhance your skills and knowledge of WordPress at your own pace with a wide range of topics covered, including design, development, and content creation.

💵 Pricing:

• Free

💡 Topics Covered:

• Design
• Development
• Content Creation
• Databases
• Coding

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

How to learn WordPress: detailed documentation and online manuals 📘

WordPress documentation tends to be more text-oriented, like user’s manuals. Documentation websites provide instructions, troubleshooting tips, and resources to stay up-to-date with the latest features. We typically recommend WordPress documentation for expert developers, seeing as how much of it revolves around coding. Yet, even beginners can find some useful information on a few of these sites.

Here are our recommendations:

9. WordPress Developer Resources

WordPress Developer Resources is the official online manual for advanced WordPress referencing. It covers all topics of WordPress, but in a more rigid, formulaic fashion. It’s updated by the WordPress community, and offers very specific examples for how to learn WordPress coding and development tactics.

💵 Pricing:

• Free

💡 Topics Covered:

• Code reference
• Coding standards
• Common APIs
• Theme development
• WP-CLI
• REST API
• Advanced administration

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Intermediate
• Advanced

10. WordPress.org documentation

WordPress.org offers a comprehensive documentation section that covers all aspects of using and managing a WordPress website. It includes step-by-step guides, tutorials, and troubleshooting tips for users of all levels. The documentation is regularly updated to keep up with the latest changes in WordPress. Users can also join community forums for support from other users and experts.

💵 Pricing:

• Free

💡 Topics Covered:

• WordPress maintenance
• Security
• Installation
• Design and appearance
• Theme and plugin management
• Publishing
• Media management

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate

11. Devdocs.io WordPress documentation

Devdocs.io is a massive library of documentation for coding languages and web development tools. For WordPress, the articles focus on specific coding elements like hooks and classes, and it provides useful information like how to use the code, when to use it, and examples of it in practice.

💵 Pricing:

• Free

💡 Topics Covered:

• Functions
• Classes
• Hooks

⭐ Experience Levels:

• Advanced

Conclusion on how to learn WordPress 🧐🎓

Learning WordPress is easier than ever with the abundance of online courses and tutorials. Whether you prefer blogs, video tutorials, or comprehensive online courses, there are options for every learning style and commitment level. From the Themeisle Blog to LinkedIn Learning’s WordPress Tutorials, and from Learn.WordPress.org to WordPress Developer Resources, there are plenty of resources available. Consider factors like budget, time commitment, and preferred learning format when choosing a WordPress course or tutorial.

Remember, practice and perseverance are key to mastering WordPress. Start your journey today and connect with other learners by leaving a comment below to share experiences.