IT is a field of many opportunities for self study. Generally, the people I saw succeed in IT are people capable to look for solutions themselves. The ability to search for solutions individually, in order to problems is a key skill for most professionals in the tech area.
There are multiple resources and tools available today to help you into your learning journeys. From tech company-owned platforms, to general learning platforms, books, practice communities, Q&A platforms, live videos or courses and even people – as great mentors always grow curious, beautiful minds.
Let me enumerate some platforms I used along these years of practice in IT, and the reason why I believe they are great.
Tech-company-owned platforms
Microsoft Learn does an excellent job of structuring materials into clear and well-designed learning paths. I really appreciate the variety of formats—some modules are text-based, others are video—and the platform also uses gamification effectively. Tracking progress, earning XP, and hitting milestones gives that small dopamine boost that helps keep you motivated.
Another strong point is how easy it is to search and filter the content. I’ve found the filters especially useful, whether I needed to sort by technology, experience level, or professional role. If you’re planning to pursue a Microsoft or Azure certification, you can even structure your learning around that specific exam, following a dedicated path.
The one drawback is that, being owned by Microsoft, the platform naturally focuses on Microsoft technologies—.NET, C#, SQL Server, Azure. There’s much less content available for competing ecosystems.
AWS Skill Builder is similar to Microsoft Learn, but owned and maintained by Amazon, and promoting learning and development for its subsidiary technologies. It provides a similarly strong experience—but focused entirely on AWS cloud technologies. Like MS Learn, the platform makes it easy to search, filter, and follow structured learning paths. I primarily used it to prepare for AWS certifications, specifically the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and AWS Certified Developer – Associate exams. The content was clear, well presented, and delivered with a clean, straightforward design. I also appreciated how instructors explained concepts in a simple, approachable way.
One thing that stood out to me was how well the platform uses visual aids to reinforce learning—charts, flashcards, concept trees, diagrams, and colorful highlights to emphasize key points. The labs are another strong feature, letting you practice hands-on at your own pace to solidify the theory. The only small downside is that not all content is free—some sits behind a subscription paywall. That said, I was able to prepare very effectively for my certifications using just the free materials.
UiPath Academy I’ve written before about UiPath Academy, and I remain impressed with how well it’s structured. The learning paths align nicely with certifications, but the trainings are also valuable on their own. The videos are clear and paced thoughtfully, with trainers taking the time to explain concepts in detail. A big plus is the hands-on aspect: you’re encouraged to code along or try exercises as you go, which helps transform theory into practical skills. Along the way, exercises and challenges are built in, supported by links to documentation, community resources, and even solutions in case you get stuck.
Overall, UiPath Academy strikes a great balance between theory and practice, and it’s a solid choice whether you’re certification-focused or simply looking to deepen your automation skills.
IT-oriented learning platforms
In my view, Pluralsight stands out as the most reliable platform in this category. The company places a strong emphasis on selecting highly qualified professionals as instructors, and that commitment shows. Every course I’ve taken on Pluralsight has been led by individuals with deep technical expertise, well-structured lesson plans, and a professional delivery style. Whether it’s Agile, Angular, or Azure, the experience has consistently left me with a solid understanding of the subject matter.
One of Pluralsight’s greatest strengths is its insistence on a unified learning experience. Regardless of the instructor, topic, or region, the platform enforces a consistent style guide for visual content—covering fonts, colors, diagrams, slide layouts, and more. This consistency eliminates the distractions of individual design choices and ensures that learners can focus on the content itself. Switching from a MongoDB course to a Cloud Security course (for example) feels seamless, as the presentation format remains familiar and easy to follow.
The primary drawback, however, is cost. Pluralsight is clearly geared toward enterprise clients, offering training solutions to IT teams rather than targeting individual learners. While individual subscriptions are available, they come at a higher price point than many competing platforms. For most professionals, the best way to benefit from Pluralsight is through a company partnership—if your employer offers access, you can enjoy world-class training at no personal expense. Otherwise, individual options are only in subscription-model, and I think they start at ~50EUR per month.
General learning platforms
(with rich IT content)
Udemy holds a leading position in the online learning space, though with some important caveats. The primary concern is the significant variation in content quality across courses. The platform operates much like an open marketplace, where many individuals create and sell courses. While this democratization encourages variety, not every instructor is an experienced trainer or skilled content creator.
From my experience, some instructors struggle with clear communication, particularly in English, while others publish very short courses that provide limited value compared to the price. More advanced or in-depth content can also be difficult to find, as many creators focus primarily on beginner-level material. These introductory courses often cover only surface-level concepts—content that could, in many cases, be learned through free online research.
Another common issue is the lack of balance between theoretical and practical application. Some courses remain overly theoretical, others keep focus on strictly practical aspects, while I believe the best is to find a way to balance both. This inconsistency creates a risk for learners: the course you purchase may not meet your expectations. That said, Udemy does offer a notable advantage—affordability. Most courses are priced relatively low (starting from ~10 EUR and constant discounts throughout the year), so even if a course falls short, the financial loss is usually minimal. One useful feature to help mitigate this risk is the availability of preview videos. Many instructors provide short, publicly accessible samples that allow prospective students to assess the teaching style, clarity, and overall course structure before making a purchase decision.
Honorable mentions
MongoDB university, for very specific trainings on MongoDB and its adjacent technologies
Codecademy – as in my past years as a junior, I learned PHP in a fun way here, with a course design that kept me well involved and motivated
For Angular certifications, I recommend angulartraining.com, which will redirect you to: certificates dev
Domestika, for a more personal development phase. It has less technical content but it is rich in courses on creative domains, or activities that can be tried as a hobby or out of pleasure for an IT person: writing, comedy, photography, culinary etc. I followed a few classes with domestika and I feel it was a nice way to spend some free time and learn a new thing.
Do you have other recommendations? Let us know, and let us learn.