Whether you’re a recent graduate or looking to enter a new field in the world of IT, it can be hard to know which beginner IT course is the best way to go. That's where the community at Hackr.io comes in. Our community submits tutorials and resources. Then, we evaluate and research the best IT courses online.
Our evaluations consider several important points. We considered topics and the depth of their coverage. For example, the best IT courses online cover web development, mobile app development, programming, data science, cyber security, cloud, and networking. We also considered the value for money, the expertise of the instructor, and community ratings.
Our list of the ten best IT courses online focuses on beginner-friendly topics. All you need to get started is access to a computer for programming and a willingness to learn. Most of these resources also offer a certificate that can enhance your resume as you search for a new job in your chosen area.
Top Featured IT Courses for Beginners [Editor's Picks]
- [Udemy] The Complete Web Developer Course - Build 20 Websites
- [Udemy] The Comprehensive Android App Development Masterclass
- [Coursera] IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate
Criteria for Choosing the Best IT Courses Online
- In-demand: Content and focus of each course in IT fields with significant demand
- Provider: Reputation for quality content, accredited certificates from industry leaders
- Course materials: Sufficiently detailed curriculum, projects, and quizzes/exams
- Instructor: Must be highly experienced and knowledgeable in the field
- Flexibility: Self-paced and requires little to no travel
Best Online IT Courses for Beginners
| Course | Features | Price |
| [Udemy] The Complete Web Developer Course - Build 20 Websites | Project-based, Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript | $14.99 |
| [Udemy] The Comprehensive Android App Development Masterclass | Project-based, Learn Java, Android Activities, Layouts, etc | $17.99 |
| [DataCamp] Introduction to Data Science in Python | Learn Python basics, data science fundamentals | $39/month or $149 annually |
| [Coursera] Introduction to Data Science Specialization | Learn R, Python, Jupyter, SQL, applied data science skills | $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus |
| [edX] Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies | Virtualization, IaaS, PaaS, containers, DevOps, CI/CD, etc | $149 (Free with no certificate) |
| [Coursera] IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate | Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, React, Express, Node.js, Django, Cloud, and more | $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus |
| [Coursera] Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate | Data cleaning, analysis & visualizations via SQL, R, & Tableau | $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus |
| [Coursera] IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate | Windows, Linux, and macOS security, server admin, compliance, TCP/IP & OSI model | $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus |
| [Coursera] Key Technologies for Business Specialization | Cloud models and trends, AI concepts, data science and business impact | $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus |
| [Cisco Networking Academy] Introduction to Networks | Network architecture, protocols, switches/routers, IPv4 & IPv6, LANs, and more | Provider-dependent |
1. [Udemy] The Complete Web Developer Course - Build 20 Websites
Key Information
Instructor: John Bura
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills
Price: $64.99
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 11h 30m (Video Content)
Why We Chose This Course
John Bura's web development made the top of our list as the best IT course online for complete beginners because of its focus on personal projects, low comparative price point, and expert instructor. With a list price under $65, we were delighted to see more than 300 lectures.
That all adds up to more than 16 hours of content on web development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks. At the time of writing, more than 2,600 students enrolled in the course. We consider this one of the best Udemy courses for novice web developers.
Features
- Project-based learning
- Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript
- Build 20 websites
Pros
- 24/7 and lifetime access to online content & course materials
- Knowledgeable & experienced instructors
- Supportive online community
- Practical skills for real-world scenarios
Cons
- Curriculum may be too simple for some
- Mostly static websites vs. dynamic with JavaScript
2. [Udemy] The Comprehensive Android App Development Masterclass
Key Information
Instructor: Paulo Dichone
Level: Beginners
Prerequisites: Basic programming skills
Price: $99.99
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 49h 30m (Video Content)
Why We Chose This Course
Our research uncovered another strong online IT course in Paulo Dichone's Comprehensive Android App Development Masterclass. With more than 49 hours of instructional content, the $100 price point provides strong value for the money. Better yet, we've seen this course sell for as little as $13.99 during some sales throughout the year.
Made for students who want to master Android app development, we recommend this course for those who want a deep dive with hands-on projects. Our experience shows these types of projects help students master fundamental skills, and they make courses more fun!
Take this beginner IT course to learn UI design, advanced Android APIs like ML-Kit face recognition and Firestore real-time database, and how to upload your apps to the Google Play store.
Features
- Project-based learning
- Learn Java, including OOP & data structures
- Learn Android Activities, Layouts, and Project Structure
- Implement Model-View-Controller architecture (MVC)
Pros
- 24/7 and lifetime access to online content & course materials
- Comprehensive curriculum
- Hands-on exercises & real-world skills
Cons
- Harder to follow for those with zero coding skills
- Minimal instructor support
3. [DataCamp] Introduction to Data Science in Python
Key Information
Instructor: Hilary Green-Lerman
Level: Beginners
Prerequisites: Basic computer & math skills
Price: $39/month or $149 annually
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 4h (Videos, Exercises, & Quizzes)
Why We Chose This Course
This is a solid starting point for newcomers to coding or data science. If you don't want a specific Python course, this one will start you with the basics, including syntax, functions, data types, and libraries. Then, you will can use pandas to manipulate data, and matplotlib to produce graphs and plots. This course comprises the DataCamp Python Programmer and Data Analyst tracks.
Features
- Learn Python basics inc. syntax, functions, data types, and libraries
- Learn data science fundamentals
- Use pandas to manipulate dataframes
- Use matplotlib to produce different graphs and plots
Pros
- Beginner-friendly curriculum for Python & data science
- Interactive video tutorials and quizzes
- Supplementary reference materials & data sets
Cons
- A little basic for experienced coders
- Lack of live labs or one-to-one instruction
4. [Coursera] Introduction to Data Science Specialization
Key Information
Instructor: Rav Ahuja
Level: Beginners
Prerequisites: Basic computer & math skills
Price: $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 75h (Videos, Exercises, & Quizzes)
Why We Chose This Course
If you’re an aspiring data scientist, this offering from Coursera uses four IT online classes (sub-courses) to teach you core data science concepts and tools, data visualization, exploratory data analysis, and machine learning. You'll also work with real-world datasets and get hands-on experience exploring and analyzing data. This is a good way to earn an industry-recognized certificate before taking the next step and looking for the best IT certification.
Features
- Learn R, Python, Jupyter, and SQL
- Use GitHub & Watson Studio
- Learn to think like a data scientist
- Apply data science skills and techniques
Pros
- Taught by IBM professionals & leads to IBM completion badge/certificate
- Applied learning project for your portfolio
- Learn and apply industry-recognized skills
Cons
- Self-paced & sizable curriculum may be challenging to self-manage
- May need to refresh/learn new statistical concepts as you progress
5. [edX] Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies
Key Information
Instructor: Chris Pokorni & Chip Childers
Level: Beginners
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills
Price: $149 (Free with no certificate)
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 42h-56h (Videos, Exercises, & Exam)
Why We Chose This Course
This is a strong introduction for anyone interested in DevOps or cloud networking. Taught by instructors from The Linux Foundation, you’ll receive some of the best IT online training in cloud computing basics, virtualization, platforms as a service (PaaS), containers, and more. If you’d like a certificate, choose the paid version to access a graded exam.
Features:
- Virtualization, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), & Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, etc.) & orchestration
- Software-defined storage (SDS) & software-defined networking (SDN)
- DevOps, CI/CD, and Internet of Things (IoT)
- Cloud-compute & serverless computing
Pros
- Flexible learning format, interactive tutorials, & quizzes
- Forums for student feedback, advice, and support
- Supplementary reference materials & case studies
- Lifetime access for paid version
Cons
- Lack of hands-on lab work
6. [Coursera] IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate
Key Information
Instructor: Rav Ahuja
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills (coding background helps)
Price: $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 156h (Videos, Exercises, & Quizzes)
Why We Chose This Course
If you have aspirations to become a full-stack developer, then you’ll know that you need LOTS of complementary skills! With 10 sub-courses, you’ll receive some of the best IT training online to build full-stack applications with various front-end and back-end languages, frameworks, and cloud-native methodologies, this offering from Coursera is a great way to make that happen.
Features
- Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, & Git (GitHub)
- Build apps with React, Express, Node.js, and Django
- Lean cloud tools, containers, microservices, & serverless infrastructure
Pros
- Taught by IBM professionals & leads to IBM completion badge/certificate
- Quizzes & ‘capstone’ project for your portfolio
- Learn and apply industry-recognized skills
Cons
- Lots of content to digest & long-term commitment to realize benefits
7. [Coursera] Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Key Information
Instructor: Google
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills & High-school math
Price: $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus
Certificate: Yes
Duration: ~200h (Videos, Exercises, & Quizzes)
Why We Chose This Course
If you want a career in data analytics, this comprehensive Coursera IT course from Google aims to make you hirable in just 6 months! This online course for information technology covers best practices for collecting and analyzing data, communicating findings, and making evidence-based decisions. You’ll also learn tools and techniques for visualizing data and how to apply skills to real-world data.
Features
- Intro to data analytics, cleaning, and analysis via SQL and R
- Data visualizations & Tableau dashboards
Pros
- Taught by Google experts & leads to Google Career Certificate
- Quizzes & applied-learning project for your portfolio
- Learn and apply industry-recognized skills
Cons
- Uses R rather than Python which is often expected with data analysis
- May need to refresh/learn new statistical concepts as you progress
8. [Coursera] IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
Key Information
Instructor: IBM
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills
Price: $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus
Certificate: Yes
Duration: ~110h (Videos, Exercises, & Quizzes)
Why We Chose This Course
If you’re fascinated by a career in cybersecurity, this Coursera program is a fantastic way to gain training on network security, incident response, forensics, and essential cybersecurity tools and techniques. You’ll also get to grips with important topics like compliance and threat intelligence, which are crucial in this ever-evolving field.
Features
- Windows, Linux, and macOS security basics
- Server & Client-systems administration
- Industry standards & compliance frameworks
- TCP/IP & OSI model
Pros
- Taught by IBM professionals & leads to IBM certificate
- Quizzes & supplementary materials
- Learn and apply industry-recognized skills
Cons
- Audio & video quality varies in quality
9. [Coursera] Key Technologies for Business Specialization
Key Information
Instructor: Rav Ahuja
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills
Price: $59/month or $399 annually for Coursera Plus
Certificate: Yes
Duration: ~35h (Videos, Exercises, & Quizzes)
Why We Chose This Course
If you’re a manager or executive that’s interested in how data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing can positively impact your business, we recommend this as one of the top IT courses online. As with other Coursera resources on our list, this one boasts an impressive connection. It's offered by IBM. It covers the foundations of each, with an emphasis on how they can drive business growth.
Features
- Cloud computing models, components, trends, and best practices
- AI concepts, terminology, and ethical concerns
- Data science topics, use cases, and business impact
Pros
- Taught by IBM professionals & leads to IBM certificate
- Covers key concepts from a high-level
Cons
- Primarily theory, so not suited to engineers or developers
10. [Cisco Networking Academy] Introduction to Networks
Key Information
Instructor: Provider-dependent
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: None
Price: Provider-dependent
Certificate: No (Digital Badge)
Duration: 70h (videos & Exercises)
Why We Chose This Course
If you’re an aspiring network engineer with your eyes set on CCNA status, this is a fantastic entry point as it’s one of three Cisco courses on the CCNA track. You’ll study network architecture, models, protocols, IP addressing, network security, router/switch configuration, and even build simple LANs (local area networks).
Unlike some of the courses on this list, this is one of those information technology courses online that requires real hands-on lab work, so you’ll need to find a local Cisco academy in your area.
Features
- Network architecture, protocols, and elements
- Configure switches/routers, and implement IPv4 and IPv6 addressing
- Build simple LANs and troubleshoot real-world issues in real labs
- Learn best practices for network security
- Online assessments
Pros
- Comprehensive content
- Constantly updated to reflect the latest industry changes
- Experienced & knowledgeable instructors
Cons
- Challenging for newcomers to networking
- Large curriculum can be daunting to cover in a short time
Tips for Success With IT Courses
- Stay organized & focused: set aside specific blocks of time each day for studying, create detailed study plans, and use self-discipline
- Use available resources: take advantage of all your course offers, whether it’s video lectures, written materials, hands-on labs, or other tools
- Practice: apply what you’ve learned in the real world, whether through coding challenges, hands-on projects with classmates, or completing assessments
- Ask questions: if you don't understand how to move forward, contact instructors or classmates for help
Conclusion
With so many in-demand IT sectors, it can be challenging for beginners to choose from the various online courses on information technology. We researched the courses and evaluated their coverage. The result? We found the 10 best IT courses in web development, mobile app development, programming, data science, cyber security, cloud, and networking.
With a range of price points and time commitments, these IT courses for beginners can help you learn the foundational skills you need to start your career journey. Most also include an applied learning project and a certificate that can enhance your resume and portfolio.
Like what you’ve seen, and want to discover even more courses? Check out:
20 Best Computer Science Courses
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which IT Course is Best for Beginners?
This depends on the area that interests you the most. This article has covered some of the most in-demand IT sectors, so if you’re thinking of learning the foundations of programming, data science, networking, or cybersecurity, check out the beginner courses we’ve listed above.
2. What is an IT Training Course?
An IT training course is a program of study that develops your technical skills and knowledge in a specific IT field. These can be online, in a classroom, or a hybrid that combines the two. They typically allow students to practice new skills and gain hands-on experience via projects or assessments.
3. Which is the Easiest Course in IT?
You will find the easiest online IT course experience in unmonitored video courses. If you plan to work at a slow pace and wish to work without the disturbance of deadlines, check our recommendations for courses at Udemy, Coursera, and YouTube. These allow you to work at your own pace. Examples are The Complete Web Developer Course from Udemy, DataCamp’s Introduction to Data Science in Python, and Coursera’s Introduction to Data Science Specialization.
4. Can I Teach Myself Information Technology Skills Online?
Yes, you can teach yourself Information Technology skills. We recommend free IT classes and courses, tutorials, and online communities that can help you learn fundamentals like programming, networking, cybersecurity, web development, database management, and more.
5. Are There Free Online Information Technology Courses?
Yes, there are many free IT classes online, and these can be a great way to learn about key subjects, develop new technical skills, and build your portfolio. Many paid providers, such as Coursera, DataCamp, and edX, also offer free options for the courses we’ve listed above. These usually come with reduced access to course materials and do not result in a certificate.
6. How Long is the Average Online Information Technology Course?
The length of online IT courses varies tremendously. Our experience shows that some tutorials only require 5-6 hours while others need 6-12 months and +200 hours of study. Enroll in the option that best suits your needs.
