The Spring framework (or just Spring) is an open-source application framework for Java that was written and released in 2003 by Rod Johnson.
At its core, Spring is a dependency injection container and application context manager with numerous convenience layers, including database access, a web MVC framework, proxies, and more.
Spring developers can build high-performance, testable, and reusable code for any type of Java application, including web apps via Jakarta EE (formerly Java EE). Spring also allows developers to focus on the application rather than the infrastructure.
If you’re a Java developer that wants to learn Spring, or an aspiring developer looking for the most in-demand skills in 2024, Spring is a solid choice, as shown by an average annual salary of nearly $90,000 for Spring developers.
To help you on your way, we’ve found the 10 best Spring courses in 2024, ranging from total beginner to offerings for experienced devs.
Featured Spring Courses [Editor’s Picks]
- [Udemy] Spring Framework 5: Beginner to Guru Tutorial
- [PluralSight] Spring Framework: Spring 5 Fundamentals
- [Marco Behler] The Confident Spring Professional
Choosing the Best Spring Course
To help you find the best Spring Framework training, we’ve used the following criteria.
- Instructor: How experienced are they as a teacher and industry professional? Are they well-rated or reviewed by previous students?
- Content: How detailed, relevant, and engaging is the curriculum? Does it cover the topics you need to overcome real-world challenges as a Spring developer? Do previous students recommend the course?
- Community: How many people have taken the course? Is it easy to find help if you need it?
10 Best Spring Courses in 2024
Before we dive into the 10 best Spring courses online in 2024, we’ve put together a summary table to show you the difficulty level for each course in our list.
|
Course |
Level |
|
Beginner |
|
|
[Udemy] Java Spring Tutorial Masterclass - Learn Spring Framework 5 |
Beginner |
|
[Udemy] Spring & Hibernate for Beginners (includes Spring Boot) |
Beginner |
|
[Udemy] Spring Framework Master Class - Java Spring the Modern Way |
Beginner |
|
Beginner |
|
|
Beginner |
|
|
Intermediate |
|
|
[PluralSight] Spring Framework: Spring Data JPA 5 with Hibernate |
Intermediate |
|
All levels |
|
|
All levels |
Want to supplement your Spring learning? Take a look at:
10 Best Spring Framework Books
1. [Udemy] Spring Framework 5: Beginner to Guru Tutorial
Why we chose this course
This Spring online training is an excellent way for beginners to learn real-world skills by building apps with Spring 5 and Spring Boot 2.
You’ll learn to use SOLID principles for OOP, Test Driven Development (TDD), Continuous Integration (CI), run Spring Boot apps inside Docker containers, use Spring Data JPA & Hibernate, and create web apps with Spring MVC.
To cap it off, you’ll also build a Reactive end-to-end application with MongoDB (NoSQL), which will be a fantastic addition to your portfolio.
Pros
- Spring Boot Cookbook for future reference
- GitHub source code
- 4-month trial to IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate IDE
- Private Slack community
Cons
- Copy and paste versus live coding in some videos
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java knowledge, helps to know HTML & SQL
Instructor: John Thompson
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 57 hours on-demand video
2. [Udemy] Java Spring Tutorial Masterclass - Learn Spring Framework 5
Why we chose this course
This Spring online course emphasizes the highest-impact areas of the Spring framework like Spring Core, Spring MVC, and Spring Boot 2. With these skills, you’ll be able to create stand-alone apps and web applications, representing two of the most common tasks for Spring developers.
Using the latest Spring 5, you’ll learn best practices used by real-world professionals, understand core Spring technologies, and learn how Spring fits into the enterprise space (Jakarta EE or formerly Java EE).
Pros
- Detailed content
- Bonus training for Thymeleaf & Maven
- Respected instructors with professional experience
- Fast response for support & queries
Cons
- Archived content is helpful but outdated as a first point of reference for specific topics
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java knowledge
Instructor: Tim Buchalka and Goran Lochert
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 45 hours on-demand video
3. [Udemy] Spring & Hibernate for Beginners (includes Spring Boot)
Why we chose this course
With this Java Spring training, you’ll learn about the latest versions of Spring, Spring Boot, and Hibernate by manually entering source code. This is a fantastic way to ensure you get the most out of your learning by cementing the fundamentals into your brain!
You’ll learn about Spring Core, Hibernate, Spring Boot 2, Spring MVC, Maven, Spring Data, and Thymeleaf. You’ll also be able to create a real-time Spring project with Spring MVC, Spring REST, Spring Boot, and Hibernate from scratch.
And if you get stuck, the instructor will get back to you in 24 hours.
Pros
- Comprehensive & up-to-date curriculum
- Skilled & responsive instructor
- Downloadable source code
Cons
- Emphasizes practice, meaning less time spent on potentially helpful theory
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java & HTML knowledge
Instructor: Chad Darby
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 41 hours on-demand video
4. [Udemy] Spring Framework Master Class - Java Spring the Modern Way
Why we chose this course
If you’re looking for a shorter Spring Framework course to learn the basics with hands-on examples, this is a solid choice. You’ll set up the Eclipse IDE before jumping into key features of Spring (dependency injection, application context, etc.), Spring Boot, Spring MVC, and the most useful Spring Modules.
You’ll also get to grips with unit testing via JUnit, database communication with Spring JBDC & JPA, and dependency management with Maven.
Pros
- Step-by-step approach is easy to follow for beginners
- Well-structured content focused on applications
Cons:
- Lack of depth may make certain concepts challenging for beginners
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java knowledge
Instructor: Ranga Karanam (from in28minutes)
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 12.5 hours on-demand video
5. [PluralSight] Spring Framework: Spring 5 Fundamentals
Why we chose this course
If you’re looking for a crash course in Spring, this might be for you! In less than 3 hours, you can quickly learn Spring fundamentals, including how to build and configure apps, what dependency injection is, how to use autowiring, and how to use advanced bean configs.
When you’re done, you should be able to use Spring to build basic apps, or even convert some of your older code into a Spring app.
Pros
- Well-structured & highly focused content
- High-quality course material
Cons
- Super short, so cannot replace full training courses
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java knowledge
Instructor: Bryan Hansen
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 2h 27m
6. [Baeldung] Learn Spring: The Certification Class
Why we chose this course
This comprehensive course includes 9 modules focusing on the core aspects of Spring 5 and Spring Boot 2, including dependency injection, Spring Data JPA, Spring MVC, Spring AOP, Reactive apps, REST APIs, and more.
When you’re done, you’ll be able to use Spring to build apps, which is what it’s all about!
With an emphasis on practical instruction, you’ll be doing a lot of coding and absorbing the key information and skills. You’ll start with the basics and then gradually add more skills as you build out a capstone project that you can add to your portfolio.
Pros
- Comprehensive content for beginners
- Hands-on approach
- Capstone project for portfolio
Cons
- Aimed at beginners, so lacks in-depth theory
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java knowledge
Instructor: Eugen Paraschiv
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Yes
Duration: ~22 hours
7. [Coursera] Spring MVC, Spring Boot and Rest Controllers
Why we chose this course
If you’re an experienced Java developer, this offering from Coursera is a great way to learn how to use Spring to create Java web apps or RESTful microservices.
As part of the wider Coursera Spring Framework specialization, it comprises three hands-on modules that teach you how to use Spring MVC and Spring Boot to create RESTful microservices with URL templates, custom HTTP headers, and JSON or XML payloads. You’ll also create web applications with a Model View Controller (MVC) architecture.
Pros
- Graded assignments & quizzes
- Self-paced learning
- Part of a wider Spring Framework specialization track
Cons
- Course structure could be improved & contains some typos
Key Information
Prerequisites: Java experience
Instructor: Derek Parsons
Level: Intermediate
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 12 hours
8. [PluralSight] Spring Framework: Spring Data JPA 5 with Hibernate
Why we chose this course
This is a well-structured and fast way to gain Spring JPA and Hibernate skills if you already have Java experience and a basic background in Spring MVC.
In only 3 hours, you’ll get a crash course in Spring JPA, JPA app architecture, JPA configuration, JPA annotation, and more.
Pros
- Well-structured & highly focused content
- High-quality course material
Cons
- Practical focus on JPA data persistence without diving deep into theory
Key Information
Prerequisites: Java programming, Spring MVC
Instructor: Bryan Hansen
Level: Intermediate
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 2h 59m
9. [Marco Behler] The Confident Spring Professional
Why we chose this course
If you want a truly comprehensive understanding of the Spring Framework and the general Spring ecosystem, this is the way to go.
With an incremental and reversed learning sequence, you’ll learn the what, the how, and the why you do things a certain way with Spring, all with a hands-on approach.
This course includes detailed content on Spring Boot, Spring MVC, Maven, inversion of control & dependency injection, REST services with JSON & XML, how to build Java web apps & server-side content, database access, and more.
Pros
- Thorough curriculum, given in reverse order to strengthen understanding
- Detailed code examples & explanations
- Learning exercises & solutions
Cons
- You may have to be patient if you have instructor questions
Key Information
Prerequisites: Programming experience with Java (or JVM languages like Kotlin, etc.)
Instructor: Marco Behler
Level: All levels
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 10–20 hours
10. [edureka!] Spring Framework Certification
Why we chose this course
If you prefer a live, interactive learning environment, then this is the Java Spring course for you! Designed for anyone with basic Java and database knowledge, this Edureka course aims to make you a Spring Framework expert by getting you to create real-world web applications, which can be a fantastic way to enhance your portfolio.
By completing this course, you’ll have a solid understanding of Spring Framework architecture, dependency injection, Maven, Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP), Spring MVC, unit testing, security, and more. You’ll also learn how to configure the Spring Framework and interact with databases using Spring Core and Hibernate.
Pros
- Live instructor-led classes & on-demand catch-up
- Build Twitter integration app & book review app
- Industry-recognized certificate
Cons
- Does not include Spring Boot
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Java & database knowledge
Instructor: Edureka instructors
Level: All levels
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 24 hours (Weekend Class: 8x 3 hour sessions for 4 weeks)
Conclusion
By using the Spring framework, developers can build high-performance Java applications with greater ease and speed. And with Spring developers bringing in an average salary of nearly $90,000, it’s no surprise that Spring skills are in high demand in 2024.
This article has covered the 10 best Spring courses online in 2024, ranging from short and intensive offerings for experienced devs to comprehensive classes for complete beginners. So whatever your current skill level, there’s a course for you to learn the Spring Framework.
Looking to land a Spring Developer position? Read this next:
Best Spring Interview Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is a Spring Course?
A Spring course is a blend of teaching materials, including theory and practical exercises that you can use to learn about the Spring framework, including how to use these skills to build a range of Java applications.
2. How Can I Learn Spring for Free?
You could opt for a free trial with the paid course providers on our list, allowing you to whet your appetite before deciding whether to commit financially.
Otherwise, you could search for a free Spring framework tutorial for beginners on YouTube, GitHub, or Google and then try to ‘learn by doing’. Sometimes, nothing beats getting stuck into a mini-project to learn a new skill!
3. Can I Learn Spring Without Java?
It’s not really possible to begin learning Spring framework without Java as it was designed to create Java apps. You could, of course, use other JVM languages like Kotlin or Scala, but to learn Spring, Java will be necessary.