◦ Comprehensive security
◦ 24/7 support
WordPress → Courses
Free WordPress courses: the best places to start learning WordPress online
Learning WordPress can open the door to blogging, freelancing, business websites, or even a career in web development. If you’re just getting started with the self-hosted WordPress.org platform, there are free, high-quality courses that teach you everything from installation to customization.
These courses are designed for total beginners who want to learn how to build and manage their own websites—without needing to code or pay for training upfront.
Get fast, reliable hosting for WordPress
Power your site with the industry’s fastest, most optimized WordPress hosting
Why start with a free WordPress course?
Free courses are a great way to dip your toes into WordPress without any commitment or cost. Many beginners use them to build their first site or test out whether WordPress is the right fit before investing more time or money.
Benefits of starting with free courses:
- Learn at your own pace, on your schedule.
- Avoid upfront costs while still building real-world skills.
- Get a guided walkthrough of key WordPress features and tools.
- Try different instructors or formats to find what works best for you.
What to look for in a free WordPress course
Not all free courses are created equal. When choosing one, make sure it’s built around WordPress.org and offers real, practical training.
A good WordPress.org course should include:
- Clear beginner-friendly lessons with screen recordings or demos.
- Instructions for installing and managing self-hosted WordPress.
- Up-to-date content that reflects the latest WordPress versions.
- Hands-on exercises like creating posts, customizing themes, and using plugins.
- Bonus content like SEO tips or security basics.
1. LinkedIn Learning (free with trial or library access)
LinkedIn Learning offers professional-quality WordPress courses that walk beginners through everything from installation to advanced customization. While the platform usually requires a subscription, you can access courses for free during a one-month trial—or permanently if your public library includes access.
Their “WordPress Essential Training” series is especially popular, covering everything from setting up a self-hosted site to choosing themes, creating content, and managing settings. The course uses clear, professional video tutorials with step-by-step visuals of the WordPress dashboard.
Key features:
- Self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) setup included
- Covers themes, menus, pages, blog posts, plugins, and security
- Professional-level instructors with clear visuals
- Includes downloadable exercise files for hands-on learning
Best for: Visual learners who want structured, high-quality video courses with professional narration.
2. WordPress for Beginners by Yoast SEO Academy
This free course from Yoast is a short, structured introduction to WordPress.org that helps beginners understand how to build and manage a site from the ground up. Unlike Yoast’s more SEO-focused content, this course covers core WordPress functionality, including installation, settings, themes, plugins, and publishing.
Each module includes bite-sized videos with guided instructions and explanations. The course begins with choosing a hosting provider and installing WordPress, then moves into practical tasks like creating posts and pages, organizing content, and installing useful plugins (including but not limited to Yoast SEO).
Key features:
- Covers the full WordPress.org setup process
- Walks through dashboard basics, content creation, and customization
- Includes tips for improving site usability and structure
- Designed and taught by WordPress professionals
Best for: Beginners who want a no-nonsense, clearly structured introduction to WordPress.org before moving into design, SEO, or content strategy.
3. WordPress 101
LearnWP is a beginner training platform created by the WP101 team, trusted by web hosts and educators for its clarity and high production value. The free “WordPress 101” course walks you through installing WordPress, using the dashboard, creating pages and posts, managing plugins, and customizing themes.
The videos are short, well-organized, and very beginner-friendly. You don’t need any technical knowledge, and the course stays focused on self-hosted WordPress.org throughout.
Key features:
- Self-hosted WordPress installation walkthrough
- Focuses on block editor, media, menus, and plugin basics
- Modern videos with closed captions and clean visuals
- Beginner-friendly and short—ideal for quick learning
Best for: Anyone starting from scratch who wants a quick but complete WordPress overview.
4. YouTube
You can learn just about anything on YouTube. There are a lot of great videos, but “How to Make a WordPress Site” by Tyler Moore is a comprehensive, two-hour video on YouTube that covers everything from installing WordPress to customizing a theme and publishing your first pages and blog posts.
Unlike a course behind a login or paywall, this one is open and accessible on YouTube—no account or signup required. The instructor uses a local development environment, but you can follow along using any hosting provider with a WordPress install.
Key features:
- Full walkthrough for WordPress.org users
- Step-by-step guide to creating a full website
- Available on YouTube—no sign-in or course platform needed
- Explains concepts as you go (themes, menus, widgets, etc.)
Best for: Learners who prefer long-form, YouTube-style tutorials with a casual pace and real examples.
5. WPBeginner’s free WordPress 101 course
WPBeginner has been a go-to source for WordPress tutorials since 2009. Their free WordPress 101 video series includes a collection of bite-sized tutorials that cover hosting setup, the WordPress dashboard, theme customization, plugin installation, and more.
Each video focuses on a specific task or concept and is hosted directly on their site—no sign-up needed. The pacing and language are perfect for beginners who are just learning what WordPress can do.
Key features:
- Dozens of short beginner-friendly videos
- Focuses exclusively on WordPress.org
- Covers hosting, setup, themes, plugins, and updates
- Constantly updated to reflect the latest WordPress changes
Best for: Beginners who want quick answers to specific WordPress tasks in video format.
Next steps for learning WordPress online
Free WordPress.org courses give you everything you need to build your first website, blog, or portfolio—without spending a penny. Whether you prefer structured classes or YouTube walkthroughs, the options above will help you get hands-on experience using the WordPress dashboard, themes, and plugins.
Pick one course to start with and commit to learning just a few minutes each day. Within a week, you’ll be comfortable managing your own site and exploring the world of themes, plugins, and publishing.
Ready to upgrade your WordPress experience? Professional hosting improves speeds, security, and reliability for a website and a brand that people find engaging and trustworthy.
Don’t want to deal with server management and maintenance either? Our fully managed hosting for WordPress is the best in the industry. Our team are not only server IT experts, but WordPress hosting experts as well. Your server couldn’t be in better hands.
Click through below to explore all of our hosting for WordPress options, or chat with a WordPress expert right now to get answers and advice.