The best developer learning platforms 2025

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

While learning on the job is key for software engineers, most developers can’t keep up with the flood of new technologies and industry best practices alongside their daily work.

Shrinking learning and development (L&D) budgets mean many organizations aren’t making as many formal training opportunities available to their engineering teams. This is driving developers to be more self-guided in their learning than ever before, particularly when it comes to learning how to leverage generative AI tools to augment their abilities.

Developer learning platforms are useful because they allow engineers to learn new skills on their own schedule. This guide gives devs and engineering managers everything they need to find the right learning tools for continuous improvement.

What is a developer learning platform?

A developer learning platform is a training and development tool used to teach software engineers about new technology, programs, languages, or best practices. Many engineering learning tools contain curated learning paths to help devs build skills progressively and see real-world applications of those techniques.

The best engineering learning programs offer digestible microlearning modules taught by industry leaders, hands-on practical exercises in realistic sandboxes, and assessments to continue building capabilities.

Why do engineering leaders need developer eLearning tools?

For engineering leaders, these platforms also provide insight into what skills will be valuable within their organization, fill capability gaps, and allow them to create a knowledge-sharing environment. They can curate various learning paths to teach team members a variety of skills and build a more nimble and collaborative team prepared to meet evolving business needs.

One of the trickiest parts of developing a software engineering team is meeting devs where they are, understanding where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and creating a path that allows them to develop both individually and as a team. While in-person training and learnathons are helpful, they aren’t always appropriate for teams with varying experience levels. 

Rather than offering brief introductions to relevant topics, engineering training platforms often provide interactive practice environments where devs can see how their new skills translate to the real world.

What to look for in a learning platform

YouTube, blog posts, sandboxes – there are so many options for developers to learn new skills these days that it can be overwhelming. Amid so many options, it’s challenging to find the right platform to support your engineering team. Before you invest, make sure your learning platform includes these essential features:

• Progressive learning paths: One of the hardest things about teaching new tech skills is finding resources that address both foundational knowledge and advanced application. Progressive learning paths offer both the conceptual and practical applications for a new skill, scaffolding increasingly complex skills over the foundational context for when and how to leverage those skills in their current role.
  
  Rather than a typical programming course or bootcamp, these platforms allow each dev to dive deep into a subject and learn all the skills needed to begin working with a new program, language, or process; on their own schedule.
  
• Interactive practice environments: Most devs learn by doing, not by watching YouTube tutorials. The best developer learning platforms offer hands-on learning opportunities for devs to apply what they’ve learned, test their skills, and receive expert feedback on their progress. These secure sandboxes should mirror real-world environments devs will be working in, giving them the familiarity they need to navigate those environments and their new skills with confidence.
  
  The best platforms make it easy to access those testing environments, too. Ideally, engineering leaders should look for platforms that won’t require users to download or install another environment to reduce security risks. These lab environments should also be available at any time and offer relatively quick feedback that allows devs to learn whenever works best for them.
  
• Skill assessment: Understanding a dev’s evolving capabilities is half the battle with effective learning and development. Great developer learning platforms start with a skill assessment that sets a baseline for improvement and offers users an appropriate course for their knowledge level.
  
  From there, some platforms offer additional assessments to gauge how devs are strengthening their skills as well as testing to validate that they’re absorbing the material, not just consuming it. Platforms that can recommend relevant courses across multiple skill levels for the same user can be especially valuable to help engineering leaders identify and fill skill gaps.
  
• Certification options: Certifications are a common way to prove competence in the software industry. Some platforms offer internal assessments and certification, while others offer a learning path that prepares learners to sit for more formal certification tests.
  
  Certifications may not seem important for engineering leaders growing internal teams, but many devs are motivated by professional certifications, so it’s important to choose a platform that will prepare them for tests and offer a credible certificate of achievement.
  
  Evidence of their career progression doesn’t just make them a stronger employee; it also strengthens their resume, which can lead to raises, promotions, and new opportunities that drive them to continue learning.
  
• Managerial dashboard: A huge benefit of enterprise-level developer learning platforms is the ability to track your team’s development. Most platforms offer engineering managers a way to see how often team members engage with training, but the best platforms also demonstrate each dev’s growing competencies and remaining skill gaps. With that insight, managers can help devs strengthen their capabilities by assigning them to projects with another dev competent in those skills to foster mentorship.
  
  These dashboards can also reveal trends about when and how the team is engaging in training. For instance, managers can see if they are sufficiently encouraging the team to prioritize training based on how many hours each user spends on the platform. They can also support employees at every level by helping them find the right courses to round out their skill set or stretch into a new role.
  
• Learning Management System (LMS) integration: Consistent learning and development play a critical role in HR functions like performance management, reviews, and salary conversations. Built-in integrations with your company’s LMS can streamline HR conversations and help organizations evaluate employee growth more holistically. Plus, it can support conversations on how individual employees can improve in their role or grow into a new one.
  
  Sharing data with HR can also demonstrate employee initiative and support engineering leader recommendations for promotions, job changes, or raises. 

• Live training options: Videos and text guides are standard mediums for course content, but the best engineering training platforms often offer some live component to augment learning. Live lectures, webinars, and walkthroughs not only keep learners engaged, but they also help devs dive into more specialized topics and ask questions in real time.
  
  Some platforms even offer custom instructor-led training to build on the foundational knowledge devs gained from a self-led course, allowing teams to master critical skills even faster without rehashing information they already know. 

Top software engineering learning platforms in 2025

The following developer learning platforms are the perfect way to stretch a slashed L&D budget and facilitate high-quality learning.

These assessments were largely drawn from real user reviews listed on the peer-to-peer software review site G2.

Best for hands-on learners: Pluralsight

The wide array of expert-led courses on Pluralsight’s platform helps devs build skills in new languages and frameworks, while expanding their knowledge of generative AI, machine learning, cloud computing, IT ops, and cybersecurity.

Engineering managers love Pluralsight’s Skill IQ assessments, which give leaders a comprehensive view of how each dev’s skills are evolving and recommend learning paths to fill skill gaps.

Pros:

• 6,500+ courses and 150+ certification paths to build cross-functional skills
• 3,500+ real-world interactive labs and sandboxes to practice skills
• Skill IQ assessment for each dev, plus ongoing assessments
• Live instructor-led training available
• Built-in integration with the WorkDay LMS
• Transparent pricing tiers on website

Cons:

• Offers certification preparation courses and practice exams, but no verified certifications
• Courses may not be updated often, leading to outdated software versions in videos
• Subtitles don’t consistently match video content

Best for different learning types: O’Reilly

O’Reilly is a known leader in the education industry, so it’s no surprise that the organization has a huge group of industry experts who contribute to their training content. Devs love that O’Reilly offers so many different ways to learn, from on-demand videos and written content, to interactive sandboxes, and live webinars.

Plus, their AI-powered Answers platform makes it easy for engineers to search for and bookmark the exact content they want to learn about from O’Reilly’s massive library, which is especially helpful for supporting on-the-job learning.

Pros:

• 5,000+ role-based courses on a wide array of topics with browser-based interactive test environments
• Playlists allow managers and users to create customized learning paths
• AI-powered Answers platform, which integrates with Slack and Teams, simplifies searches and helps devs find solutions on the job
• Insights dashboard shows individual dev progress, team usage summaries, and usage pattern comparisons to similar organizations in your industry

Cons:

• No baseline skill assessment
• Users report consistent issues accessing content on mobile devices
• All live presentations are done in American time zones, which may limit availability for other users
• Offers certification preparation courses and practice exams, but no verified certifications
• Sandboxes and scenarios may not be complex enough for advanced users
• Enterprise pricing not available on website

Best for international organizations: Udemy

Udemy is a fan-favorite for comprehensive skill development, and with a huge library of content available in 16 languages, it’s no surprise this is a popular choice for international organizations. 

While not all of the 30,000 courses relate to technical skills, developers like that there’s a wide variety of content. Plus, the robust insights dashboard and built-in integrations with many LMS options make this a reliable enterprise choice.

Pros:

• Huge library of 30,000+ courses in 16 languages
• Assessments offer targeted course recommendations and enable skill benchmarking
• Manager dashboard offers comprehensive insight into course progression and identifies skill development against high-priority skills
• Integrations with many different LMS options
• Instructor-led support available

Cons:

• Content quality and depth may be inconsistent since instructors are not pre-vetted
• Some users experience problems with courses resetting or completing unexpectedly due to platform issues
• Many courses available make choosing the best option difficult, which may reduce engagement
• Different pricing based on team size and learning approaches

Best for DevOps: KodeKloud

KodeKloud may not have the wide range of classes other industry leaders have, but its eight role-based learning paths create an ideal environment to learn about cutting-edge cloud technologies and DevOps frameworks. 

This platform augments course content with in-depth “playgrounds,” realistic sandboxed environments with a heavy emphasis on complex real-world scenarios, making it ideal for teams looking to learn through experimentation.

Pros:

• Project-based learning structure is ideal for learning on-the-job skills
• Realistic “playground” environments for hands-on learning
• A dedicated team learning consultant can help managers design relevant learning paths for unique needs
• The AI tutor speeds up learning by offering devs instant feedback on lab performance
• Instructor-led support available
• Transparent pricing

Cons:

• While the platform offers its own certification, the content focuses on hands-on experimentation and does not always align with certification exam preparation
• Users experienced occasional technical difficulties with lab performance and downtime
• Less content than similar platforms

Best for specialized expertise: Udacity

Open-ended projects, expert feedback, and on-demand mentorship set Udacity apart in the developer learning space. Deep dive courses with microlearning modules allow devs to learn complex concepts at their own pace. 

A large library of highly specialized technical skills will not only fill skill gaps, but it will also turn your team into experts quickly. Plus, their certified nanodegree programs are perfect for learners looking to focus on specific technologies. 

Pros:

• Hybrid learning style includes self-paced microlearning videos, articles, and quizzes; on-demand mentorship; and social learning with other students
• Vetted expert feedback on open-ended projects with 1×1 mentorship help available
• Difficulty level labels can help direct learning
• Nanodegree programs offer certification for specialized fields
• Learning paths arranged by job title or skill

Cons:

• Some users report a heavy use of business jargon in videos, which can make content less approachable
• Content not quickly updated to the latest versions
• May not be appropriate for less advanced learners
• No built-in LMS integration
• Pricing not available on website

Commit to your engineering team’s growth today

Despite recent widespread layoffs and restructures, ambitious developers are still in high demand. Many engineering managers already have talented developers on their teams who are eager to expand their skills, but without the right training materials, they’ll never get the chance to show everything they’re capable of.