Learning on your own has multiple advantages: you can study at your own pace, anytime, anywhere – plus, not having to constantly travel to and from campus saves you time and money. However, you need quality educational content and resources to ensure you’re doing a good job on your own.
If you have decided to learn AWS in 2021 – you’ve made a great choice! However, this probably means you’re dealing with a completely new (not to mention highly technical) topic. If you’re learning AWS for professional growth rather than simply spending time meaningfully, you really can’t afford to waste time on outdated or incomplete sources. I’ve created a list of the best options (both paid and free) currently available for self-paced AWS training and reviewed their pros and cons to help you choose smartly!
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Study Guide with Online Labs: Foundational (CLF-C01) Exam by Ben Piper and David Clinton
Pros:
- Follows the latest AWS CCP exam pattern (CLF-C01)
- Pretty up-to-date (published in 2020)
- Includes a code for free access to unique lab modules
Cons:
- The newest updates are not covered
- Pricey ($90 or more, depending on the seller)
AWS Cloud Practitioner certification training course by BitDegree Academy
- 8+ hours of video lectures, quizzes, and practice exams (possible to purchase separately, too)
- One-time payment, forever access
- Very up-to-date – created at the end of 2020 and constantly updated
- Based on collaborations with educational scientists and AWS experts
- 1-on-1 consultations with experts available for purchase
Cons:
- No free trial period (a few lectures are public, though)
- Video lectures don’t have captions (yet)
- Small community of learners due to newness
AWS Free Tier
Pros:
- Allows you to explore 80+ AWS products and services
- Provides a limited amount of resources to use for free
- Free offers last either 12 months, a shorter trial period, or forever
Cons:
- Pure practice – no use if you have zero theoretical knowledge
- Only applies to new AWS accounts
AWS Whitepapers
Pros:
- A lot of technical information
- A chance to read in different searchable formats (HTML, PDF, or Kindle)
- Precise filters – easy to navigate
Cons:
- Might be too technical for a beginner to follow
- Pretty dull and monotonic to read
- Can only be used as an additional AWS training resource
The AWS YouTube Channel
Pros:
- Various types of content (from introductions to conference presentations)
- Well-organized playlists – easy to navigate
- Time-efficient
Cons:
- Not comprehensive enough for AWS training
- Can only be used as an additional AWS training resource
The AWS Podcast
Pros:
- Great for AWS certified professionals who want to keep their knowledge fresh
- Created and presented by AWS professionals
- Available on multiple podcast platforms
- Episodes uploaded weekly and kept under an hour
Cons:
- Hard to browse the content (no scripts provided)
- Can only be used as an additional AWS training resource
The AWS subreddit on Reddit
Pros:
- 12+ years worth of AWS discussions
- 150,000+ members
- More focus on actual everyday work
- A chance to ask your own AWS training related questions
Cons:
- Might contain subjective opinions
- Older discussions might include outdated information
- Can only be used as an additional AWS training resource
AWS training is a choose-your-own-adventure type of journey – be smart and strategic as you pick your sources!
