Last updated: June 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: For most people learning Salesforce development, the best starting point is Salesforce Development Training for Beginners (4.6★, 8,127 ratings) — it teaches Apex from first principles. If your goal is the Platform Developer I credential, pair it with the dedicated PD1 certification course (4.6★, 6,797 ratings).
- Best overall: Salesforce Development Training for Beginners (Apex from scratch)
- Best for the PD1 cert: Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I
- Pricing: Udemy courses run roughly $13–$25 on frequent sale (list ~$70–$140); Salesforce’s own Trailhead is free
- Skip paid courses if: you only need the basics and have time to grind through free Trailhead trails
See our top Salesforce dev pick →
A Salesforce developer builds custom functionality on top of the platform: Apex code, triggers, Lightning Web Components (LWC), integrations with outside systems, and increasingly, AI features through Agentforce. It is a well-paid, in-demand specialisation — but the path into it is cluttered with outdated courses and “learn it all in a weekend” promises that don’t hold up. We checked the live catalog, current ratings, and last-updated dates so you don’t feature a course that quietly went stale.
Every paid course below is on Udemy, which dominates this niche for self-paced developer training. Ratings and enrollment counts are pulled from Udemy’s live course pages at the time of writing. We’ve also flagged the genuinely useful free option (Salesforce’s own Trailhead) and explained where the Platform Developer I certification fits in.
AT A GLANCE
| Course | Best for | Rating | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce Development Training for Beginners | Apex from scratch (best overall) | 4.6 (8,127) | Beginner |
| Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I | PD1 exam prep | 4.6 (6,797) | Beginner–Inter. |
| Build 7 Real-Time Salesforce (LWC) Projects | Lightning Web Components, portfolio | 4.7 (1,239) | Intermediate |
| Salesforce Development With AI: Cursor, Copilot & Agentforce | Modern AI-assisted dev | 4.5 (355) | Intermediate |
| Salesforce Apex Triggers | Trigger patterns deep-dive | 4.7 (527) | Intermediate |
| Salesforce Development for Intermediate Developers | Leveling up past basics | 4.6 (473) | Intermediate |
| Mastering Salesforce DX & VS Code | DevOps & modern tooling | 4.3 (400) | Intermediate–Adv. |
| Salesforce Development & Administration for Beginners | Admin + dev together | 4.4 (798) | Beginner |
1. Salesforce Development Training for Beginners — best overall
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4.6★ · 8,127 ratings · Udemy. This is the course we send most beginners to, and the numbers back it up — it has by far the largest student base of any Salesforce developer course on Udemy. Taught by Deepika Khanna, it builds Apex (Salesforce’s Java-like programming language) from the ground up: variables, loops, conditional logic, collections, and the object-oriented principles you’ll lean on every day. It also covers SOQL (the Salesforce Object Query Language) and how to set up a free developer org to practice in.
Who it’s for: complete beginners to coding on Salesforce, or admins moving toward development. If you’ve never written a line of Apex, start here.
2. Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I — best for the PD1 cert
4.6★ · 6,797 ratings · Udemy. Also by Deepika Khanna, this one is built specifically around the Platform Developer I (PD1) exam blueprint, and now includes Lightning Web Components and Aura. You’ll work through Governor limits, the testing framework, the data model, and the topics the exam actually weights, with practice questions to gauge readiness. It pairs naturally with the beginner course above — learn Apex first, then drill the exam.
Who it’s for: anyone targeting the PD1 credential, which is the standard entry-level proof point for Salesforce developer roles.
3. Build 7 Real-Time Salesforce (LWC) Projects — best for Lightning Web Components
4.7★ · 1,239 ratings · Udemy. The highest-rated developer course on this list, and the one to take once you understand Apex and want to build the modern Salesforce front end. Lightning Web Components are where most real UI work happens today, and a project-based course is the right way to learn them — you finish with seven (plus a bonus) genuine builds you can talk through in an interview. That portfolio-by-the-end structure is exactly what hiring managers ask to see.
Who it’s for: developers who know the basics and need hands-on LWC experience and a portfolio.
4. Salesforce Development With AI: Cursor, Copilot & Agentforce — best for modern AI-assisted dev
4.5★ · 355 ratings · Udemy. This is the newest entry on the list and the only one that takes AI-assisted development seriously — using Cursor and GitHub Copilot to write Apex and LWC faster, plus an introduction to Agentforce, Salesforce’s agentic-AI layer. The ratings base is smaller because it is recent, so treat it as a complement rather than your first course. But the skills it covers are exactly what 2026 Salesforce teams are starting to expect, and no older course touches them.
Who it’s for: working developers who want to stay current with AI tooling and Agentforce.
5. Salesforce Apex Triggers — best trigger deep-dive
4.7★ · 527 ratings · Udemy. Triggers are where a lot of beginner Salesforce code goes wrong — recursion, bulkification, and the one-trigger-per-object pattern trip people up constantly. This focused course does one thing well: it teaches you to write triggers that survive a real org and pass code review. It is short and specific, which is exactly what you want for a topic this narrow.
Who it’s for: developers who can write basic Apex but keep hitting trouble with triggers specifically.
6. Salesforce Development for Intermediate Developers — best for leveling up
4.6★ · 473 ratings · Udemy. Most Salesforce courses stop at the beginner plateau. This one picks up where they leave off, covering the patterns and harder concepts that separate a junior from a confident mid-level developer. If you’ve finished a beginner course and feel like you can follow tutorials but not architect your own solution, this is the gap-filler.
Who it’s for: developers past the basics who want to write more maintainable, production-grade Apex.
7. Mastering Salesforce DX & VS Code — best for DevOps and tooling
4.3★ · 400 ratings · Udemy. The lowest rating on this list, but still solid and the best option for a specific need: moving off the browser-based developer console and onto the modern toolchain — Salesforce DX, the CLI, Visual Studio Code, and source-driven development. This is how professional teams actually ship, so it’s worth knowing once you’re working on real projects. Treat it as a tooling course, not an Apex course.
Who it’s for: developers ready to work the way real teams do, with version control and a proper IDE.
8. Salesforce Development & Administration for Beginners — best admin + dev combo
4.4★ · 798 ratings · Udemy. Many Salesforce jobs — especially at smaller companies — expect you to wear both hats. This course covers the admin side (objects, fields, flows, security) alongside the developer side, which is useful if you’re not sure yet which way you want to specialise. If you already know you want pure development, the beginner Apex course at the top is a better use of your time.
Who it’s for: people targeting hybrid admin/developer roles, or still deciding between the two tracks. (For the admin path specifically, see our guide to the best Salesforce admin courses.)
The best free option: Salesforce Trailhead
No honest Salesforce learning guide can skip Trailhead, Salesforce’s own free training platform. The developer trails cover Apex, LWC, and integration in interactive, hands-on modules, and you earn badges that show up on a public profile recruiters genuinely recognise. We don’t earn anything when we send you there — it’s free and there’s no affiliate programme — but it’s the right starting point if you have more time than money.
The trade-off is structure. Trailhead is broad and self-directed, so it’s easy to wander or stall. The paid Udemy courses above give you a single, sequenced path from zero to job-ready, which is why many people use both: Trailhead to practise hands-on, a structured course to keep the learning in order.
Do you need the Platform Developer I certification?
For most developer job applications, yes — the Salesforce Platform Developer I (PD1) credential is the standard baseline, the way the Administrator cert is for admins. It proves you understand Apex, the data model, and the platform’s programmatic capabilities. The exam is taken directly through Salesforce (it carries a fee, and you register on Salesforce’s own site — there’s no third-party shortcut), so a course here is exam preparation, not the certification itself.
The practical path: learn Apex with the beginner course, drill the blueprint with the dedicated PD1 course, reinforce with free Trailhead, then book the exam. For the full credential map — which certs exist, what they cost, and the order to take them — see our guide to Salesforce certification training.
“Course” vs “training”: what to search for
You’ll see Salesforce developer learning sold as both “courses” and “training,” and the labels can mean different things. A self-paced course (everything on this list) is recorded video you take on your own schedule for $13–$25 on sale. Instructor-led training — live cohorts, often run by Salesforce’s own Trailhead Academy or large training vendors — runs into the hundreds or thousands of dollars and suits people who need structure, a deadline, and live Q&A.
For the overwhelming majority of self-learners, a well-chosen self-paced course plus free Trailhead delivers the same skills at a tiny fraction of the cost. Reserve paid instructor-led training for when an employer is funding it or you genuinely can’t stay accountable alone.
How to choose a Salesforce developer course
- Match your level honestly. If you can’t write a for-loop in Apex, start with a true beginner course — intermediate ones assume the basics.
- Check the last-updated date. Salesforce ships three releases a year. A course last touched in 2020 will miss LWC, modern flows, and Agentforce. Every pick above is currently maintained.
- Prioritise projects. Reading about Apex isn’t the same as building. The courses with real builds (LWC projects, the dev project course) translate fastest to actual work.
- Separate learning from certifying. A “certification course” prepares you for an exam Salesforce administers separately — don’t assume buying the course earns you the badge.
- Use the free tier first. Spend a few hours in Trailhead before paying for anything. It’s the cheapest way to confirm you actually enjoy Salesforce development.
Is becoming a Salesforce developer worth it?
For most people who enjoy the work, yes. Salesforce powers a large share of enterprise CRM, which keeps demand for skilled developers steady, and the roles pay well — industry salary surveys generally put US Salesforce developer pay in the low-to-mid six figures, varying widely by experience, location, and certifications held. The barrier to entry is also lower than general software engineering: you can go from zero to a junior-ready portfolio with a structured course, free Trailhead practice, and the PD1 cert, without a computer-science degree. The honest caveat is that the “easy six-figure job” framing oversells it — the entry-level market is competitive, and you’ll need real projects and ideally the certification to stand out.
Our recommendation: Start with Salesforce Development Training for Beginners for Apex, add the PD1 certification course when you’re ready to certify, and build a portfolio with the LWC projects course. Practise everything free on Trailhead in parallel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Salesforce developer course for beginners?
Salesforce Development Training for Beginners on Udemy (4.6★, 8,127 ratings) is the best starting point. It teaches Apex from scratch and has the largest student base of any Salesforce developer course, so the material is well-tested.
Can I learn Salesforce development for free?
Yes. Salesforce’s own Trailhead platform is free and covers Apex, Lightning Web Components, and integration through hands-on modules. Many developers combine free Trailhead practice with one paid course for structure.
How long does it take to become a Salesforce developer?
With consistent study, most people reach a junior-ready level in roughly four to nine months — long enough to learn Apex and LWC, build a few projects, and pass the Platform Developer I exam. Prior programming experience shortens this considerably.
Do I need to know how to code before learning Salesforce development?
No. The beginner courses on this list assume no prior coding and teach Apex’s object-oriented basics from the start. Existing programming experience (especially Java) helps, because Apex is syntactically similar, but it isn’t required.
Is the Platform Developer I certification worth it?
For job-seekers, yes — PD1 is the recognised baseline for developer roles and clears an early hiring filter. You prepare with a course like the one above, then take the exam directly through Salesforce. See our Salesforce certification guide for the full path.
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