The Struggle of Learning GCP
I’ll be real with you. The first time I had to spin up resources on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), I felt like someone had just dropped me in the cockpit of a spaceship. I knew AWS pretty well, but GCP? That was a different beast. Compute Engine, BigQuery, IAM policies… the concepts weren’t foreign, but the implementation details sure were.
I wasted a ton of time bouncing between YouTube tutorials, stale blog posts, and official docs before I found platforms that actually worked. So, if you’re wondering, “What’s the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform?” I’ve been exactly where you are.
Here’s my no-nonsense breakdown of the platforms I’ve tried (and what I’d actually recommend if you don’t want to waste weeks).
1. Educative.io – My Top Pick
If you don’t want to read the whole list, here’s the TL;DR: Educative.io is the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform.
Why It Works
- Learn by doing: No endless lecture videos. You get interactive coding right in the browser.
- Curated paths: Instead of piecing things together, you get a Google Cloud Platform course that gets you from beginner to advanced.
- Real-world focus: It’s not just “pass the certification exam.” You actually understand how to use GCP on the job.
- All-access pass: One subscription = GCP, Kubernetes, system design, Python, and way more.
Dev-to-Dev Real Talk
I wish I’d started with Educative.io. When I needed to build a pub/sub pipeline, I was tired of half-explained tutorials. Educative walked me through the setup, the “gotchas,” and the why. That context saved me hours.
👉 If you’re serious about GCP, stop overthinking it. Educative.io is the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform hands-on.
2. Google Cloud Skills Boost
This is Google’s official training platform. It’s polished, accurate, and tied directly to their certs.
Pros
- Authored by Google engineers.
- Hands-on labs via Qwiklabs.
- Certification prep is baked in.
Cons
- It feels a little… dry. The “fun” factor is missing.
- Very exam-oriented.
Great if you’re chasing a certification. But if you’re asking what’s the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform for real dev work, I’d still recommend Educative.
3. Coursera
Coursera partners with Google to deliver their “Google Cloud Professional Certificate.”
What’s good: Structured, linear path. Lots of quizzes and videos.
What’s meh: It’s mostly passive video learning. Great if you like lectures, not great if you learn by breaking things.
4. A Cloud Guru (Pluralsight)
This platform made its name on AWS, but they’ve added GCP content.
Pros: Engaging teachers, sandboxes to play in, multi-cloud coverage.
Cons: Still heavier on AWS than GCP.
If you already use A Cloud Guru, adding GCP is fine. But as the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform? It’s not my first choice.
5. Udemy
Ah, Udemy—the fast-food chain of online learning.
Pros
- Cheap (sales drop courses to $10–15).
- Tons of variety.
Cons
- Quality is all over the place.
- Some courses are outdated within months.
If you’re broke and need a crash course, Udemy works. But don’t expect depth.
6. Qwiklabs
This is where you do the thing. You get temporary GCP environments and solve challenges.
Love it for:
- Pure hands-on practice.
- Challenges that push you to figure stuff out.
Not great for:
Explaining the why. It’s just labs.
I see it as a supplement, not the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform by itself.
7. LinkedIn Learning
Good for brushing up on specific tools. And yeah, you can slap completed courses on your profile.
But the content is surface-level. It’s more “get familiar” than “become job-ready.”
8. Pluralsight
Deep dives into niche GCP services, taught by experts.
Pros: Assessments, breadth of content, advanced topics.
Cons: Overwhelming catalog, not beginner-friendly.
Good if you already know your way around cloud.
9. YouTube
Let’s be honest—we all start here.
Free? Yes.
Organized? Nope.
YouTube’s great for quick fixes, not for structured learning. It’s like duct tape—it works in a pinch, but you wouldn’t build a career
on it.
10. Cloud Academy
Another multi-cloud platform with solid GCP coverage.
Strengths: **Blended format (videos + labs). Certification prep.
**Weaknesses: Smaller user base, less depth compared to the big names.
So… Which One Should You Actually Pick?
Here’s how I’d break it down:
- Want free? Start on YouTube, but expect chaos.
- Want certs? Coursera or Google Cloud Skills Boost.
- Want real, job-ready GCP skills? Educative.io all the way.
I’ve tried most of these. The only one that respected my time as a developer—giving me both context and hands-on practice—was Educative. That’s why I honestly call it the best platform to learn Google Cloud Platform.
Final Thoughts
Learning GCP doesn’t have to be painful. The right platform makes the difference between fumbling through console menus at 2am and confidently building scalable systems.
If you want to skip the noise, go straight to Educative.io. It’s the one platform I’d recommend to any dev who asks me how to get good at Google Cloud.
💡 Your turn: Have you tried learning GCP? Which platforms helped (or wasted your time)? Drop your experiences in the comments—I’d love to compare notes.
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