8 Best Spring Boot Courses for Java Developers in 2026
My favorite online courses to learn Spring Boot in 2026
Hello everyone! If one of your goals is to learn Spring Boot in 2026, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been researching and taking Spring Boot courses to help you find the absolute best resources available today.
If you’re wondering what Spring Boot is and why you should learn it, let me tell you: it should be the first Java framework you learn in 2026.
Spring Boot makes it incredibly easy to work with the Spring framework by removing all the initial hurdles around setup and configuration.
In simple terms, it allows you to write Spring-based Java applications and run them just like core Java applications — straight from the main method.
If you’ve used Maven, you know how the simple concept of “convention-over-configuration” makes working with new technology easier. Spring Boot is Spring’s convention-over-configuration solution, and it’s genuinely a game-changer.
Why Spring Boot in 2026?
Spring Boot has become the backbone of modern Java development. You can use it to build:
- RESTful Web Services with minimal configuration
- Microservices that scale effortlessly
- Full-stack applications with integrated frontend frameworks
- Cloud-native applications ready for deployment on AWS, Azure, or GCP
The framework handles the heavy lifting through features like:
- Starter POMs that bring together compatible JARs
- Auto-configuration that sets up Spring Beans by detecting relevant JARs on the classpath
- Spring Boot Actuator for monitoring what’s happening inside your application
- Embedded servers that eliminate the need for separate deployment infrastructure
Spring Boot developers are in massive demand in 2026, commanding top salaries in the job market. Whether you’re building microservices, developing REST APIs, or creating enterprise applications, Spring Boot is the skill that will set you apart.
8 Best Spring Boot Courses for Java Developers in 2026
Without further ado, here’s my curated list of the best Spring Boot courses available. These include courses for beginners and experienced developers, covering everything from Spring Boot fundamentals to microservices and cloud deployment.
1. Spring Boot 3, Spring 6 & Hibernate for Beginners by Chad Darby
Platform: Udemy
Best For: Beginners and intermediate developers wanting comprehensive coverage
This is hands-down the #1 most enrolled Spring Boot course on Udemy with over 440,000 students and 91,000+ five-star reviews — more than any other Spring Boot course on the platform.
What Makes This Course Outstanding:
Chad Darby has created the gold standard for Spring Boot education. This course covers the latest versions: Spring Boot 3, Spring 6, and Hibernate 6, ensuring you’re learning current, production-ready techniques.
Comprehensive Topics Covered:
- Spring Boot Core fundamentals
- Building REST APIs from scratch
- Spring Security for authentication and authorization
- Spring Data JPA for database operations
- Spring Data REST for rapid API development
- Thymeleaf for server-side templates
- Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP)
- Complete CRUD applications with real-time projects
Why Students Love It:
Chad is a responsive instructor who answers questions within 24 hours — a rarity in online courses. You’ll type every line of code alongside him, understanding the “why” behind each decision, not just copy-pasting. The course includes downloadable source code and PDFs, perfect for offline learning.
Students consistently report landing new jobs with the skills from this course. The step-by-step approach makes complex concepts accessible, and the hands-on projects give you portfolio-ready applications.
Perfect If You’re:
- Starting with Spring Boot from scratch
- Want to build complete REST APIs
- Looking for the most comprehensive, well-reviewed course
- Seeking an instructor who actually responds to questions
Here is the link to join this course — Master Spring Boot 3 with Chad Darby on Udemy →
2. Learn Spring: The Certification Class by Baeldung
This is another awesome course form well known Spring Framework expert and Java blogger Eugen Paraschiv of Baeldung.
The course have very convenient structure which allows you to learn at your own pace. It also have multiple quizzes and question to test your learning and reinforce them.
The 9 in-depth modules focus on the core aspects of the framework today, in 20265, with Spring 6 and Boot 3, not looking back at the XML days of Spring framework. You will also get a certificate of completion after completing this course.
In short, one of the up-to-date and comprehensive course to learn not just Spring Boot 3 but also Spring framework 6 and become a better Java developer.
Here is the link to join this course — Learn Spring: The Certification Class by Baeldung
3. The Complete Spring Boot Development Bootcamp
Platform: Udemy
Best For: Developers who prefer bootcamp-style, intensive learning
If you’re looking for a modern, bootcamp-style course, this is your best bet. Created by Jose Portilla and Rayan Slim — two of Udemy’s top instructors — this course brings the quality and engagement you’d expect from an in-person bootcamp.
Course Highlights:
With an impressive 4.7 out of 5 rating from over 2,000 reviews and 15,000+ students, this course proves its value. It includes 18 hours of on-demand video, 78 articles, and 13 downloadable resources.
Key Topics:
- Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture
- REST API development and best practices
- OpenAPI documentation (Swagger)
- Field validation techniques
- Spring Data JPA for SQL databases
- Modern Spring Boot 3 features
Why This Course Stands Out:
Jose Portilla is renowned for making complex topics accessible and engaging. If you’ve taken his Python or SQL bootcamp courses, you know his teaching style is clear, practical, and focused on real-world application.
The bootcamp format means intensive, focused learning with practical exercises throughout. You’re not just watching lectures — you’re building applications from day one.
Perfect If You’re:
- Want a structured, bootcamp-style experience
- Prefer modern course design with updated content
- Looking to build a complete Spring Boot project portfolio
Here is the link to — Join Ryan Slim and Jose Portilla’s Spring Boot Bootcamp on Udemy →
4. Enterprise Java with Spring Boot by Josh Long
Platform: Frontend Masters
Best For: Professional developers wanting expert-level instruction
This is the course I was most excited to discover in 2026. Josh Long is a Java Champion and Spring Developer Advocate who literally works on the Spring team. You’re learning from someone who helped build the framework.
What You’ll Learn:
Josh teaches Spring best practices that many developers miss, including:
- Resource Acquisition Is Initialization (RAII) patterns
- Dependency injection done right
- Portable service abstractions
- Aspect-oriented programming (AOP)
- Spring Boot’s auto-configuration mechanisms
Course Structure:
The course starts with Spring Framework fundamentals — component scanning, bean lifecycles, and the IoC container — then transitions to Spring Boot, showing you how Spring Boot provides the same expressive configuration with useful defaults that eliminate boilerplate.
Why Learn From Josh Long:
Josh has decades of experience in the Java community and runs the popular “Coffee and Software” YouTube channel. His teaching style is engaging, and he shares real-world insights from building production applications at scale.
The course demonstrates how fast you can scaffold a full-featured Spring app using start.spring.io, connecting to data sources and spinning up web servers in minutes. You’ll learn Spring with AI integration — a cutting-edge topic for 2026.
Perfect If You’re:
- Professional developers wanting advanced techniques
- Interested in learning from a Spring team member
- Looking for expert-level best practices
- Want to understand Spring Boot at a deep level
Here is the link to join the course: Enterprise Java with Spring Boot
Note: Requires Frontend Masters subscription for access to their entire course library . You can join Frontend Masters now and even get a 17% discount on their annual plan. They are also offering $100 additional discount now on Black Friday.
5. Master Microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud
Platform: Udemy
Best For: Developers focused on microservices architecture
This excellent course by Ranga Karanam from In28Minutes is specifically designed for those targeting microservices development — one of the hottest architectural patterns in 2026.
What Makes This Special:
Ranga’s teaching approach follows the 80–20 rule: teaching the 20% of concepts you’ll use 80% of the time, in depth. This focused approach means you learn what actually matters in real-world development.
Comprehensive Coverage:
- Spring Boot fundamentals for microservices
- RESTful web services development
- Microservices architecture patterns
- Spring Cloud for distributed systems
- Service discovery and load balancing
- API gateways and circuit breakers
- Distributed configuration management
Step-by-Step Learning:
The course breaks down complex microservices concepts into digestible lessons. You’ll understand not just how to build microservices, but why certain patterns exist and when to use them.
Along with Spring Boot, you’ll master RESTful web services and modern microservices patterns, making this ideal if you want to learn multiple technologies in one comprehensive course.
Perfect If You’re:
- Targeting microservices development roles
- Building distributed systems
- Interested in Spring Cloud
- Want to understand modern architectural patterns
Here is the link to join this course — Master Microservices with Spring Boot on Udemy
6. Java Spring Framework 6 with Spring Boot 3 by Navin Reddy (Telusko)
Platform: Udemy
Best For: Beginners and developers wanting comprehensive ecosystem coverage
Navin Reddy’s Telusko courses have taught millions worldwide, and this Spring Boot course continues that tradition of excellence. With over 335,000+ learners on Udemy, Telusko has earned its reputation for making complex concepts accessible.
Telusko’s Teaching Philosophy:
“We don’t teach, we educate” isn’t just a slogan — it’s how they operate. Instead of throwing concepts at you, they ensure you actually understand why things work, not just how to make them work.
Comprehensive Curriculum:
- Spring Core with IoC and Dependency Injection
- Spring MVC for web applications
- Spring Boot 3 fundamentals and auto-configuration
- Spring Data JPA for database operations
- REST API development
- Spring Security for authentication
- Hibernate 6 integration
- Docker containerization
- Microservices fundamentals
Production-Ready Skills:
By the end of this course, you’ll have the latest skills to design, build, and deploy robust applications using the entire Spring ecosystem. The course covers containerization with Docker and microservices architecture, preparing you for modern DevOps environments.
Perfect If You’re:
- Complete beginners to Spring and Spring Boot
- Want comprehensive coverage of the Spring ecosystem
- Appreciate clear, educational teaching styles
- Looking to become production-ready quickly
Here is the link to join this course — Learn Spring Framework 6 with Telusko on Udemy
7. Java Spring Boot Full Stack: eCommerce Project Masterclass
Platform: Udemy
Best For: Developers wanting to build a complete, production-grade application
This 90+ hour comprehensive course by Faisal (with 12+ years of experience building global products) teaches you to build a real-world, production-grade eCommerce application from scratch using Spring Boot.
What Makes This Course Unique:
Instead of toy examples, you’ll build an actual eCommerce platform with all the features users expect: product catalogs, shopping carts, checkout processes, payment integration, and user management.
Complete Technology Stack:
- Spring Boot 3 for rapid development
- Spring Security with JWT for authentication
- Spring Data JPA for database operations
- PostgreSQL and MySQL databases
- REST API development
- Spring Cloud for microservices (future-ready)
- AWS deployment
- Best practices for production applications
Hands-On Project-Based Learning:
You’ll implement advanced features like JWT authentication, handle complex database relationships, integrate payment systems, and deploy to AWS. This isn’t theory — it’s practical experience that translates directly to job requirements.
Perfect For:
- Developers wanting portfolio projects
- Those targeting full-stack development roles
- Anyone preparing for job interviews
- Developers interested in eventually learning microservices
The course includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, demonstrating the instructor’s confidence in the content quality.
Here is the link to join this course — Build a Production eCommerce App on Udemy
8. Building Scalable Java Microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud
Platform: Coursera (Google Cloud)
Best For: Experienced developers targeting cloud-native microservices
This free course from Google Cloud Training provides hands-on experience building Spring Boot microservices that integrate seamlessly with Google Cloud managed services.
Course Details:
With over 94,000 participants and a 4.3 out of 5 rating from 1,223 reviews, this intermediate-level course offers approximately 12 hours of content spread over three weeks with a flexible schedule of four hours per week.
What You’ll Learn:
- Building scalable microservices with Spring Boot
- Integrating with Google Cloud Platform services
- Deploying Spring Boot apps to GCP
- Managing microservices at scale
- Cloud-native patterns and practices
- Service-to-service communication
Why This Course Matters:
As cloud adoption accelerates in 2026, understanding how Spring Boot microservices deploy and scale on major cloud platforms is crucial. This course gives you practical insights into Google Cloud, one of the big three cloud providers.
The fact that it’s free and created by Google Cloud experts makes it an incredible value. You gain both Spring Boot expertise and cloud platform knowledge in one course.
Perfect If You’re:
- Interested in Google Cloud Platform
- Want free, high-quality instruction
- Targeting cloud-native development roles
- Looking to understand microservices in cloud environments
Here is the link to join this course — Building Scalable Java Microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud
By the way, if you find Coursera courses useful, I suggest you join the Coursera Plus, a subscription plan from Coursera which gives you unlimited access to their most popular courses, specialization, professional certificate, and guided projects. It cost around $399/year but its complete worth of your money as you get unlimited certificates. They are also giving 40% discount now on Black Friday deals.
Coursera Plus | Unlimited Access to 10,000+ Online Courses
How to Choose the Right Course?
Here are a couple of pointers to choose the right course for you:
Start with Chad Darby’s comprehensive course if you’re new to Spring Boot and want the most popular, well-reviewed option.
Pick Jose Portilla’s bootcamp if you prefer intensive, structured learning with a modern teaching approach.
Choose Josh Long’s course if you’re a professional developer wanting expert-level instruction from a Spring team member.
Select Ranga’s microservices course if your focus is building distributed systems with Spring Cloud.
Go with Telusko if you want comprehensive ecosystem coverage with clear, educational teaching.
Choose the eCommerce masterclass if you want a complete portfolio project and production experience.
Pick Google’s Coursera course if you’re interested in cloud-native development and want free instruction.
My Recommended Learning Path for 2026
Month 1–2: Fundamentals
- Start with either Chad Darby’s or Jose Portilla’s course
- Build 2–3 simple REST APIs
- Focus on understanding Spring Boot auto-configuration
- Learn Spring Data JPA and database integration
Month 3–4: Advanced Topics
- Study Spring Security and authentication
- Build a complete CRUD application
- Learn about Spring Boot Actuator and monitoring
- Practice with different databases (SQL and NoSQL)
Month 5–6: Production Skills
- Take the microservices course
- Learn Spring Cloud patterns
- Study containerization with Docker
- Deploy applications to cloud platforms
- Build a portfolio project (like the eCommerce app)
Continuous Learning:
- Follow Spring Boot updates and new features
- Contribute to open-source Spring projects
- Join Spring community forums and discussions
- Build side projects to practice
Spring Boot Skills Are Essential in 2026
The demand for Spring Boot developers continues to grow. Companies building enterprise applications, microservices, and cloud-native systems all need developers who understand Spring Boot.
These skills aren’t just trendy — they’re foundational for modern Java development. Whether you’re building REST APIs, microservices, or full-stack applications, Spring Boot knowledge is increasingly a baseline requirement.
The investment you make in learning Spring Boot today will pay dividends throughout your career. The framework continues to evolve and improve, but the core concepts remain stable, meaning your knowledge stays relevant.
Final Thoughts
Spring Boot has transformed Java development, making it faster, easier, and more enjoyable to build production applications. In 2026, it’s the framework every Java developer should know.
Each of these seven courses offers a different path to Spring Boot mastery. Choose based on your learning style, career goals, and current skill level. Whether you’re starting from scratch or deepening existing knowledge, there’s a perfect course for you.
Don’t wait to start learning. The best time was yesterday; the second-best time is now. Pick a course, commit to the learning journey, and start building with Spring Boot today.
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