9 Best SQL and Database Courses of 2026

1. 1

   Coursera

   Online course platform whose SQL catalog includes UC Davis's SQL for Data Science and the Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate.

   8.8overall

   Online course platform whose SQL catalog includes UC Davis's SQL for Data Science and the Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate.

   Best foranalysts and career changers who want university or employer branded certificates

   Adoption data

   732,256Coursera's SQL for Data Science course, taught by Sadie St. Lawrence for UC Davis, showed 732,256 learners enrolled in November 2026.

   Coursera, SQL for Data Science (2026): “732,256 already enrolled”

   Coursera ranks first because it is the one platform here that serves both groups in the question. Analysts can take SQL for Data Science, a UC Davis course taught by Sadie St. Lawrence with 4 modules, a beginner level and an estimated 2 weeks at 10 hours a week; it showed 732,256 learners enrolled and a 4.6 rating from 17,240 reviews when we checked. Learners who want to design databases can continue to the Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate, a 9 course series that Coursera estimates at 6 months at 6 hours a week, with 86,979 enrolled. Both programs are included with Coursera Plus, which costs $59 per month after a 7-day free trial, and the annual plan was discounted to $239.40 until November 30, 2026. The trade-off is price and pace: monthly Coursera Plus costs more than Codecademy or Pluralsight, and the Meta certificate is a long commitment. For a learner who wants a recognizable certificate name on a resume, it is the best fit.

   Strengths

   • +Covers both analyst SQL and database engineering in one subscription
   • +SQL for Data Science has a 4.6 rating from 17,240 reviews
   • +7-day free trial on Coursera Plus

   Limitations

   • −$59 per month is the highest monthly price among the paid plans here
   • −The Meta certificate takes about 6 months at the suggested pace
   • −Certificates require a paid plan

   SummaryCoursera is the best choice for beginners and analysts who want one subscription that covers SQL queries and database design, because SQL for Data Science and the 9 course Meta Database Engineer certificate are both in Coursera Plus. Start with the 7-day trial and finish one course before committing to annual billing.

2. 2

   Codecademy

   Interactive coding school whose free Learn SQL course teaches queries in the browser with projects and quizzes.

   8.7overall

   Interactive coding school whose free Learn SQL course teaches queries in the browser with projects and quizzes.

   Best forcomplete beginners who want a free, hands-on start

   Adoption data

   1,233,390Codecademy's free Learn SQL course showed 1,233,390 learners enrolled in November 2026.

   Codecademy, Learn SQL (2026): “1,233,390 learners enrolled”

   Codecademy is the easiest place to write your first query. Learn SQL is a free course with 4 lessons, 5 projects and 4 quizzes, and Codecademy estimates 5 hours to finish it with no prerequisites. The syllabus moves from manipulation (creating and updating tables) to queries, aggregate functions and multiple tables, and all practice happens in the browser with an AI Learning Assistant that comments on your solution code. The page showed 1,233,390 learners enrolled and a 4.57 out of 5 rating from 27,680 ratings. The free Basic plan is enough for the course itself; a certificate of completion needs Plus, which costs $14.99 per month billed annually or $29.99 billed monthly. The limit is depth: the course does not go far into schema design or indexing, so analysts will want a follow-up course on window functions and developers a design course. As a first step it is hard to beat on price.

   Strengths

   • +Learn SQL is a free course on the always free Basic plan
   • +Queries run in the browser, so there is nothing to install
   • +Plus is $14.99 per month billed annually

   Limitations

   • −The 5 hour course stops at multi-table queries; design topics need other courses
   • −Certificates require Plus or Pro
   • −Monthly billing doubles the Plus price to $29.99

   SummaryCodecademy is the best choice for complete beginners because Learn SQL is a free 5 hour course with 5 projects that runs entirely in the browser. Upgrade to Plus at $14.99 per month only if you want the certificate or further paths.

3. 3

   DataCamp

   Data skills platform with short interactive SQL courses grouped into the SQL Fundamentals track.

   8.5overall

   Data skills platform with short interactive SQL courses grouped into the SQL Fundamentals track.

   Best foranalysts who learn best with short, browser-based exercises

   Adoption data

   21 millionDataCamp reports 21 million learners on its platform, along with 5,000+ companies and 3,000 academic organizations.

   DataCamp, About DataCamp (2026): “21 million DATACAMP LEARNERS”

   DataCamp is built for analysts who want to practice SQL in small steps. The SQL Fundamentals track bundles 7 courses and ends with a Statement of Accomplishment, and DataCamp states there are no prerequisites. It opens with Introduction to SQL, which promises to teach creating and querying relational databases in about two hours and carries a 4.8+ rating from 67,452 reviews, then moves to Intermediate SQL and later to PostgreSQL queries for data science questions, with a bonus project analyzing student mental health data. The free Basic plan includes the first chapter of every course, so beginners can try the format at no cost. Premium unlocks 810+ courses, but from our location the pricing page showed euro prices only, so we could not verify the USD cost. DataCamp reports 21 million learners overall. It is a strong pick for analysis work, though less suited to learning how to design a schema from scratch.

   Strengths

   • +Introduction to SQL has a 4.8+ rating from 67,452 reviews
   • +First chapter of every course is free
   • +Exercises run in the browser with instant feedback

   Limitations

   • −USD price was not shown from our location, so the cost is unverified here
   • −Short exercises cover less database design than CS50 or the Meta certificate
   • −Full track access requires Premium

   SummaryDataCamp is the best choice for analysts who want short daily SQL practice because its 7 course SQL Fundamentals track runs in the browser and starts with a two hour Introduction to SQL. Try the free first chapters before checking the USD Premium price.

4. 4

   edX (Harvard CS50's Introduction to Databases with SQL)

   University course marketplace that hosts Harvard's CS50 SQL course and the Computer Science for Databases using SQL certificate.

   8.5overall

   University course marketplace that hosts Harvard's CS50 SQL course and the Computer Science for Databases using SQL certificate.

   Best forlearners who want database design taught at university level for free

   Adoption data

   100 millionedX states that 100 million learners worldwide are upskilling with its courses.

   edX, edX: Online courses from top universities (2026): “100M global learners, in nearly every industry, are upskilling with edX.”

   edX is the home of the most design-focused course in this ranking: Harvard's CS50 Introduction to Databases with SQL. The course syllabus covers creating, reading, updating and deleting data, modeling real-world entities with tables, types, triggers and constraints, normalizing data to remove redundancy, and speeding up searches with views and indexes. Lectures are titled Querying, Relating, Designing, Writing, Viewing, Optimizing and Scaling, and the course ends with a final project. It starts with SQLite for portability and finishes with introductions to PostgreSQL and MySQL. edX also lists Harvard's Computer Science for Databases using SQL Professional Certificate, a 2 course program, alongside IBM data analyst and data engineering certificates. edX's help center says open courses cost nothing on the free audit track, which does not include certificates or graded assignments; certificate fees vary by course. edX reports 100 million learners. It ranks below Coursera and Codecademy mainly because analysts get less query practice per hour.

   Strengths

   • +Free audit track for open courses
   • +Strongest database design syllabus in this ranking
   • +Lectures on querying, relating, designing, writing, viewing, optimizing and scaling

   Limitations

   • −Free audit does not include certificates or graded assignments
   • −Certificate fees vary by course and are not listed in one place
   • −University pacing is slower than short interactive courses

   SummaryedX is the best choice for learners who want to learn database design properly because Harvard's CS50 SQL course teaches normalization, constraints, indexes and scaling and can be audited free. Pay for a certificate only if an employer asks for one.

5. 5

   Udemy

   Course marketplace where The Complete SQL Bootcamp by Jose Portilla and Pierian Training is the best-known SQL course.

   8.4overall

   Course marketplace where The Complete SQL Bootcamp by Jose Portilla and Pierian Training is the best-known SQL course.

   Best forlearners who prefer one video course they can buy outright

   Adoption data

   1,055,639Udemy's The Complete SQL Bootcamp showed 1,055,639 students and 259,393 ratings in November 2026.

   Udemy, The Complete SQL Bootcamp: Go from Zero to Hero (2026): “4.6 (259,393 ratings) 1,055,639 students”

   Udemy's strongest SQL offer is The Complete SQL Bootcamp: Go from Zero to Hero by Jose Portilla and Pierian Training, which showed 1,055,639 students and a 4.6 rating from 259,393 ratings when we checked. The course has 12 sections, 83 lectures and 8h 51m of video, and it begins by installing PostgreSQL and pgAdmin on Windows or macOS before moving to SQL statement fundamentals, GROUP BY statements and assessment tests. That setup step is useful for anyone who will work with a real database server, but it is slower than the browser-based start at Codecademy or DataCamp. Udemy sells courses one by one and through a Personal Plan with access to 28,500+ top courses; from our location the prices showed in Polish zloty, so the USD cost is pending. The course page lists its last update as 12/2022, so newer PostgreSQL features may not appear. It ranks fifth on adoption and value rather than syllabus depth.

   Strengths

   • +4.6 rating from 259,393 ratings
   • +Hands-on PostgreSQL setup prepares you for real databases
   • +Courses can be bought one by one instead of by subscription

   Limitations

   • −Course page lists last update as 12/2022
   • −USD price was not shown from our location
   • −Installing PostgreSQL adds setup time for beginners

   SummaryUdemy is the best choice for learners who want one complete video course because The Complete SQL Bootcamp packs 83 lectures and 8h 51m of PostgreSQL training into a single purchase. Check the current US price, since Udemy discounts often.

6. 6

   Khan Academy

   Nonprofit learning site whose free Intro to SQL unit teaches querying and managing data with in-browser challenges.

   8.1overall

   Nonprofit learning site whose free Intro to SQL unit teaches querying and managing data with in-browser challenges.

   Best forstudents and teens who want a completely free introduction

   Adoption data

   232 millionKhan Academy reports 232 million registered users across 190+ countries.

   Khan Academy, About Khan Academy (2026): “232M registered users”

   Khan Academy's Intro to SQL unit is the simplest free option in this ranking. It sits inside the Computer programming course and describes SQL as a language for managing data in a relational database. The SQL basics lessons cover creating a table, inserting data, querying and aggregating, with challenges such as a book list database, box office hits and TODO list statistics, and a project to design a store database. More advanced lessons cover AND/OR conditions, IN subqueries, HAVING and CASE. Khan Academy states its mission is a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere, and reports 232 million registered users. The unit has no certificate and stops well short of joins at scale, indexing or engine-specific features, which is why it scores lowest on features. It earns its place for value: a teenager or a curious beginner can learn what SQL does without creating a paid account.

   Strengths

   • +Completely free
   • +Includes HAVING, CASE and subquery lessons
   • +Includes a small database design project

   Limitations

   • −No certificate
   • −Covers the basics only, with no specific engine such as PostgreSQL
   • −Fewer lessons than paid platforms

   SummaryKhan Academy is the best choice for students who want a free first look at SQL because its Intro to SQL unit costs nothing and ends with a store database design project. Move to Codecademy or CS50 SQL once the basics click.

7. 7

   Dataquest

   Project-based data school whose SQL Skills path teaches querying with SQLite and PostgreSQL on real datasets.

   7.8overall

   Project-based data school whose SQL Skills path teaches querying with SQLite and PostgreSQL on real datasets.

   Best foranalysts who want guided projects and a certificate

   Adoption data

   52,937Dataquest's Learn SQL Skills for Data Analysis path showed 52,937 learners enrolled in November 2026.

   Dataquest, Learn SQL Skills for Data Analysis (2026): “52,937 learners enrolled in this path.”

   Dataquest teaches SQL through guided practice on real datasets rather than video. Its Learn SQL Skills for Data Analysis path is aimed at beginners with no experience, bundles 5 courses and 3 projects, and Dataquest estimates 2 months at 5 hours a week. The path works with SQLite and PostgreSQL and ends with an SQL certificate. It showed 52,937 learners enrolled and a 4.8 rating from 359 reviews when we checked. A free plan lets you start, while Premium unlocks every path, course, practice set and project at as low as $33.25 per month; Dataquest bills monthly or annually and offers a full refund within 30 days. Dataquest says it has been trusted by 1M+ learners overall. It ranks seventh because its published enrollment is much smaller than Coursera's or Codecademy's and its Premium plan costs more than Codecademy Plus, but its project-heavy format suits analysts who want proof of work for a portfolio.

   Strengths

   • +Path rated 4.8 from 359 reviews
   • +3 guided projects for a portfolio
   • +30-day full refund on Premium

   Limitations

   • −Smaller enrollment than the large platforms
   • −Premium at $33.25 per month is pricier than Codecademy Plus
   • −Free plan does not include the full catalog

   SummaryDataquest is the best choice for analysts who want portfolio projects because its SQL path includes 5 courses and 3 projects on real datasets with SQLite and PostgreSQL. Use the 30-day refund window to judge the format.

8. 8

   Pluralsight

   Tech skills platform with expert-authored SQL and SQL Server courses inside its Core Tech plan.

   7.4overall

   Tech skills platform with expert-authored SQL and SQL Server courses inside its Core Tech plan.

   Best forIT professionals who work with SQL Server

   Adoption data

   22KPluralsight reports 22,000 business customers and says it is trusted by 70% of the Fortune 500.

   Pluralsight, About Pluralsight (2026): “22K business customers across the globe”

   Pluralsight is aimed at working technologists, and its SQL catalog leans toward Microsoft SQL Server. The beginner Introduction to SQL course runs 2h 18m and starts with database fundamentals: why databases exist, entities and tables, data types, NULL values, primary keys, foreign keys and naming conventions, before moving to SELECT, WHERE, BETWEEN, IN and LIKE. The SQL browse page lists follow-up courses such as Write Complex Subqueries in SQL, Perform Complex JOINS in SQL, SQL Server Security Fundamentals and Querying Data with SQL Server. Core Tech, which includes skill assessments, learning paths, certification prep and hands-on labs, costs $45 per month billed monthly and has a 10-day free trial. Pluralsight reports 22K business customers. It ranks eighth because there is no free plan and the price covers a broad tech catalog that a SQL-only learner will not use, but it suits IT staff whose employer already runs SQL Server.

   Strengths

   • +Deep SQL Server catalog from named authors
   • +10-day free trial
   • +Skill assessments to place you at the right level

   Limitations

   • −No free plan
   • −$45 per month is high for SQL alone
   • −Many SQL courses focus on SQL Server rather than PostgreSQL or MySQL

   SummaryPluralsight is the best choice for IT professionals on SQL Server because its catalog includes SQL Server querying, security and error handling courses alongside a 2h 18m Introduction to SQL. Use the 10-day trial to cover one course before paying $45 per month.

9. 9

   LinkedIn Learning

   LinkedIn's video course library, where Learning SQL Programming by Scott Simpson is a short beginner course.

   7.1overall

   LinkedIn's video course library, where Learning SQL Programming by Scott Simpson is a short beginner course.

   Best forprofessionals who want short courses tied to a LinkedIn profile

   Adoption data

   28,315LinkedIn Learning's Learning SQL Programming course showed 28,315 likes in November 2026.

   LinkedIn, Learning SQL Programming (2026): “Liked by 28,315 users”

   LinkedIn Learning's Learning SQL Programming, taught by Scott Simpson, is the shortest structured course in this ranking at 1h 48m. It is rated beginner level and introduces SQL as a tool for retrieving data from relational databases such as SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, so it does not tie a learner to a single engine. The course was released on 3/17/2021 and showed 28,315 likes when we checked; LinkedIn does not publish an enrollment count for it, which is why it scores lowest on adoption here. Individuals can start with a 1-month free trial, and employers can buy access for a team. From our location the subscription price was not shown in USD, so pricing is pending. The course is a reasonable refresher for a professional who already has LinkedIn Learning through work, but beginners who want projects or database design will get more from Codecademy, Coursera or CS50 SQL.

   Strengths

   • +Short course that fits a lunch-break schedule
   • +Engine-neutral introduction across four databases
   • +1-month free trial

   Limitations

   • −USD price was not shown from our location
   • −Course was released in 2021
   • −No published SQL enrollment figure, only course likes

   SummaryLinkedIn Learning is the best choice for professionals who already have access through their employer because Learning SQL Programming covers the basics in 1h 48m across four database engines. Others should start with a free option first.

Questions or corrections: editorial@statlyst.com · Disclosure