Top Resources for Learning Laravel (Free & Paid)

By Lucid Softech IT Solutions | Laravel, 23 Dec 2024

Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks for building modern web applications due to its simplicity, elegance, and extensive features. Whether you are just starting or looking to deepen your expertise in Laravel, there are numerous free and paid resources available to help you along the way. Here’s a list of the top resources to learn Laravel effectively.

Free Resources

1. Laravel Official Documentation

Website: laravel.com/docs
Why Use It: The official Laravel documentation is the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource available. It covers all of Laravel’s features and components in detail, making it an essential reference.
Content: The documentation covers everything from the basics like routing, controllers, and views, to advanced features such as middleware, queues, and events.
Best For: Beginners to advanced users who need a detailed understanding of Laravel’s functionalities and features.

2. Laracasts (Free Lessons)

Website: laracasts.com
Why Use It: Laracasts is known as the “Netflix for Developers.” It offers high-quality video tutorials on various Laravel topics.
Content: While the majority of content is behind a paywall, Laracasts provides a series of free lessons covering Laravel basics, including installation, routing, Eloquent, and more.
Best For: Visual learners who want a hands-on guide to basic and intermediate Laravel topics.

3. YouTube Channels

Examples: Traversy Media, The Net Ninja, Codecourse
Why Use Them: YouTube hosts numerous channels with free Laravel tutorials, covering topics ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
Content: Topics include building simple CRUD applications, authentication systems, REST APIs, integrating with front-end frameworks, and more.
Best For: Beginners who prefer free video tutorials and want to see real-world examples of Laravel in action.

4. Laravel News

Website: laravel-news.com
Why Use It: Laravel News is a great source of the latest updates, tutorials, packages, and articles related to Laravel.
Content: The site features a mix of Laravel-related news, guides, and tutorials, covering both basic concepts and more complex techniques.
Best For: Developers who want to stay updated on the latest Laravel developments and learn through diverse community-contributed content.

5. FreeCodeCamp

Website: freecodecamp.org
Why Use It: FreeCodeCamp provides beginner-friendly articles and video tutorials on Laravel and other web development topics.
Content: Tutorials focus on building basic Laravel projects and explaining core concepts in an easy-to-follow manner.
Best For: Beginners looking for free, beginner-friendly content to get started with Laravel.

6. GitHub Repositories and Open Source Projects

Why Use Them: Exploring open-source Laravel projects on GitHub can provide valuable hands-on learning.
Content: By reviewing the codebases of popular Laravel repositories, you can learn best practices, design patterns, and different ways to implement Laravel features.
Best For: Intermediate and advanced developers seeking practical examples of Laravel in action.

Paid Resources

1. Laracasts (Premium)

Website: laracasts.com
Price: Starting at $15/month
Why Use It: Laracasts is one of the most comprehensive platforms for Laravel learning, offering a vast library of high-quality screencasts.
Content: Detailed courses range from Laravel basics to advanced topics like testing, Eloquent ORM, Vue.js integration, API development, and more.
Best For: Developers serious about mastering Laravel through guided, high-quality video tutorials and in-depth explanations.

2. Udemy Laravel Courses

Website: udemy.com
Price: Varies (typically between $10–$100; frequent discounts available)
Why Use It: Udemy provides a wide range of Laravel courses catering to different levels, from complete beginners to advanced developers.
Content: Popular courses include building CRUD applications, RESTful APIs, integrating Laravel with front-end frameworks, testing, and deploying Laravel applications.
Best For: Those who prefer structured learning with lifetime access to courses and the flexibility to choose specific topics.

3. Pluralsight

Website: pluralsight.com
Price: Starting at $29/month
Why Use It: Pluralsight offers professionally curated courses on Laravel and other web development topics, designed by industry experts.
Content: Courses range from basic introductions to Laravel to more advanced topics like Laravel package development and integrating Laravel with various tools.
Best For: Developers who prefer a comprehensive learning path with a focus on hands-on projects and professional-grade tutorials.

4. Laravel Books

Examples:
- Laravel: Up & Running by Matt Stauffer
- Laravel Design Patterns and Best Practices by Arda Kılıçdağı and Halil İbrahim Yılmaz
Why Use Them: Books provide a structured, in-depth approach to learning Laravel, often explaining concepts and best practices beyond mere tutorials.
Content: Cover a range of topics from Laravel basics to advanced design patterns, testing, and deploying applications.
Best For: Developers who prefer detailed reading material and a thorough understanding of Laravel’s architecture and best practices.

5. CodeCanyon and ThemeForest Templates

Website: codecanyon.net and themeforest.net
Price: Varies (typically $10–$100 per template)
Why Use Them: Purchasing Laravel templates and starter kits can provide hands-on experience in working with pre-built code.
Content: These platforms offer Laravel-based admin panels, CMS, e-commerce templates, and various application types that you can explore and modify to learn how real-world Laravel applications are structured.
Best For: Intermediate developers looking for hands-on learning by dissecting and working with professionally developed Laravel templates.

Conclusion

Laravel has a vast ecosystem with plenty of resources to help you get started and grow your expertise. Beginners should start with the official documentation and free tutorials on YouTube to get a solid grasp of the basics. As you become more comfortable, platforms like Laracasts, Udemy, and Pluralsight offer in-depth, structured courses to help you master more advanced aspects of Laravel.

Mixing different types of resources—video tutorials, documentation, books, and real-world projects—provides a well-rounded learning experience. This approach will enable you to become proficient in Laravel and keep up with the latest trends and best practices in web application development.