KodeKloud Vs A Cloud Guru: Which is Right for You?

Maybe you decided to break out of the depressing cycle of ‘eat, work, sleep, rinse, and repeat’ by learning something different. Or perhaps you want to advance in your career. Whatever the reason behind your decision to take a shot at DevOps and cloud computing, you are on the right track if you are considering KodeKloud and A Cloud Guru (ACG).

It isn’t easy to dive into something new like cloud with confidence. It’s okay to have doubts. What if it is not for me? What if I can’t master it? Such questions may bounce inside your mind. Unsurprisingly, most people ask themselves the same questions when they start learning a new skill like DevOps. Keep that aside and just move forward.

So, how do you find a platform that can banish those doubts and master DevOps or cloud computing? Fortunately, you are already interested in two platforms. So, we only have to compare KodeKloud and A Cloud Guru to explain the pros and cons of using either platform. Grab some popcorn and read our in-depth analysis of KodeKloud Vs A Cloud Guru leisurely. 

About KodeKloud And A Cloud Guru

KodeKloud is a learning platform that aims to smoothly aid people in becoming DevOps experts. It is well-known for its practical approach to learning, excellent labs for practice, and helpful learning paths. You are bound to see your career grow irrespective of whether you are a beginner or a professional if you choose KodeKloud.

Pluralsight’s A Cloud Guru (ACG) is popular for its multi-cloud course library and cloud playground. The practice exams and hands-on labs are great features, too. However, the main advantage of choosing ACG is access to the certification courses for AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure, etc.

Comparing Key Features of KodeKloud Vs A Cloud Guru

We have established that KodeKloud and ACG are popular platforms that are worth your money. So, let’s dive into the various components of both platforms to help you decide which one will suit you better. After all, it’s important to be armed with all the facts before making such an important decision.

Course Offerings

A Cloud Guru offers 400+ courses. You can learn Cloud, DevOps, Linux & Cloud Security, and Kubernetes. Moreover, you can study to become an AWS developer, DevOps engineer, solutions architect, GCP Architecture or Development, Azure Administrator, etc. The learning paths will help you train for Azure, AWS, and GCP certification exams.

KodeKloud has 90+ courses and 700+ labs (as opposed to ACG’s 1800+ labs). You can learn DevOps, Kubernetes, Docker, IaC, Linux, AWS, GCP, and Azure on this platform. If you know what course you want to study, you can enroll in it and start learning. Otherwise, use the learning paths (domain or role-based) to help you choose.

✅ Winner – Both (even though KodeKloud’s courses are comparatively few they are effective).

Content Quality

As a KodeKloud user, I can’t stop gushing about how great the courses are and how the platform shines bright against various others. The courses have relevant content and fantastic practice labs. Moreover, the platform aims to keep all its courses updated to provide a memorable experience to learners.

Is Kodekloud better than A Cloud Guru? When comparing the course qualities, yes. Not just me, many people claim ACG’s course quality dropped after Pluralsight became the parent company. Some are satisfied with the ACG courses they choose. Therefore, ACG is a bit like Udemy in this sense. The course quality varies depending on the courses.

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

Instructors Experience

KodeKloud instructors are experts with years of experience under their belt. The courses are always up-to-date, as the platform aims to make high-quality education accessible to all. The instructors are savvy (especially the CEO – Mumshad Mannambeth) and know about relevant technologies and trending practices in DevOps. Therefore, you are in good hands. 

ACG instructors are seasoned professionals. If you want to know about your course instructor, scroll down to the ‘About the Author’ section for a brief introduction. The section has a ‘More Courses by …’ link. You can click it to learn more about the author, the courses he/she has developed, and the average course ratings.

So far, I have come across Henry Been who was awarded the Microsoft MVP award, Elias Khnaser – ex-president of Gartner and a frequent keynote speaker in technological conferences, Andrew Mallet who has been helping with the Raspberry Pi CoderDojo project. Sounds promising, right?

✅ Winner – Both

Learning Methods

Both platforms use video lectures and practice labs to teach their courses. KodeKloud’s video lectures are much more engaging, whereas ACG has more practice labs (guided & unguided). However, KodeKloud also has KodeKloud Engineer Pro which tips the scales in its favor. 

KodeKloud Engineer Pro is a platform where a fictional company assigns tasks you can work on. Free version users are assigned tasks every 24 – 48 hours. Pro subscribers are immediately given new tasks on completion of the assigned ones. 

KodeKloud wins this round in the A Cloud Guru vs KodeKloud battle with this feature. It is an excellent way to get a taste of real-world tasks. Is there a better way to learn?

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

Practice Labs

Both platforms have incredible labs for practicing the skills you acquire. KodeKloud has 700+ labs with real-world scenarios to help you understand DevOps’ practical applications. You can also use the KodeKloud playgrounds to familiarize yourself with cloud environments like GCP, Azure, and AWS. 

Ultimately, there is no better platform to learn about Kubernetes. The ‘Kubestronaut’ learning path has 9 courses that take approximately 7 months for an absolute beginner to complete. It starts with the basics of container orchestration and ends with the Kubernetes Security Specialist Course. 

You will get loads of practice between each course ensuring you comprehend what you learn. The mock exams are structured to help you build the necessary skillset for the projects you may be working on. 

ACG dazzles with its 1800+ labs for hands-on learning. The AWS, GCP, and Azure sandboxes are great for testing ideas. If you enroll in a DevOps course, you can use the DevOps Security Labs to build skills in a real-world environment. 

Alternatively, you can use the DevOps Pipeline and Automation labs to gain practical knowledge of a specific topic or build a skill required for your work projects. Moreover, the learning paths are designed like a Bootcamp for building skills. So, you will get the necessary practical experience no matter which platform you choose.

✅ Winner – A Cloud Guru (because of its vaster labs and useful sandboxes).

Certification Value

ACG and KodeKloud certificates are well recognized in the tech industry today. So, certifications from both platforms hold good value. Having a Cloud or DevOps certification is handy; it increases your job opportunities.

However, you can’t get a job solely based on those certificates. Always be on the lookout to improve yourself and stay informed on current practices in your chosen field.

✅ Winner – Both

Customer Support

KodeKloud is one of the few platforms that offers satisfactory customer support. Any issues you face get resolved quickly. It’s refreshing to know that some learning platforms care about user experience and comfort. Bad reviews about Kodekloud are almost non-existent. 

If you ask me whether I prefer KodeKloud or A Cloud Guru, my answer will be ‘KodeKloud’. ACG provides horrible customer support. Many people lament that it is difficult to get hold of someone responsible to resolve their issues.

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

Pricing And Value For Money

A Cloud Guru has a Personal Basic ($35 per month) and a Personal Plus ($47 per month) plan. Both plans provide access to unlimited courses, practice exams, and guided labs. However, you must subscribe to the Personal Plus plan to access AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure sandboxes. It also unlocks the challenge mode (unguided labs).

KodeKloud has a Standard ($11 per month) and a Pro ($21 per month) plan for individuals. The Standard plan gives you access to KodeKloud’s premium courses and labs. It is a great choice for learning the fundamentals. The Pro plan lets you access the Pro and premium courses and labs. In addition, you can use the playgrounds. 

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

Community

KodeLoud has a supportive community. Fellow learners will help you anytime you feel stuck on a project. You can also pose questions or seek help to resolve a problem. Since it is an active community, you will receive on-time responses. Moreover, you can also connect with the community on Discord.

A Cloud Guru, too, has a great community. You can use the forums and discussion boards to connect or collaborate on projects with others.

If you are wondering which is better A Cloud Guru or KodeKloud, it is the latter. KodeKloud’s community is livelier than ACG’s.

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

User Interface

KodeKloud’s user interface is stunning and finding the courses you want will be easy. Moreover, I had no trouble navigating the various learning paths to see what each path offered. The only problem with its UI is the lag time users sometimes experience.

Though ACG’s UI is visually pleasing, navigation can be confusing. Finding a suitable course on this platform is akin to being shoved into the ocean without warning. Other than that, I faced no problems.

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

User Feedback

KodeKloud labs can lag or need upgrades sometimes. Usually, such issues are quickly resolved. But it would be better if they didn’t arise in the first place. Some users also feel only limited courses are available. 

ACG needs to update its courses, not just add new courses. It must try to provide better customer support. It would be better if the UI is more user-friendly. The labs can be improved by providing additional features. Moreover, the lessons can be made more interactive.

✅ Winner – KodeKloud

Who Should Use KodeKloud?

Anyone wishing to learn DevOps should try using KodeKloud. The platform’s mission is to ensure their learners’ career advancement through practical education. You will love KodeKloud if you believe practical experience is the key to success. The KodeKloud community will also support and collaborate with you.

Who Should Use A Cloud Guru?

If you are interested in cloud computing, ACG is the right platform for learning. Its course library is extensive, and you will love using the sandboxes. Moreover, interactive diagrams that can be used as cheat sheets/study aids are available for download as PDFs on this platform. 

You can always check them out if you need a quick refresher. Furthermore, ACG is a suitable learning platform if you like switching between guided and unguided labs. It is also a great choice to prep for AWS, Azure, and GCP certification exams.

Alternatives

The following is a list of alternatives to KodeKloud and A Cloud Guru:

Whizlabs: Whizlabs is a great platform for learning DevOps, Cloud computing, Java, Snowflake, Blockchain, etc. It has been around for 20+ years. When a platform has been successful for that long, you know it is good.

Udacity: Udacity is a great platform for learning technical skills. It has 51 courses in the cloud computing category and is one of the best alternatives to KodeKloud and ACG.

Coursera: You probably have been living under a rock if you haven’t heard about Coursera. It offers courses on a variety of topics. Coursera bombards you with 2,000+ results if you type ‘cloud computing’ in its search field. Fortunately, it has great search filters.

YouTube: YouTube channels of Cloud Academy, Microsoft Azure, Simplilearn, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Tech are excellent for learning cloud computing. TechWorld with Nana, Bret Fisher Docker & DevOps, and Stephanie Marek’s YouTube channels are great for learning DevOps.

KodeKloud vs A Cloud Guru – Final Verdict

As you can see, KodeKloud has the upper hand in the KodeKloud vs A Cloud Guru debate. However, ACG puts up a strong fight, too. Choose KodeKloud if you want to learn DevOps, and pick A Cloud Guru to master cloud computing.

FAQs about KodeKloud and ACG

1. Is KodeKloud Engineer worth it?

Briefly put, yes; it is worth it. You gain confidence and experience by working on tasks assigned that are simulated to resemble real-world tasks.

2. Is KodeKloud Free?

A free version exists; however, you will only have limited access.

3. Can we download KodeKloud courses?

No, you can’t. KodeKloud doesn’t allow you to download and save course content.

4. I want to study Cloud. Where do I start with A Cloud Guru?

ACG recommends the Cloud Computing Foundations course if you are a complete rookie. After that, you can complete the intro courses or, if you feel ready, the certification courses for GCP, AWS, and Azure. You can browse the learning paths if you need more guidance.

5. Can I switch between ACG plans?

Yes. Personal plan subscribers can switch plans directly through their membership page.

6. Can I download ACG learning content for offline viewing?

Offline access/viewing is available on mobile versions. However, the web version requires an internet connection.