Hey friends,
The best PD1 prep for most people is the free official Trailhead Trailmix plus one practice-question source, with real coding in a Developer Edition org. Add a video course if you learn best by watching. Here's an honest look at the main options, including mine. Where a page didn't show a price, I say "check current price" instead of guessing.
I did the same for the Admin exam in best Salesforce Admin certification courses. Exam facts come from the PD1 exam guide.
Pick one from each column you need, not all of them.
Trailhead (free, official)
The Platform Developer credential page links Salesforce's own Trailmix and a Study trail. It's free, it maps to the exam, and the hands-on challenges make you write real Apex. Its weakness: no timed, exam-style practice.
Udemy video courses
From Udemy search results on Oct 11, 2026. Prices weren't shown and Udemy discounts constantly, so check the current price:
- Deepika Khanna, Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I (LWC & Aura also): 38.5 hours, 258 lectures, 4.3/5 from 7,011 ratings. The most complete and the longest.
- Anthony Wheeler and Mike Wheeler, Complete Salesforce Certified Platform Developer 1 Course: 14 hours, 120 lectures, 4.2/5 from 883 ratings, and it covers Flows too.
- Sanjay Gupta, Salesforce Platform Developer Masterclass: Apex & Lightning: 11.5 hours, 101 lectures, 4.5/5 from 1,165 ratings. The shortest of the three.
Video courses are great for learning from zero. The risk is passive watching. Pause and type the code yourself.
K2 University (formerly Focus on Force)
Focus on Force is now part of K2 University and is well known for practice exams and study guides. Many people I know used it for timed exam practice. Its PD1 pages didn't load for me, so check the current price and format on their site.
Platform Developer Cert Lab (mine)
Full disclosure, this one is mine. It's built section by section from the official exam guide: short lessons, practice questions that explain every option, and flashcards. It's $9.99 for 12 months. It's not a video course, and it's best paired with Trailhead and your own coding.
Cert Lab by Nick Frates
Try the Platform Developer Cert Lab
Lessons, practice questions and flashcards for every PD1 section. $9.99 for 12 months.
Start the PD1 Cert Lab, $9.99 →How I'd pick
- New to coding: Trailhead plus one long video course, then practice questions in the last two weeks.
- Already a developer elsewhere: Trailhead plus practice questions; skip most video.
- Short on money: Trailhead, my 25 free PD1 practice questions, and a free org.
- Any route: follow a schedule. My 8-week PD1 study plan works with any of these.
What to avoid
Exam dumps. Using real exam content breaks Salesforce's certification rules and can cost you the certification. Practice questions should teach the concept, not leak the test.
Keep studying
- How to pass PD1 on your first try.
- Admin vs Platform Developer I.
- The Salesforce developer career path.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nick
