Free Azure Learning Resources I Actually Recommend (2026)

Every "free Azure resources" list includes the same things. Most are outdated or useless.

Here's what I actually recommend to my students — resources I've used myself and know work.

The Essentials

Microsoft Learn

Link: learn.microsoft.com

Yes, the obvious one. But it's genuinely good:

• Structured learning paths for certifications
• Sandbox environments that don't require your own subscription
• Updated when services change

How to use it: Don't just read. Do the sandbox exercises. They're the valuable part.

Best paths:

• Azure Fundamentals (if starting from zero)
• Azure Administrator (for AZ-104 prep)
• Azure Solutions Architect (for AZ-305 prep)

Azure Free Account

Link: azure.microsoft.com/free

$200 credit for 30 days, plus 12 months of free-tier services.

How to use it: Don't just click around. Build a project:

• Deploy a web app on App Service
• Set up a VNet with VMs
• Configure monitoring and alerts

The free tier is generous enough for serious learning.

Azure Architecture Center

Link: learn.microsoft.com/azure/architecture

Reference architectures for real-world scenarios. This is what architects actually use.

How to use it: Pick a scenario similar to something you might build. Study the architecture diagram. Understand why each component exists.

Best sections:

• Reference architectures
• Best practices guides
• Cloud design patterns

For Hands-On Practice

Azure Citadel

Link: azurecitadel.com

Community-driven hands-on labs. More practical than many official labs.

How to use it: Pick a topic you're learning. Follow the lab. Break it. Fix it.

GitHub Learning Lab

Link: skills.github.com

Not Azure-specific, but essential for DevOps skills:

• Git fundamentals
• GitHub Actions
• CI/CD concepts

Every Azure engineer needs git skills. This is the best free way to learn.

For Certification Prep

Microsoft Learn Q&A

Link: learn.microsoft.com/answers

Real questions from real people studying for exams. Often reveals what trips people up.

John Savill's YouTube Channel

Link: YouTube - "John Savill's Technical Training"

Deep technical content from a Microsoft veteran. His exam cram videos are particularly useful.

How to use it: Watch at 1.25x speed. Take notes. His whiteboard explanations clarify confusing concepts.

ExamTopics (with caveats)

I'm including this because people ask about it. It has community-submitted exam questions.

Caveats:

• Not all answers are correct — read discussions
• Using it as your only prep is a mistake
• Best used to identify topics you need to study more

Don't memorize questions. Use it to find gaps in your knowledge.

For Staying Current

Azure Updates

Link: azure.microsoft.com/updates

Official announcements of new features and changes. Subscribe to RSS or check weekly.

Azure Friday (YouTube)

Short videos featuring Azure product teams. Good for learning about new features from the people who built them.

Microsoft Mechanics (YouTube)

Slightly more polished than Azure Friday. Covers broader Microsoft ecosystem including M365.

For Community and Support

Azure Subreddit

Link: reddit.com/r/azure

Real practitioners discussing real problems. Good for:

• Specific troubleshooting questions
• Career advice
• Opinions on services and approaches

Tech Community (Microsoft)

Link: techcommunity.microsoft.com

Official Microsoft community. More formal than Reddit but has MVPs and Microsoft employees participating.

Local User Groups

Search for Azure user groups in your city. Nothing replaces in-person connections for career growth.

What I DON'T Recommend

Outdated Udemy Courses

Many popular courses haven't been updated in years. Azure changes constantly. Check the last update date before buying anything.

Certification Dump Sites

Memorizing answers defeats the purpose. You might pass but you won't be able to do the job.

Overly Complex YouTube Tutorials

"Build a full microservices architecture with Kubernetes, Service Mesh, and GitOps" is not beginner content, regardless of the title. Start simple.

A Learning Path That Works

1. Week 1: Create free Azure account, complete AZ-900 learning path basics
2. Weeks 2-4: Microsoft Learn sandbox exercises daily
3. Weeks 5-8: Build your own project (web app, VM infrastructure, or automation script)
4. Weeks 9-10: John Savill exam cram + practice questions
5. Ongoing: Azure Updates weekly, subreddit as needed

This costs nothing but time. And the time is worth it.

My Content

I create content at cloudwithsingh specifically to fill gaps I see in existing resources:

• Practical tutorials focused on real scenarios
• Honest certification guidance
• Career transition advice

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow this blog for updates.

The Real Secret

Free resources are abundant. What's scarce is the discipline to actually use them.

Pick a few resources from this list. Use them consistently for three months. You'll learn more than someone who bookmarks fifty resources and uses none.

Start today. The best time to begin was last year. The second best time is now.