The best 8 web design & web development courses 2025

Websites are now often the first showcase of a company – those who impress here win customers, talent, and partners in a matter of seconds. According to the current Web Development Market Report by Mordor Intelligence, the global web development market will reach $80.6 billion US dollars by 2025 and grow to over $125 billion US dollars by 2030 at an average annual growth rate of 9.3%. This dynamic shows: qualified web designers and developers remain scarce resources, while companies are increasingly investing in digital customer experiences. Those who now focus on targeted continuing education not only improve their job security but also open up excellent career prospects in an industry that continuously produces new frameworks, no-code tools, and UX standards. 

In this comparison, we present eight top online courses in web design and web development – from solid fundamentals to certified specializations.

Comparison criteria

For web design and web development courses, much more than just the number of hours matters. To enable objective comparison, six evaluation categories have been defined:

• Content – does the curriculum cover everything from basics to advanced topics?
• Learning format & flexibility – live online, on-demand, or blended; weekly workload; mobile accessibility; community support
• Costs & funding – pricing model, installment payments, government subsidies such as the Bildungsgutschein
• Certification & reputation – ISO, AZAV, university or platform certificates and their recognition by employers
• Practical relevance & mentoring – project work, code reviews, 1:1 coaching, GitHub portfolio
• Target audience – does the course suit beginners, career changers, or experienced developers?

These criteria enable you to select exactly the program that fits optimally with your learning goals and professional ambitions.

Comparison table

(Prices and exchange rates: as of July 2025)

Products/Services comparison

1. XDi – Certified User Experience Designer

The bootcamp Certified User Experience Designer combines live coding sessions with supervised online curriculum. Participants design responsive UI design in Figma, program react front-ends, and finalize their personal projects. A professional mentor provides regular feedback.

Advantages

• 100% funding through a Bildungsgutschein possible
• AZAV-certified teaching quality
• Individual 1:1 mentoring

2. Webmasters Fernakademie – Weiterbildung zum/zur Web-Entwickler/in: Diploma in Web Development

The state-approved distance learning program deepens JavaScript (Node), PHP/Laravel, and Linux server administration.

Advantages

• European diploma (Webmasters Europe)
• Instructor support via online campus

Disadvantages

• Long duration, higher total costs
• Less flexibility in module changes

3. CareerFoundry – Software Engineering Program

The 7-month full-time online program teaches frontend development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as backend technologies like Node.js, Express, and MongoDB (MERN stack). Participants work with personal mentors and tutors, create practical projects, and receive career coaching.

Advantages

• Job guarantee: position within 6 months or money back
• Personal 1:1 mentoring with industry experts

Disadvantages

• High costs for self-payers without funding
• English-language program with fixed project structures

4. Udacity – Full Stack Web Developer

Udacity leads from Python APIs through SQL databases to React front-end. Career services support CV refinement.

Advantages

• Practical projects
• Personal code reviews

Disadvantages

• High monthly costs with longer duration
• English-language course

5. FernUniversität Hagen – Weiterbildungslehrgang zum Web-Entwickler

The state-recognized continuing education program teaches HTML, CSS, JavaScript for static web development as well as PHP for dynamic web applications and SQL for database integration.

Advantages

• Renowned, state-recognized certificate
• Fully flexible processing

Disadvantages

• No personal support
• Long, unstructured study duration

6. Flux Academy – The Complete Path to Webflow Mastery

The course is aimed at designers who want to create pixel-perfect websites without code. Topics: CMS structure, animations, client handover.

Advantages

• Focus on no-code workflow
• Access to exclusive community

Disadvantages

• No traditional coding skills
• Limited to Webflow platform

7. Treehouse – Front End Web Development

Twelve real-life projects – such as a React quiz or CSS Grid layout – form the core. Slack channel and office hours provide support.

Advantages

• Project portfolio for applications
• Gamified badge system

Disadvantages

• Only available in English
• No German-language support

8. Coursera – Spezialisierung Web-Design für jedermann: Grundlagen der Webentwicklung und -codierung

The specialization from the University of Michigan teaches HTML, CSS Flexbox, and JavaScript basics. After each module, a responsive mini-project is completed.

Advantages

• University certificate, recognized worldwide
• Flexible monthly fee, cancellable anytime

Disadvantages

• English-language content
• No personal support

Conclusion: Recommendation and decision guide

The digital customer journey almost always begins on a website – and this is exactly where it’s decided whether prospects become customers. Modern web design and web development continuing education programs convey three central competency areas for this. First, they strengthen technical foundational knowledge in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks that are necessary to implement performant, responsive sites. Second, they promote design skills like UX and UI design so that users can navigate intuitively and have positive brand experiences. Third, they train process and tool know-how, such as version control with Git, build pipelines, or no-code workflows that accelerate teamwork and reduce maintenance costs. Those who continuously expand these skills remain relevant in a market where technologies, device requirements, and design trends change rapidly – and thus create the foundation for long-term employment security as well as attractive career options in agencies, start-ups, or in-house digital teams.

Your next step

Decide now for the practice-oriented course Certified User Experience Designer course to become a sought-after web professional from design newbie. Through the contact form, you receive free consultation and check your funding options, such as through the Bildungsgutschein. With XDi, you benefit from AZAV-certified curricula, personal mentoring, and flexible learning formats – so you design websites that convince and convert.