Selecting the right training platform is a key step for any team aiming to build job-ready skills in information technology (IT) and cloud computing. Among the most frequently considered options are A Cloud Guru and Pluralsight.
Although once separate platforms, A Cloud Guru is now part of Pluralsight, operating under the same parent company. This integration brings together two distinct learning approaches: Pluralsight delivers a broad curriculum that spans software development, DevOps, IT operations, and cybersecurity, while A Cloud Guru continues to specialize in hands-on, cloud-focused training for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, now offered through Pluralsight’s ‘Cloud+’ plan.
Your decision between the two depends on what your team needs most: specialized cloud certification prep or a wider range of technical skills across multiple roles.
This comparison of A Cloud Guru vs Pluralsight breaks down the key features, learning formats, and pricing of both options. It helps you to confidently choose the solution that aligns best with your team’s learning strategy.
Feature | A Cloud Guru | Pluralsight |
Learning Paths | Cloud-focused paths based on skill or role assessments | Structured paths with courses, labs, and assessments across multiple tech domains |
Skills Assessment | Scenario-based cloud assessments with personalized recommendations | Adaptive Skill IQ and Role IQ measure both tech and role proficiency |
Hands-On Labs | Temporary, in-browser cloud labs tied to course objectives | 3,000+ labs across various technologies with guided, secure environments
|
Certification Prep | Centralized prep center with labs, exams, trackers, and visual roadmaps | Unlimited practice exams and labs with in-moment feedback |
Video Courses | Short, modular lessons with learning checks, most labs are separate | Integrated video lessons with built-in labs, quizzes, and exams |
Price | Flat monthly pricing starting at $15/month, with tiered plans and a 10-day free trial* | Subscription plans begin at $15/month, featuring multiple tiers and a 10-day free trial* |
*Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
A Cloud Guru is a cloud skills development platform designed for certification-focused, hands-on training across major cloud platforms. It offers interactive, browser-based cloud sandboxes and real-world labs that let learners practice in live environments without the need for personal cloud accounts. The platform includes structured learning paths, certification prep courses, practice exams, and progress dashboards to support consistent skill-building across experience levels.
Moreover, A Cloud Guru supports organizational training needs through features like learning path assignments, usage analytics, and team-level performance tracking. With integration into Pluralsight, users also gain access to a wider catalog of technical content, including DevOps and security.
Unique Features Of A Cloud Guru
- Cloud Engineer: Trains professionals to design, manage, and secure cloud infrastructure for reliable data storage, transformation, and analysis
- Hands-On Labs: Enable users to gain practical experience and build real-world confidence through guided, interactive labs
- Cloud Sandboxes: Offer live environments in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to safely practice skills, explore ideas, and prepare for certifications
A Cloud Guru Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Offers users cloud computing courses to help them upskill and pass certification exams
- Courses are divided into short videos, making learning more engaging and easier to complete without feeling overwhelmed
- Helps user to achieve their goals with a wide range of resources, from user awareness to technical training, along with labs and focused plans
Cons:
- The quizzes at the end of sections and courses don’t align well with actual vendor certification exams
- Requires re-login every four hours, and any created resources or services are lost, so users need to remember their progress while practicing
Pluralsight is a cloud-based learning platform built to help tech teams and individuals upskill through curated content, assessments, and hands-on practice. It features structured learning paths, unlimited practice exams, and interactive labs. They are all designed to simulate real-world environments and reinforce knowledge through instant feedback.
The platform also includes instructor-led training and scenario-based labs, allowing learners to apply concepts in realistic environments and monitor their progress over time.
Pluralsight offers Pluralsight Flow, an engineering analytics tool that connects with Git and Jira to help leaders track team performance, workflow efficiency, and delivery trends. Flow connects with tools like Git and Jira to provide data-driven clarity on team operations and support continuous improvement.
Unique Features Of Pluralsight
- Skill IQ Assessment: Measures current skill level of learners and maps out a clear path to mastery, helping them track progress and grow with purpose
- Stack Up Game: Makes learning fun by letting users test their tech skills through interactive quizzes on popular languages and frameworks. Compete with others in-app and climb the leaderboard by answering as many questions correctly as possible
- Hands-On Learning: Builds real-world confidence through practical experiences like labs, sandboxes, and projects that help turn knowledge into applied skills
Pros And Cons Of Pluralsight
Pros:
- There is a wide variety of courses, with exceptional trainers and easy-to-understand slides and animations
- Allows users easy searching for various topics, from soft skills to technical skills, with basic training available to understand new technologies and concept
- Provide a great benefit to users with content library, feature list, and certification-aligned courses
Cons:
- While studying, learners cannot easily find answer to their questions due to lack of FAQ section in each course
- Some courses can become outdated, especially in fast-evolving areas like Microsoft 365 or cloud platforms
Since A Cloud Guru is now a part of Pluralsight, the two platforms now provide a unified pricing structure, offering access to a wide range of courses, hands-on labs, and certification paths. Below is a breakdown of the combined plan:
Individual Plans
Individual Plans Unlock new career opportunities and boost your confidence by gaining valuable tech skills. All plans come with a 10-day free trial to explore courses and features before committing to a subscription.
Given below is an overview of the available pricing plans:
- Core Tech – $15/month: Access to 3,900+ courses in software development, IT ops, UX, and business. Includes assessments, learning paths, hands-on labs, and certification preparation
- Complete – $28/month: Unlocks 6,500+ courses across all domains, including AI, data, cloud, and security
- AI+ – $18/month: AI-focused learning with hands-on AI sandboxes, expert-led content, plus all Core Tech features
- Cloud+ – $18/month: Covers AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with A Cloud Guru’s full cloud training library
- Data+ – $18/month: Includes 1,400+ data science courses, covering SQL, Python, and core analytics skills
- Security+ – $18/month: Cybersecurity-focused plan with hands-on labs and sandbox-based practical training
Team Plans
Team Plans empower organizations to develop critical tech skills and real-world experience with access to thousands of courses, hands-on labs, and certifications. It also comes with a 10-day free trial.
- AI + Data – $399/year/user: Access to 5,000+ courses in AI, data, development, IT ops, UX, and business. Includes AI sandboxes, hands-on labs, certification prep, assessments, and analytics
- Security + Cloud – $499/year/user: Includes 5,500+ courses covering cloud, security, development, and more. Features cloud sandboxes, hands-on labs, certification prep, analytics, and leader tools
- Everything – $565/year/user: Full access to 6,500+ courses across all domains. Offers all labs, custom sandboxes, certification prep, advanced analytics, and complete leadership support
To choose the right tech training path for your team, start by identifying your core skill needs, content priorities, and the type of hands-on experience that fits your goals.
If your team is focused specifically on deep, practical cloud training, Pluralsight’s A Cloud Guru content, available under Cloud+ plan, is a strong fit. It offers immersive labs, live sandboxes, and real-world cloud scenarios designed for professionals seeking in-depth cloud expertise.
For teams requiring a broader spectrum of technical skills, Pluralsight’s full course library is more suitable. It covers software development, cybersecurity, AI, data science, and IT operations, combining diverse course content with assessments and hands-on labs, ideal for multi-role training.
In short, your choice depends on whether you need specialized cloud training or comprehensive tech skill development across various domains. Still unsure? Reach out to our team for tailored guidance aligned with your learning objectives.