7 Best System Design Courses Online [2025]

What is System Design?

System design is the process of planning how different parts of a software application fit together to handle business usage. Once your coding becomes second nature for you, you will then be able to build systems that can help millions of users without breaking down.

So, here are some of the aspects that system design involves:

• Architecture: deciding how components like servers, databases, APIs, and frontends interact.
• Scalability: ensuring the system can grow as the number of users increases.
• Load Balancing: distributing traffic across servers so no single one crashes under heavy demand.
• Microservices: breaking applications into smaller, independent services for easier scaling and maintenance.
• Databases: choosing and structuring data storage (SQL vs NoSQL) for performance and reliability.

Why does this matter? In software engineering interviews, especially at product-based and FAANG companies, system design questions are a way to test whether candidates can think outside of coding and handle complex engineering problems. Being able to design a messaging app, an e-commerce platform, or a video streaming service on the spot shows your ability to plan at scale.

When we talk about industry demands, strong system design ensures apps remain fast, reliable, and cost-efficient even as businesses grow. From startups scaling up quickly to enterprises handling global traffic, system design is what helps to keep the software running smoothly.

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Best System Design Courses in 2025

1. Scaler Academy: System Design Course

At Scaler, we always see learners struggling to get guidance and learning, which makes them job-ready even after having a degree, hence we have curated the System design course so that all resources required by a learner are provided all in one place. The curriculum is built for engineers who already have programming and DSA foundations and now want to level up their design thinking, but you don’t have to worry, even if you are an absolute beginner, because we do have a course option to cover fundamentals. You’ll move from High-Level Design (HLD) to Low-Level Design (LLD), understand how to scale systems, optimize databases, and analyze real-world case studies.

Tools & Technologies Covered: There are a total of 7 modules, which include: Programming Language Fundamentals, Data Structures and Algorithms, SQL, LLD and Project Specialisations, System Design Essentials, Gen AI for SWE, and various technologies will be covered under each.

Duration & Fees: The course is divided into 3 parts, i.e, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, each having its own timeline. In terms of cost, Scaler’s advanced paid programs are often cited at ₹3L+; you can always enquire with the team for further details.

Best Suited For

• Mid-level engineers who already know data structures and algorithms.
• Professionals preparing for system design rounds in FAANG / top product companies.
• Beginners wanting to get into system design from the basics.
• Learners who want structured mentorship, peer review, and interview-level rigor.

2. Grokking the System Design (Educative)

If you’re looking for a self-paced program to help with system design interview problems, with clear explanations and step-by-step solutions, then do try Grokking the System Design. It’s widely used by candidates preparing for FAANG roles.

Key Topics Covered

• High-level system design problems (e.g., URL shortener, Uber, WhatsApp)
• Scalability concepts: caching, sharding, load balancing
• Databases: SQL vs NoSQL use cases
• Real-world case studies

Duration & Fees

• Self-paced, 40-50 hours of study
• Subscription model: $25/month ( around ₹2,000/month) via Educative

Best Suited For

• Developers preparing for FAANG system design interviews
• Engineers who prefer concise, example-driven explanations

3. Gaurav Sen’s System Design Course

Gaurav Sen, a well-known tech educator and ex-Google engineer, offers a System Design course via InterviewReady.io under the branding “System Design Simplified.” The course is built to walk you through the core concepts of system design, from the fundamentals to advanced patterns, while remaining grounded in interview and industry use cases.

Key Topics Covered

• Fundamentals: routing, caching, consistency, CAP theorem
• High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD)
• Distributed systems & microservices
• Design trade-offs, concurrency, partitioning

Duration & Fees

• Self-paced with video modules, combined with live classes
• Fee is accessible, often priced around ₹7,000 to ₹5,000 during discounts.

Best Suited For

• Engineers preparing for system design interviews at tech firms
• Developers who want to solidify both design theory and practical trade-offs
• Learners who prefer a mix of content + live interaction over generic video-only courses

4. AlgoExpert: SystemsExpert

SystemsExpert is AlgoExpert’s dedicated program for system design interview preparation. The platform aims to simplify complex system concepts into manageable modules that help you tackle interview problems.

Key Topics Covered

• System fundamentals: client-server model, latency & throughput, CAP theorem
• Design patterns: replication, sharding, leader election, caching, message queues
• Real-world case problems: 13 systems interview questions bundled into the course

Duration & Fees

• Self-paced access, with modules unlocked over time
• Priced at $100 (Approx. ₹8600) per year for access to the course materials

Best Suited For

• Developers preparing specifically for system design interviews
• Engineers who prefer a module-based, problem-driven course rather than full mentorship
• Learners who already have some background in backend architecture and want to fill gaps in system design

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5. Coursera: Systems Engineering

Coursera offers several systems engineering and architecture courses in collaboration with top universities, like Introduction to Systems Engineering and Systems Engineering & Program Management. These courses teach you how to model, design, and manage complex systems over their full lifecycle, from requirements gathering to retirement.

Key Topics Covered

• System life cycles, requirements engineering, functional & physical designs
• Architecture modeling, trade-off analysis, risk & change management
• Integration of subsystems, verification & validation, systems thinking

Duration & Fees

• Typically 1–3 months (self-paced)
• Many courses can be audited for free; verified certificates may cost (varies by university)

Best Suited For

• Engineers who want a strong theoretical foundation in systems thinking
• Professionals preparing to scale into architecture or product roles
• Learners who want university-backed courses

6. Udemy Courses

Udemy is a popular platform for system design learners who want flexible, affordable courses. Because of discounts and lifetime access, many students prefer starting here. The range includes beginner-friendly introductions, interview-focused courses, and advanced architecture topics.

Key Course Examples & Highlights

• System Design (LLD + HLD) from Basics to Advanced: Teaches both high-level and low-level design, including topics like load balancers, distributed caching, microservices, and SOLID principles.
• Master System Design: From Basics to Cracking Interviews: Focused on interview prep, architectural patterns, and building scalable systems.
• Master System Design and Design Pattern: Blends system design with design patterns and industrial use cases.

Duration & Fees

• Most Udemy system design courses are self-paced, with total video hours ranging from 5 to 25+ hours.
• Prices vary (often discounted): e.g., System Design Masterclass is listed at $90 (Approx. ₹7900) currently.
• “System Design (LLD + HLD)” sells at $12.99 to $13.99 (Approx. ₹1500) at the time of writing.

Best Suited For

• Beginners who want to explore fundamentals before investing in expensive programs
• Developers preparing for system design interviews who need access to multiple case studies and problem discussions

7. Cornell Online: Systems Design Certificate

This is a certification program offered by eCornell. Cornell University’s systems design certificate is built around an interdisciplinary systems approach. It teaches how to scope, architect, and document complex systems, so that both practicality and theoretical concepts are covered.

Key Topics Covered

• Defining system scope, functional requirements, and use cases
• System architecture, interactions between components, and interfaces
• Performance metrics, trade-offs, risk analysis, and design decisions

Duration & Fees

• Duration: Around 3.5 months to complete the full program
• Fee: $3,900 USD (Approx. ₹3.5L) for the full certificate

Best Suited For

• Developers or technical leaders wanting a trusted university-backed credential in systems thinking
• Professionals shifting into roles that require rigorous system architecture planning.

Here’s a summary table to give you an overview of all the courses we have covered!

With the help of this table, try to look for a course that suits your budget, routine, and career requirements. And in case you have any doubts, you can always contact Team Scaler for any troubles or doubts.

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Why Learn System Design?

1. Helps You Crack FAANG & Top Product Interviews

If your goal is to interview at tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, or Microsoft, system design is always found to be part of the process. Interviewers use it to see whether you can think beyond code and plan software for increasing businesses and user efficiency. Many FAANG interview guides and platforms emphasize that learning topics like caching, databases, microservices, and load balancing is essential.

2. Builds Capability to Design Scalable, Distributed Systems

System design skills are also used directly into your day-to-day work when handling high traffic, handling failures, or growing features. You’ll understand how to break monolithic systems into microservices, distribute data, manage consistency vs availability tradeoffs, and handle network partition tolerance. These are core decisions that differentiate stable, high-performance systems from brittle ones.

3. Differentiates Mid-Level Engineers from Senior Roles

In many companies, developers with similar coding skills will diverge in career progression based on their system design fluency. A mid-level engineer who can design a fault-tolerant, scalable system is more likely to be promoted to Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, or Architect.

4. ROI in Salary Boosts & Career Growth

System design skills can directly impact how much you can command in salary negotiations or whether you receive leadership roles. In India, a “System Design Engineer” role averages around ₹11.9 lakh per year, with typical ranges between ₹7.0 lakh and ₹17.3 lakh according to Glassdoor. Meanwhile, roles titled System Designer show average base salaries around ₹16.8 lakh annually, with a range from ₹8 lakh to ₹24.8 lakh, depending on experience and employer.

Companies are willing to pay premiums for engineers who can think holistically and design systems that scale. So your investment in system design pays off with better roles, more influence, and higher pay.

Skills You Will Gain from a System Design Course

A good system design course will help you understand theoretical concepts in a way that is applied in industry demanded projects. Here are some of the key capabilities you’ll develop:

• Designing Scalable Systems: Learn how to plan architectures that handle thousands or even millions of users without slowing down or breaking under load.
• Databases & Caching: Understand when to use SQL vs NoSQL databases, how to structure data for efficiency, and how caching layers (Redis, Memcached) improve performance.
• API Design & Load Balancing: Practice building APIs that are clean, reliable, and secure, while distributing requests across multiple servers to ensure smooth user experience.
• Microservices & Distributed Architecture: Gain knowledge of breaking down large applications into microservices, and designing distributed systems that remain reliable even when parts fail.
• Security & Fault Tolerance: Learn strategies to make systems resilient against failures, data loss, and security threats, critical for both user trust and compliance.

These skills are directly applicable in FAANG-level interviews as well as in day-to-day engineering, making system design training one of the most career-advancing investments for developers.

Who Should Take a System Design Course?

System design courses can be taken by both beginners and experienced professionals, the main concern is that one should at some point understand the importance of learning system design as it makes you equipped with in demand skills and adds significant value to your portfolio.

• Mid-Level Software Engineers (2-6 years of experience): Ideal for those ready to move from feature development to owning larger architectural decisions.
• Backend Developers: Perfect if you’re looking to transition into roles where you design scalable services.
• Developers Preparing for FAANG Interviews: Since most big tech companies test system design extensively, these courses give you a structured way to practice.
• Tech Leads & Architects: For senior professionals, system design knowledge helps in mentoring teams, reviewing architectures, and driving technical strategy.

Even if you are a beginner, do not worry, you can always check out courses that start right from the fundamentals so that you can keep up better.