Online courses and learning will never go out of fashion. Post Corona, online education is getting more traction. Now, online courses have the same value as offline courses.
Learning new skills from online sources that too free is a boon for the people who seek employment or who want to earn extra money out of it.
What better you can ask for if these free online courses will provide you with a printable certificate after completion of courses.
There are many websites which provide online courses in many fields. For some courses, they charge and some of them are free. In free courses generally, they don’t provide a certificate after completion.
This is not always easy to find a free online course that also provides a certificate at the end.
Some free courses demand money at the end to get a certificate. In this article very precisely you will get to know about the free courses available on the reputed platform which also provide a certificate after completion.
The value of a certificate is not hidden from anyone. One can easily get into a part time or a full-time job with a certificate.
You can utilize your skills for earning more money on different platform too. So doing free online courses with certificate will always be beneficial for you in every way out.
Free Online Courses with Certificates
So here’s an up close and personal look at some of the best options available to you – in case you were planning to enroll for a free online certification course, but didn’t know where to look.
1. Free Online Certificate Courses by Udemy
Udemy is one of the very popular online course providers. Students can learn new skills and achieve their goals and objectives by learning from an extensive portfolio of library of more than 100,000 courses taught by expert instructors from across the world.
Mostly it provides online courses for a certain fee, but it also has various free video courses which also provide certificate after completion.
Udemy ensures that the best learning material is available for people. Its courses are best for learning digital marketing, graphic designs, Photoshop, coding and more.
Once the courses are done printable certificate is being sent by email and one can download and print it for further uses. Here is the list of few most demanded free courses from Udemy.
A list of some of the popular free online courses available at Udemy include;
- Android & iOS Development (for Newbies)
- Photography
- Advance Android Programming
- App Development for Beginners
- Java, Python, HTML, Excel, Power Point
- How to Invest Online
- Digital Marketing
- Bitcoin for Beginners
- How to start a Recruitment Agency at Home.
- Growing your business using Twitter
- Python Tutorial
- iOS Design Foundation
- Microsoft Excel Workbooks & Worksheets (Tips & Tricks)
To access & know more about the free certificate course options at Udemy, log on to udemy.com.
2. Free Certification Courses on edX
edX is an open-source, non-profit online learning destination and MOOC (massive open online course) provider. It was founded by the acclaimed Harvard University and MIT in 2012. It offers a a large number of high-quality online courses from some of the world’s top universities (MIT, Berkeley, Harvard, IIM Bangalore) to people from across the world.
It also offers an exhaustive selection of free online certification courses (except for a small fee for a verified certificate) and training programs covering subjects like;
- Business Communication
- Public Speaking
- Cyber Security
- Data Science
- Visual Presentation
- International Humanitarian Law
- Budgeting & Finance for Public Libraries
- Supply Chain Management
- Network Security
- Digital Product Management
To access the available free certification courses presently available on edX, log onto to www.edx.org – choose a course – then search for the Audit This Course option.
3. Google Digital Garage
What best you can ask for when the search engine giant GOOGLE is providing you free training and that too with a certificate of Google itself.
Free online courses from Google do not need an explanation. But most people do not know that Google also provides full-fledge courses at Google Digital Garage.
Its courses are based on Digital marketing, machine learning etc. These courses include different modules and unlimited access to videos which are quite engaging and interactive for the students.
Once you have completed the free course they will provide you with a certificate in your email by the name of Google itself which will definitely make an impact in your CV.
Some best courses are:
- Machine learning
- Artificial Intelligence
- Google cloud platform
- Digital marketing
- Business communication
4. Free Online Training Courses on Skillshare
SkillShare is an online learning community which offers more than 16000 classes in design, business, crafts, technology, writing, and much more. Anyone can join the millions of members in this online community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.
The teaching faculty at SkillShare consists of leading marketers, designers, entrepreneurs, programmers, and even artists with years of good experience in their respective fields. The best part about SkillShare is that you can access to all its online training course – free of cost – for a period of 60 days.
However you need credit card to get the free access, though the company states that you won’t be billed a single penny and you can cancel the subscription anytime you choose. After a period of 60 days, you may continue or cancel your subscription as you deem fit.
Some of the free online training courses available on SkillShare include;
- Getting Started with Email Marketing
- Introduction to Social Media Advertising
- Web Design Essentials
- Intro to UX – Fundamentals of Usability.
- SEO Today – Strategies to Earn Trust, Rank High and Stand Out.
- Blogging Basics (FREE)
- Accounting Fundamentals: Understanding Financial Statements,
- InDesign CC Masterclass
- Introduction to Aerial Videography
- UX/UI Design Essentials
- How to VLOG
- Introduction to Hand-drawn Animation
5. Free Online Courses from Microsoft
Just like Google, Microsoft is also a big name. It also offers its own online learning platform. Microsoft courses mostly focus on Microsoft software, systems and products.
If you are seeking a career in Microsoft or willing to work on Microsoft products then you can follow their courses. Its courses are free and include certification also.
Microsoft has designed its courses for everyone be it a beginner or an advanced learner. Here are some courses offered by it.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Web Developer
- Solution Architect
6. Saylor's Free Online Courses with Certificate
Saylor.org is a non-profit organization established in 1999. The focus of the foundation has been its free education initiative. The Saylor academy’s emphasis is assembling courses from openly available texts and resources.
You can get printable certificate after completing the free online courses at Saylor.
Saylor academy’s courses are mostly available in the textbook manner and it also takes small tests frequently to check your progress. Saylor has helped millions of students to gain employment and in learning various skills.
Here are few free courses provided by Saylor with a certificate.
- Computer science
- Business Communication
- Economics
- Business Administration
- Philosophy
- Digital marketing
7. Free Code Camp
If you are interested in learning coding, which has a great market now and even in the upcoming future, then this site is definitely your thing. Free code camp is a non-profit organization.
It aims to make learning web development accessible to everyone.
It also has videos on different subjects like HTML, JavaScript, python etc. Its aim is to streamline a student’s progress from beginner to being job-ready through project assignments.
Students are also assigned projects of web development for other organization to gain practical experience.
After completing the course and completing the project assignments students get certified and all these processes are free for every student.
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Web designing
- AI Engineering
- HTML
- JavaScript
- Data visualization
8. LinkedIn (Lynda.com)
Lynda is one of the most well established professional from platforms. It has a wide range of courses based on most in-demand technology, creative skills, management skills and more, mostly presented by instructors from prestigious universities and industries experts.
There are courses on various other domains like business technology, data science, digital marketing and much more.
The best part is the printable certificate you get after completion of course will be backed by LinkedIn itself. Adding this into your resume or on LinkedIn profile will drag a lot of attention of recruiters.
Some free courses from LinkedIn learning are:
- Graphic Design
- Data science
- Web Development
- Cloud Computing
- Project management
- Web Design
- Video Editing
- WordPress
- HTML, JavaScript
- Photography
- App Development
- HR
- Finance and Accounting
9. Free Android Basics Courses on Udacity
Another well-known proponent of online learning and free digital education, Udacity’s nano-degree programs are accessible to anyone on the planet, with a reliable internet connection and a strong desire to learn.
Founded by former Stanford instructors – Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig – Udacity today offers a host of programs spanning Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Digital Marketing, Data Analysis, Deep Learning, Google AdWords, Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics (for Business).
It also offers a choice of free online courses with certificate as part of its Android Basics Nano-degree programs (supported by Google) with a duration of approx. two weeks, for beginners. The list includes;
- Android Basics: User Interface
- Android Basics: User Input
- Android Basics: Multiple App Screens
- Android Basics: Networking
- Android Basics: Data Storage
To know more about the free course options available @ Udacity, log onto udacity.com.
10. Free Online Courses with Certificate on Coursera
Coursera provides people with guaranteed access to cutting-edge education by virtue of its tie-ups with leading global universities and organisations, to offer a slew of result-oriented courses online.
With flexible start dates, adjustable due dates, and easy to use mobile apps, Coursera has created an intuitive learning experience designed to enable an individual master real-world skills relevant to his career from the get go.
A majority of the courses available here are free, albeit for a short duration. How it works is a person first selects a course he/she may be interested in and enrolls free of cost.
If after a few days, the student wants to complete the course and earn a certificate – he is expected to pay for it. If not, he can continue till the end of the trial period and then has to exit.
Again Coursera offers a huge list of training courses and business-oriented certifications from leading global universities to choose from. These include;
- Genomic Data Science (John Hopkins University)
- English for Business & Entrepreneurship (University of Pennsylvania)
- Data Analysis & Presentation Skills (PWC)
- International Law in Action: The Arbitration of International Disputes (Universitiet Leiden)
- Mass Class for Corporate Entrepreneurs (University of Maryland, College Park)
- Materials in Oral health (University of Hong Kong)
- Social Media Marketing (University of Michigan)
- Content Strategy for Professionals (Northwestern University)
- 3D Printing Software (University of Illinois at Urbana Campaign)
To know more about the various free online courses with certificates at Coursera log onto to coursera.org.
11. Free Certificate Courses from Alison
Alison online courses mainly focus on workplace-based skills. Its courses are being covered in various different categories such as IT, language, science, health, humanities, software development and many more.
Alison also provides a digital certificate after completion of free courses. Alison contains 1000 high-quality courses available on its platform, all are absolutely free to complete.
For some courses, it might ask for a fee but major courses give you a free digital certificate. Here is the list of courses you can enjoy learning.
- Operations
- Finance
- Skilled trades
- Life Science
- Health Care
- Operating systems
- Math
- Business
- Marketing
- Humanities
- Health
- Language
12. BitDegree
Bitdegree.org is a blockchain technology-based online platform which provides multiple free online courses with certificate.
If anyone interested in IT sector jobs or software field jobs bit degree is the best platform for them to deepen the knowledge, learn new skills set and stand apart from other software developers. It also contains courses on various programming language and blockchain-related technology.
After completion bit degree offers blockchain digital certificate of completion to the user. Here are some best courses offered by BitDegree.
- IT security and software
- Coding and programming
- Data Science
- Blockchain
- Personal Development
- Marketing
- Design
- Business
- English for career development
13. Harvard University free courses with certificate
Last but not the least Harvard has made few of its courses free for the avid learners. This is a boon for people who can take advantage of this time and get a certificate of completion in the name of Harvard University itself, which has recognition all over the world.
The most followed and trending courses on Harvard site are:
- Introduction to game development
- Mobile app development
- Web Programming with Python and JavaScript
- Introduction to accounting and financial statements
- Introduction to computer science
- Religious literacy: traditions and Scriptures
- Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology
14. Free Courses on FutureLearn
Based out of the United Kingdom, FutureLearn has reportedly changed the life of approx. 7, 5000,000+ students and working professionals worldwide by updating their knowledge and skills.
Wholly owned by The Open University, the company has partnered with 144 leading universities, cultural organizations and professional bodies to offer a choice of 247 high quality certificate courses covering different specializations.
These include; Business & management, Creative Arts & Media, Nature & Environment, Law, History, Tech & Coding, Teaching, Health & Psychology and Literature among others.
In addition to free courses, students also get an opportunity to specialize in individual subjects and/or pursue post graduate degrees if they so desire.
Some of the popular free course options offered here include;
- HR Fundamentals
- How To Succeed at Interviews
- Finance Fundamentals: Financial Services after the Banking Crisis.
- Innovation: The Food Industry
- Introduction to Psychology
- Learning Online: Managing your Identity
- People Management Skills
- How to Start A Business 1-6
- An Introduction to Screenwriting.
- Teaching English Online
For more details on the free courses available log on to futurelearn.com.
15. Free Online Courses from NPTEL
National Programme On Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) is a project that receives financial support from the Ministry of Human Resource Development of India.
This project provides e-learning through the internet and video course in different fields like Humanities, Management, Technology, Science and Engineering.
This is a joint initiative by the IISc, Bangalore and the Seven IITs in India. Even, other premier institutions also act as Associate Partner Institutions in this project. Here are some details about this project:
- It is a curriculum building exercise and it is directed towards offering learning materials in science and engineering by following the syllabi of the AICTE and slightly modified syllabus of major affiliating universities.
- Video and online courses intending learners and lecturers of institutions conducting under graduate level courses in the field of education are offered under this project.
- Each course offered for free under this project comprises of nearly 40 video lectures that extend for about one hour duration.
- An internet-based discussion forum is also incorporated for enabling students to post comments and for reviewing questions.
- Wherever needed self evaluation tasks, handouts and course assignments are integrated.
- Also, workshops are regularly conducted for mentors, students and for institutes.
16. CommLab India
CommLab India company is specialized in offering e-learning solutions and they are engaged in e-learning development through Rapid Authoring Tools and here are some free courses offered by them:
- An introduction to performance management
- Change management – Strategies to overcome resistance to change
- Effective sales skills – How to be a successful salesperson?
Like these, many other free and paid online courses are offered by this institution to help out people, who wish to improve themselves in their career.
17. Cyberastro
If you are interested in astrology, you can enroll yourself for a basic online astrology course offered for free by Cyberastro.com. The great thing about this course is that you need not have any prior knowledge about astrology to join. It extends for a period of four months and it is absolutely free for the registrants of this website.
18. MOZ Academy
Moz is one of the most popular SEO and digital marketing company on internet. They provide number of premium courses on SEO, keyword research etc. After March 31st 2020, they have made many of the their courses free for people who want to learn digital marketing.
You can access all these free online courses at Moz Academy. You can even land a good job after completing these free courses.
While doing a free certification / skills up gradation course online is now a quality option that has been leveraged by millions across the world, it’s really up to each one of us on how, when and why we decide to pursue such an online course.
Doing it while pursuing an academic diploma/degree or just before the beginning of one’s career is always a preferred option since it adds immense value to a candidate’s profile.
All that the student/professional needs to do is to select the appropriate subject and platform, register himself for these free online courses and take the plunge.
