Free online courses are a great way to jumpstart your career, whether you're preparing for a significant change or want to learn something.
What is the worth of free online courses? These courses aren't meant to replace traditional education but still have many benefits. This guide will help you find the best
free online courses with certificate to choose from (without going broke). Let's get started.
Who Should Take Free Online Courses Considered?
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Career changers. Online courses are a great way to learn about new industries and qualify for an entry-level position. These courses won't replace traditional degree programs but will help you stand out in the job market.
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Professionals Online education is free and lets you stay updated with industry trends. Free online courses with certificates can be used to demonstrate your dedication and drive when applying for new roles.
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Students. Learners may use free classes to review complex concepts, prepare for exams, and curb learning losses during breaks from school. MOOCs offer study resources from elementary school to graduate school.
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Learners for life. Online learning is available to anyone who wants to learn more about the world, a particular topic, or a hobby.
Online platforms with free courses
edX
edX was a pioneer in the MOOC model. It began with 155,000 students in 2012 and now boasts more than 42 million users.
This site aggregates free and paid courses, micro-credentials, and degrees. edX was founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It operated as a nonprofit until 2021, when it was acquired by the education technology company 2U.
edX offers a wide range of course content from more than 160 partners. These include Ivy League universities like Cornell University, internationally renowned institutions like Oxford University, prominent companies like Google, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Students can choose from courses in the humanities, arts, sciences, and social sciences. They can also choose to study law, technology, and healthcare. The micro-credentials, degrees, and certificates offered by edX are focused on social services, technology, and business.
Students can audit most classes without charge but must pay between $50 and $300 per class to receive graded assignments or verification. Students who qualify can receive financial assistance.
Great Learning
Great Learning provides free courses across several domains to help learners build new skills and advance their careers. These courses cover Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing, Big Data Cloud Computing,
software testing course and Cybersecurity Software Development. Featuring video lectures, quizzes, and hands-on projects as part of each course's design, enrolling can lead to valuable insight and expertise gained without incurring financial investment, providing learners with an excellent opportunity for career growth and development.
Coursera
Coursera is the world's largest MOOC platform, delivering programs to over 100 million students worldwide. Daphne Koller, a Stanford University professor of computer science, and Andrew Ng started the company in 2012.
Like many MOOC platforms, Coursera offers content from various educational partners. Users can take classes at universities such as Yale and from companies like Microsoft. Coursera provides a variety of learning paths, including standalone courses, degrees, and short guided projects.
The courses cover the arts and humanities, mathematics, business, science, and technology. Students can also learn several languages and explore personal development topics such as mindfulness. Coursera offers many MOOCs in tech-related areas, including web development, cybersecurity, and data science.
The cost of membership is either monthly or annual. The course cost can range from $49 monthly for specializations or professional certificates to $9,000 if you want a bachelor's or master's degree. Coursera offers scholarships and works with nonprofits and underserved groups to gain access to education.
FutureLearn
The London-based FutureLearn focuses on social learning. Users can create profiles to interact with others. Most courses include opportunities for peer feedback and discussions.
This MOOC hub's academic partners include several U.S. institutions, but they are mainly international institutions from the UK and Europe. Private and nonprofit organizations also provide content for the cononprofittureLearn, which allows students to explore STEM fields such as computer science, mathematics, and engineering. You can also improve your business skills and learn about literature, law, and politics. The creative arts classes cover areas such as fashion and film. Language courses include lesser-known options like Irish and Norwegian.
FutureLearn offers many free courses to participants. Upgrade to get certificates of completion or extended access to the course materials. All online degrees, ExpertTracks, and micro-credentials require payment.
Udacity
Udacity, a technology-education site, publishes all of its courses. The for-profit website develops courses in collaboration with industry giants like GitHub and Amazon.
Udacity offers eight different schools, each focusing on a specific tech field, such as artificial intelligence, data science, programming, or development. Students can choose between shorter courses and longer "nano degrees." Short-course options are free and can last between two and 16 weeks.
Nanodegree programs are paid and include discussion forums, academic and career support, and project reviews. Udacity offers discounts and scholarships to students who want to earn a credential. There is no free certificate option.
