Peter OgbemudiaEducation in the modern world does not need to cost money, or even a single dime. In the U.S., it is becoming commonplace that many individuals are turning to online resources to enhance their skills, switch jobs, or simply learn something new and not spend a fortune doing so. The 10 best free online courses with certificates that I’ll be revealing soon enough will provide you with skills and a certificate that you can provide your employer at little to no cost whatsoever.
This article reviews the top ten free online courses with certificates that not only cost little but are also worth every minute of your time. No matter what you want to do to improve your resume, venture into a brand-new career, and learn something new, there is something in these options that suits you.
Here we go, the best options that are easy on the wallet and will also be useful.
10 Best Free Online Courses With Certificates That Are Cheap and Worth Your Time
1. Google IT Support Professional Certificate—Coursera
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate is a highly popular and reputed entry-level technical course in this generation. This course made available by Coursera via Google is aimed at training individuals in entry-level IT positions with no pre-assumed knowledge necessary.
You will be taught the fundamentals of computer networks, customer service, system management, and security. It is ideal in case someone wants to enter the IT market at a low cost and within a short time. The course takes 6 months (10 hours/week), but you can accelerate it to your convenience.
It is easy to follow, has a certificate, and you can even get linked to a job by the job platform through Coursera.
- Price: Free to audit (Certificate: $49/month if you want it)
- Where to enroll: [Coursera – Google IT Support]
Read also | See The 9 Jaw-Dropping Reasons Why US Employers Are Now Preferring Graduates From Accredited Online Colleges
2. Harvard’s CS50: Introduction to Computer Science—edX
CS50 at Harvard is a beginner course in computer science, and it has gained some legendary status with regard to its quality and strictness. It is free on edX, and you can earn a certificate as well by paying a minimal fee.
The course addresses programming in C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript, and it teaches you to become a thinker as a computer scientist. If you do not have knowledge on coding before now, then this course is for you. The most wonderful thing about it? It can be learned at your own pace, and it is accepted both by a university and employers.
- Price: Free (Certificate: $189)
- Where to enroll: [edX – CS50]
3. Foundations of Digital Marketing—Google Digital Garage
One of the top free online courses with certificates in the digital sphere you can consider is Fundamentals of Digital Marketing offered by Google in case you are interested in marketing. It is also European certified by the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Through the course, they will learn about SEO, paid ads, content marketing, and email campaigns, among others. It is a perfect fit for small business owners or people who are new to marketing or required to know how digital platforms operate.
The explanations are very easy to understand and dogmatic too.
- Price: Free
- Where to enroll: [Google Digital Garage]
4. Excel Skills for Business—Macquarie University on Coursera
Spreadsheets play a crucial role in almost all industries. This course is very necessary when you are trying to master your Excel game. It is taught by Macquarie University and covers the level from a beginner to an advanced user in Excel.
You will get an introduction to cleaning data, automating tasks with formulas, and making dashboards. It is one of the greatest free online classes that offers certificates to any person who is in the business, data, finance, or operations fields.
It is available in four sections, although you can begin only with the beginner part.
- Price: Free to audit (Certificate: $49/month)
- Where to enroll: [Coursera – Excel Skills for Business]
5. Introduction to Cybersecurity—Cisco Networking Academy
Cybersecurity is one of the most rapidly developing job markets, and the Introduction to Cybersecurity course created by Cisco is an excellent way of getting started.
You will learn the set skills of hackers and how to safeguard your machine and stay safe on the internet. It is probably one of the best free online courses with certificates for anyone wondering about technology and security.
The course is also approximately 15 hours, and you get a Cisco digital badge once done.
- Price: Free
- Where to enroll: [Cisco Networking Academy]
6. Financial Markets—Yale University (via Coursera)
Financial Markets is a course that offers profound understanding of how markets are structured, taught by Professor Robert Shiller, an economist who won a Nobel Prize. The banking industry, equities, bonds, and risk management will all be covered.
This course suits all those who are interested in investing, a career in finance, or getting knowledge about the economy. It is one of the free online course programs with certificates that a business-savvy individual can take part in.
- Price: Free to audit (Certificate: $49)
- Where to enroll: [Coursera – Yale Financial Markets]
7. The Science of Well-Being—Yale University
Psychological well-being is important, and perhaps the most publicized free course that has ever existed is the Science of Well-Being by Yale. It has more than 4 million enrollees.
You would also know how to acquire good habits, stress less, and live a better life. It is a course offered by Dr. Laurie Santos with real science on psychology.
This is among the top free online courses with accreditation where you earn a certificate about personal growth and mental well-being.
- Price: Free to audit (Certificate: $49)
- Where to enroll: [Coursera – Science of Well-Being]
8. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence—IBM (via edX)
Everything is transforming with AI, including business and healthcare. One of the best courses to understand more about machine learning is the AI Foundations course offered by IBM.
You will be looking at machine learning, neural networks, and the ethics of AI. It is friendly to non-coders and beginners; hence, most students can learn it.
It’s among the top free online certification courses, especially for those that seek future-proof careers.
- Price: Free (Certificate: $99)
- Where to enroll: [edX – IBM AI Foundations]
9. Project Management Principles—University of Adelaide (via edX)
There are jobs in project management in all industries. This is a fundamental course: The course is on organizing, implementation, team control, and communication.
It will teach you to manage time, resources, and expectations that can come in handy in almost any job.
It is one of the finest free professional, freelance, and team lead certificated courses online.
- Price: Free (Certificate: $199)
- Where to enroll: [edX – Project Management]
See also | Find The Most Affordable Online MBA Programs in America Today
10. Python for Everybody—University of Michigan (via Coursera)
One of the currently needed programming languages is Python. This is an introductory course by Dr. Charles Severance, which will be ideal for anyone who has not yet learned how to code.
You will also know how to create Python scripts, work with data, and even scrape websites. It is also one of the top free online certificate courses to be taken by future developers and data analysts.
The first part is free, and you can take it, and then later on, consider getting the certificate.
- Price: Free to audit (Certificate: $49/month)
- Where to enroll: [Coursera – Python for Everybody]
Conclusion
Online technology has created unimaginable avenues of acquiring knowledge without having to pay thousands of dollars in tuition fees. Each one of these 10 best free online courses with certificates is not only inexpensive, but it is also well-regarded and aimed at enabling you to grow, whether it is about your career or simply an attribute of curiosity in your life.
They will also provide you with official certificates, which you can pin to the resume or your LinkedIn profile. And because most of them are supported by such giants in the industry as Google, IBM, Yale, or Harvard, they are worth something.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible to present these certificates on LinkedIn or on a resume?
Yes. Each of the courses in the list above has its certificate checked, and it can be easily added to your LinkedIn profile or resume to demonstrate your skills.
2. Are these online course certification documents accepted by the employers?
Many do. More so when the course is offered by a recognized provider such as Google, Harvard, or IBM. They are proactive and should have the appropriate training.
3. Does it require taking all modules to acquire a certificate?
Yes, even the vast majority of platforms will make you complete course materials and take quizzes or assignments to obtain the certificate.
4. Are there expiry dates in these courses?
No. As soon as you get a certificate, it never expires. However, certain content can be updated as time goes by.
5. Will the videos for the course be available for download?
Coursera and edX are such platforms where video download is possible with the help of their apps. Others allow saving of notes or PDFs.
6. Does it incur any secret cost?
No. Each of the mentioned courses is auditable free of charge. Payment won’t be made until you desire a certificate or assignments that have been graded.
7. Is it possible to take several courses simultaneously?
Absolutely. Then all you have to do is manage your time. A large number of learners even combine more than one course in order to accelerate their learning.
Peter Ogbemudia