9 Places That Offer Free Online Courses to Level up Your Life and Career

Did you know you can learn new life and business skills for free? I’m not talking about YouTube tutorials, although there are many informative and helpful videos on the platform. There are universities, businesses, and online learning platforms that offer free courses on everything from learning a new language to digital marketing classes.

Thanks to these amazing places providing free online courses, there is no need to take on expensive debt to further your education and skills.

So, whether you want to learn how to speak Italian, become a project manager, or even learn how to make a new cuisine, this list is for you.

Why You Should Take Advantage of Free Online Courses

Just because a course is free doesn’t mean it isn’t worth its weight in gold. For example, according to St. Augustine College, studies show that bilingual employees earn an average of 5% to 20% more than those who only speak one language. You can also leverage other types of free courses to learn new skills to grow with your current employer or even change careers.

While improving your career is great, learning new things can level up your life and even improve your health, too! According to North Bridge Communities, learning can improve brain function, memory, and boost creativity and even delay the onset of dementia symptoms.

So, now you have another reason to finally learn that new hobby you have always wanted to try or even take a course in something you just find interesting. It’s vital to always keep learning to keep your mind sharp and life interesting.

9 Top Places To Take Free Online Courses

It may shock you to learn that some of the top places to take free online courses are actually among the best global universities.

Who would have known that you could keep cash in your pocket and utilize free classes to learn valuable skills for your career and life without taking on student debt? So, without further ado, here are the best places to enroll in free online courses.

1. Harvard University

That’s right, this Ivy League school actually offers quite a few free online courses that may interest you. You will find classes on subjects like the fundamental principles of architecture, introduction to computer science, and even a course on how to negotiate your salary. The classes are self-paced, which means you can learn in your free time when it suits your schedule.

However, if you want to attain a certificate for the course you take, you have to upgrade and pay for it in most cases. The price depends on the class and can cost a couple of hundred dollars. It may be worth the money if you are taking a course to grow your career, but you can still add it to your resume whether you pay for the certificate or not.

2. Udemy

I love Udemy because it offers a variety of courses that can help you professionally or personally. For example, they have classes that teach you about aromatherapy, mindfulness, and even beginner yoga courses.

If you’re looking for courses to learn new career skills, this platform is perfect for that, too. They have classes in web development, programming, cybersecurity, and more. I even ran across a course that teaches you how to build a website using WordPress. This can be a huge help to anyone trying to start a blog.

However, they are similar to Harvard as far as charging for a certificate of completion, but if you are using these courses for self-development or even to start your own business, then the free plan is the way to go!

3. The Open University

This massive online learning platform has been operating for over 50 years, and it offers free courses on almost any topic. Categories include money, business, education, health, sports, psychology, history, arts, language, nature, environment, and more. What I like about this platform is that it provides a free statement of participation upon course completion.

So, whether you want to study mammals or finally start writing that fiction novel you’ve always dreamed about, The Open University site is the place for you.

4. Coursera

You can save yourself from searching for free courses from other places and just head over to Coursera. This platform partners with over 300 leading companies and universities, such as Yale, Stanford, Duke University, and many others, to offer an array of classes in different subjects. While they offer various paid classes, many free options are available too.

You can learn anything from web development to the fundamentals of music theory through this platform. Like most platforms, you will have to pay to obtain a certificate of completion if you want one. Otherwise, you can utilize all types of classes to boost your knowledge in whatever subject you are interested in.

5. edX

edX is another online platform that partners with over 260 large organizations and universities to offer free courses in various subjects such as finance, business, programming, science, mathematics, and more. You will be taught by experts from big businesses like IBM, and they even have professors from Princeton who teach courses on this platform.

There are plenty of completely free courses, but many classes have limited access, and like other sites, they charge for certifications. The cost to obtain a certificate for a course ranges between $50 and $300, but you can always opt to take the course without a certification.

6. Google

Google was created way back in 1998, and now this $2 trillion company offers free online courses for those looking to gain new skills or launch a new business or career. Some of their courses even come with a free certificate or badge upon completion. The most popular class categories available include digital marketing, analytics, skillshop, and developer certification courses.

There are hundreds of classes within these categories that teach various topics, from how to build a web app with Firebase to a how-to guide for Google Docs. There are opportunities abound with this platform, and the courses are self-paced.

7. Code Academy

If you geek out on techy things, you may want to consider taking courses from Code Academy. This platform teaches various coding classes for different programs, such as Javascript, SQL, HTML, Ruby, Python, and more. They even have an introduction class for game development, which is perfect if you are looking for a way to make money playing video games.

However, you must be a paid subscriber to receive a certificate for completing the course. The basic plan is $29.99 per month, and the pro plan is $39.99 per month unless you opt to pay annually, at which point they offer reduced rates. But, like the other platforms, you can always utilize the free courses to level up your skills without paying a cent.

8. Canva

Canva is an incredible platform where you can design and create anything from resumes to pins for Pinterest. The courses available on this site can give you basic graphic design skills to help you learn things like how to create a logo or even teach you how to become a Pinterest Creator.

After you complete various classes, they even offer free certification testing for the following topics: Canva Essentials, Teacher Essentials, and Graphic Design Essentials.

Learning how to use Canva can create quite a few money-making opportunities for you. For example, you can design and sell printables, leverage your new skills to sell services as a virtual assistant like I did, or even charge people to create or update their resumes.

You will not believe all the different ways you can earn money by utilizing the free courses from Canva.

9. Memrise

Things have come a long way since I was younger. You used to have to take classes in person or purchase CDs to learn a different language. Now, thanks to sites like Memrise, you can have fun learning a new language from the comfort of your own home.

Remember that being bilingual can bump your pay by as much as 20 percent! Of course, you may want to learn a new language for a different reason, such as traveling or moving to another country. This site also features an app for Apple or Android devices so that you can learn on the go.

Although the free courses are limited, they’re a great way to test whether you like something before purchasing the pro subscription plan.

Should You Pay for a Certificate from a Free Course?

In some instances, if you are taking courses to advance your career, you may want to consider purchasing a certificate of completion if they don’t offer free ones to show potential employers when applying for future jobs. Of course, you want to ensure the course you complete is from a reputable school or business.

I’ve never had to “prove” that I completed a course by providing a copy of the certificate, but it will depend on the employer. Plus, even courses without certificates can teach you valuable skills to start a side hustle or business.

Start Learning New Skills To Grow Personally and Professionally!

You should never stop investing in yourself when it comes to learning new things. Whether you want to finally learn the skills to land your dream job or become an avid gardener, you can do anything you put your mind to with the help of these free online courses.

Plus, you can skip the traditional classroom setting and learn from home in your pajamas if you want to. So, head over to whichever platform interests you most and enroll in a free course today!