What free courses are available on Coursera?

Coursera offers thousands of free courses across topics like data science , business , health , computer science , personal development , and more. While you can explore lectures and course content at no cost, some features—like assessments and certificates—may require payment.

Can I earn a certificate from a free Coursera course?

Yes, but certificates are typically not included in the free version of a course. To earn a certificate, you’ll usually need to pay for the course or apply financial aid if available. You can still learn all the material for free through audit mode.

How do I enroll in a course for free on Coursera?

To start a course for free, choose the “Audit the course” or “Enroll for free” option during sign-up. This lets you access video lectures and some assignments without payment. Look for courses labeled as “Free” or those that offer a free audit option.

What’s the difference between auditing a course and paying for one on Coursera?

Auditing a course gives you free access to the learning materials, like videos and reading content. Paying for a course unlocks graded assignments, assessments, and a certificate upon completion—which may be useful for showcasing your skills or professional development.

Are free Coursera courses from top universities?

Yes, many free courses are taught by instructors from top institutions like Stanford , Yale , University of Pennsylvania , and companies like IBM . These courses offer an accessible way to learn from leading educators and professionals around the world.

Top Free Courses - Learn Free Online

Find the Best Free Course for Your Goals

Status: Free Trial
University of London
Object Oriented Programming
Skills you'll gain: Pseudocode, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Programming Principles, Debugging, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Program Development, Algorithms, Test Data, Data Validation, User Interface (UI), Unit Testing, Data Import/Export, Data Management, Command-Line Interface, Statistical Programming
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
219 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving, Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Programming Principles, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Data Structures, Program Development, Computer Programming, Spreadsheet Software, Automation, Algorithms, Debugging, Data Management, Data Cleansing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Science, Web Development, Python Programming, Programming Principles, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Application Development, Scientific Visualization
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of California San Diego
Data Structures
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Algorithms, Data Storage, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, C++ (Programming Language), Theoretical Computer Science, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
5.5K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Introduction to Robotics with Webots
Skills you'll gain: Robotic Process Automation, Data Mapping, Control Systems, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Simulation and Simulation Software, Graph Theory, Mechanics, Algorithms, Real-Time Operating Systems, Simulations, Engineering, Global Positioning Systems, Image Analysis, Computer Science, Data Structures, Linear Algebra, Programming Principles, Estimation
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
55 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Introducción a Data Science: Programación Estadística con R
Skills you'll gain: R Programming, Statistical Programming, Ggplot2, Data Manipulation, Simulations, Statistical Software, Data Science, Data Visualization, Graphing, Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Scripting, Data Structures, Software Installation, Package and Software Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
8.5K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Coding Interview Preparation
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Algorithms, Software Visualization, Pseudocode, Programming Principles, Computational Thinking, Computer Science, Technical Communication, Computational Logic, Program Development
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
693 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Introduction to High-Performance and Parallel Computing
Skills you'll gain: Bash (Scripting Language), Scalability, Distributed Computing, Computer Systems, Big Data, Operating Systems, Performance Tuning, File Systems, Linux, Command-Line Interface, Programming Principles, OS Process Management
Build toward a degree
3.6
Rating, 3.6 out of 5 stars
139 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Fractal Analytics
Generative AI for Developers
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, Code Review, Debugging, Data Ethics, ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Artificial Neural Networks, Interactive Learning, AI Personalization, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Deep Learning, Program Development, Maintainability, Automation, Data Cleansing, Python Programming, Information Privacy
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
94 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Fundamental Skills in Bioinformatics
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, Bioinformatics, Unix, Scientific Visualization, Statistical Methods, R Programming, Rmarkdown, Unix Commands, Data Analysis, Data Quality, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Programming Principles, Pandas (Python Package), Python Programming, NumPy, Data Manipulation, Data Structures
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
59 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Digital Signal Processing 1: Basic Concepts and Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Digital Communications, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Programming Principles, Engineering Analysis, Electronics, Telecommunications, Advanced Mathematics, Algorithms, Linear Algebra, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Mathematical Modeling, Computational Logic, Applied Mathematics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
623 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Simplilearn
Programming with C ++
Skills you'll gain: C and C++, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Algorithms, Development Environment
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks