- Courses where the certificate is free too
- Certificate providers side by side
- What OpenLearn, Saylor, HubSpot and freeCodeCamp each give you
- Free can change, and certificates aren't qualifications
- Which one to choose for your goal
- Turning a course into a certificate that counts
- Coursera, AI certificates and LinkedIn
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: OpenLearn, Saylor University, HubSpot Academy, freeCodeCamp, Google Skillshop and Microsoft Applied Skills all give you a free certificate or credential at the end of a free course in 2026. The catch is what the certificate proves: OpenLearn says its free courses carry no formal credit, so treat most of these as evidence of learning, not qualifications.
Plenty of course sites say free and then ask for something at the certificate stage. That's fine if you only want the learning, but if the point is something to add to your CV or LinkedIn, you want a course where the certificate is free as well. These are the ones where that's true, based on what each provider says on its own site.
Courses where the certificate is free too
In no particular order:
- OpenLearn: best for short university-level courses from The Open University, with a free statement of participation.
- Saylor University: best for full college-level subjects with free digital certificates.
- HubSpot Academy: best for marketing, sales and service certifications you can finish in an afternoon or two.
- freeCodeCamp: best for coding certifications built around projects.
- Google Skillshop: best for Google Ads, Analytics and Marketing Platform certifications.
- Microsoft Applied Skills: best for lab-based credentials on Microsoft tools.
Certificate providers side by side
| Provider | Best for | What the certificate is |
|---|---|---|
| OpenLearn | Taster university courses | Free statement of participation, no formal credit |
| Saylor University | College-level subjects | Free digital certificate |
| HubSpot Academy | Marketing and sales | Free certification |
| freeCodeCamp | Coding | Free certification per curriculum |
| Google Skillshop | Google marketing tools | Foundational certifications free |
| Microsoft Applied Skills | Microsoft tools | Credential from a lab-based assessment |
Course catalogues change often, so check the provider's page before you enrol.
What OpenLearn, Saylor, HubSpot and freeCodeCamp each give you
OpenLearn is open about this. It offers around 1000 courses with no start or end date, and when you complete one you can download a free statement of participation to use alongside a digital badge if the course has one. It also says plainly that its free courses don't carry formal credit towards a qualification. It suggests using the statement to show interest in a subject or as evidence of continuing professional development, which is exactly how I'd use it.
Saylor University says it has 160 courses, all self-paced and all free, and that its certificates are free. It also mentions routes to college credit through partner schools, so it's the closest thing on this list to a formal pathway.
HubSpot Academy describes its certifications as completely free and online, and lists the time each one takes: its Digital Marketing certification is 3 hours, Social Media Marketing is 5 hours, and Content Marketing is 8 hours. For a small business owner, those three are an efficient refresher.
freeCodeCamp's curriculum lists certifications such as Responsive Web Design, JavaScript, Python and Relational Databases, plus a Foundational C# with Microsoft certification. Its mission, in its own words, is to help people learn to code for free.
Free can change, and certificates aren't qualifications
Free can change. Google's Skillshop help centre says its foundational certifications continue to be available free, but its newer professional Google Ads certifications are virtually proctored and won't be free in future. Microsoft draws a similar line: its role-based certifications are earned by passing an exam, while Applied Skills credentials come from a lab-based assessment. The useful part for anyone already certified is that Microsoft lets you renew eligible certifications every year for free with a short online assessment.
The other catch is what employers make of it. A free certificate shows initiative. It doesn't replace experience. Pair any certificate with something you made using the skill, and it'll carry far more weight.
Which one to choose for your goal
- You run a small business: HubSpot Academy's marketing certifications and Google's foundational Skillshop certifications cover the tools you're already using.
- You want to move into tech: freeCodeCamp's project-based certifications, because the projects double as a portfolio.
- You're testing a subject before a degree: OpenLearn, which is built as a taster of university study.
- You want a route towards formal credit: Saylor University, with its partner school pathways.
- Your workplace runs on Microsoft: Applied Skills, which tests you in a lab rather than a quiz.
Whichever you pick, read the course page for the hours involved. HubSpot lists them on each certification, and OpenLearn courses run without deadlines, so it's easy to start and drift. A date in your calendar is what turns a free course into a finished certificate.
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Turning a course into a certificate that counts
- Pick the skill first, then the provider, not the other way round.
- Check the provider's page says the certificate itself is free.
- Block out the hours the course lists, in your calendar, before you start.
- Finish one course before starting another, so you've got something to show.
- Add the certificate to LinkedIn with a line about what you built or changed using it.
Coursera, AI certificates and LinkedIn
If you're weighing up bigger platforms too, read whether Coursera is legit and my Coursera alternatives. For AI skills specifically, I've checked the free AI certifications worth your time, and when you've earned one, here's how to add certifications to LinkedIn.
My advice: one finished certificate beats five half-done courses. Choose the one closest to the work you want more of, and get it done this month.
Run a free course provider that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Which online courses give free certificates?
OpenLearn, Saylor University, HubSpot Academy, freeCodeCamp, Google Skillshop foundational certifications and Microsoft Applied Skills all offer a free certificate or credential with a free course.
Are OpenLearn certificates worth anything?
OpenLearn gives a free statement of participation and, on some courses, a digital badge. It says its free courses don't carry formal credit towards a qualification, so use them as evidence of learning and professional development.
Are HubSpot Academy certifications free?
Yes. HubSpot Academy describes its certifications as completely free and online. Its Digital Marketing certification takes 3 hours and Content Marketing takes 8 hours.
Are Google certifications free?
Google's Skillshop says its foundational certifications continue to be available free. Its newer professional Google Ads certifications are proctored and won't be free in future.
Do free certificates help you get a job?
They show initiative, but they don't replace experience. Pair the certificate with something you built or improved using the skill.
