Ah, the good old days! Back when Class Central started covering massive open online courses (MOOCs), all course certificates were free. Then, one by one, the major MOOC platforms began offering paid upgrades to verified certificates, then all but stopped giving out free certificates.

This isn’t to say that there isn’t still great content available for free. In fact, Class Central lists more than 1,600 Coursera courses that are still completely free. We’ve also catalogued close to 600 courses you can take for free which are available through various course providers. These are essentially the same courses as those offered for credit in online degree programs.

As it turns out, there are even a few courses in which you can still earn a free certificate. While trying to collect pricing data for FutureLearn courses, I discovered 102 courses on the FutureLearn platform that offer a free “digital upgrade”, which includes unlimited access to the course, quizzes, and a digital Certificate of Achievement upon completion. These courses span a wide range of topics, from bacterial genomics to social media.

Class Central also compiled free certification courses from Google and Massive list of free certification courses.

Massive List of Thousands of Free Certificates and Badges

600+ Free Google Certifications

These courses offer free digital upgrade to learners from all around the world. Find the whole list below:

• Digital Skills: Social Media from Accenture ★★★★☆(5)
• Digital Skills: Digital Marketing from Accenture ★★★★☆(5)
• COVID-19: Psychological First Aid from Public Health England ★★★★★(4)
• COVID-19: Effective Nursing in Times of Crisis from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(3)
• Digital Skills: Artificial Intelligence from Accenture ★★★★☆(2)
• Study UK: Prepare to Study and Live in the UK from British Council ★★★★★(1)
• Digital Skills: Digital Skills for Work and Life from Accenture ★★★★★(1)
• Digital Skills: Web Analytics from Accenture ★★★★★(1)
• Digital Skills: User Experience from Accenture ★★★★☆(1)
• Bioinformatics for Biologists: An Introduction to Linux, Bash Scripting, and R from Wellcome Genome Campus ★★★★★(1)
• Best Practice for Education: Professional Development Showcase from Study Melbourne ★★★★★(1)
• Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP26 from University of Edinburgh
• Pathways to Property: Starting Your Career in Real Estate from University of Reading
• A Parent and Supporter’s Guide to University Entry from University of Reading
• Live Smart: Your Essential Guide to Living at University from University of Reading
• Endangered Archaeology: Using Remote Sensing to Protect Cultural Heritage from Durham University
• Archéologie en danger : Utiliser la télédétection pour protéger le patrimoine culturel from Durham University
• Social Change: How Can Marketing Help? from Griffith University
• [New] Exploring Gender Equality in Education from British Council
• [New] Exploring Inclusive Pedagogies from British Council
• Equity in Informal STEM Learning: Using the Equity Compass from University College London
• Agriculture, Economics and Nature from University of Western Australia
• Introduction to Physical Computing from Lancaster University
• Introduction to Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality from Lancaster University
• Bushfires: Response, Relief, and Resilience from University of Newcastle
• Nutrition Science: Food Choice and Behaviour from University of Aberdeen
• Nutrition Science: Lifestyle Medicine from University of Aberdeen
• Nutrition Science: Obesity and Healthy Weight Loss from University of Aberdeen
• Digital Skills: Mobile from Accenture
• Digital Skills: Reimagine Your Career from Accenture
• The Power of Genomics to Understand the COVID-19 Pandemic from Wellcome Genome Campus
• From Swab to Server: Testing, Sequencing, and Sharing During a Pandemic from Wellcome Genome Campus
• [New] Making sense of genomic data: COVID-19 web-based bioinformatics from Wellcome Genome Campus
• Premiers secours Psychologiques: Version pour l’Afrique from Public Health England
• Designing a Future Where Learning is a Lifestyle from Samsung
• Designing for a Sustainable Future from Samsung
• Designing for a Diverse and Inclusive Future from Samsung
• Designing for a Future Where No One Feels Socially Isolated from Samsung
• Exploring Intersectionality and What Makes You Unique with Kiddy Smile from Tommy Hilfiger
• Exploring Mentorship and Community Change with the Compton Cowboys from Tommy Hilfiger
• Creating Meaningful and Inclusive Museum Practices from International Council of Museums (ICOM)
• Coping with Changes: Social-Emotional Learning Through Play from Lego Foundation
• Protecting Children during COVID-19 and other Infectious Disease Outbreaks from The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
• String Music Appreciation from Chung yuan Christian University
• Protección de la infancia durante la COVID-19 y otros brotes de enfermedades infecciosas from The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
• Learning Through Play with LEGO® Braille Bricks from Lego Foundation
• Social Learning and Collaboration in School: Learning to thrive through play from Lego Foundation
• The ACNC: How We Help You from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• IBS Management: The Low FODMAP Diet from FODMAP Institute
• How to Become an ACNC Registered Charity from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• Becoming a Charity Board Member: What You Should Know from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• [New] Governing a Registered Charity in Australia from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• [New] Governance Standards Part A: Introduction and Governance Standards 1-3 from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• [New] Governance Standards Part B: Governance Standards 4-6 and How to Wind Up a Charity from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• [New] Apprendre par le jeu avec les LEGO Braille Bricks from Lego Foundation
• [New] External Conduct Standards for Charities from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• [New] Reporting Obligations of Your Charity Part A: Overview and Basic Financial Skills from Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)

At time of writing, the below courses were not available for new enrollments, but might possibly have sessions in the future:

• Bacterial Genomes II: Accessing and Analysing Microbial Genome Data Using Artemis from Wellcome Genome Campus ★★★★★(21)
• What is Genetic Counselling? from Wellcome Genome Campus ★★★★★(2)
• Bacterial Genomes: Disease Outbreaks and Antimicrobial Resistance from Wellcome Genome Campus ★★★★★(1)
• [New] COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression from University of Reading ★★★★★(1)
• Data Analytics for Decision Making: An Introduction to Using Excel from Bond University ★★★★★(1)
• Communicating across Cultures from British Council ★★★★★(1)
• Ideas for a Better World: Leading Change Through Policymaking from British Council ★★★★★(259)
• COVID-19: Tackling the Novel Coronavirus from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ★★★★★(60)
• Bacterial Genomes: Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens from Wellcome Genome Campus ★★★★☆(3)
• [New] Motivation and Engagement in an Uncertain World from Coventry University ★★★☆☆(1)
• The Power of Podcasting for Storytelling from University of Wollongong ★★★★★(1)
• Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism from Murdoch University ★★★★★(1)
• Global Biosecurity for One Health from Murdoch University ★★★★★(1)
• Sleep Deprivation: Habits, Solutions and Strategies Teach-Out from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(3)
• Study UK: A Guide for Education Agents
• Health Systems Strengthening from University of Melbourne
• Bacterial Genomes I: From DNA to Protein Function Using Bioinformatics from Wellcome Genome Campus
• [New] Sustainable Food Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• Bacterial Genomes III: Comparative Genomics using Artemis Comparison Tool (ACT) from Wellcome Genome Campus
• Building Human Connection in a Digital World from Samsung – Not a School
• Solving Inequality in Education from Samsung – Not a School
• Respecting Our Differences Online from Samsung – Not a School
• Turn Climate Anxiety into Positive Action from Samsung – Not a School
• [New] Disinformation, Misinformation, and Fake News Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• How To Teach Online: Moving online post-pandemic
• Practicing Gratitude Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• [New] Leadership in Safeguarding in the International Aid Sector from The Open University
• [New] Ethical Social Media from The University of Sydney
• [New] Genomics for Educators from Wellcome Genome Campus
• [New] COVID-19: Global Health Perspectives from The Nossal Institute for Global Health
• [New] Understanding and Addressing Extremism Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• [New] Cryptocurrency: Beyond Bitcoin Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• [New] UFOs: Scanning the Skies Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• [New] The Power of Social Media and Effects on Children Teach-Out from University of Michigan
• Business Problems and Software Solutions from Deakin University
• Study UK: Preparing for work from British Council
• [New] Teaching and Assessing Core Skills from British Council
• [New] Developing Effective Policies to Build the Impact Economy from British Council
• [New] Effective Policymaking to Build the Impact Economy from British Council
• Supporting and Engaging People with Autism from Swinburne University of Technology
• Digital Skills: Retail from Accenture
• Healthy Futures: How Can We Create the Most Effective Healthcare System? from Murdoch University
• Genomic Scenarios in Primary Care from Wellcome Genome Campus
• Train the Trainer: Design Genomics and Bioinformatics Training from Wellcome Genome Campus
• [New] Introduction to providing Culturally Safe Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from Victoria University