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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to Applied Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Business Analytics, Data Processing, Data Manipulation, Analytics, Data Transformation, Business Intelligence, Business Process, Pandas (Python Package), Data Analysis, Data Literacy, Data Cleansing, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Presentation, Technical Communication
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
286 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
National Taiwan University
Operations Research (1): Models and Applications
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Mathematical Modeling, Process Optimization, Business Modeling, Industrial Engineering, Business Analytics, Production Planning, Inventory Management System, Microsoft Excel, Scheduling, Linear Algebra
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
543 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Managing Big Data with MySQL
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, MySQL, Relational Databases, SQL, Data Modeling, Databases, Business Analytics, Big Data, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
Competitive Strategy and Organization Design Project
Skills you'll gain: Business Research, Peer Review, Report Writing, Business Consulting, Management Consulting, Analysis, Business Reporting, Data Visualization, Organizational Strategy, Business Analytics, Competitive Analysis, Business Strategy, Presentations
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
35 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Davis
SQL for Data Science Capstone Project
Skills you'll gain: Presentations, SQL, Descriptive Statistics, Data Storytelling, Data Analysis, Peer Review, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Data Modeling, Performance Metric, Business Analytics, Text Mining, Data Science, Target Audience, Data Manipulation, Proposal Development
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
236 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
ESSEC Business School
Foundations of strategic business analytics
Skills you'll gain: Business Analytics, Forecasting, Data Presentation, Predictive Analytics, R Programming, Information Technology, Statistical Analysis, Communication, Business Strategy, Business, Statistics, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Regression Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
655 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Basic Data Descriptors, Statistical Distributions, and Application to Business Decisions
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Probability Distribution, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Box Plots, Sampling (Statistics), Correlation Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.6K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Tableau Software, Data Visualization Software, Excel Macros, Analytics, Accounting and Finance Software, Specialized Accounting, Analytical Skills, Pivot Tables And Charts, Accounting Systems, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Data Collection, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Regression Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
442 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
Introduction to Data Analytics for Accounting Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Data Literacy, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Financial Data, Business Analytics, Data Strategy, Analytical Skills, Project Design, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence, Project Implementation, Project Scoping, Unstructured Data
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
85 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Meta
GenAI in Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Business Analytics, Analytics, Data Quality, Business Analysis, Data Ethics, Prompt Engineering, Process Optimization, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, ChatGPT, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Business Intelligence Analysts
Skills you'll gain: Business Intelligence, Generative AI, Business Analytics, Business Process Automation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Ethics, Data Storytelling, Advanced Analytics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Large Language Modeling, Data Governance, Machine Learning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
ESSEC Business School
Foundations of marketing analytics
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Customer Analysis, Business Marketing, Advanced Analytics, Marketing Strategies, Business Analytics, Market Research, Customer Insights, R Programming, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Target Market, Data Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Predictive Modeling, Customer Relationship Management, Statistical Methods, Data Manipulation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
761 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months