Three kinds of free
"Free course" means different things on different platforms. The table above sorts out which kind you get, but it helps to know the three models before you sign up:
- Everything free. Nonprofit projects like freeCodeCamp say every part of the platform is free, including the certifications. MIT OpenCourseWare and Open Yale Courses publish course material openly, but give no certificate at all.
- Free learning, paid certificate. On Alison all courses are free to study and complete, and buying a certificate is optional. edX works in a similar way with its free audit track and paid verified track.
- Free preview. Coursera's blog post from August 2025 says the first module of nearly every course is now a free preview, which replaced its audit option. The rest of the course needs payment or financial aid.
None of these is better by itself. If you only want the knowledge, a free preview or open course material may be enough. If you need proof for an employer, check the certificate column first.
What "audit" means
Auditing a course means taking it without paying and without earning the paid certificate. edX describes its audit track as temporary access to course materials at no cost, while its paid verified track adds graded assignments, a certificate and unlimited access. So an audited course can disappear from your account after a while: save your own notes as you go.
Harvard's CS50 is an example where the free route still ends in a certificate. Its FAQ calls the no-payment option "free" or "audit", says the CS50 Certificate is free, and offers a verified certificate from edX for a fee. You register with edX either way.
Coursera no longer uses the word for new enrollments: its preview has taken the place of audit, as the blog post linked above explains.
Free and paid certificates
A certificate shows that you finished a course. It is not the same as academic credit. These are the statements we found on the platforms' own pages:
| Platform | What the source says |
|---|---|
| freeCodeCamp | Free verified certifications, self-paced, about 300 hours each |
| OpenLearn | Free Statement of participation on every course, free badges on some; no formal credit |
| Microsoft Learn | Badges for modules and trophies for learning paths; credentials need an assessment |
| Codecademy | Certificates of completion only on paid plans |
| Coursera | Certificates for a fee on certain courses, none during a free trial, no academic credit |
| MIT OpenCourseWare | No credit or certification |
Before you pay for a certificate, ask the employer or school you want to show it to whether it counts. Many people list free courses on a CV as skills, with a link to a finished project.
How to choose a course
Start with the result you want, then pick the platform:
- A job skill with proof: look for a free certificate and a project you can show. For coding, a portfolio of small projects often says more than the certificate.
- School or exam topics: short lessons with practice questions work better than long lectures.
- Understanding a subject in depth: university lectures and course notes, even without a certificate.
Then check three things in the course itself: whether there are deadlines, how many hours it expects per week, and whether you can still reach the material after the course ends. Finishing is the hard part, so plan fixed study blocks in your week. The focus timer helps you work in short, timed sessions with breaks.
Reusing course material
Some platforms publish their material under a Creative Commons license, which lets you share and adapt it on conditions. MIT OpenCourseWare uses CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: you must give credit, link the license, mark your changes, use it only for noncommercial purposes and share adaptations under the same license. Open Yale Courses uses the 3.0 version of the same license and excludes third-party content. A tutor who reuses slides in a paid course should read these terms closely, because paid teaching can count as commercial use.
When you quote course material in your own work, cite it like any other source. The citation generator formats the reference for you.
Study tools and how we checked
A few free tools on this site help while you study: turn key terms into cards with the flashcard maker, track your grades with the GPA calculator, and practice for coding or writing courses with the typing speed test. More templates are on the freebies page.
For the list we opened each platform's own about page, FAQ, help article or pricing page on the date shown and wrote down only what it says. Platforms whose official pages we could not read were left out. A missing filter chip or an empty cell means the source did not state it, not that the feature is missing.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to audit a course?
Auditing means taking a course for free without the paid certificate. On edX the audit track gives temporary access to the course materials at no cost, while the paid verified track adds graded assignments, a certificate and unlimited access. Coursera replaced its audit option with a free preview of the first module in August 2025.
Can I get a certificate for free?
Yes, on some platforms. freeCodeCamp says its certifications are free, CS50 offers a free CS50 Certificate, OpenLearn gives a free Statement of participation, and Microsoft Learn awards badges and trophies. On Coursera, edX, Codecademy and most Alison courses the certificate costs money.
Do free online courses give college credit?
Usually not. OpenLearn says its statements and badges carry no formal credit, Coursera's terms say it does not grant academic credit, and MIT OpenCourseWare offers no credit or certification. Some platforms, such as Saylor University and CS50, mention separate credit options, so read their own pages for the details and costs.
Do I need an account to take a free course?
Not always. MIT OpenCourseWare needs no account, Microsoft Learn content is open without a profile, and OpenLearn lets you read courses as a guest. To track progress or earn a certificate you usually need a free account; OpenLearn requires you to be 13 or older for one.
Can I use MIT OpenCourseWare material in my own lessons?
Yes, within the license. MIT OpenCourseWare uses CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, so you must give credit, link the license, mark your changes, keep it noncommercial and share adaptations under the same license. Paid teaching may count as commercial use, so check the terms before you reuse material there.
Where can I learn to code for free?
freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, Exercism and Harvard's CS50 are free, and Microsoft Learn has free training on its own products. Codecademy has a free Basic plan with limited courses. Pick one path, build small projects as you go and keep them in a portfolio.