Free online classes expand your horizons, increase earning potential, and teach new skills. Taking online free adult education classes is a great way to succeed at work while boosting your self-esteem. We looked at the best sources for free adult online classes and evaluated each for material, educational experience, and flexibility. Here are our picks for the 10 best free online adult education sources.
01
of 10
Best for Small Business Owners: SBA Learning Center
What We Like
Clean, organized, and easy to use website.
Covers every topic a business owner might need.
Watch the course as an online video or read the transcript.
Learn at your pace.
What We Don't Like
You may need more in-depth information than what these 30-minute courses offer.
The U.S. Small Business Administration(SBA) offers a wealth of resources for aspiring, new, and established business owners through its SBA Learning Center.
This assortment of free online courses is grouped into three categories: Plan Your Business, Launch Your Business, and Manage Your Business. Courses cover beginner topics such as how to write a business plan and financing options, as well as more advanced subjects, including how to sell your business and recruit and retain employees.
Find courses for yourself and your employees to help understand and grow the facets of creating a successful business.
02
of 10
Best for an Ivy League Experience: Coursera
What We Like
Learn at your pace.
Take classes from schools like Princeton and Yale.
Video lectures and interactive exercises.
Peer-to-peer communication among students.
What We Don't Like
Must pay for certificates of completion, and these aren't offered for every course.
Courseraoffers thousands of free courses from respected and prestigious universities. It's the place to go if you're interested in college-level courses, but don't want to spend the money to enroll in a university. These free courses don't generally count toward degree credit. However, these courses are as challenging and rewarding as any college course.
If you want to earn an online master's or bachelor's degree in business, data science, public health, and more, Coursera offers affordable options.
Coursera's vast course catalog is sure to have topics that interest you, including courses to help you move ahead at work, boost your resume, or take a step closer to your dream career.
03
of 10
Best for Practical Life and Business Skills: Learnthat.com
What We Like
The business category includes helpful career and job classes.
Tutorials are easy to digest and clearly written.
Summaries succinctly review what you learned.
What We Don't Like
Some tutorials are brief, so you may need to seek out more information.
Only some tutorials have videos.
Learnthat.comoffers free online tutorials for adults in four categories: business, lifestyle, personal finance, and technology. With a range of video and text-driven courses, Learnthat.com teaches practical life and business skills to help you achieve your goals.
The tutorials are generally brief compared to other course offerings but are a great place to get started. For example, business owners can learn how to do performance reviews or study the advantages of incorporating. On the tech side, you'll find a nice foundation of website and social media marketing tactics. Also, if you're getting started with managing your money, Learnthat's personal finance courses are a great place to begin.
04
of 10
Best Typing Tutor: Learn 2 Type
What We Like
For beginner and advanced typists.
Lessons are stored in your account, so you can pick up where you left off.
Exercises for kids and tots.
Get a verified typing certificate.
What We Don't Like
The site's interface is a little cluttered and outdated.
Learn 2 Type is a perfect place to brush up on your typing skills, a vital ability in today's tech-centered world. Use this site to gauge your current typing speed and learn how to type faster for free.
This is a perfect resource forbeginnersand forthose who can type but want to improve their speed and accuracy. It's great for adults and teens alike, and also offers Learn 2 Type for Kids and Typing for Tots tutorials.
05
of 10
Best for Educational Variety: YouTube Educational Channels
What We Like
Excellent educational channels benefit students of all ages.
Find college lectures and famous speeches.
Free learning videos on every topic imaginable.
What We Don't Like
You may have to wade through less-than-stellar content to find the gems.
YouTubeis a free source of rich learning materials, including curated education-related channels and content gems you may stumble onto as you browse the YouTube offerings.
Enter any subject into the YouTube search function, and you'll find hundreds of results. While you may have to sort through some questionable videos, there are many qualified instructors and experts on the platform. Find college lectures and public speeches, as well.
Some of the best educational channels to check out on YouTube include Crash Course, with educational videos covering everything from entrepreneurship to artificial intelligence to World War II. The Ted-Ed channel has videos that convey complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner. The National Geographic channel is a must if you're passionate about nature and the environment.
The education opportunities are endless for inquiring minds of all ages.
06
of 10
Best for Learning How to Code: Free Code Camp
What We Like
A supportive community to guide you on your coding journey.
More than 6,000 tutorials.
A searchable database of coding topics.
Choose the programming language you want to learn.
What We Don't Like
The offerings are so vast it may feel overwhelming.
If you're interested in learning how to code, Free Code Camp is an amazing resource featuring a community of programmers. Learn to code, build projects, and earn certifications. There are thousands of videos, interactive coding lessons, articles, and an active community forum that offers project feedback, career advice, encouragement, and more.
Free Code Camp says more than 40,000 of its students have gone on to tech careers at companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. If you're looking to change careers, Free Code Camp is a great place to start.
07
of 10
Best for Learning a New Language: Duolingo
What We Like
User-friendly website and apps.
Gamifies learning a language to make it fun.
Incorporates your device's microphones and speakers to make learning more natural.
What We Don't Like
Not all languages are available to learn from every language. For example, German speakers can't learn Chinese.
Duolingo is a simple, user-friendly, and intuitive way to learn a new language. Its gamified instruction methods have you earning points for right answers, racing against the clock as you complete assignments, and staying motivated with rewards.
Duolingo says there's proof its method works, with 34 hours of Duolingo instruction equivalent to a semester of a college language course.
Duolingo is free to use through its website or iOS or Android mobile apps. Upgrade to Duolingo plus if you want to remove ads.
08
of 10
Best for Professional Development: FutureLearn
What We Like
Clean user interface.
Courses from accredited institutions.
Gain credit toward formal qualifications.
What We Don't Like
Courses are free to learn, but you'll need to pay for an achievement certificate or to use credits toward degrees.
FutureLearn's offerings are similar to those of Coursera, but FutureLearn's intuitive interface makes it easy to find ways to enhance your professional development. Take an online communication or leadership course to strengthen your management style. Take courses to boost your teaching career and skills. Or, get healthcare training to improve your medical field job prospects.
Courses are free to join and learn from. However, you'll need to pay to get a completion certificate or to apply course credits toward a degree.
09
of 10
Best for Name-Dropping: Harvard Online Courses
What We Like
Classes from Harvard.
Variety of subjects.
Browse by subject and filter to see only free courses.
High-quality educational resources and instructors.
What We Don't Like
Free courses fluctuate, and one may not be available when you want it.
If you've dreamed of studying at Harvard, make that vision a reality. Harvard has an impressive array of online courses that anyone can take, and many are free of charge. Free courses are presented in conjunction with online learning site edX.
Browse courses in Art & Design, Business, Education & Teaching, Health & Medicine, Social Science, and more. Courses range from one to 12 weeks, and you can filter the options to take introductory, intermediate, or advanced classes.
When you find a free course you're interested in, select Take Course, enroll in the course, and create a free edX account. Pay for a Verified Certificate if you want an official course completion document. Harvard Online Courses also has an array of paid courses starting as low as $30.
10
of 10
Best for STEAM Learning: Kadenze
What We Like
An array of STEAM class offerings.
Prestigious institutions are involved in these courses.
Browse courses by subject and skill level.
What We Don't Like
Upgrade to a premium level if you want a certificate.
Must pay for credit-eligible courses.
Kadenze specializes in education in science, technology, engineering, art, design, music, and math. There's a fascinating array of courses that range from museum education to creating comics to using machine learning in music and art.
To get started, sign up for a free account and then peruse the course catalog, browsing by subject and skill level. Join many courses for free and learn at your pace, or upgrade to a premium membership for $20 per month to enroll in unlimited courses, receive grades and feedback, submit assignments, and build a portfolio.
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FAQs
Which is the best site for free online courses? ›
- ALISON. ...
- Udemy. ...
- Coursera. ...
- edX. ...
- Udacity. ...
- LinkedIn Learning. ...
- General Assembly. ...
- Skillshare.
- Shopify Compass.
- Design Your Dream Life.
- PhotographyCourse.
- Google's Digital Marketing Course.
- Canva's Design School.
- Facebook Blueprint.
- Highbrow's Productivity Course.
- Asana Academy.
- Graphic Design.
- Cyber Security.
- Data Analytics.
- Digital Marketing.
- Social Media Marketing.
- Programming.
- Foreign Language.
- Web Development.
- Data Science. ...
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. ...
- Big Data. ...
- Business Intelligence. ...
- Cloud Computing. ...
- Project Management. ...
- Software Development. ...
- Full-stack development.
- Programming and computer science.
- Web development.
- AI and data science.
- Design.
- Digital marketing.
- Communication.
- Languages.
- Healthcare and medicine.
More than 60% said that the experience helped them develop skills in a new job. Around 40% believed the course made them more qualified as job candidates. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship or a more traditional employee role, a free online course can take your expertise to the next level.
What certifications can I get for free? ›- Become a Digital Marketing Specialist.
- Become a Project Manager.
- Become a Data Analyst.
- Become a Graphic Designer.
- Become a Software Developer.
- Finding a Job during Challenging Economic Times.
- Master In-Demand Professional Soft Skills.
- Become a Financial Analyst.
Yes, the Google certification is well worth the time and effort. These certifications can add value to your resume. So, it is true to say that they can help you land an entry-level job in the IT industry with ease.
What course is the best to take? ›- Pharmacology. For a lucrative career helping people, pharmacology is at the top of the list for in-demand degrees. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Health Science. ...
- Information Technology. ...
- Engineering. ...
- Business Administration. ...
- Finance. ...
- Human Resources.
- Engineering. ...
- Business. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Hospitality. ...
- Education. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Architecture. ...
- Pharmaceutical Sciences.
What are the top 5 courses? ›
- Courses Finance.
- Courses Management.
- Courses Leadership.
- Courses Business.
- Courses Accounting.
- Courses Academic English.
- Courses Human Resources.
- Courses Information Technology.
- Medical billing and coding specialist.
- Web designer.
- HVAC technician.
- Truck driver.
- Licensed real estate agent.
- IT support.
- Brick mason.
- Personal trainer.
S No | Most in-demand careers |
---|---|
1 | Product design |
2 | Data science |
3 | Business analyst |
4 | Digital marketing |
- Security. Security should be foundational to any IT team. ...
- Programming. Being able to program will be a must for those who want to develop software, web applications, and websites. ...
- Systems and networks. ...
- Data analysis. ...
- DevOps. ...
- Cloud computing. ...
- Machine learning.
- #1 AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.
- #2 CISM - Certified Information Security Manager.
- #3 Google Cloud - Professional Cloud Architect.
- #4 CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
- #5 AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate.
- #6 AWS Certified Security – Specialty.
- Emergency Medical Technician.
- Funeral director.
- Brick Mason.
- Personal trainer.
- Medical coder.
- Firefighter.
- Air traffic controller.
- Automobile service station manager.
Software engineering is the best conventional professional course to do nowadays. Not only do you get well-paid jobs in India, but your skills are also in high demand in countries like the USA, UK, Australia, and others.
Which online course certificate is valuable in world? ›- Master Of Science In Machine Learning And AI.
- PG Diploma In Data Science.
- PG Diploma In Machine Learning And AI.
- Post Graduate Diploma In Management (PGDM)
- PG Program In Management (PGPM)
- Executive Program In Blockchain Technology Management.
- Product Management Certification Program.
No matter the situation or perspective, online career certifications improve current performance and queue up success in the future. Pursuing certifications is always a good idea, but makes even more sense if: you're an employee searching for a new job. you're an employee looking to grow with your current company.
Is a Harvard online certificate worth it? ›Yes, online courses at Harvard are worth it if you are looking to earn a reputable certificate from a world-famous Ivy League university. Harvard University offers tons of courses in the areas of data science, computer science, education, and business, and having an additional certification is helpful for your career.
What is the easiest certificate to get? ›
- First aid certifications. ...
- Project management certifications. ...
- Software certifications. ...
- Government certifications. ...
- Notary public certification. ...
- Forklift operator license. ...
- Computer programming certifications. ...
- Marketing certifications.
- Phlebotomist Certification Programs.
- Medical Assistant Certification Programs.
- Certified Nurse Assistant Certification Programs.
- Medical Coder or Biller Certification Programs.
- Flight Attendant Certification Programs.
- Welder Certification Programs.
- Information Security/Cybersecurity.
- Computer Science.
- Project Management.
- Information Technology.
- Human Resources.
- Business Administration.
- Bookkeeper/Accounting Technology.
- Website Design.
Answer: A few of the vast Short-term courses that offer high salary packages in India are Diploma in Web Designing, CFP Certification, Data Science, Business Analytics Certification Program, Diploma in Digital Marketing, etc.
Which course is best to get fast job? ›- Business Analytics.
- Full Stack Development.
- Data Science.
- Artificial Intelligence.
- Digital Marketing.
- Programming Languages.
- DevOps.
- Blockchain Technology.
It can prepare you for jobs as database administrator, systems analyst and help desk technician. This introductory-level IT certificate is designed for those with no relevant experience. Topics include troubleshooting, system administration and security.
Does Google offer free courses? ›Google Digital Workshop provides free of charge, in-person and online training courses with an accredited certification at the end to help graduates boost their LinkedIn profile and CV.
How much does IT cost to take a Google course? ›How much do the Google Career Certificates cost? The IT Support, User Experience Design, Project Management, Data Analytics, and Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificates cost $39 per month by subscription on Coursera.
What is the easiest course to study? ›- #1: Psychology. Psychology majors study the inner workings of the human psyche. ...
- #2: Criminal Justice. ...
- #3: English. ...
- #4: Education. ...
- #5: Social Work. ...
- #6: Sociology. ...
- #7: Communications. ...
- #8: History.
Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) And Bachelor of Engineering (BE) The B. Tech and BE degrees are one of the most famous undergraduate degrees in India in terms of the job opportunities they provide.
What is the most useful degree? ›
- Biomedical engineering. ...
- Computer science. ...
- Marine engineering. ...
- Pharmaceutical sciences. ...
- Computer engineering. ...
- Electrical engineering. ...
- Finance. ...
- Software engineering.
If you're new to online learning and not sure where to start, you're not alone. We've curated a free collection of courses for professionals. Take one of these courses and learn new skills (on us).
Which is the best online course platform? ›- Thinkific.
- LearnWorlds.
- Teachable.
- Podia.
- Kajabi.
- LearnDash.
- Ruzuku.
- WizIQ.
Users can audit almost any course on edX for free; however, to access exams or complete a verified certificate, they will need to pay a fee. For many courses, this fee is between $50 and $100.
Is Khan Academy free? ›Created by experts, Khan Academy's library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more. It's all free for learners and teachers.
Are Coursera classes free? ›Coursera offers free online courses, many of them led by top colleges or companies like Google. Learners can access all course materials and there's a small fee for a certificate of completion. Coursera's online classes span a range of topics, from public health to resume writing.
Can Udemy courses get you a job? ›How Udemy Can Help You. Skills are your most valuable asset. They can help you qualify for jobs you want and get promoted to more advanced positions within your organization. For many people, it is difficult—if not impossible—to balance taking courses with work and family obligations.
Which online course certificate is valuable in world? ›- Master Of Science In Machine Learning And AI.
- PG Diploma In Data Science.
- PG Diploma In Machine Learning And AI.
- Post Graduate Diploma In Management (PGDM)
- PG Program In Management (PGPM)
- Executive Program In Blockchain Technology Management.
- Product Management Certification Program.
- Programming. Harvard University's Introduction to Computer Science, edX. ...
- Design. Beginner's Guide to Image Editing in Photoshop, Pluralsight. ...
- Online marketing. Social Media Quickstarter, Constant Contact. ...
- Communication. ...
- Writing. ...
- Growing and running a business. ...
- Law. ...
- Languages.
- Reliablesoft Academy.
- Udemy.
- Coursera.
- MasterClass.
- Google Skillshop.
- LinkedIn Learning.
- Codecademy.
- Skillshare.
Which is better coursera or edX? ›
Coursera is better than edX in terms of having a wider selection of courses. On the other hand, edX could be the best choice if you want courses from leading universities or if you want to enjoy their free tier, which they offer on all XSeries courses.
Do employers recognize edX certificates? ›Yes, employers do care about edX certificates. But students must work hard and apply for jobs that match their expertise and experience.
Are certificates from edX worth it? ›Yes, an edX professional certificate is worth it. EdX courses and certificates provide students with the professional skills to advance their careers. Students take a self-paced course curated by prestigious universities.
Is there a Khan Academy for adults? ›Adult learning across cultures (practice) | Khan Academy.
Can adult learners use Khan Academy? ›Which brings us to Khan Academy. The nonprofit organization provides free online learning tools and courses for students, but really anyone — because anyone can be a student if they have something they want to know more about.
Does Khan Academy actually work? ›Khan Academy is a reliable and highly useful source of academic learning. While it caters specifically to students in primary school through the college prep phase, anyone with a hunger to learn can benefit from Khan.