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.

Free Python Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Free Python Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
IBM
Python for Data Science, AI & Development
Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Python Programming, Data Structures, Web Scraping, Data Manipulation, Programming Principles, Pandas (Python Package), Computer Programming, Scripting, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Restful API, NumPy, Application Programming Interface (API), Data Literacy, Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
41K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Toronto
Learn to Program: The Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Debugging, Software Documentation, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Data Structures, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Crash Course on Python
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking, Algorithms, Problem Management, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging, Development Environment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
39K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: New AI skills
Google
Google Cybersecurity
Skills you'll gain: Threat Modeling, Network Security, Threat Management, Incident Response, Vulnerability Management, Computer Security Incident Management, Hardening, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Cyber Attacks, Cybersecurity, Network Protocols, Professional Networking, Bash (Scripting Language), Operating Systems, Security Controls, Stakeholder Communications, Debugging, Interviewing Skills, Python Programming
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
52K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Development Environment, Engineering Software, Software Design, Software Development Tools, Software Engineering, Program Development, Systems Development, Software Documentation, Software Design Patterns, Software Development Methodologies, Unified Modeling Language, Integrated Development Environments, Programming Principles, Application Development, Agile Methodology, Python Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of London
Foundations of Data Science: K-Means Clustering in Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Matplotlib, Probability & Statistics, Data Science, Unsupervised Learning, Statistics, NumPy, Python Programming, Pandas (Python Package), Data Analysis, Machine Learning Algorithms, Descriptive Statistics, Data Manipulation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
720 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Python Basics
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Programming Principles, Python Programming, Data Structures, Scripting Languages, Computer Programming, Pseudocode, Computer Graphics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California San Diego
Biology Meets Programming: Bioinformatics for Beginners
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Programming Principles, Molecular Biology, Python Programming, Computational Thinking, Biology, Algorithms, Data Structures
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
DeepLearning.AI
AI Python for Beginners
Skills you'll gain: Large Language Modeling, Prompt Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Jupyter, Python Programming, Data Analysis, ChatGPT, Application Development, Generative AI, Scripting, Automation, Computer Programming, Application Programming Interface (API)
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
123 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Create Your First Python Program From UST
Skills you'll gain: Python Programming, Command-Line Interface, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Scripting, Scripting Languages, Development Environment
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM AI Developer
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Software Development Life Cycle, HTML and CSS, Large Language Modeling, Software Architecture, Development Environment, Flask (Web Framework), Generative AI, Unit Testing, ChatGPT, Jupyter, Artificial Intelligence, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Software Design, Software Development Tools, OpenAI, Front-End Web Development, Python Programming, Interviewing Skills, Engineering Software
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
70K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Programming in Python
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Test Driven Development (TDD), Programming Principles, Software Testing, Data Structures, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months