What free courses are available on Coursera?

You can start many Coursera courses for free by previewing the first module. This includes video lectures, readings, and graded assignments—plus Coursera Coach support where available.

Can I earn a certificate from a free Coursera course?

To earn a certificate, you’ll need to pay for the course or apply for financial aid. Free access to the first module is a great way to begin learning, but certificates are only available after unlocking the full course.

How do I enroll in a course for free on Coursera?

Click “Preview this course” to start learning for free. You’ll get access to the first module, including videos, readings, and graded assignments. If you want to continue beyond the first module or earn a certificate, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What’s the difference between previewing a course and paying for one on Coursera?

Previewing gives you free access to the first module—including graded assignments and support tools, where available. To unlock the rest of the course or earn a certificate, you’ll need to pay or apply for financial aid. Some programs also offer a 7-day free trial for full access.

Free Programming Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Free Programming 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, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Restful API, NumPy, Application Programming Interface (API), Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
42K 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
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
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
Status: Free Trial
Google
Data Analysis with R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Ggplot2, R Programming, Data Visualization, Data Analysis, Tidyverse (R Package), Data Visualization Software, Statistical Programming, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Programming Principles, Data Transformation, Integrated Development Environments, Data Structures
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Stanford University
Introduction to Logic
Skills you'll gain: Logical Reasoning, Computational Logic, Deductive Reasoning, Computational Thinking, Business Logic, Functional Design, Programming Principles
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
647 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Princeton University
Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Performance Tuning, Data Structures, Java, Program Development, Computational Thinking, Algorithms, Animations, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 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
3.5K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Python for Everybody
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Data Processing, Relational Databases, JSON, Database Design, SQL, Network Protocols, Web Services, Restful API, Data Modeling, Programming Principles, Application Programming Interface (API), Data Structures, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Data Import/Export, Software Installation
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
278K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 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
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Software Installation, Development Environment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
232K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Create Your First Python Program From UST
Skills you'll gain: Python Programming, Command-Line Interface, Programming Principles, Scripting, Computer Programming, Scripting Languages, Development Environment
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours