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 SQL Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Free SQL Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, SQL, Predictive Modeling, Unsupervised Learning, Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Supervised Learning, Exploratory Data Analysis, Feature Engineering, Jupyter, Data Wrangling, Data Literacy, Data Analysis, Data Mining, Matplotlib, Generative AI, Pandas (Python Package), Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
144K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Visualization, SQL, Predictive Modeling, Generative AI, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Wrangling, Data Analysis, Jupyter, Big Data, Matplotlib, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), IBM Cognos Analytics, Excel Formulas, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
92K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Databases, Stored Procedure, Relational Databases, Database Design, Query Languages, Database Management, Data Analysis, Jupyter, Data Manipulation, Pandas (Python Package), Transaction Processing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
22K 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, Scripting Languages, Data Import/Export
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
278K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Maven Analytics
ChatGPT & Generative AI for Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Power BI, Deep Learning, Excel Formulas, Analytics, Google Sheets, Machine Learning Methods, Large Language Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Artificial Intelligence, Python Programming, SQL, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta Back-End Developer
Skills you'll gain: Django (Web Framework), Full-Stack Web Development, Version Control, Restful API, Data Structures, Unix Commands, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Git (Version Control System), Back-End Web Development, GitHub, Web Design and Development, Relational Databases, Front-End Web Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Database Management Systems, SQL, Database Design, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Web Development
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
9.3K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
115K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Geographical Information Systems - Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, NoSQL, Data Modeling, Database Design, Databases, Data Storage Technologies, SQL, Data Storage, Data Capture, Query Languages, Relational Databases
3.5
Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
95 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Cloudera
Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, Relational Databases, Databases, SQL, Big Data, Database Systems, Operational Databases, Data Management, Virtual Machines, Data Storage, Virtualization and Virtual Machines, Data Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Codio
SQL for Software Developers
Skills you'll gain: PostgreSQL, Database Design, Relational Databases, Database Management, Database Architecture and Administration, SQL, Databases, Transaction Processing, Data Manipulation, Query Languages
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, SQL, MySQL, Relational Databases, Databases, Data Modeling, Development Environment, PHP (Scripting Language), Software Installation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.5K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Davis
SQL für Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, SQL, Data Quality, Data Manipulation, Database Design, Data Transformation, Query Languages, Data Modeling, Databases, Relational Databases, Data Analysis, Descriptive Statistics
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
29 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks