Free certifications are credentials you can earn without paying for the course or exam. The ones employers recognise most tend to come from the companies behind the tools those employers use every day, such as HubSpot, Google, Microsoft, AWS, IBM and Salesforce.
But "free" can mean different things. Sometimes the training is free and the exam is not. This list only includes programmes checked on each issuer's own website on 3 November 2026, and says exactly what the issuer states. Prices and rules change, so check the credential page before you start.
What are the best free certifications employers recognise?
| Provider | What's free | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| HubSpot Academy | Courses and certifications, which HubSpot describes as free | Marketing, sales, customer service, revenue operations |
| IBM SkillsBuild | Learning, described as 100% free, with credentials | AI, technology and workplace skills |
| freeCodeCamp | A charity offering free coding lessons, with certifications in its curriculum | Web development, Python, data analysis |
| Google Skillshop | Free e-learning courses on Google's ad and analytics products | Digital marketing, Google Ads, Google Analytics |
| Microsoft Learn | Free courses; Applied Skills credentials earned in a hands-on lab | Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, AI tools |
| AWS Skill Builder | Over 900 free self-paced digital courses | Cloud computing |
| Salesforce Trailhead | Free hands-on training with badges | CRM, Salesforce administration |
| Semrush Academy | Free marketing courses | SEO, content, digital marketing |
| Cisco Networking Academy | Free online courses such as Introduction to Cybersecurity | Networking, cybersecurity |
The sections below explain each one, and what to check before you count on the credential being free.
Which free certifications are best for marketing?
HubSpot Academy is the clearest free option. HubSpot describes its academy as completely free and online and its certifications as free. Certifications include Inbound, Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Advertising, Inbound Marketing Optimization and HubSpot Marketing Hub Software. They're well known in marketing teams that use HubSpot.
Google Skillshop offers free e-learning courses on Google's products, including a Google Analytics Certification and training on Google Ads. The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course gives you an official digital badge once you complete every module, with no separate final exam. It replaced the old Google Digital Garage certificate.
Semrush Academy offers free marketing courses on SEO and content. Check the certificate page for whether the certificate itself is free.
These pair well with practice in digital marketing, content marketing or social media management.
Got the certificate? Now show you can do the job
Practise job simulations of the real work in your target role, see where you lost marks, and build a skills profile employers can see. Free to start, no card.
Which free certifications are best for tech and IT?
freeCodeCamp is a donor-supported charity whose mission is to help people learn to code for free. Its curriculum includes certifications in areas such as responsive web design, scientific computing with Python and data analysis with Python. Each involves building projects, which gives you portfolio pieces as well as a certificate.
Microsoft Learn offers free courses. Its Applied Skills credentials are earned by completing real tasks in a lab-based assessment, and each validates one specific skill set, whereas Microsoft Certifications are broader and role-based. Check each credential's page for any cost.
AWS Skill Builder offers over 900 free self-paced digital courses. AWS certification exams are separate, so check the price on AWS before you book.
Cisco Networking Academy lists courses such as Introduction to Cybersecurity as free online courses. Check the course page for whether it awards a badge.
IBM SkillsBuild describes itself as 100% free learning and mentions industry-recognised credentials, with tracks for adult learners, university students and high school students.
Useful pairings: IT support, cybersecurity analyst, cloud architect, frontend developer.
Which free certifications are best for business and sales roles?
- HubSpot Academy has free Inbound Sales, Revenue Operations, and HubSpot Sales Hub and Service Hub Software certifications. Useful for business development and customer success roles.
- Salesforce Trailhead says you can learn for free with hands-on training and earn badges. Formal Salesforce certifications are a separate step; check their price on Salesforce.
- Microsoft Learn has business-focused Applied Skills, including Microsoft 365 Copilot skills, for office roles such as executive assistant or office manager.
Are free certifications worth it?
Yes, when they're relevant to the job you want and you can back them up. A free certificate shows initiative and basic knowledge. On its own, it rarely proves you can do the work.
| A free certification helps when | It helps less when |
|---|---|
| The job listing names that tool or credential | It's unrelated to the roles you're applying for |
| You're changing careers and need a first signal | You list ten certificates and no projects |
| You pair it with a project or work sample | It's a short course with no assessment |
| It's from the company that makes the tool | The issuer is unknown to employers |
How do you choose the right free certification?
Work backwards from the job.
- Pick your target role. If you're not sure, our guide what career is right for me helps you narrow it down.
- Read ten job listings. Note any certifications or tools that appear more than once.
- Match them to a free option from the list above.
- Check what's free. Is it the course, the exam, the credential, or all three?
- Check validity. Some credentials expire or need renewing. The issuer's page will say.
- Plan a project. Decide how you'll use the skill in something you can show.
If you're short of time, one relevant certification plus one project beats five unrelated certificates. Our guide to skills to learn covers which skills are worth the effort.
How do you show free certifications on your CV and LinkedIn?
- CV or résumé: add a "Certifications" section with the name, issuer and year. Put the most relevant first.
- LinkedIn: add it under Licences and certifications, with the credential link if there is one.
- Interviews: mention what you built or did with the skill, not just that you passed.
Example CV line (illustrative): "Google Analytics Certification, Google Skillshop, 2026. Used it to build a weekly traffic report for a local charity's website."
How do you prove your skills beyond a certificate?
Many employers test skills directly, with work samples, tasks or simulations, because a certificate doesn't show how you perform on the job.
You can get ahead of that. Practise on a job simulation of the real work in your target role, get a scored report showing where you lost marks, and build a skills profile you can share alongside your certificates. If you're changing fields, our guides on how to change careers and how to get a job with no experience cover the rest of the route.
FAQs
Are there free certifications with no exam fee?
Yes. HubSpot Academy describes its certifications as free, and Google's Fundamentals of Digital Marketing award is issued when you complete the course. For others, check the credential page, because the training can be free while the exam is not.
Which free certification is best for beginners?
Pick one tied to the job you want. HubSpot Academy and Google Skillshop suit marketing beginners; freeCodeCamp suits people starting in coding; IBM SkillsBuild covers AI and general technology.
Do employers really accept free certifications?
Many employers recognise credentials from the companies that make the tools they use. They matter most when the job listing mentions them and you can show the skill in practice.
Do free certifications expire?
Some do. Validity periods vary by issuer and credential, so check before adding it to your CV.
Can free certifications help after a layoff?
They can help you fill a gap and update your skills. Our guide to explaining an employment gap shows how to talk about learning you did between jobs.
What next
Pick one target role, read ten listings and choose the free certification that comes up most. If you're between jobs, our guide on what to do when you get laid off covers the other priorities. When you're ready to show the skill, Cohesyve lets you practise simulations of real work and see your gaps in a scored report. Free to start, no card.
Sources
Issuer pages, checked 3 November 2026:
- HubSpot Academy: Certification overview
- IBM: SkillsBuild
- freeCodeCamp: News home and certifications article
- Google: Google Analytics Help, Skillshop courses and Fundamentals of Digital Marketing award
- Microsoft Learn: Applied Skills and Applied Skills FAQ
- AWS: Digital training
- Salesforce: Trailhead
- Semrush: Academy
- Cisco Networking Academy: Introduction to Cybersecurity