With over 220 million enrollments, Coursera has revolutionized online learning by making high-quality education accessible. But did you know that some of the best courses on the platform are completely free?
Thousands of learners worldwide are using these courses to gain new skills without financial strain.
In this guide, I have handpicked 10 of the best free courses on Coursera, spanning topics like workplace communication, business analysis, Excel, and even investment risk management.
Whether you’re looking to upskill, explore a new field, or enhance your resume, these free courses provide a perfect starting point.
Top Coursera Free Courses
The table below shows all the best free Coursera courses I have covered in the guide. You can learn more about each later in the guide.
| Coursera Free Course | Category | Certificate Offered |
|---|---|---|
| English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level | Language Learning | Yes |
| Business Analysis & Process Management | Leadership and Management | Yes |
| Getting Started with Microsoft Excel | Business Essentials | Yes |
| Build a free website with WordPress | Support and Operations | Yes |
| Python for Data Science, AI & Development | Data Analysis | Yes |
| First Step Korean | Language Learning | Yes |
| Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success | Personal Development | Yes |
| Financial Markets | Finance | Yes |
| Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us | Health | Yes |
| Investment Risk Management | Finance | Yes |
10 Best Free Courses On Coursera
Write 1 to 2 lines as an intro before we actually dive into the 10 best free courses on coursera.
1. English For Common Interactions In The Workplace: Basic Level
| Course Duration | 8 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.7 |
| Taught By | James Gibbons & Paula Ross |
| Total Reviews | 3,265 |
| Level | Beginner |
| Enroll here | Here |
This practical course is designed for working professionals who need to improve their workplace English communication skills.
Perfect for non-native English speakers at the A2 level (basic), it focuses on essential workplace interactions.
The course’s self-paced structure allows students to balance learning with their professional commitments, making it ideal for busy workers.
The curriculum covers four crucial workplace communication modules:
- Everyday workplace language
- Professional phone call handling
- Meeting preparation and participation
- Post-meeting communication and etiquette and more
This course can be perfect for you if you are a non-native English speaker and want to brush up on your English communication skills.
2. Business Analysis & Process Management
| Course Duration | 2 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.4 |
| Taught By | Mahi Ismail |
| Total Reviews | 5,929 |
| Level | Beginner |
| Enrol here | Here |
Tailored for both beginners and experienced professionals managing small to medium enterprises, this guided project provides essential knowledge in business analysis and process management.
The course focuses on analyzing businesses from a process perspective, enabling participants to develop practical solutions to real business challenges. The course also teaches the modeling tool Lucidchart.
Key learning outcomes include process analysis, stakeholder identification, and business solution development. The course particularly benefits North American professionals, though it’s accessible worldwide.
3. Getting Started With Microsoft Excel
| Course Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.6 |
| Taught By | Summer Scaggs |
| Total Reviews | 11,053 |
| Level | Intermediate level |
| Enrol here | Here |
This foundational Excel course is perfect for absolute beginners and those looking to formalize their spreadsheet skills.
Excel remains the most widely used software in the business community, making this course valuable for professionals across all sectors – from banking to marketing, science to entrepreneurship.
The course teaches essential Excel fundamentals, including basic formulas, data organization, and formatting.
With hands-on exercises and practical examples, learners quickly develop skills they can immediately apply in their professional lives.
4. Build A Free Website With WordPress
| Course Duration | 1 hour |
| Course Rating | 4.5 |
| Taught By | Delphine Sangotokun |
| Total Reviews | 1,501 |
| Level | Intermediate level |
| Enrol here | Here |
This beginner-friendly guided project is perfect for individuals and small business owners wanting to establish an online presence without technical expertise.
The course teaches how to create and customize a WordPress website from scratch, focusing on both personal and commercial applications.
Learners master essential WordPress skills, including theme selection, layout customization, and content management.
The course emphasizes creating visually appealing and functional websites while keeping costs minimal.
5. Python For Data Science, AI & Development
| Course Duration | Approximately 25 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.6 |
| Taught By | Joseph Santarcangelo |
| Total Reviews | 39,668 |
| Level | Beginner level |
| Enrol here | Here |
This comprehensive Python course is designed for complete beginners interested in programming, data science, or AI.
The course stands out for its practical approach, taking learners from zero to functional Python programming through hands-on exercises using Jupyter Notebooks.
Participants learn Python basics, Data Structures, Branching, Loops, Functions, Objects & Classes, and essential libraries like Pandas and NumPy.
The course is particularly valuable for those interested in data science, analytics, software development, DevOps, Data Engineering, or AI careers, providing a solid foundation for further specialization.
6. First Step Korean
| Course Duration | Approximately 17 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.9 |
| Taught By | Seung Hae Kang |
| Total Reviews | 51,726 |
| Level | Beginner level |
| Enrol here | Here |
Perfect for absolute beginners interested in the Korean language and culture, this elementary-level course provides a comprehensive introduction to the basics.
The course is ideally suited for students who want to build a strong foundation in Korean through a structured learning approach.
With 5 lessons divided into 4 units each, learners develop essential skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The course covers practical everyday expressions, from basic greetings to family conversations, making it particularly valuable for those planning to travel to Korea or engage with Korean culture.
Interactive elements like dialogues, pronunciation practice, and role-plays keep learners engaged throughout their learning journey.
7. Creative Thinking: Techniques And Tools For Success
| Course Duration | Approximately 19 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.7 |
| Taught By | Peter Childs |
| Total Reviews | 4,667 |
| Level | Beginner Level |
| Enroll here | Here |
This course is designed for professionals, entrepreneurs, and students who want to enhance their creative problem-solving abilities in today’s fast-paced environment.
It’s particularly beneficial for those who need to generate innovative solutions in their workplace or academic settings.
The course provides practical tools and techniques that build upon your natural creativity, making it especially valuable for team leaders, project managers, and individuals working in fields requiring innovative thinking.
Through hands-on exercises and practical applications, learners develop skills in various brainstorming techniques, morphological analysis, and the TRIZ methodology, enabling them to approach challenges from fresh perspectives.
8. Financial Markets
| Course Duration | Approximately 33 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.8 |
| Taught By | Robert Shiller |
| Total Reviews | 29,589 |
| Level | Beginner Level |
| Enroll here | Here |
This course serves as an excellent introduction for individuals seeking to understand how financial markets operate and impact society.
It’s particularly valuable for business students, aspiring finance professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the fundamentals of financial systems.
The course focuses on developing financially savvy leadership skills while exploring risk management and behavioral finance principles.
Students learn about the real-world functioning of securities, insurance, and banking industries, making it especially relevant for those considering careers in financial services or those who want to make more informed personal financial decisions.
9. Vital Signs: Understanding What The Body Is Telling Us
| Course Duration | 13 hours |
| Course Rating | 4.8 |
| Taught By | Connie B. Scanga, PhD |
| Total Reviews | 6,607 |
| Level | Intermediate level |
| Enroll here | Here |
This comprehensive six-part course is essential for healthcare professionals, aspiring medical students, and individuals interested in understanding human physiology.
The course is particularly valuable for caregivers, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone wanting to grasp how vital signs indicate body function.
It provides detailed insights into the anatomy and physiology behind vital signs – heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, respiration rate, and pain.
The practical demonstrations and systematic approach make it especially useful for those working in healthcare settings or considering a career in the medical field.
10. Investment Risk Management
| Course Duration | 1 hour |
| Course Rating | 4.4 |
| Taught By | Bekhruzbek Ochilov, MCSI, PAGRC |
| Total Reviews | 1,794 |
| Level | Intermediate level |
| Enroll here | Here |
This specialized course is designed for individuals with a basic understanding of financial concepts who want to advance their knowledge of investment risk analysis.
It’s particularly suitable for finance professionals, investment enthusiasts, and portfolio managers looking to enhance their risk assessment skills.
The course focuses on practical applications, teaching students how to quantify risk-to-reward relationships using the Treynor Ratio and calculate portfolio value at risk.
This knowledge is especially valuable for those managing investment portfolios or seeking to understand advanced risk management concepts in North American markets.
How To Explore More Free Courses On Coursera
Want to explore more free courses on Coursera? Follow the steps listed below:
Step 1: Go to coursera.org
Step 2: Click on the Explore tab at the top left-hand side, near the Coursera logo.
Step 3: From the list, choose the “Take a free course” option.
Step 4: All the courses you will see on your screen now will be free Coursera courses.
Step 5: You can choose from a variety of filters and sort certain courses as per your liking. The filters are present on the left side of the free courses screen.
List of filters that you can choose from on the free courses page:
- Subject
- Language
- Learning Product
- Level
- Duration
- Skills
- Subtitles
- Educator
What Are Other Options For Taking Coursera Courses For Free?
Coursera offers a Financial Aid program to help learners access paid courses at no cost.
To apply, users can click the “Financial Aid Available” link on any course page and submit an application explaining their financial situation and learning goals.
The review process typically takes 15 days, and if approved, learners get full access to the course content and certification.
What Does Coursera Course Audit Mean?
Coursera’s course audit option allows you to access course materials for free without earning a certificate. By auditing a course, you can watch video lectures, read resources, and participate in discussions.
However, graded assignments and certificates remain locked behind a paywall. This is ideal for learners who want knowledge without cost or simply want to scout the course before they can pay for it.
To audit, simply select “Audit the course” during enrollment. Some courses may limit access to certain materials, but most offer valuable insights.
If you decide to upgrade later, you can pay for the certification. Auditing is a great way to explore topics before committing to a paid course.
Note: If you pay for a Certificate afterward, you might need to complete more coursework that wasn’t available in the audit version.
Can You Get A Discount On A Coursera Subscription?
Coursera Plus costs $59 per month with a monthly subscription, which gives you access to over 7,000 courses and professional certificates.
However, you can save significantly by opting for the annual plan at $399 instead of paying monthly ($708/year).
By choosing the yearly subscription, you’ll get the same unlimited access to all Coursera Plus features while saving $309 annually.
This makes the annual plan a more cost-effective choice if you’re committed to long-term learning on the platform. You can read more about the Coursera Plus Review in our dedicated guide.
Also Check:
Conclusion: Coursera Offers Over 2000+ Free Courses
Coursera’s free course offerings span critical professional skills like Excel, Python programming, and business analysis. These courses deliver practical knowledge through structured learning paths, expert instruction, and hands-on projects.
The platform excels in key areas like technical skills development, business acumen, creative thinking, and financial education.
Features like course auditing and financial aid remove barriers to learning, while detailed course filters help learners find relevant content quickly. Each course provides comprehensive materials, including video lectures, reading resources, and discussion forums.
For learners seeking professional growth without financial investment, Coursera’s free courses offer a direct path to building valuable skills and knowledge.
FAQs
Certificates are only available for paid courses. The free “audit” option grants access to course materials but does not include assignments or certification.
As long as your account remains active and the course is available, you can access the materials indefinitely.
Learners can access the Learner Help Center, the Community for peer discussions, and Coursera Coach, an AI-powered assistant, for guidance. Course pages also link to relevant help resources.
Most free courses are beginner-friendly and do not require prior experience, making them accessible to learners from any background.
Free courses help build foundational skills and explore new career paths. While they lack certifications, they offer valuable knowledge for transitioning into a new field.
