Posted by Are you looking to upgrade your computer skills? Looking for the best free online computer courses with certificate?
We’ve got you covered! In this article, we list the top 2023 free online computer courses with certifications that will help you learn the fundamentals and advanced concepts of computers. These courses are perfect for anyone looking to get certifications in specific areas of computing.
Whether it’s learning a new programming language or getting certified in basic networking, these courses can help you get ahead in your career. Plus, all of these courses come with free certificates that prove your proficiency in a particular subject matter. So don’t wait any longer—start learning today and gain the qualifications you need to be successful.
Overview of MOOCs Platforms and EdTech
It’s no surprise that the world of technology is constantly changing. That is why, for both professionals and students, staying ahead in this rapidly changing technological landscape is critical. To stay ahead of the curve, we can no longer rely solely on traditional university education; online courses are becoming increasingly popular.
This article is a one-stop shop for all of your computer learning requirements. It covers a wide range of topics, including coding and software development, as well as data analysis and machine learning.
With this roundup, you’ll be able to find the ideal course to upskill yourself or begin a new career path. So, let’s get started by looking into these free online computer classes.
List of the Top 10 Platforms for Free Online Computer Courses to Level Up Your Skills
Whether you’re looking for specific computer lessons online or just want to brush up on your existing knowledge, there are plenty of platforms offering free online computer classes. From video tutorials about coding languages to comprehensive certification programs, these top 10 platforms will help you gain valuable knowledge in a convenient and cost-effective way.
- Coursera
- Udemy
- Udacity
- edX
- Alison
- Codeacademy
- FreeCodeCamp
- DataCamp
- LinkedIn Learning
- Skillshare.
Top 10 Platforms for Free Online Computer Courses to Level Up Your Skills
As the digital world evolves, so does the demand for computer skills. Keeping up with these changes can be difficult for many people, but it does not have to be. You can easily level up your skills and become a more competitive professional in 2023 with the availability of free online computer courses.
1. Coursera
Free: Yes.
Certificates: Yes.
When it comes to the best MOOCs you’ll find on the internet today, Coursera has to be in that discussion.
Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a mammoth variety of computer courses. From learning how to code, to understanding the basics of data science and machine learning, Coursera provides numerous courses and certifications for students and professionals alike. Its user-friendly interface makes learning a digital skill more accessible than ever before.
On top of that, many courses offer free options or discounts for students so you can get the best education without breaking the bank. With Coursera’s online classes, you can learn new skills with no time or place restrictions – all you need is an internet connection.
Coursera offers most of its courses for free to anyone with any level of experience. However, some of its specialization courses are paid for. But students can also take advantage of courses that offer Financial Aid. Coursera lets you apply for waivers on some of its courses; once approved, you get all the fees for that particular course dropped. And you can learn online and at your own pace, anytime.
2. Udemy
Free: Both free and paid.
Certificate: Yes.
Udemy is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of computer courses and classes to help learners gain knowledge and skills. With Udemy, you have the opportunity to learn various computer lessons online at your own pace, from anywhere in the world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced professional looking to expand your skillset, Udemy has something for everyone.
From free online computer courses that teach the fundamentals of coding and software development to advanced lessons on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), you can find it all on Udemy. With their diverse selection of courses, you can even earn certificates for completing them! So take advantage of this amazing platform today and start learning about computers quickly.
3. Udacity
Free: Both free and paid.
Certificate: Yes
Udacity is a free online platform that offers a wide range of courses related to computer science and technology. They provide students with the opportunity to learn new skills through their comprehensive computer lessons online. It is the perfect platform for anyone who wants to learn the basics of coding, web development, data science, and more.
The courses are interactive and engaging with lectures presented by some of the world’s leading experts in the field like Google, Amazon, Nvidia, and more.
4. edX
Free: Yes.
Certificate: Yes.
edX is an online learning platform that provides free online computer courses, lessons, and classes. It offers a variety of computer classes online, ranging from coding and software engineering to data science and machine learning. The courses are free, but edX also provides certificates for most of its courses. This makes it an ideal platform for anyone who wants to learn new skills in the tech space while building their resume. Additionally, edX also provides interactive activities to facilitate learning in a fun and engaging way. With edX, you can learn at your own pace and acquire a rigorous certification or just brush up on your computer skills – all with no cost involved.
5. Alison
Free: Yes
Certificate: Yes
Alison is an EdTech platform that offers FREE courses in various disciplines, including technology and computer science courses.
However, while most courses are free on Alison, the catch is that the certificates are paid for. These cost around €10 or more.
Alison’s free online computer courses are designed for all levels – from beginners who just want to understand the basics of computers, to professionals who are looking for advanced knowledge or an online certificate in computer science. With Alison’s interactive learning environment and detailed course curriculum that includes videos, texts articles, tests and quizzes; users can gain new skills or upgrade their existing knowledge without having to leave the comfort of their homes.
6. Codeacademy
Free: Paid but with free trials.
Certificate: Yes
Codeacademy is the leading source for free online computer courses. They provide a comprehensive range of computer lessons, from basic programming to advanced development. With Codeacademy, you can take computer classes online and get certified at your own pace.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, Codeacademy has something for everyone. From learning the basics of coding to mastering web development and more, Codeacademy’s comprehensive library of free online computer classes will help you reach your goals.
7. FreeCodeCamp (Recommended)
Free: Yes with specialization paths.
Certificate: Yes
FreeCodeCamp is a great educational platform for anyone looking to learn computer programming and coding online. It provides free online courses, lessons, and classes that anyone can take advantage of to develop their skills in the computer sciences. With topics ranging from HTML/CSS to software engineering, FreeCodeCamp gives learners the opportunity to build projects and earn certifications that can help them get ahead in their careers. Best of all, it’s absolutely free.
We also personally recommend FreeCodeCamp because it provides you with a series of specialization courses that you can use to get ahead in your chosen computer science discipline. For example, if you opt to become a Software Engineer, FreeCodeCamp curates a list of courses that you can take sequentially to get a good education. This will help build a clear roadmap for you; as well as help you avoid getting the knowledge you may not need in your career.
8. DataCamp
Free: Both free and paid. But mostly free.
Certificate: Yes
DataCamp offers a wide range of free online computer courses that allow you to learn the essential concepts and techniques for working with data. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional, DataCamp has something for everyone.
With hundreds of computer lessons online, you will be able to get up to speed with the latest technologies and hone your skills in data analysis, machine learning, and more. In addition, DataCamp offers a variety of free online computer classes that can help you gain certifications in popular areas such as Python, R, and SQL.
9. LinkedIn Learning
Free: Paid but comes with discounts and free trials.
Certificate: Yes.
LinkedIn Learning provides a wide array of free online computer courses for anyone looking to enhance their computer skills. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, there is something for everyone! From tutorials on how to use basic software like Microsoft Word and Excel, to coding classes and web development lessons – the possibilities are endless.
The major disadvantage to this is that it doesn’t strictly focus on tech courses. But it still has a decent library for you to explore.
To use the LinkedIn Learning platform, you must create a LinkedIn account. Once you have done that, you get a whopping 1 month of free access to explore all the computer courses on the platform.
10. Skillshare
Free: Costs $32 per month. But you get 1 month of free access when you sign up.
Certificate: No.
Skillshare ranks bottom of this list. But it is not because it isn’t a great platform.
Skillshare brings a unique teaching style that allows students to learn about specific knowledge taught by experts who are already in the field and living the dream.
The only disadvantage is that Skillshare doesn’t offer certificates at the end of your training. But if you don’t mind that, this is yet another top free platform to get answers to all the questions you have about computer science.
Honourable Mention
Mind you, this article is by no means an exhaustive list. Aside from these platforms above that we have listed here, there are still some great edtech and MOOCs platforms that you can give a go.
One of these platforms is YouTube, owned by tech giant, Alphabet Inc.
Popularly nicknamed “YouTube University,” this is an open-source website that allows different creators to share knowledge and resources through videos. In turn, you can watch many of these videos ranging from different topics from finance, technology, news, productivity, computer science, or anything, really.
Being one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world, it is simply mind-blowing that all you need to access YouTube is just an internet connection.
Top 15 Free Online Computer Courses in 2023
Ready to kick-start your computer science career?
Whether you prefer to just learn a bit more about machines, learn how to develop problem-solving software or learn how artificial intelligence impacts future technology, or learn how to disassemble computer hardware, these are 15 courses we recommend to get you started.
Most of these are beginner-friendly, free, and can be completed from the comfort of your home.
| S/N | Free Computer Courses | Curriculum | Ratings | Offered By |
| 1 | Computer Science: Algorithms, Theories, and Machines | Theory of Computing, Turing Machines, Von Neumann Machines, Combinational Circuits | 4.8 stars out of 5 | Princeton University via Coursera |
| 2 | Google IT Support | Computer Networking, Operating Systems, Network Model, System Software, Debugging, Network Protocols | 4.8 stars out of 5 | Google × Coursera |
| 3 | Computer Communications | Computer Networking, Algorithms | 4.6 stars out of 5 | University of Colorado System |
| 4 | Master of Computer Science | Machine Learning, Theoretical Computer Science, Software Engineering | — | Arizona State University via Coursera |
| 5 | AWS Fundamentals | Cloud Computing, Amazon Web Services, Information Technology, Computer Networking | 4.6 stars out of 5 | Amazon Web Services |
| 6 | Basics of Computers & Code on iOS | App Development, Programming, Computer Science, iOS, UI, iOS Development | 24,745 learners | Developed on Alison |
| 7 | Comprehensive Guide to Augmented Reality | Computer Science, Augmented Reality, Programming, Computer Vision, Information Systems | 221 learners | Janets UK on Alison |
| 8 | Introduction to Data Structures | Data Structures | 6,125 learners | William Fiset on Alison |
| 9 | Data Analytics: Introduction to Machine Learning Revised | Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Excel, Science, Matlab | 16,728 learners | Channel 9 on Alison |
| 10 | Mathematics for Computer Science | Comprehensive math overview for Computer Science | 4.1/5.0 | Dr. Sara Santos, University of London on FreeCodeCamp.Org |
| 11 | Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) | Comprehensive CS survey through the lens of Python. | 1.5 million enrollments | Prof. Eric Grimson (MIT) on FreeCodeCamp.Org |
| 12 | CS101 Bootcamp: Introduction to Computer Science & Software | Operating System Creation, Scratch Programming, Computer Hardware, Computer Basics, Data Structures, Discrete Math, C++, Coding Interview | 4.3/5.0 stars | Samuel Spencer on Udemy |
| 13 | Android Basics | Programming, XML Markup Language, Android Networking | 3,183 learners | Katherine Kian on Udacity |
| 14 | Computer Vision 101 | Computer Vision | — | Alvin Wan on Skillshare |
| 15 | Traversy Media | YouTube channel dedicated to delivering beginner-level helpful tech content | Over 2 million subscribers | Brad Traversy |
Didn’t find what you are looking for on this table?
Here are more directories that contain a compilation of the best computer science courses for you to explore:
- Best computer science courses on Coursera
- Best computer science courses on FreeCodeCamp
- Best computer science courses on Alison
- Best free computer science courses on Udacity
- Best free computer science courses on Udemy
- Best free computer science courses on Kaggle
- Best free computer science courses on YouTube
- Best free computer science courses on Skillshare.
Popular FAQs
How can I learn computer courses online for free?
When it comes to studying computer science courses online, your best bet is to learn via MOOCs and open-source platforms that offer free education on tech topics that you love; rather than pay hefty tuition fees at a college.
To learn computer courses online for free, simply register on the top open-source platforms that we have shared in this article.
In addition to those platforms, you can check out Khan Academy, W3Schools, and MIT OpenCourseWare, to name a few.
Life’s a lot easier now because information can now be shared farther and wider than ever before.
Which online computer course is best for beginners?
This question is subject to bias because it largely depends on what you’re looking for.
We’d advise that you take your time to learn about the roadmap and rigors associated with most tech career paths that appeal to you before making a decision.
Some tech careers include:
- Data Science
- Web Development
- UI/UX Design
- App Development
- Software Engineering
- Cloud Computing
- Data Analytics
- Virtual and Augmented Reality, etc.
Do free online courses have value?
Yes, they do. As a matter of fact, speaking from my own experience, most professionals that I have interacted with in the past who now work in the tech ecosystem, claimed that free online computer courses helped them.
If you’re at the early stage of your career, you’ll find beginner-friendly computer courses littered all over the internet. It’s how best you make use of them that counts the most.
Wrapping It Up
The range of free online computer courses available on the internet is vast, providing an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of how computers work.
From basic lessons on how to use common software like Microsoft Word and Excel, to more advanced topics such as programming, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Whether you are looking for computer classes online or a free online computer certification program, you’ll be sure to find the perfect course for your needs.