12 Websites to Learn New Skills for Free with World-class Certificates

Abas Obot

19 Feb, 2025

Acquiring new skills and improving oneself through continuous learning is becoming a necessity. This is because every year, new innovations, inventions and ideas come to live. Failure to follow along with the modern trends in technology, education and skills would lead to being left behind. Besides, most organizations have deployed practical approach in their recruitment process that requires applicants to truly know how to do their job. We are no longer in the past era where it was all about certificate without practical know-how.

Websites to Learn New Skills and Obtain World-class Certificates

Beside formal employment, skillset can enable you to advance your career, become a professional or start a business that can transform to a bigger venture with time. You can even make money from your skills as a side hustle. Skills also boost your value in the job market, enable you to have financial independence, and contribute to the collective progress of your society.

The good news is that one does not even need to get to the university, technical institutions or collages before one can acquire new skills, obtain certificates or high degrees like BSc and masters. The internet has made it very easy for anyone to learn anything from anywhere at any time.

The internet is the knowledge bank of the modern world, and data the oil that powers the bank. Once you have access to electricity and devices like the mobile device that can be connected to the internet, you can learn anything.

Websites for Formal Education and Career Advancement

These websites and online learning platforms offer academic and professional courses that are widely accepted globally. Some provide degree programs, professional certificates and diploma in collaboration with top universities.

1. Alison

Alison is an online learning platform that offers mostly professional certificates and accredited diploma courses. The organization is located in Ireland; and has remained one of the top platforms for free courses across different fields. Alison takes the top spot on this list for one reason: it is one of the few skills learning websites that users can learn anything at convenience and for free. Alison only charges for certificates which are mostly subsidized through seasonal promos. Start leaning on Alison for free and receive globally recognized professional certifications.

2. Coursera

Coursera is one of the largest and most popular platforms on the internet to access free and cheap formal education. The organization partner with top universities around the world to offer its education services. You can take courses, specialized programs, even obtain full degrees on Coursera. Upon completing your course, you stand a chance to receive certificates that are recognized globally.

3. Edx

Edx is another top only platform to learn and obtain certified formal education. Top universities like the MIT, Berkeley and Harvard are Edx partners. However, Edx focuses mostly on courses in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Meanwhile, Edx certification may require paying money, but more affordable than physical classes.

4. Audacity

This website offers tech-related courses that are relevant to any industry of your interest. You can learn digital skill such as coding, data analysis and many more. Audacity also offers nanodegree programs. Most of their course programs come in partnership with top tech companies which means that learning on Audacity means gaining the needed practical experience to excel in your career.

5. FutureLearn

FutureLearn promotes social and collaborative learning. They offer a wide range of courses in collaboration with universities and organizations. You can obtain BSc, diploma and online master's degree through FutureLearn. The platform also allows users to select courses based on intent such as those who need courses for business, agency or personal purposes.

6. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn is a professional social media platform. Although LinkedIn is mainly to help professionals and career aspirers to connect, they also offer courses that can help boost your formal education and skillset. Most courses you can take on LinkedIn focus on creative, business and technological skills. While courses are free on LinkedIn, some courses on LinkedIn Learning may require premium subscription for full access.

Websites for Skill-based Learning and Practical Courses

Websites in this category focus on practical courses that enable you to either start a new career or learn new skills that help boost your personal development journey. You can learn coding, design, languages and creative skills on these platforms. Courses on these websites can land you in highly paying jobs that do not require university degrees.

7. Udemy

When it comes to real-time practical courses like coding, cooking, music and marketing, Udemy is very well-known. Courses on Udemy are handled by individuals who are experts in their fields. Most of these individuals work in collaboration with some organizations to offer training that feels like real-life lecture. Courses on Udemy are structured in a way that enables audience to be practically involved which include engaging in capstone projects.

8. LearnVern

An Indian based online learning platform that offers video courses to users. Most courses on LearnVern are free but you will have to pay for the certificate after completing the course. The only problem you may encounter while using the platform is being able to understand the accents of the lesson tutors as may use Indian accents. However, with their subtitle features, LearnVern is a great option for free courses. You can learn coding, writing and many other skills on LearnVern.

9. Codecademy

You want to learn coding? This platform is a very good option. It allows users to learn coding in any programming language. The coding session is interactive with practical approach. There also guides and resources to help users build projects and master their coding skills.

10. Duolingo

Duolingo offers training for those who want to learn new languages. You can learn and master every standard language through Duolingo. The platforms employ different approaches in training users based on the objective of their language learning. Duolingo also offers globally recognized certificates through their language test program. You would possibly know about Duolingo English test as one of the tests some take to affirm their proficiency in English language.]

11. Khan Academy

Studying on Khan Academy feels like a real-life classroom. The platform is popular for its K-12 focus. K-12 here means kindergarten through 12th grade. The organization focuses on training its users and preparing them prior to college. It also offers personalized learning process that enable students to study at their own page. What all these means is that even if you have never found yourself in school your entire life, you can master any subject say Mathematics, Science, Coding and many more through Khan Academy.

12. Skillshare

Skillshare focuses on courses and programs on creative skills. If you need courses in creative writing, design, photography and animations, this is a great choice for you. You can also learn tech skills relating to tech, business and lifestyle on Skillshare. They also feature a shop where users can buy creative works like art. Therefore, you can learn while shopping. Unfortunately, their programs are not free.

Abas Obot

Abasiama Akpan (pen name: Abas Obot) is a creative writer who aims to inspire, inform and educate his audience. His major focus is on human capital development, forged by his educational background, passion, experience, and personal objectives. Interested in writing, coding and biotechnology. Co-founder: Inspired Scoop. Social handles @Abasdgreat , facebook twitter instagram linkedin email

12 Websites to Learn New Skills for Free with World-class Certificates