Top 5 Free Project Management Courses Online (With Certificates)

The best sources of free project management courses are Alison, edX and Coursera. Alison combines a deep online catalogue with complete free access. edX allows many courses to be audited for free, while Coursera has a very large catalogue but generally limits free access to previews or trials.

Getting a certificate for free depends on the provider. Saylor Academy includes free certificates, while OpenLearn provides free statements of participation and selected digital badges. Alison, edX and Coursera generally charge for certificates even when learning materials are available without payment.

Best Free Project Management Courses Online

Free project management courses are available from several large online learning platforms. You can study project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk, leadership and Agile methods without enrolling in a paid degree.

Platform	Course range	Free access	Completion credential
Alison	Large dedicated catalogue	Complete courses	Paid certificate or diploma; free learner record
edX	Large catalogue	Audit access for many courses	Paid verified certificate
Coursera	Very large catalogue	Mostly previews or free trials	Usually requires payment
OpenLearn	Four directly relevant courses	Complete courses	Free statement of participation or selected digital badge
Saylor Academy	Two dedicated courses	Complete courses and final exams	Free course certificate

To rank project management course providers, we gave greatest weight to the number and range of directly relevant courses. We then compared free access, certificate terms, provider reputation and coverage of core project management skills. edX ranks above Coursera because its free audit option is more useful than a preview or trial, while OpenLearn and Saylor Academy rank lower because their project management catalogues are small.

1. Alison

Alison has one of the largest dedicated catalogues of project management courses. You can enrol, study and complete the assessments without paying.

An official digital or printed certificate must normally be purchased. Learners who do not buy one can still use their free Learner Record or Learner Achievement Verification as evidence of completion.

Project management courses

• Diploma in Project Management – examines project analysis, planning, design, evaluation and management methods.
• Diploma in Project Management in Practice – addresses project selection, initiation, procurement, scheduling, budgets, resources and control.
• Diploma in Modern Project Management – explains project phases, management documents, Gantt charts, PERT charts and project evaluation.
• Fundamentals of Project Management – introduces project phases, project teams, documentation, tools and risk management.
• Project Management’s Fundamentals – examines project management practices and the tools used to manage projects.
• Project Management in Practice – Planning, Scheduling and Resource Management – deals with schedules, project costs, budgets, risk and resource allocation.
• Agile Project Management – explains Agile principles, teams, project planning, execution and progress reporting.

Best for: A wide choice of fully accessible courses at introductory and intermediate levels.

2. edX

edX has a broad project management catalogue developed by universities, companies and international organisations. Many individual courses can be audited without payment.

Free auditing normally provides access to the learning materials but not a verified certificate. Assessments, graded work and the length of free access can also differ between courses.

Project management courses

• Introduction to Project Management – Adelaide University course introducing the principles and tools used to plan and manage projects.
• Risk Management for Projects – Adelaide University course on identifying, assessing and responding to project risks.
• Project Management Principles – University of Maryland, College Park course examining key project methods, concepts and roles.
• Agile and Scrum Fundamentals – IBM course introducing Agile methods, Scrum roles and iterative project delivery.
• Project Management for Development – Inter-American Development Bank course for government, community and social development projects.
• Project Management Life Cycle – Rochester Institute of Technology course covering project initiation, planning, execution and closure.
• Best Practices for Project Management Success – Rochester Institute of Technology course on project methods, organisational support and leadership.

Best for: A broad university and industry catalogue with free audit access for many courses.

3. Coursera

Coursera has one of the largest project management catalogues. Universities and companies including Google, IBM and Microsoft contribute courses and multi-course programs.

Free access is less consistent than on Alison or edX. Depending on the course, you may receive a preview or a limited free trial. Certificates and continued access to complete courses and professional certificate programs normally require payment.

Project management courses

• Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management – University of Virginia course on planning, scheduling, stakeholder analysis and risk.
• Project Management: The Basics for Success – University of California, Irvine course combining project management and team leadership.
• Managing Project Risks and Changes – University of California, Irvine course on risk prioritisation, communication and change control.
• Foundations of Project Management – Google course introducing project roles, responsibilities, life cycles and management methods.
• Introduction to Project Management – IBM course examining project careers, responsibilities, methods and industry trends.
• Project Management Fundamentals – Microsoft course introducing project processes, methodologies, planning and execution.

Best for: The deepest selection from major universities and employers, although most options are not fully free.

4. OpenLearn

OpenLearn is the free learning platform operated by the Open University in the United Kingdom. Its project management catalogue is smaller than those of Alison, edX and Coursera, but the courses are fully available without tuition fees.

Registered learners receive a free statement of participation after completing eligible courses. Some courses also award a free digital badge. These credentials confirm course completion but are not equivalent to a university qualification or professional certification.

Project management courses

• Project management: the start of the project journey – introduces project proposals, feasibility studies, planning and the people involved in project decisions.
• Project governance and Project Management Office (PMO) – explains project governance, sponsors, project boards and the services provided by a project management office.
• Managing virtual project teams – examines team selection, responsibility allocation and the management of remotely located project teams.
• Risk management – examines risk identification, assessment, internal controls, enterprise risk and project risk management.

Best for: A small university-produced collection with free evidence of completion.

5. Saylor Academy

Saylor Academy has two dedicated project management courses. Both are self-paced and provide free access to the course materials, assessments and final exams.

You receive a free course completion certificate after passing the required final exam. The certificates also display course hours and continuing education units.

Project management courses

• BUS402: Introduction to Project Management – examines project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure.
• BUS605: Strategic Project Management – a graduate-level course dealing with project methods, organisational strategy, portfolios and the delivery of business value.

Best for: Two substantial self-paced courses with completely free certificates.

Are Free Project Management Certificates Useful?

A course certificate can demonstrate that you have studied project planning, risk, budgeting or another relevant subject. It may support a resume when combined with work experience and examples of projects you have helped deliver.

Platform certificates are not equivalent to professional credentials such as those awarded by the Project Management Institute. They also do not replace an accredited diploma or university degree.

Note: You can study accredited online diplomas in project management and master’s degrees in project management. Accredited programs charge tuition fees.