For each platform, we explain what it offers, whether the certificate is free and how to enroll.
Quick summary
| Platform | Classes | Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| FUN-MOOC | free | free certificate on many courses |
| France Travail | paid by France Travail | depends on the training |
| OpenClassrooms | many free | depends on the plan |
| Coursera | partially free | paid, with financial aid |
| edX | free for a limited time | paid |
| Microsoft Learn | free | free achievements, paid exam |
| Cisco Networking Academy | free | free in introductory courses |
| Udemy | some free | not available in free courses |
| Khan Academy | free | not available |
| Bpifrance Université | free | check in each course |
1. FUN-MOOC
FUN-MOOC is France's public online course platform, created by the Ministry of Higher Education. Courses are taught by universities and major schools, such as Sorbonne, Sciences Po, Inria and Cnam, and are open to anyone.
There are courses in computer science, law, health, environment, management, languages and much more. Most follow a schedule, with start and end dates, and include videos, texts and exercises each week. In many courses, those who achieve the minimum grade on exercises receive a free completion certificate in PDF. Some courses also offer a paid certificate, which includes an exam and identity verification.
How to enroll: create an account with your email, choose the course and click "S'inscrire". If the course has already started, you can still join while enrollments are open.
Official website: fun-mooc.fr ↗
2. France Travail
France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) is not a course platform, but it's the way for job seekers to get free training. If you're registered as a job candidate, France Travail can pay for all or part of your training, including courses with recognized professional certification.
Training courses appear in the site's catalog, with filters by field, city and duration. Many are in-person and some are distance learning. Financing requests are made with your advisor, who assesses whether the training aligns with your professional goals.
People who work or have worked can also use their Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF) balance on the official Mon Compte Formation website. Since 2024 there is a small fixed fee when using CPF, which does not apply to job seekers. Be wary of anyone calling or texting offering "free" courses through CPF: enrollment is only done through the official website.
Official websites: francetravail.fr and moncompteformation.gouv.fr ↗
3. OpenClassrooms
OpenClassrooms is a French online school known for courses in computer science, programming, data, digital marketing, and project management. A large portion of the courses can be read for free, in French, at no cost.
Complete programs that award recognized diplomas are paid, but can be funded by France Travail, CPF, or done through work-study arrangements with salary. The rules for short course completion certificates vary by plan, so check the page for each course before starting.
How to sign up: create a free account, search for the course by name and start learning. Your progress is saved to your account.
Official website: openclassrooms.com ↗
4. Coursera
Coursera brings together courses from universities and companies around the world, like Stanford, Yale, HEC Paris, École Polytechnique, Google, and IBM. Many courses have French subtitles, and some are taught directly in French by French schools.
You can view part of the content for free. To take the assessments and receive a certificate, you typically need to pay for the course or subscription. Those who cannot pay can request financial aid on the course page: if approved, you get full access and the certificate at no cost.
How to sign up: create your account, open the course and choose the enrollment option. For financial aid, click the "Financial aid available" link and fill out the form.
Official website: coursera.org ↗
5. edX
edX was created by Harvard and MIT and brings together courses from over 150 institutions. You can take many courses as an auditor, for free, with access to videos and readings for a limited time.
The verified certificate is paid and also unlocks graded assessments. Even without a certificate, auditor mode is a great way to learn from professors at major universities.
How to sign up: create your account, open the course, and select the free access option when it appears.
Official website: edx.org ↗
6. Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn has hundreds of free modules and learning paths in French covering Excel, Word, Teams, Azure cloud, data analysis with Power BI, security, and artificial intelligence. Each module takes from a few minutes to a few hours.
When you complete the modules, you earn achievements and badges that appear on your public profile, and some practice tests give you a free digital credential. Official Microsoft certifications require a paid exam.
How to sign up: log in with a free Microsoft account, choose your learning path, and get started. No installation needed.
Official website: learn.microsoft.com ↗
7. Cisco Networking Academy
Cisco's academy offers free introductory courses in cybersecurity, networking, Python programming, artificial intelligence, and computer use. Several are available in French and can be completed at your own pace.
In free introductory courses, those who complete the activities receive a certificate of completion and a digital badge that can be shared on LinkedIn. It's one of the few options where the certificate is truly free.
How to sign up: create your account, search for the course in the catalog, and click "Get Started" or "Commencer".
Official website: netacad.com ↗
8. Udemy
Udemy has thousands of paid courses and also a free courses section with up to two hours of video on programming, design, photography, marketing, and productivity. There are free courses available in French and English.
Free courses don't include a certificate of completion or access to instructor Q&A. They're useful for learning the basics of a subject before investing in something more substantial.
How to sign up: filter your search by "Gratuit", open the course, and click "S'inscrire gratuitement".
Official website: udemy.com ↗
9. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization offering free classes in math, science, economics, and computer science in French. It's great for refreshing the basics before a technical course, an exam, or a test.
There's no certificate, but everything is free, ad-free, and your progress is saved to your account.
Official website: fr.khanacademy.org ↗
10. Bpifrance Université
Bpifrance Université is the training platform of France's public investment bank. It offers free online courses for those who want to start a business or are already entrepreneurs: finance, management, sales, export, ecological transition, and digital transformation.
The courses are short, video-based, and can be completed at your own pace. Certificate rules vary from course to course.
How to sign up: create a free account with your email and choose your course.
Official website: bpifrance-universite.fr ↗
Most sought-after fields
Technology and IT
Office Suite, programming, data analysis, networking, and cybersecurity are the fields with the most free courses. To get started, Microsoft Learn and Cisco Networking Academy are good options because they offer achievements or certificates at no cost.
Business and entrepreneurship
Management, finance, digital marketing, and sales are featured on FUN-MOOC, Bpifrance Université, and OpenClassrooms. They're useful for anyone looking to advance in their career or start their own business.
Languages
English, Spanish, and French as a foreign language courses are available on FUN-MOOC, Coursera, and edX. A second language helps in almost every profession.
Health and social care
First aid, nutrition, mental health, and elder care appear in courses from universities and hospitals. To work in the field, however, many professions require a recognized diploma, which can be funded by France Travail.
How to sign up for platforms
None of these platforms ask for a credit card for free courses. If they ask for payment, you're in the paid version of the course or the certificate: go back and look for the free option.
Tips to get more out of it
Set a fixed schedule. Twenty or thirty minutes a day, always at the same time, pays off more than a weekend marathon.
Join the forums. Many courses have a forum to ask questions with other students. Asking and answering helps reinforce the content.
Take notes and write summaries. Writing in your own words what you learned makes it easier during exercises and exams.
Use what you learned. Create a spreadsheet, a small website or a personal project. A practical example goes a long way in a job interview.
Benefits of free online courses
You study on your schedule, from anywhere, without spending on tuition or transportation. You can try different areas until you find one that suits you, and come back to the classes as many times as you want.
Courses also show initiative. Anyone who puts recent courses with a certificate or digital badge on their resume shows recruiters that they stay up to date.
How long each course takes
Microsoft Learn modules take 10 minutes to an hour. Cisco introductory courses are between 6 and 30 hours total. On FUN-MOOC, most last 4 to 8 weeks, with 2 to 4 hours of study per week.
On Coursera and edX, courses usually last 4 to 12 weeks, but many can be completed faster, at your own pace. Training funded by France Travail can last from a few days to several months, depending on the profession.
English courses are also worth it
If you understand a little English, the free catalog is much larger. Coursera, edX, Cisco and Microsoft have thousands of courses in English, many with subtitles in French generated automatically.
Studying in English also trains the language, which helps in tech, tourism, trade and customer service positions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay anything to get started?
No. On all platforms on the list, creating an account and starting a free course costs nothing. Payment only appears if you choose a paid certificate or a course in the paid version.
What's the best platform for those who want a free certificate?
FUN-MOOC, in courses that give a completion certificate, and Cisco Networking Academy, in introductory courses. Microsoft Learn gives free achievements and digital credentials.
Do courses help you get a job?
They help, especially when you put what you learned on your resume and show a practical project. For regulated professions, you need a recognized diploma.
How to check if the certificate is valid
Before you start, read on the course page what you get at the end: completion certificate, digital badge or professional certification. An online course certificate helps your resume, but it's not a diploma.
In France, professional certifications recognized by the State are registered in the RNCP or in the Répertoire spécifique, and these are the ones you can fund through the CPF. If your goal is recognized qualification, look for these training programs through France Travail or Mon Compte Formation.
Also keep an eye on news: platforms launch new courses every month. It's worth saving this page and coming back from time to time.
Informational content. Diario Vagas does not offer courses or issue certificates and has no connection with the platforms mentioned. Registration is always done on each one's official website.