Top 23+ FREE Best LinkedIn Learning Courses & Certifications
If you are seeking the best LinkedIn Learning courses in 2024, you’re in the right place!
In this guide, I have rounded some of the most popular and beloved free LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda) courses on the platform.
Below, you will find a wide range of classes available from photography, design, digital marketing, business management, programming, HR, AI, accounting, and many more!
Side note: LinkedIn Learning is currently offering a 1-month free trial (that can be canceled anytime) that gives new users access to all 15,000+ courses, certificates, LinkedIn Premium, and CPE credits! So don’t miss out!
Top 23+ Free Best LinkedIn Learning Courses & Certifications 2024
1. Introduction to Graphic Design (LinkedIn Learning)
First on my list is a fantastic graphic design course taught by Adobe Creative Suite Master Tony Harmer, who has over 30 years of experience, more than 160 certifications as an instructor, and is a contributor to the Computer Arts magazine.
So for those looking to learn graphic design from one of the best in the world, this is a great place to start!
Some of the modules included in this free course is an overview of the creative process, research, ideation, layouts, composition, typography, and how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Close to 100,000 students have viewed this on-demand video class which also comes with quizzes, a class project, supporting files, and a certificate of completion. Overall, a great introduction to graphic design!
- Beginner level
- Over 4 hours on demand video
- Taught by Adobe Master
- Class project
- Covers popular Adobe programs
- Certificate of completion
2. Are You Ready To Become a Business Owner? (LinkedIn Learning)
Part of a larger series of beginner-level courses on Entrepreneurship Foundations, this introductory on-demand video course is taught by Kim Kaupe, who is a well-known author and entrepreneur, and co-founder of The Bright Ideas Only.
Course modules include the important steps of deciding on a company plan, the monetary considerations of start-up, marketing, self-management, how to actually launch your new business, and many other valuable lessons.
Additional course files are included in the class for you to do practice exercises, as well as important information for future learning. Over 32,000 have taken this class which consistently earns high reviews from LinkedIn Learning members.
So if you are looking for a crash course into entrepreneurship and business, this is a great place to start!
- Beginner level
- 1 ¼ hour
- Instructor is a successful entrepreneur
- Downloadable resources
- Part of a larger series
- Certificate of completion
3. Digital Marketing Trends (LinkedIn Learning)
Over 111,000 have taken this entry-level course on digital marketing which is updated on a monthly basis. So for those seeking relevant and up to date trends on digital marketing in 2024, you can’t go past this course.
Your instructor for this class is Martin Waxman, who teaches social media and digital strategy at McMaster University, the Schulich School of Business, and Seneca College. Martin has also successfully set up several PR firms and currently runs his own digital communication business.
Some of the lessons covered in this ever-evolving class include mobile platforms, utilizing video, AI, social media apps and their ads, data, SEO, voice search, privacy, and many more.
As this is an ongoing course that is updated monthly, there, unfortunately, is no certificate of completion. But if you are seeking current digital marketing trends, you can’t go wrong!
- Beginner level
- 2 hours
- Bi-weekly continuing series
- Taught by online marketing expert college instructor
- Updated continuously
- Over 111,000 viewers
4. Logo Design: Techniques (LinkedIn Learning)
If you want to find what goes into creating a memorable logo, this is your class! Graphic designer Nigel French takes you through the steps in this intermediate level 4 ½ hour course on what it takes to create a truly great logo.
Nigel French is the author of the Adobe Press book InDesign Type: Professional Typography with Adobe InDesign and has over 20 years of experience in working with large and small companies for their graphic design needs. So you will be in capable hands.
Class modules cover type variables, using simple shapes, advanced techniques, special effects, colors, and reverse engineering what has made some of the most iconic logos in the past.
20,000 LinkedIn Learning/ Lynda students have taken this free course which includes extra resources and a downloadable class project. A certificate of completion is also included!
- Intermediate level
- 4 ½ hours
- Taught by a leading graphic designer
- Downloadable resources
- Class project
- Certificate of completion
5. Applied Machine Learning: Algorithms (LinkedIn Learning)
Data scientist Derek Jedamski teaches this class which is part of the Applied Machine Learning beginner level series.
This class builds on the foundation students can learn from his other classes that take you through several examples of algorithms, showing how to choose them and what they do in the real world.
Course topics are a review of the foundations of machine learning, logistic regression, support vector machines (SVM), multi-layer perceptron, random forest, and boosting.
Also included in this training are downloadable resources, class projects, and a certificate of completion. You can now join 25,000 other students who have also enrolled and completed this course!
- Beginner level
- 2 ½ hours
- Class project
- Taught by data scientist
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
6. Photography Foundations: Mobile Photography (LinkedIn Learning)
Photography with smartphones is the subject of this beginner level 1 ½ hour course. Your tutor is Ben Long, senior editor at Macworld and long time professional photographer, teacher, and author.
What makes this course unique from its counterparts is that it focuses only on mobile/smartphone photography that is accessible to almost anyone with a modern-day smartphone.
Class topics include foundational topics such as the exposure triangle, depth of field, white balance, composition, RAW files, black and white, adding lenses, and the list goes on!
If you are looking to become a photographer, social media manager, or simply take better photos for Instagram, this is an outstanding introductory course!
- All levels
- 1 ½ hours
- Taught by a professional photographer
- Specific for smartphone photography
- Accessed on your own smartphone
- Certificate of completion
7. Advertising on Facebook (LinkedIn Learning)
Next on my list of best LinkedIn Learning courses is a beginner level class that will show you how to maximize Facebook ads for multiple different business uses.
Your instructor is viral marketing strategist Megan Adams, whose own business is creating successful online and social media marketing campaigns.
Class modules include Facebook ads overview, how Facebook ads work, creating Facebook ads, viewing and understanding the data from ad campaigns, Facebook pixels, and the best practices to implement.
The class is 1 ½ hours of on-demand video and has been seen by 16,000 students and is considered one of the leading Facebook ad courses in 2024.
- Beginner level
- 1 ½ hours
- Taught by viral marketing strategist
- Discusses Facebook ads specifically
- Part of a larger series by the same author
- Certificate of completion
8. AWS: Networking (LinkedIn Learning)
For those seeking skills or a career in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and how to utilize a secure cloud infrastructure, LinkedIn Learning has got you covered!
Your instructor for this 3-hour course is Sharif Nijim, who is a teaching professor of undergraduate and graduate courses in business analytics and information technology at the University of Notre Dame. His instruction expertise includes cloud computing, analytics, and enterprise architecture.
Course modules are AWS network foundations, virtual private cloud (VPC), VPC security, VPC peering, transit gateway, Route 53, and more!
While this course was released in early 2024, it has already attracted over 2,000 students who have also received their certificate of completion!
- Intermediate level
- 3 hours
- Specifically covering cloud networking
- Taught by university professor
- Brand new course
- Certificate of completion
9. Critical Thinking for Better Judgment and Decision-Making (LinkedIn Learning)
Here we have an advanced 1-hour course for team leaders, strategists, and business owners on how to make better decisions for their companies.
Author Becki Saltzman, the founder of Applied Curiosity Lab, helps you to identify and remove self biases and rules of thumb in order to help you make truly informed decisions that will benefit your company or home business.
Course modules include critical thinking, strategic thinking, minimizing bad judgment, improving decision quality, common fallacies, and fostering curiosity.
There are also quizzes, downloadable resources, and a certificate of completion available. Overall, a concise and value-packed course!
- Advanced level
- 1 hour
- Taught by business strategist
- Quizzes
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
10. Leadership Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
In just 40 minutes of on-demand video, you’ll learn how to become a better leader in the business world and be able to influence and develop others to reach their full potential.
Your instructor for this free course is Dr. Shirley Davis who is an expert in workforce management and is a keynote speaker for leadership and business management seminars.
Dr. Davis brings her years of experience to the table and will teach you how to build and maintain trust, address difficult situations, how to communicate properly, fundamentals of leadership, leadership skills, and how to evolve as a leader.
In total, 40,000 LinkedIn Learning students have enrolled in this course and is highly rated!
- Beginner level
- 40 minutes on-demand video
- Taught by workforce management professional
- Downloadable resources
- Quizzes
- Certificate of completion
11. Photoshop 2024 Essential Training: The Basics (LinkedIn Learning)
Many beginners and even experienced professional photographers are intimidated by post-processing and image manipulation programs like Photoshop.
So for those looking to conquer Photoshop, this beginner level 6-hour course will turn you from a beginner to a pro in no time!
Your course teacher is Julianne Kost, who is an instructor and consumer relationship guru at Adobe Systems, the developer of Photoshop and Lightroom.
Course modules include opening files, customizing the interface, color space, managing layers, cropping, retouching masking, smart filters, and smart objects. Overall, this is a phenomenal course that dives deep into Photoshop but is still attractive for beginners.
- Beginner level
- 6 ¼ hours
- Taught by Adobe instructor
- Downloadable files
- Class project
- Certificate of completion
12. Creating Online Video with the iPhone (LinkedIn Learning)
Apple iPhones are potent business tools, especially when you consider the photographic and video capabilities of these smartphones. This 2-hour beginner-level course will teach you the fundamentals of videography and how to apply them specifically to using iPhones.
The instructor is Nick Harauz, a certified trainer for Adobe, Apple, Avid, and also a professional filmmaker and videographer.
Class topics include frame rates, framing, aspect ratios, exposure, focus, portable lighting, slow motion, post-production, and uploading to social media and other websites.
In total, Over 13,000 have enrolled and it comes with a certificate of completion.
- Beginner level
- 2 hours
- Includes iPhone 11
- Taught by Apple-certified trainer
- Accessible on mobile devices
- Certificate of completion
13. Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping (LinkedIn Learning)
An essential skill in any business is bookkeeping. This 1 ½ hour beginner level course is taught by Earl Kay Stice and Jim Stice, professors of accounting at BYU and members of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In this class, you will be taught financial statements, balance sheets, debt and credit, transactions, ledgers, and the accounting cycle from two industry professionals.
Another benefit of this course is that it qualifies for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and comes with its own certificate of completion.
Overall, a great introduction to accounting and bookkeeping!
- Beginner level
- 1 ½ hour
- Taught by university professors
- Qualifies for CPE credit from NASBA
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
14. Cryptocurrency Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
Next on my list is an introductory Cryptocurrency course that covers digital currency and its rapid growth and its legitimacy. Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Ph.D. is the instructor for this 1-hour beginner level course discussing the basics for proper understanding and use of technologies such as Bitcoin.
Some of the course modules cover blockchain, creating a cryptocurrency, ICO fundamentals, and mining cryptocurrency.
Eligible for CPE from NASBA, this course also has quizzes, project files, and a certificate of completion. Over 15,000 have taken this class as of 2024.
- Beginner level
- 1 hour
- Eligible for CPE from NASBA
- Discusses blockchain and BitCoin
- Taught by a cryptocurrency developer
- Certificate of completion
15. Understanding Capital Markets (LinkedIn Learning)
Capital markets such as stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, currencies, and other commodities can be an overwhelming topic. This 1-hour beginner-level course will help you navigate the multiple mazes in the world of high finance.
For this course, you will be lead by Michael McDonald, a professor of finance at Fairfield University, and also specializes in programming languages such as SAS, Stata, Python, R, and SQL in order to create financial analysis tools.
Course modules include the US stock market, international markets, mutual funds, bonds, commodities, and how to use current programs to analyze trends and risks.
This course qualifies for CPE from NASBA credits, includes quizzes and downloadable projects, and comes with a certificate of completion. Join 26,000 students who have enrolled in this free course!
- Beginner level
- 1 hour
- Taught by university professor
- Eligible for CPE from NASBA
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
16. SQL Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning)
SQL is a database language used in many different applications used to manage relational databases and database-driven applications. This beginner-level 3-hour course is taught by programming expert Bill Weinman.
Course topics include database organization, rows, columns, tables, sorting and filtering, accessing tables with JOIN, using strings, aggregate functions, and CRUD functions.
The course comes with extra resources and a certificate of completion. Over 51,000 students have enrolled.
- Beginner level
- 3 hours
- Taught by programming expert
- 51,000 students
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
17. HTML Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning)
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the cornerstone of web-based applications and communication. HTML is used to allow computers and users to communicate properly across many different platforms.
Taught by developer and programmer Jen Simmons, this beginner-level course is just a little under 3 hours of on-demand video instruction.
Class contents include the role of HTML, syntax and code, formatting and debugging HTML, URL paths, using media, building tables, and HTML specifications.
It comes with downloadable resources and a certificate of completion.
- Beginner level
- 2 ¾ hours
- Taught by computer programmer
- Downloadable resources
- Over 10,000 students
- Certificate of completion
18. Management Tips (LinkedIn Learning)
Management is a tricky job. Stuck between the workers and the bosses, managers have to navigate a difficult job with sometimes difficult parties on either or both sides. This intermediate-level course covers these areas in detail, giving you the tools to be a successful manager.
Taught by author and educator Dr. Todd Dewett, Ph.D., this course is 8 hours of managerial training. Close to 150,000 students have enrolled.
Course modules cover management tips, fixing problems, developing executive presence, earning respect, working with difficult bosses and employees, and personal ethics.
Students will also be eligible for CPE credit from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
- Intermediate level
- 8 hours
- Eligible for CPE from PMI
- Taught byPh.D.D educator
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
19. DevOps Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
DevOps describes the collaboration between software engineers (Dev) and IT professionals (Ops). Open communication allows for more efficient use of all available resources.
Taught by software security engineer James Wickett and head of engineering Ernest Mueller who has collaborated in DevOps for several years. Their 3-hour course is beginner level and has been taken by over 150,000 students.
Course modules include DevOps principles, building blocks of DevOps, infrastructure automation, and engineering reliability.
- Beginner level
- 3 hours
- Taught by engineer/developers
- 150,000 students enrolled
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
20. Management Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
Exactly what is management? If you are a first time manager, this beginner level short course will teach you the basics you need to build on later with more training and experience.
It is taught by leadership expert and management consultant Kevin Eikenberry. In the 46 minutes of on-demand video, you will cover a lot and it even includes 5 different quizzes.
Course modules include communication, compliance, commitment, goals, performance, delegation, and how to handle meetings which are the bane of some manager’s existence.
Over 10,000 students have enrolled and the class comes with a certificate of completion.
- Beginner level
- 46 minutes on-demand video
- Taught by management consultant
- Quizzes
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
21. 32 Ways To Make Extra Money (LinkedIn Learning)
In 2 ½ hours, entrepreneur Chris Guillebeau shows viewers several very workable ideas of how to make money. It’s a beginner level course and includes downloadable resources and a certificate of completion.
Course topics include selling interesting products, how to market services like photography and tours, reselling, Amazon fulfillment, YouTube, affiliate marketing, and computer programming.
It includes quizzes and a certificate of completion for over 32,000 students.
- Beginner level
- 2 ½ hours
- 32 real ideas
- Downloadable resources
- Taught by successful entrepreneur
- Certificate of completion
22. CSS Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning)
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a language closely related to HTML that allows you to control the appearance of your webpages. Taught by front end developer Christina Truong, this 4 ½ hour beginner-level course gives you the basics and a whole lot more.
Course modules include getting started with CSS, optimizing images, values and units, selectors, the box model, layouts, and media queries.
There are downloadable resources, a certificate of completion, and has been viewed by 23,000 students.
- Beginner level
- 4 ½ hours
- Taught by front end developer
- Downloadable resources
- Class project
- Certificate of completion
23. Build a Small Business Website (LinkedIn Learning)
Having a small business without a website is like riding a horse without a horse. It’s just about impossible in today’s business environment.
It’s 1 ¼ hour long and part of a larger course in Building a Small Business Website with WordPress. Taught by WordPress developer Carrie Dils, this course includes modules on website content, adding images, configuring themes, working with plugins, and making the site go live.
Class includes downloadable resources and a certificate of completion. If you are curious about the differences between Lynda and LinkedIn Learning, you can see my full comparison here and the story behind the change of names.
- Beginner level
- 1 ¼ hour
- Taught by WordPress developer
- Part of a larger WordPress course
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
