List
5 free certificates you can add to your resume, and how to get each one
The short version
Five certificates and badges you can earn without paying: Google's Introduction to Generative AI, HubSpot Academy's Digital Marketing, GitHub Foundations (the $99 exam is free for verified students through a voucher), Anthropic's Claude 101 and IBM SkillsBuild's Cybersecurity Fundamentals. Time, cost and steps for each are below.
| Course | Time | Cost | You get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google, Introduction to Generative AI | About 45 minutes | Free on the no-cost Starter plan | A Google badge |
| HubSpot Academy, Digital Marketing Certification | About 3 hr 24 min, 8 quizzes | Free, with a free account | A certificate |
| GitHub Foundations (exam GH-900) | 100-minute exam | $99; free voucher for verified students | A certification |
| Anthropic, Claude 101 on Claude Academy | 13 lessons, about 2.5 hours | Free, with a free Claude account | A completion badge |
| IBM SkillsBuild, Cybersecurity Fundamentals | About 7.5 hours | Free | A digital credential on Credly |
How to get each one
- Google. On Google Skills, search the course name and sign in with a Google account. About 45 minutes, free on the no-cost Starter plan, it ends with a Google badge.
- HubSpot Academy. Open the Digital Marketing Certification course and make a free account. About 3 hr 24 min and 8 quizzes, with a certificate at the end.
- GitHub Foundations. The exam is $99. Verified students: open the DataCamp offer in the GitHub Student Developer Pack, finish the GitHub Foundations learning path, and DataCamp emails you a free exam voucher (it can take up to two weeks).
- Anthropic. Claude 101 on Claude Academy. A free Claude account, 13 lessons, about 2.5 hours and a quiz, then a completion badge.
- IBM SkillsBuild. Cybersecurity Fundamentals is free and takes about 7.5 hours. Score 80% or higher on the final assessment to get the badge on Credly.
Why not Google AI Essentials or Claude Certified Architect?
Both are widely shared as free, and neither is. Google AI Essentials costs $49 a month in the US and Canada after a 7-day trial, and Coursera issues the certificate only after the first payment. The Claude Certified Architect exam costs $125 and is open only to members of the Claude Partner Network, not to an individual student.
One certificate won't get you an offer on its own. It shows you've started.
Questions people also ask
Is GitHub Foundations really free?
The exam costs $99 (regional pricing may apply). Verified students can get a one-time voucher through the GitHub Student Developer Pack, via DataCamp's GitHub Foundations learning path.
Do these certificates expire?
It differs. GitHub's page says the Foundations certification does not require renewal, and also shows 24 months of validity; I haven't checked the others for expiry, so look at each course page.
Does the Claude 101 badge go on LinkedIn?
Claude Academy's page calls it a completion badge and doesn't say it can be shared on LinkedIn, so I only say you finish with a badge.
Which one should I start with?
Pick the one closest to the job you want: Digital Marketing for marketing roles, GitHub Foundations for software, Cybersecurity Fundamentals for security. The shortest, Google's course, takes about 45 minutes.
Sources
- Google Skills: Introduction to Generative AI
- Google Skills: plans, Starter no-cost
- Grow with Google: Google AI Essentials
- Coursera: Google AI Essentials
- Coursera Help: free trials and certificates
- HubSpot Academy: Digital Marketing Certification
- GitHub: GitHub Foundations certification
- GitHub: certifications and FAQ
- Anthropic: Claude Certified Architect, Foundations
- Anthropic: four role-based Claude certifications
- Claude Academy: Claude 101
- IBM SkillsBuild: digital credentials
- Credly: IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Other companies’ features and prices change. Every statement about them rests on these pages, as they read on the date above.