Which Online Course Providers Offer Free Trials?

I still remember the first time I signed up for an online course subscription. It was 2 AM, I was motivated by a sudden burst of “I need to learn Python right now,” and I blindly put down my credit card for a year-long plan.

Three weeks later? I hadn’t watched a single video.

That $300 mistake taught me a valuable lesson: always test the water before you dive in.

If you’re looking to upskill—whether it’s coding, graphic design, or just learning how to bake sourdough—you shouldn’t have to pay upfront just to see if the instructor’s voice annoys you. Fortunately, almost every major platform offers some form of a “test drive.” But they don’t all work the same way. Some are genuine free trials; others are “audit” modes hidden behind tiny links; and a few are actually just refund policies dressed up as trials.

Here is the no-nonsense breakdown of who offers what, which buttons to click, and how to avoid getting charged for a subscription you forgot to cancel.

The “Big Three” Career Platforms

If you are looking for professional certificates or serious career pivots, you are likely looking at Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy. They all have trials, but the rules vary wildly.

1. Coursera

The Offer: 7-Day Free Trial (for Coursera Plus) OR “Audit Mode” (Unlimited)

Coursera is a bit tricky. They really want you to sign up for “Coursera Plus“—their subscription model that gives you access to thousands of courses. This comes with a 7-day free trial. You get everything: graded assignments, certificates, and unlimited access.

The Trap: Many people think the 7-day trial is the only way to see a course for free. It’s not.

The “Audit” Loophole: If you just want the knowledge and don’t care about the piece of paper (the certificate), you can often “Audit” the course for free.

How to find it: Click on an individual course (not a Specialization). Click “Enroll for Free.” Look for a tiny link at the bottom of the pop-up that says “Audit the course.”
What you miss: No graded homework, no certificate. But the video content is exactly the same.

2. LinkedIn Learning

The Offer: 1-Month Free Trial

Formerly Lynda.com, this platform is fantastic for business and software skills. Their trial is one of the most generous—a full 30 days.

The Good: It connects directly to your LinkedIn profile. When you finish a course during the trial, you can post the badge immediately.
The Bad: You absolutely must provide a credit card. If you forget to cancel on day 29, you will be charged.

3. Udemy

The Offer: 7-Day Free Trial (Personal Plan only)

Udemy used to be a marketplace where you bought single courses for $10. They still do that, but they are pushing their “Personal Plan” subscription hard. This subscription has a 7-day free trial.

A Quick Warning: Not every course on Udemy is included in the subscription. The subscription includes a curated collection of their “top” 11,000+ courses. If you want a niche course on “Underwater Basket Weaving,” it might not be in the subscription plan, meaning no free trial for that specific content.

The “Library Hack” (What Nobody Tells You)

This is the surprising tip I wish I knew years ago. You might not need a free trial at all. You might already have free, unlimited access right now.

Many public libraries in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia pay for corporate subscriptions to these platforms and give them to library cardholders for free.

Udemy: Look for “Gale Presents: Udemy” on your library’s website.
LinkedIn Learning: Many libraries offer full access (including certificates) if you log in through the library portal with your card number and PIN.

Real-World Example: I recently helped a friend in Ohio access a $40/month LinkedIn Learning subscription for $0 just by logging into his county library website. He didn’t even have to go to the physical branch; he signed up for an e-card online.

Do this next: Open a new tab, search “[Your City] Library online learning,” and see what pops up. You might save hundreds of dollars.

For Creatives & Techies

If you are less “corporate ladder” and more “build cool stuff,” these are the platforms you likely care about.

Skillshare

The Offer: 7-Day Free Trial

Skillshare is the go-to for illustration, design, and lifestyle (productivity, cooking, etc.).

The Standard: 7 days is the norm.
The Promo Code Game: Influencers on YouTube constantly drop “1-month free” links. Before you sign up via the homepage, search YouTube for “Skillshare review [Current Month]” and check the video description for a longer trial link.

Pluralsight

The Offer: 10-Day Free Trial

If you are in IT or coding, Pluralsight is the gold standard. Their trial is slightly weird: it’s 10 days OR 200 minutes of viewing, whichever comes first.

Common Mistake: Binge-watching on 2x speed. Those 200 minutes fly by. Use the trial to assess the quality of the instruction, not to try and cram a whole certification course into a weekend.

Codecademy

The Offer: 7-Day Free Trial (Pro Version)

You can use Codecademy for free forever (Basic plan), but it’s limited. The “Pro” trial unlocks the real projects and career paths.

Is it worth it? Yes, for the “Career Paths.” The free version teaches you syntax (how to write code); the Pro version teaches you how to be a developer (how to build projects).

The “Prestige” Trap: Refunds vs. Trials

This is where things get murky. Some high-end platforms don’t technically offer a free trial; they offer a money-back guarantee.

Why does this distinction matter? Because you have to pay upfront. The money leaves your bank account. If you forget to email them, you don’t just get charged—you stay charged.

MasterClass

The Status: No Free Trial (mostly). MasterClass operates on a 30-day money-back guarantee. You pay the annual fee (usually around $120-$180) immediately. If you don’t like it, you have to email them within 30 days for a refund.

The Exception: If you know someone who is already a member, they can send you a Guest Pass. This gives you 14 days of free access without putting any money down. If you have friends who are into writing or cooking, ask them if they have a spare pass.

Udacity

The Status: No Free Trial for Nanodegrees. Udacity’s “Nanodegrees” are intensive and expensive. They do not have a free trial.

The Policy: You usually have 2 days (sometimes 7 days depending on the region/promo) to cancel for a refund. It is a very tight window.
Free Option: Udacity does have free introductory courses. Search their catalog and filter by “Price: Free.” You won’t get a certificate or project reviews, but you can learn the basics of Java or Data Science without paying a dime.

Summary Checklist

If you are ready to start learning, here is your quick battle plan to avoid paying for things you don’t use:

Check your Library first. (Seriously, do this. It’s free money).
Set a calendar alarm. If you sign up for a 7-day trial on Tuesday, set an alarm for next Monday morning labeled “Cancel Subscription.”
Look for the “Audit” button. On Coursera and EdX, try to audit before you start a trial.
Don’t assume “Satisfaction Guarantee” means “Free Trial.” Read the fine print on when the money leaves your account.

Learning is an investment, but it doesn’t have to be a risky one. Happy studying!

Editor — The editorial team at Skill Upgrade Hub. We research, test, and fact-check each guide and update it when new info appears. This content is educational and not personalized advice.