creative writing free online course

11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words

Writing is a much-prized skill and a difficult one to master and, while some are naturally gifted in stringing sentences together, we all need to take the time to learn the craft.

Whether you want to write your first novel , pen a poignant poem, pull together a screenplay, or create better business content, there is a free, online course out there to help. We've rounded up a list of free, online writing courses so you can find the perfect program of study to help you write gooderer.

1. Rhetoric: The art of persuasive writing and public speaking (Harvard X)

This eight-week online writing course is an introduction to the theory and practice of rhetoric, the art of persuasive writing and speech. Using selected speeches from prominent 20th-century Americans — including Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Margaret Chase Smith, and Ronald Reagan — to explore and analyze rhetorical structure and style, this course will teach you when and how to employ a variety of rhetorical devices in writing and speaking.

It also covers how to differentiate between argument and rhetorical technique, how to write a persuasive opinion editorial, and how to evaluate and identify strengths of logical fallacies in arguments.

2. Creative writing: The craft of plot (Wesleyan University)

This short course can be completed in one day and is one of five modules in Wesleyan University's Creative Writing offerings.

In this writing course, aspiring wordsmiths will be introduced to the concept of plot. You will learn what keeps it moving and how it can manipulate readers’ feelings, expectations, and desires. The course examines the choices storytellers make to snag people's imaginations, drag them into a fictional world, and keep them there. You will learn how to outline and structure a plot, discuss narrative arc, pacing and reversals, and reveal the inevitable surprise: connecting the beginning, middle, and end.

3. Business writing techniques (DoaneX)

Do you want an intensive writing course? This class that can take up to eight hours a week for four weeks, but the learning is self-paced so you do have some flexibility. It will help you to study the different communication styles and discuss the best practices of business writing by providing real-world scenarios and applications.

You will examine how to use the six Cs (spoiler: consideration, clarity, conciseness, coherence, correctness, and confidence) to enhance your business messages. This contemporary course also looks at the proper etiquette of business writing, and examines the use of emoji in business communications.

4. Songwriting: Writing the lyrics (Berklee College of Music)

Described as "an invitation to let your inner songwriter step into the sunlight," this online writing class will have you singing a tune (or that's the goal).

If you haven't written any or many songs, it promises to show you an efficient, effective process for tailoring songs to express your ideas and emotions. If you have, you’ll look at your process differently, taking control of aspects of the process you may have not noticed. This course will get you working both lyrically and musically, although it’s not necessary that you either read music or play an instrument — the course offers you a number of musical loops to work with that you can sing your melodies over. During this course you will create lyrics and/or melodies for peer review.

5. Writing successfully for the stage (University of Cambridge)

This course will teach you to structure your dramatic writing to a professional standard, as well as develop professionally transferable communication skills. This course is designed to improve your understanding of how to write engaging and interesting stories in order to attract producers and directors to your work.

You will be taught how to write effective dialogue, and how to edit your work. This course looks at the work of Brecht, Richard Schechner, Augusto Boal, Japanese Noh theatre, and other forms of theatre from around the world.

You will be sent writing exercises over the course of the module, keep a creativity journal, and by the end of the course you will have completed a plan for the structure of a new play.

6. How to write an essay (University of California, Berkeley)

This course is described as an introduction to academic writing, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing. This five-week course includes a review of basic grammar terminology and understanding, writing effective sentences and paragraphs, how to tackle writing introductions and conclusions, strategies for writing longer texts, and thesis statements. The course materials will be offered via readings and videos and you will participate in online discussions. You will complete an essay for this course.

7. Stand up: Comedy writing and performance poetry (University of Cambridge)

This course will give you specialized knowledge of histories, forms, and traditions of writing for stand-up comedy/performance poetry, as well as the cultural contexts of innovative practitioners and practices within stand-up comedy/performance poetry. You will study contemporary critical, analytical, and narrative theories of stand-up comedy/performance poetry. It will arm you with detailed understanding of key performance components within the discipline, including ideational sources, body, space, image, sound, text, movement, and environment. This course aims to develop advanced self-management skills to include working in planned and improvisatory ways, as well as the ability to anticipate and accommodate change, ambiguity, creative risk-taking, uncertainty, and unfamiliarity.

8. Memoir and personal essay: Write about yourself (Wesleyan University)

This course will teach you "how to write about yourself … so that someone else wants to read it." This is the heart of this specialization in memoir and personal essay from Wesleyan University.

You will get tips, prompts, exercises, readings, and challenges to help you imagine, construct, and write compelling pieces of non-fiction's most popular form: the personal narrative. Coursera says learners will develop a toolset to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and write the story of their life. As a result of taking this course, you will collect a portfolio of work that you can use as components of your memoir or essay.

9. Screenwriting: Building your Screenplay (University of Cambridge)

This course will teach you how to build a screenplay and the ins and outs of becoming a professional screenwriter. It's an intermediate course that requires no previous knowledge of screenwriting. The course will focus on visual storytelling, screenplay structure, and character development and how those work together to convey the central meaning of your work. It will also teach you concrete skills like script-editing, time management, and how to work as a screenwriter. In addition you will gain knowledge the history of film and film theory.

10. Become a journalist: Report the news (Michigan State University)

This course is a specialization that's part of a journalism study program from Michigan State University that's designed to develop and enhance your understanding of the global field of journalism.

You'll learn best practices and ethical standards for news gathering processes and compiling a news report through hands-on projects, peer-to-peer feedback, and issue exploration. You will also study journalism's impact on societal issues and trends, plus explore career opportunities in newspapers, magazines, social media, Internet multimedia, television, radio, corporate, and community journalism.

11. Write your first novel (Michigan State University)

This is a beginner level 26-week course that will guide you through the process of writing your first novel. The course boasts that you will leave the class with a 50,000 page manuscript. By breaking down the writing process and providing you with deadlines, the course can help make writing a novel a less daunting pursuit. It even schedules writing breaks for you. Additionally, the course will provide you with the space for peer review.

This post was originally published in April 2021 and was updated in January 2022.

Additional reporting by Elena Cavender.

Amy-Mae is a freelance writer covering tech at Mashable.

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74 Best Free Creative Writing Classes in 2024

Showing 74 courses that match your search.

Writing a Resume For Success

Kansas City Public Library

Applying for college or a new job is a daunting task, but having a good resume can alleviate some of the stress. In this class, gather tips and guidelines on how best to showcase your skills.

Website: https://kclibrary.org/blog/library-launches-online-writin...

Categories: Free

Start date:

Open all year round

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Story Writing: How to Build Background With Imagery and Setting

This class is all about writing sensory descriptions and creating a sense of place in writing fiction. Discover how descriptive language can help ground your reader and create thought-provoking imagery that adds to the tone and intrigue of your story.

Website: https://kclibrary.org/calendar/story-writing-how-build-ba...

April, 2024

(Re)writing as Therapy

One of the most potent powers of writing is its ability to remold the past. In this class, we’ll use writing to explore past events, discovering how imagination can reframe good or bad times. You’ll even have the opportunity to literally rewrite a past event if you’d like.

Website: https://kclibrary.org/calendar/rewriting-therapy-0

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →

Writing the First Feature Film Treatment Toolkit

UCLA Extension

Learning to write a screenplay is a process, and to do it well can take years of practice. Boil down your story into a short pitch and then expand that into a complete treatment for a feature-length script.

Website: https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/screenwr...

Hard Times Writing Workshop

Jefferson County Public Library

This workshop offers a supportive environment for adults to process life experiences through storytelling. It's a free and open weekly writing workshop.

Website: https://jeffcolibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/656ea59208...

Writing Mysteries & Thrillers

Writing Adventures

Step into the world of suspense with our "Mysteries and Thrillers" class. Delve into writing mysterious and thrilling narratives, creating enchanting plots, eerie characters, and ingeniously hidden clues.

Website: https://www.hisawyer.com/writing-adventures/schedules/act...

Improv + Scene Writing

"Improv + Scene Writing" merges comedy, performance, and writing in a dynamic one-hour class. Enhance your skills in plot crafting, character development, pacing, and comedic timing, all while collaborating and performing with peers.

Electrifying Creative Writing

"Electrifying Creative Writing," our standout course, promises to ignite your creative spark like never before. Explore a diversity of themes and genres, embarking on a year-long adventure that empowers you to find and develop your own writing style and talents.

Advanced Writing Essentials

"Writing Essentials" redefines your approach to essays. Move beyond traditional structures and dull topics, embracing a journey to discover your unique writing talents and style. Write about what truly matters to you within a nurturing and social writing community.

Writers Room Experience

Writers Room

This experiential studio class, led by instructor Lauren Lowe, focuses on developing an understanding of the self in relation to the world. It emphasizes building community and working towards a more equitable world through writing and sharing stories​​.

Website: https://www.writersroomdrexel.org/courses

Blackout Poetry Workshop

Willoughby City Library

This workshop focuses on creating stories and poetry through the technique of blackout poetry, where a page of text is blacked out except for a few select words, creating a new story from the existing text. It's an interactive and fun approach to creative writing. The workshop is held at The Creator Space, Chatswood Library, and materials are provided for participants. The workshop is free of charge and scheduled for a specific date and time.

Website: https://libraries.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Eventbrite/Blacko...

Ignite Your Creative Spark Workshop

Randwich City Library

This workshop, facilitated by Author and Artist Sue Liu, is designed to help participants reignite their creativity. It is a powerful and practical workshop for those feeling blocked or stuck for inspiration. The workshop, which is held at the Lionel Bowen Library, Maroubra NSW, encourages attendees to find their unique way of self-expression. Participants are advised to bring a pen for the session.

Website: https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/library/library-events/li...

How to choose a free creative writing class

Looking to build your writing skillset, learn more about your genre, or finally finish that book you’ve been working on? You’re in the right place. That’s why we built this directory of the best creative writing courses.

However, creative writing classes aren’t one size fit all. If you’re planning to join a free writing class in particular, you’ll want to make sure that it matches what you’re seeking to learn about creative writing.

So make sure to consider the following questions when you’re researching free writing courses:

• Who is the instructor? How many years of experience do they have in creative writing?
• Is there something in particular you’d like to learn about creative writing? Does this course include it?
• How long is the course, and where is it taught?
• Are there any hidden fees advertised in this free creative writing class?

More free creative writing resources

Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on writing a book. 

Free online materials

• Creative Writing Prompts (resource)
• How to Self-Publish a Book (blog post)
• How to Publish a Novel (blog post)
• How to Edit a Book (blog post)

Recommended books

• For writers in the UK:  Writers' & Artists' Yearbook  
• For writers in the US:  Writer’s Market 2020

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Creative Writing Courses and Certifications

Learn Creative Writing, earn certificates with paid and free online courses from University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins, UC Irvine, UC Berkeley and other top universities around the world. Read reviews to decide if a class is right for you.

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Class Central's Top Creative Writing Courses

We've picked the best online courses to learn Creative Writing from the Class Central catalog.

Some courses are concise and get you up to speed in no time, others will be more comprehensive.

Creative Writing

Creative writing: the craft of plot, neil gaiman teaches the art of storytelling, complete creative writing - all genres - the full course, creative writing for all: a 10-day journaling challenge, relato corto de ficción: escribe desde tu experiencia personal, write your book: start strong and get it done, writing: the craft of story, creative writing: crafting personal essays with impact, start writing fiction.

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Learn the craft of plot in creative writing with Wesleyan University's 4-week course. Master narrative arc, pacing, and plot structure to captivate readers.

• 5 hours 50 minutes
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description

In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to the techniques that masters of fiction use to ground a story in a concrete world. From the most realist settings to the most fantastical, writers will learn how to describe the physical world in shar…

• 7 hours 25 minutes

Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

At the center of a good story are the characters in it. In this course aspiring writers will discover how to build and bring to life complex, vivid and unforgettable characters.

• 6 hours 23 minutes

Creative Writing: The Craft of Style

Hone your unique writing style with Wesleyan University's 4-week course. Learn the art of metaphor, imagery, and inventive word choice to enhance your stories.

• 7 hours 44 minutes

Wesleyan University's 26-week course covers three major creative writing genres, offering techniques for crafting plot, character, setting, and style. Includes a capstone project.

• 26 weeks, 1 hour a week
• Paid Course

I'm Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. Learn about plot, wordbuilding, short stories, character, and publishing.

• Free Online Course

Learn to write engaging Fiction, Poetry, Drama, & Creative Non-Fiction and become the successful writer you want to be

• 12 hours 8 minutes

Writing a Book: Creative Writing Skills for Beginners

Writing a Book: Creative writing skills: Novel/Nonfiction book writing: Punctuation: Outlining: Fantasy world building

• 1 day 5 hours 53 minutes

Develop Blockbuster Story Ideas that Sell! (Writing Mastery)

Proven methods to unleash your creativity and brainstorm bestselling, high concept book and movie ideas

Creative Writing: how to write a novel. The full course.

A full creative writing course: create engaging characters, use a 3 act narrative structure and write smart dialogues.

Creative Writing Bootcamp: Start a Brand New Story

Join best-selling author Myla Goldberg in a fun, energetic class to kickstart your writing. Learn to generate ideas, create vivid settings, empathetic villains, engaging dialogues, and develop characters.

• Free Trial Available

Creative Writing Project: Brainstorm Your Story

Kickstart your creative writing journey with this short course focused on brainstorming your story, distinguishing between plot and story, and developing a clear plan for your project.

Creative Personal Writing: Write the Real You

Learn to write from memory with Ashley C. Ford in this short course. Gain skills in self-reporting, recalling forgotten memories, and sharing your experiences. Suitable for all levels.

Creative Writing - Writer's Block Workbook Volume 2 Month 1

Five weeks' worth of keywords to create 100+ new pieces with tips to help your writing ongoing. Plus bonus content.

• 2 hours 21 minutes

Creative Writing - Writer's Block Workbook Volume 1 Month 1

Five weeks' worth of beginnings to create 100+ new pieces with tips to help your writing ongoing. Plus bonus content.

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Start writing fiction

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After studying this course, you should be able to:

• identify strengths and weaknesses as a writer of fiction
• demonstrate a general awareness of fiction writing
• discuss fiction using basic vocabulary.

First Published: 09/08/2012

Updated: 14/05/2018

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7 free online creative writing courses that you can enrol in right now

As a form of expression , a means to escape the reality, and a medium to communicate a larger ideology, the act of writing can serve different purposes. And no matter what your reason to put pen to paper, or keys to screen, these virtual lessons could help you develop the techniques you will require on your creative journey. Here, find out all the free online courses you can join to begin now.

Creative Writing Specialisation

Covering three major creative writing genres—short story, narrative essay and memoir—the course will help you master the techniques of putting your ideas on paper as clearly as possible. So if you’ve been meaning to work some engrossing features in your already existing plot, or better highlight the setting of your story, or simply articulate in a stronger fashion, let this lesson be on your shortlist. In case you’re just starting out, the course is equally rewarding.

Write Your First Novel

Have you been wanting to pen down your thoughts and weave them into a well-written novel? Go for this virtual course where you will learn an end-to-end approach to producing a work of fiction. Through a stepwise process that will culminate in your individual production of a 50,000-word book, the learning course will provide you all the important pointers right from the top.

Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest

Complete with video lectures, online readings, peer reviews and guest appearances from renowned authors, the course will offer an all-inclusive guide to creative writing for students and young aspirers. Apart from that, you will also explore the cultural significance of notable works , analyse the ways in which art and words interact, and become familiar with standard elements of a narrative, that include dialogue, point of view, theme, plot and so on.  

Write A Feature Length Screenplay for Film or Television

Whether your point of interest is serious dramas, romantic comedies or thrillers , the free virtual course will zoom in on every aspect of screenplay writing so you’re able to pursue the genre you want. Following in a well-structured process, you will have produced a pitch-ready script by the time the four-week programme is over. Along with learning how to create a basic idea and write loglines, you will be studying the Three Act Story Arc, and much more.

Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialisation

Here, four published memoirists and essayists let you in on the tricks and tools of writing about yourself. Be prepared for professional tips, prompts, reading challenges and exercises among other interactive activities. Unlike many other courses where you will be producing a large body of work at the completion of the programme, here, you will be constructing a portfolio of work to use as valuable components later.

Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop

These lessons support the school of thought that poetry isn’t just a means of expression. Rather, using it for just that, is like “using the internet just for email”. If you too are willing to think beyond that, and take up the art to bring about a change in people’s thought and ideologies, the course is for you. Learn to use the several tools of poetic composition, study the works of contemporary poets and, of course, try your own hand at the skill.

Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative worlds, emerging technologies, and global audiences

In a world that believes in not just up-skilling, but also cross-skilling, this transmedia course serves to be an extremely well-rounded one. The description on the website states, “Transmedia storytelling is the practice of designing , sharing, and participating in a cohesive story experience across multiple traditional and digital delivery platforms - for entertainment, advertising and marketing, or social change.” So learn to develop expansive narratives and optimise your writing for mobile devices, social media communities, virtual and augmented realities and more.

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Online Courses

Online courses: creative writing.

Stanford Continuing Studies' online creative writing courses make it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford’s writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible. These courses are open to all adults, and we encourage all levels of writers to enroll.

The Crafty Writer's

Creative writing course.

Check out some books by your tutor Fiona Veitch Smith … (click on the book covers to find out more)

Please note: This is a free course but that does not mean you will receive free critiques of your writing. The critiquing service mentioned in the FAQ is separate to this course. I do not give feedback on the exercises. If you would like me to give my professional opinion on your creative writing beyond this course please contact me for a quote. There is a link to these rates on the FAQ page.

And now, back to the fun (and free!) stuff. The creative writing course will cover:

• Releasing your Creativity Explore how to tap into your creativity, and whether you are naturally more inclined towards writing poetry or prose.
• How to write a short story A look at how writing a short story differs from writing a novel, and some tips on short story structure.
• Writing from a point of view (POV) How your choice of first, second or third person POV can have a dramatic effect on how readers engage with your story.
• Bringing your writing to life How to activate your writing and transform it into a sensual experience.
• Writing characters Writing complex, believable characters to inhabit your literary world.
• Writing dialogue Your voice as an author, writing dialogue between characters, use of dialect, and some tips on the mechanics of laying out your text.
• Poetry: how to write poems The basics of writing poetry – lyric versus narrative, structured versus free verse, rhythm and meter.
• Markets, competitions and opportunities How to further develop your writing by joining a writer’s group and entering competitions, and some tips on getting published.

Any questions? Then check out the Frequently Asked Questions page. Otherwise…

>> Click here to get started.

Happy writing!

306 comments on “ Contents ”

I want to write a book about my family’s history and the impact it had on my life good and bad. I want my readers to feel like they were there from the first to last pages. However, I’m having a bit of a bumpy start with describing. Can you help me??

Lauren, if you send me a message through the contact form I can give you a quote for a critique of the opening chapters of your book. That way I will be able to see your strengths and weaknesses and what needs to be improved. However, I suggest you work through this free course first. There is a session on ‘bringing your writing to life’ that I think you will find helpful.

I am looking for a free online creative writing. Course. I have grade 12.

I’m writing about my mother’s infidelity and I’m just starting out. I’m new to writing. Would you like to read it? It’s only several pages long. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Hello Waylan. I can look at your writing, but be aware I will charge you as it is not part of the free course but a separate service. If you would like to proceed with the critique contact me via the message form, telling me how many words you are submitting, and I can tell you how much it will cost.

There’s really something special about the approach here, I don’t know what but it makes me motivated and I don’t want to just rush through the exercises! Really wonderful, not overwhelming, and I really really feel like something is happening.I wish you could teach other teachers. If you had your own in person writing school I would be definitely there!

Hello Mwinji,

Thank you. That is a lovely thing to say. I am first and foremost a writer myself. So in my teaching I look back and ask myself: what do I wish someone had told me when I was first starting out? I’m very glad you are getting something out of the course. Happy writing!

So happy to have found this page! Brand new to taking steps in my writing and am interested in writing picture books. While I am sure that all course material will benefit this, is there anything that deals specifically with this genre? Thanks.

Hi Amanda. You may find this article useful. http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/08/29/writing-for-children-picture-books/

Dear Fiona,

It was a pleasure to go through your website, it has so many useful tips that I have printed out for my reference. I wish to publish my second book , dedicating to my sister in the form of a verse novel. I was very impressed by the books Sonya Sones wrote like “Saving Red” and “Opposite of Innocent”. Can you please send me some tips on how to get started as I have never written a verse novel before.

Hi Sweedle. I’m glad you enjoyed the course. I’m afraid this is all I have for you for free. I can do paid critiques of a work in progress or a finished short story / novel. However, I have never written a verse novel before so would be unable to give you input on that. Good luck with it.

How do I sign in?

You don’t. It’s all available on the website without having to sign in.

Just want to improve my writing better. So ima hoping this course will help. Iam A full time worker and just want to do some improvements with my writing. Just really shy.

Hello- I am interested in going through this class, along with others. I am curious tho I feel like without feedback, I don’t feel that I would be getting sorta “the good, bad, & the ugly” of my writing. For you to actually “grade” or offer feedback on actual or suggested assignments- what would that fee be? Is there an option for more of a traditional instructor led class with instructor participation. Not knowing how my work is fairing or if I am going in the right direction,!would make me crazy. It’s already a short trip. ???? Thanks for the information.

Hi Stacy, I’m afraid I am not able to offer that option for you. I already have too much work on and cannot devote any more time to this course. I’m afraid it is what it is – self-directed and free. There are plenty of paid courses online that will provide that type of feedback you want. I wish you luck finding one that suits you. Fiona.

Hi, Fiona Umm” am really appreciate your devoted time been here to sharing with the world your visualize this your articles are great and specially encourage. I need more of your quotes I guess I can improve my skills and experience being an actor. With love thank you more blessing ????.

I desire to be part of you.

What is the cost?

Hi Jessica, there is no cost.

Hello I want to write a fiction/fantasy book but don’t know where to start. Will this program be beneficial for this genre?

Hi Brandy, This course teaches you good, basic prose writing technique that can be applied to any genre. It won’t teach you how to write a fantasy novel, but it will help you improve your writing style. Happy writing. Fiona x

As far as I know , there are many sites that teach one how to write. I think this is a good one and I am happy with it. Becoming a writer is my utmost aim , but I also know that writing is a tyring process and it needs patience to suceed in. Thank you

I’ve been wanting to write a book (s) fiction and non-fiction got many years. Now that I’m reaching retirement I’m needing to get serious.

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Creative Writing Course Contents

• Releasing your Creativity
• How to write a Short Story
• Writing from a Point of View (POV)
• Bringing your Writing to Life
• Writing Characters
• Writing dialogue
• Poetry: How to Write Poems
• Markets, Competitions and Opportunities

What you have said:

• “Thanks so much for this. Reading is therapeutic for me because I always felt like there was someone out there who thought exactly the same as me and is able to put it in words so much better than I could. I’ve always wanted to do the same which is how I came about finding this course. I’m not really looking to write for a living so it helps that you’re doing this for free…I couldn’t have pursued it as a hobby otherwise;) Thanks!” - Jewelle
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• Online Courses /

10 Free Creative Writing Courses Online with a Certificate 

• Updated on  
• Feb 6, 2024

Anyone can take creative writing courses online. These courses are meant for beginners who want to give a chance to their creative flair. After completing a creative writing course, students can find career opportunities in journalism , editorial, copywriting , blogging, advertising , proofreading, ghostwriting, screenwriting , and book writing. Most of the creative writing courses can be completed in a day or a few weeks. Moreover, they are available free of cost. The virtual lessons cover tips and tricks that can be useful in the creative journey of an individual. Keep reading to learn more about free creative writing courses online. 

This Blog Includes:

Sharpened visions: a poetry workshop, creative writing specialization, national centre for writing online courses , the craft of storytelling, how to write a novel: structure & outline, script writing: write a pilot episode for a tv or web series , skillshare online creative writing classes, oxford online courses in creative writing, start writing fiction, free online creative writing courses, top 10 free creative writing courses online.

Here is a list of the 10 free creative writing courses online. Some of these courses come with certifications and others do not. We have provided the fee details, course level, etc for your reference.

CalArts is offering one of the leading creative writing courses online. This Poetry Workshop covers a total of 6 modules in which students will learn about metaphor and other formulas of difference, abstraction, image, rhyme, rhythm, poetic lines, and revision strategies. The course is meant for beginners and can be completed within 8 hours. A certificate is available. However, payment has to be made for the same.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/poetry-workshop

Check out the top universities for creative writing courses 

Wesleyan University ’s Creative writing course is one of the top creative writing courses online. This is a 5 module series that consists of topics such as Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot, The Craft of Character: The Craft of Setting and Description, Craft of Style, etc. The course ends with a capstone project that students must complete. The course is meant for beginners. The drawback? The certificate is only available post-payment.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/creative-writing

The National Centre for Writing is offering one of the finest creative writing course online. All of these courses are self-paced and can be completed within a short period. Some of the free courses available on this platform are First Steps in Short Form Poetry, New Ways with Short Form Poetry, How to Write Unreliable Narrators, How to Write Young Adult Fiction: Characters and Conflicts, and Writing Science Fiction: World Building. The drawback? These courses do not come with a certificate.

Website: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

The University of Alaska is offering another excellent free creative writing course online. This a 4-week course that helps a student learn to tell stories that the audience wants. The curriculum includes topics such as Finding good stories, Using The “Ice Road Trucker” effect, Building the dramatic arc, Designing story structures, Strategizing delivery, ending the story, etc. The course is self-paced and its audit is available for free.

Website: https://www.edx.org/learn/storytelling

Check Out These Book Writing Courses that Will Make Your Imagination Flow! 

The University of British Columbia is offering the course ‘How to Write a Novel: Structure & Outline’ The program is best for those who want to learn the fundamentals of story structure. The curriculum includes topics such as Character and World-Building, The Big Architecture: Story and Structure,  Three-Act Structure and Scene Design, Troubleshooting Common Problems, and Transition to Writing. The program includes a writing assignment and a final task that students must complete.

Website: https://www.edx.org/learn/novels/

Michigan State University is also offering a free creative writing course online. The course is best for those who want to learn scriptwriting skills for a TV or web series. A total of 5 modules are available in this course. Students will learn everything from developing a TV concept and writing the pilot episode to polishing their script. Any basic word processor is sufficient to take this course. Students will need to dedicate 1-2 hours of study, and  30+ hours of active project work.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/script-writing

Skillshare is another great platform offering free creative writing course online. People can choose a creative writing class based on their interests. All of these courses are taught by experts in the field. Some of the available courses include Copywriting For Beginners: How To Write Web Copy That Sells Without Being Cheesy, Character-Driven Story Development for Your Novel or Screenplay, and Storytelling 101: Character, Conflict, Context & Craft, among others. No certificate is available after course completion. 

Website: https://www.skillshare.com/en/browse/creative-writing?sort=popular&page=1

Want to learn business writing skills? Read About the 7 Free Online Business Writing Courses with Certifications 

The Oxford University Department of Continuing Education is offering one of the best free creative writing course online. Students can choose from a short online course in creative writing and a Diploma in Creative Writing. The short courses have live-time weekly classes. The credit earned from this course is transferable toward the  Certificate of Higher Education – a part-time undergraduate course. On the other hand, the Diploma in Creative Writing can be completed in 2 years. It covers 4 areas of literary activity. For example, prose, drama, etc. 

Website: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/online-courses-in-creative-writing

The Open University Start Writing Fiction course is a free creative writing course online. The program is meant for those who want to learn the strategies for writing fiction. The curriculum includes topics such as character development, setting, and genre. This is an introductory course that requires 12 hours of study. A certificate of participation is available post-completion of the course.

Website: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/creative-writing/start-writing-fiction/

Alison is one of the top websites offering free creative writing course online. These courses are meant for beginners and can be completed in a few hours. Some of the creative writing courses available on this platform include Understanding Poetry Writing, How to Write and Publish a Novel, Creative Nonfiction Writing, Screenwriting, and Writing for Young Readers. The course comes with free certifications.

Website: https://alison.com/tag/creative-writing

Related Articles:

The British Council is offering a course called ‘Creative Writing for Adults – Module I’. This course is completely online and can be completed within 9 weeks. A B2 English level is needed to take this course. The fee is INR 10,000.

There are several free writing courses for beginners. For example, Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop by CalArts, and Wesleyan University’s Creative Writing course. Alison also offers several free writing courses for beginners.

Harvard University only offers 1 free online creative writing course. This is called the ‘Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking’. This is an introductory course that requires the student to dedicate  2 – 3 hours per week. The course audit is free. 

Hope this blog provides you with all the important details, for more information about such courses, visit our online courses page .

Blessy George

Blessy George is a Content Marketing Associate at Leverage Edu, boasting over a year of experience in the industry. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling content tailored to online courses, making her a go-to source for those navigating the vast landscape of digital learning. In addition to online classes, she writes content related to study abroad, English test preparation and visas. She has completed her MA degree in Political Science and has gained valuable experience as an intern.She is known for her extensive writing on various aspects of international education, garnering recognition for her insights and contributions. Apart from her professional pursuits, Blessy is passionate about creative writing, particularly poetry and songwriting.

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Free Online Creative Writing Courses

These free online creative writing courses will teach you how to craft original and self-expressive writing. Creative writing encourages writers to exercise their creative minds and use their imaginations. It helps improve memory function and promote greater feelings of happiness among other benefits. It is also a great way to jumpstart a career in creative writing or improve an existing one.... …Read More These free online creative writing courses will teach you how to craft original and self-expressive writing. Creative writing encourages writers to exercise their creative minds and use their imaginations. It helps improve memory function and promote greater feelings of happiness among other benefits. It is also a great way to jumpstart a career in creative writing or improve an existing one. Read Less

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Learn How To Write Well With 2024‘s Top 12 Best Free Online Writing Courses For Beginners

Do you want to learn how to write an essay, book, poem, or article, but you are not sure exactly where to begin? Perhaps you want to write a killer blog post without completely relying on Grammarly ?

Well, this is the guide for you!

In this guide, I have rounded up some of the best free online writing classes that are great for beginners and all skill levels. This means that you can learn at your own pace without paying a single dime for quality online courses while learning the writing process!

While each of the below creative writing courses is slightly different from one another, each delivers great insights on how to become a master of the craft and even a freelance writer! Let’s begin on your road to a bestseller!

Table of Contents

Top 12 Best Free Online Writing Courses For Beginners 2024!

1. crafting personal essays with impact (skillshare).

Have you got a masterpiece in your mind but are not sure how to portray it on paper? Well, this is your course!

Your instructor for this class is a best-selling author and editor Roxanne Gay who has written for major publications such as the New York Times, Dexter and Marvel. Being an editor as well, she can guide you away from common pitfalls that could weaken your work.

In the one hour of on-demand video training, you will cover topics like choosing your key thoughts, researching the subject, writing your first draft, how to rewrite and edit yourself, and how to get published.

This course will also inspire you, giving you the tools to transform your thoughts into a readable personal essay. Take yourself seriously and give your ideas a real voice. Being hosted on Skillshare, users can this course for free on a 1-month free trial.

Overall, a well-rounded course that is ideal for beginners!

• 1 hour on-demand video
• Taught by successful writer
• Includes editor insights
• Downloadable resources including FAQs
• Class projects

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2. Create Successful Writing Habits (Skillshare)

Next up on my list is a great course that aims to teach you some of the fundamentals of engaging and impactful writing. From learning these skills and habits, you will be able to apply them to fiction, non-fiction, poetry , copywriting, creative nonfiction, and the list goes on!

To give you tools and teach you how to use them, best-selling author and screenwriter Simon Van Booy will show you 6 essential steps to becoming a great writer.

The steps are 1, make your space, 2, find your medium, 3, read inspiring works, 4, set your conditions, 5, stick to a routine, and 6, sketch to stay inspired. What these 6 things all mean and how they apply to your writing is what the 38 minutes of on-demand video will teach.

This is a great course for anyone aspiring to be a writer as well as established writers wishing to hone their skills to a higher quality level. Being hosted in Skillshare, this course is completely free!

• Beginner level
• 38 minutes on demand video
• Established and successful writer is instructor
• 15,000 students enrolled
• Online community to join

3. Writing for Online Engagement (Skillshare)

Moving on is another great course for beginners that is taught by Rebecca Sky in this 1 ¼ hour class on fiction writing in a digital age. Rebecca is an author of YA fiction and has also written for companies including Paramount, Sony, Microsoft, Lay’s, and Kraft.

Some of the core modules included in this course are writing skills, plot details, finding an audience, marketing, creative strategies, and more!

So if your goal is to become a successful author of fiction and maybe even to publish your own stories yourself, this instruction concerning online engagement is a great class to take. It’s not just for beginners either, any level of writer wanting to better their skills can also take a lot from this class.

Overall, an interesting course for those looking to publish online via a blog or news website.

• All levels • 1 hour 8 minutes • Published author teacher • Focused on fiction writers • Covers self publishing and promotion • 8,000 students enrolled

4. Writing Articles (LinkedIn Learning/ Lynda)

Up next is a great masterclass from LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda) that helps you to write accurate, engaging and interesting articles for businesses. While this course is more intermediate, it is still a great resource for complete beginners also.

Instructor Tom Geller is a writer of technology-centered articles and a trainer for communication skills in the workplace. His class is just under an hour and covers all the basics you need to know to get started.

This course starts out by showing you how to find assignments, then moves on to the research needed for informative articles. From there, he shares the best way to conduct an interview for an article, and then how to wrap it all up. With all LinkedIn Learning course, there is a certificate of completion available once completed.

Like Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning provides a free trial so you can take this course for no charge whatsoever! To learn more, check out my LinkedIn Learning Vs Lynda guide .

• Focuses on industry and business article writing
• Professional writer trainer
• Exercise files
• Certificate of completion

Visit Linkedin.com

5. Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Skillshare)

One of the worst things any writer may have to deal with is writer’s block. Luckily, this class will show you how to take the offensive against that problem, making sure it never happens in the first place.

Author and editor Emily Gould leads this short series of lessons that guides you into a mindset of creativity. If you commit to writing for 10 minutes for 10 days in a row, you will be able to put her ideas into practice which makes this an incredibly actionable course.

While this course isn’t for everyone, it may be ideal for those in the early stages of writing who are hitting writing blocks.

• Published author and working editor as trainer
• Class project
• Downloadable resources
• 19,000 students enrolled

6. English Writing Skills (Alison)

Expressing yourself clearly is vital for engaging people with your writing. If you don’t communicate the idea well, the article, story, or advertisement is not going to do the job you wanted it to do.

There’s more to writing than just knowing what words to use and how to punctuate properly. There are also certain styles of writing that lend themselves to be better for one purpose or another. You write one way for suspense fiction another way for comedy. Instructions and informative articles use different styles than poetry or inspirational pieces.

The course takes about 3 hours, has assessments, and a certificate of completion is available. Over 124,000 students have taken this class. The instructors are all professionals in their fields and are certified to be trainers on the Alison online learning platform. When deciding on what free online writing course for beginners to take, this is a good one to examine.

• Beginner to intermediate level
• Course assessments
• Professional instructors
• 124,000 students enrolled
• Certificate of completion available

Visit Alison.com

7. Secret Sauce of Great Writing (Udemy)

What makes for good BBQ? “The secret’s in the sauce!” The secret sauce of great writing is found in this 42-minute course detailing the four ingredients of elite writing. Those ingredients are simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness. Put those into practice and your writing will certainly benefit.

The instructor Shani Raja is a former editor for the Wall Street Journal. He includes writing exercises in with the lesson instruction. It’s 45 minutes of on demand video and online resources are included. You can dive deeper with our journalism course reviews as well.

The techniques and methods of good writing taught in this class work when writing business compositions, personal blogs, fiction, or poetry and prose. These same methods are also effective for editing your own work before turning it over to a publication or editor.

• Intermediate level
• 45 minutes of on demand video instruction
• Includes writing exercises
• 126,000 students

Visit Udemy.com

8. How to Write Stories That Thrill in Any Genre (Skillshare)

Award-winning novel, short story, and Marvel writer Benjamin Percy is a master of writing thriller and suspense fiction.

The instruction in this intermediate level class is designed for writers of fiction but it holds up as good practice for any type of writing. If you want your readers to hang on to every word and be eager for more, you’ll want to pay attention to the tips and tricks taught in this course. There is no better way to learn novel writing!

Some of the things discussed are developing a workable plot, controlling what the reader knows, building believable character development, and blending emotional content with the suspense narrative.

• 1 hour 16 minutes
• Award winning author teacher
• Thriller and suspense genre
• Online resources

9. Writing with Impact (LinkedIn Learning)

The purpose of this course is to show you how to write with purpose for whatever the subject, genre, or audience is. A concept taught in the lessons is that there is no such thing a generic good writing. What you are doing, you have to target your audience.

Grammar and sentence structure are important, but there are subtle nuances that you will learn to identify and implement after finishing this instruction. You’ll learn the goals “write short, write clear, and write right.”

You will learn how to make long paragraphs easier to read and how to effectively make use of shorter paragraphs and efficient word choice.

The instructors is Tom Geller, an established professional and certified for being a trainer at LinkedIn Learning. With this course, you get extra resources, chapter quizzes, and a certificate of completion.

• 1 hour on demand video
• Qualifies for continuing education units
• Chapter quizzes
• Professional author instructor

10. Essay Essentials: Improve Your Academic Writing (Udemy)

Academic writing is a different type of writing than many of us are used to. There are some specific rules that need to be followed for most essays.

In this writing workshop, you’ll learn techniques useful for either high school or collegiate level essay writing. Included in the training are writing exercises, chapter quizzes, and a downloadable essay guide. You will also learn about using the resources in your classroom or school library, what it means to achieve effective revising, and how to properly edit. Concepts concerning paragraphs for introduction, conclusions, and the body of the essay are discussed as well.

The trainer is Andrew Sippie, an English composition teacher and tutor. He has a specialization in teaching in classrooms and online for several years as a college professor, bringing his skills and experience (and Masters Degree) to the Udemy online learning platform.

• Beginner level (self-paced)
• Taught by college professor
• Concentrates on academic essays

11. Writing Ad Copy (LinkedIn Learning)

Advertising is one of the hardest genres of writing. It seems so simple, just tell what it is or does in a few short words. But which words? What part of the product or concept to highlight? That’s vitally important information to dispense.

Ad copy is not limited to the printed page, but also as commercial scripts. As for printed words, media varies from blogs to emails to social media. This class helps you find the best way to get your ideas across in the best way possible.

Michael Duquet is the instructor for this course. He is a marketing director for online activity for a software company and has years of ad copy writing experience.

• 1 hour 7 minutes
• Specific information for advertising writing
• Marketing director is the trainer

12. Business Communication – Fundamentals of Business Writing (Alison)

Business to business (B2B) is big business. Effective business communication is vital for successful companies.

It’s also important to communicate well within your own workplace. Resumes, cover letters, and reports are also required to be as good as possible if they are to be useful and effective.

Even filling out a job application needs good writing skills if you want your application to make it to the right pile of papers.

This class will give you the ability to write clear, concise, and efficient words for your workplace writing endeavors.

• Course assessment
• 46,000 students enrolled

Final Thoughts

I’m a writer. (But I really want to direct.) Writing seems to come naturally for some people. Even if doesn’t, free online writing courses for learners can train you to write well. If you are already a good writer, these same courses will help you do a better job.

To learn more, check out my guide on the  top online proofreading courses !

More goes into writing than merely being talkative. These free online writing courses for beginners will show you how to create a narrative and how to engage people’s interests. You could be writing ad copy for an online store, a term paper for school, a short story for publication, a business proposal for your job, or an inspirational poem for someone you love.

All of those situations and more can be tricky to get right. It doesn’t have to be hard, though. Writing can be fun and profitable. These classes provide the valuable training you need to be able to communicate with skill and panache.

My name is Lewis Keegan and I am the writer and editor of SkillScouter.com. I'm extremely passionate about online education and what it can do for those to better their lives. I spend most of my time blogging, hiking, and drinking coffee. I also have a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Teaching.

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10 Best Free Online Course Creator Software for 2024

Online Training & eLearning Experts

The ProProfs Training Maker Editorial Team is a diverse group of professionals passionate about online training and e-learning. We update you on the latest trends, dive into technical topics, and offer insights to elevate your business.

At first, creating online courses may seem challenging, but with the right software, everything becomes easy.

I will share the 10 best free online course creator software to help you design, manage, and deliver high-quality courses without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re an experienced trainer or new to course creation, these options offer user-friendly features to suit your needs.

Let’s explore the best tools to boost your teaching and learning experience.

Which Is the Best Free Online Course Creator?

Choosing the right free course creator means considering a range of factors like ease of use, features, and scalability.

My top 3 picks are:

Option A: ProProfs Training Maker 

My organization uses ProProfs Training Maker for online employee training. It offers a cloud-based LMS with a user-friendly rapid authoring tool and a library of pre-made courses and templates. This platform suits businesses of various sizes and industries.

Option B: Thinkific 

Thinkific stands out for educators wanting to monetize their expertise. It provides tools to create, market, and sell courses. Features like coupons, webinars, and blog apps help attract new students and build an audience.

Option C: Kajabi 

Kajabi excels in transforming knowledge into digital products. Users can create and sell online courses, coaching programs, and memberships. Integrated features like payment processing and email marketing streamline business operations.

These are my top picks for the best free online course creators. If you want to explore more such tools, continue reading this post. I have also included a few basic things like the features and benefits of using online course creator tools.

What Is Online Course Builder Software?

Online course creator or builder software is a tool for developing and delivering educational content online. These platforms offer features to streamline the process, from creating video lectures and quizzes to managing learner enrollment and payment processing.

There are two main categories of online course creation software:

• Learning Management Systems (LMS) : As the best online course creator platform, an LMS focuses on delivering and managing the course content. They offer features for uploading videos, PDFs, and presentations, creating quizzes, and tracking learner progress.
• All-in-One Platforms : These platforms combine LMS features with marketing and sales tools. They allow you to create your course content, build a landing page to promote it, process payments, and manage learner communication, all within a single platform.

What Are the Key Features of a Free Online Course Creator?

Having experimented with several free online course builders, I always look for a few things in these tools. Choose the feature based on your learning needs.

1. Course Creation Features

• Intuitive Interface: A drag-and-drop interface or a WYSIWYG editor allows users with varying technical backgrounds to structure their course content easily.
• Content Upload and Management: The platform should integrate various media formats, such as videos, audio files, PDFs, presentations, and quizzes.
• Drip Content: The ability to schedule content delivery or release modules sequentially keeps learners engaged and focused.
• Interactive Elements: Engagement is key. Features like polls, online collaboration and discussions , drag-and-drop activities, and gamification elements can be embedded to make courses more interactive.

2. Availability of Materials/Lessons

• Content Libraries: Some OCCs offer pre-built templates , quizzes, and other learning objects to jumpstart course creation.
• Lesson Planning Tools: The free online course builder should allow you to structure lessons with clear learning objectives, organize content, and track employee training progress .
• Assessment Tools : Multiple-choice questions, open-ended essays, and even video assignments can be created to evaluate learner understanding.

3. Easy Resource Management

• Cloud Storage: Secure cloud storage ensures content availability and scalability for a growing course library.
• Version Control: The ability to track changes, revert to previous versions, and collaborate on course development is crucial.
• Content Security: Features like password protection and access controls ensure your course content stays secure.

4. Marketing and Promotion Tools

• Landing Page Creation: The OCC might offer tools to build attractive landing pages to promote your course and capture leads.
• Email Marketing Integration: Integration with email marketing tools allows for automated course announcements, progress reports, and special offers.
• Affiliate Marketing Features: Some platforms allow recruiting affiliates to promote your course for a commission, expanding your reach.

5. Additional Technical Considerations

• SCORM Compliance: Ensure your OCC is SCORM compliant for easy integration with Learning Management Systems (LMS) used by organizations.
• Analytics and Reporting : Detailed reports on learner engagement, completion rates, and performance provide valuable insights for course improvement.
• API Access: For advanced users, an API allows for custom integrations with external tools.

What Are the Benefits of Free Course Creator Software?

Course creation tools provide numerous benefits not just for instructors but learners as well. Here is how both parties can benefit from this tool:

Benefits for Entrepreneurs and Consultants:

• Reduced Costs: Create professional courses without expensive software licenses.
• Faster Course Creation: Pre-built templates and drag-and-drop features save time.
• Easy Content Management: Upload various media formats and organize your course content.
• Marketing & Sales Tools: Promote your courses and collect payments through the platform (may vary depending on the platform).
• Learner Engagement: Built-in tools like quizzes and discussions can boost interaction.
• Analytics & Reporting: Track learner progress and course performance to improve future offerings.

Case Study:

Benefits for Learners:

• Free Learning Opportunities: Access valuable educational content without upfront costs. (Note: this feature is applicable for free tools only)
• Convenient & Flexible Learning: Learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.
• Diverse Course Catalog: Explore various topics and find courses that fit your interests.
• Interactive Learning Experience: Engage with quizzes, discussions, and other interactive elements (may vary).
• Track Your Progress: Monitor your learning journey and see how you’re doing in the course.
• Potential for Certification: Earn certificates upon completion to showcase your acquired skills.

List of the Best Free Online Course Builders

1. proprofs training maker – best for easy online employee training & lms.

This tool allows me to create, manage, distribute, and monitor online training courses and assessments. Features include mobile LMS , gamification, advanced reporting, and customizable certificates.

Gamification elements like leaderboards, badges, and quizzes make learning engaging and enjoyable. Advanced reporting tools give me valuable insights into learner progress. Customizable certificates add a personal touch to course completion recognition.

What you will like:

• Incredibly easy to understand and use
• Quick start with out-of-the-box content solutions
• Adaptable for any use case, industry, or audience type
• High security with password-protected courses, user roles, permissions, GDPR compliance, and complete data ownership
• Automatic grading and granular reports offer real-time progress insights

What you may not like:

• The free version supports only 10 learners and excludes premium courses.
• Adding a dark mode option would enhance the user experience.

Forever free for small teams. Paid plans start at $1.97/learner/month .

2. Thinkific – Best for Coaches Selling Courses

Thinkific is the ideal platform for selling online courses crafted by educators for educators. It offers a user-friendly and secure way to monetize your expertise and make a meaningful impact. You can start selling your knowledge products in a simple and authentic way. Thinkific’s tools foster relationships, establish trust, and turn your participants into lifelong learners.

With features like coupons, promotions, webinars, and blog apps, Thinkific helps you attract new students and grow your audience. This online course creator for free lets you create education-focused websites, landing pages, and sales pages to showcase your offerings. The platform ensures an optimized checkout process, making it easy for students to enroll. With built-in tools that save time on marketing and administration, you can focus on developing products and teaching.

Thinkific’s TCommerce package enhances growth by integrating marketing, payments, and bookkeeping tools. This allows you to boost conversions and increase the value of every order. For anyone looking to share their knowledge and grow their teaching business, Thinkific provides a comprehensive and effective solution.

• Create a professional web storefront to promote your online course without needing coding skills.
• Offers strong community-building features, allowing you to grow your learning community with Thinkific Communities.
• With Branded Mobile by Thinkific, you can have a custom mobile app for your courses and communities with your branding.
• Lacks its own email marketing platform and only offers third-party integrations.
• Does not include a sales funnel builder, which could limit your marketing capabilities.
• Thinkific does not allow the sharing of completion certificates with students.

Free plan available (limited to one course). Paid plans start at $36/month

3. Kajabi – Best for Building Digital Products

At our organization, we find Kajabi to be a powerful platform for diversifying our revenue, building our brand, and turning our followers into customers. With Kajabi, we can transform our knowledge into digital products like online courses, coaching programs, podcasts, memberships, and newsletters.

As the best free online course builder we’ve used, Kajabi simplifies the creation, marketing, and selling of digital products, even for those of us without technical skills. Its user-friendly tools and templates help us quickly design and launch polished digital products. Moreover, Kajabi helps us connect with our audience through a custom mobile app and an online community.

With integrated features like payment processing, email marketing, and automated funnels, Kajabi streamlines your business operations. The platform’s analytics provide valuable insights to help you grow. Kajabi’s all-in-one solution ensures you have everything you need to succeed, including dynamic landing pages, seamless payments, and comprehensive contact management.

• The platform is intuitive, easy to navigate, and regularly updated with new features.
• Users can create a wide range of engaging products.
• It includes easy automation and flexible tools for sales processes.
• Limited support for sales tax calculations can lead to extra costs for users.
• Flexibility in customizing and issuing completion certificates for students is limited.
• Options for customizing assessments on the platform are limited.

Free trial available (for 14 days). Starts at $55/month

4. Teachable – Best for Generating Course Outlines  

I feel that Teachable’s new AI-powered course curriculum generator has made creating courses much easier for me. Now, I can start for free and use AI to help build my course curriculum. Even experts sometimes find it tough to create courses, but Teachable’s curriculum generator removes this hurdle. I can quickly turn my ideas into structured content, which speeds up and energizes the course creation process.

With Teachable, I can teach an unlimited number of learners, offering lessons in various writing forms, from fiction to copywriting. It gives me the tools to create sales pages, enroll learners, and collect payments. Teachable is ideal for writers who want to diversify their income and extend their expertise globally. Whether you are a seasoned author or a budding scribe, Teachable helps turn your writing skills into educational success.

With Teachable, you get an all-in-one platform to create and sell courses, coaching, and digital downloads without coding. Join over 100,000 creators using Teachable to share their knowledge effortlessly.

• Offers a simple setup for creating a professional online school quickly.
• It handles transactions, making sales easier.
• Learners can use the Teachable iOS app for flexible learning.
• You need third-party platforms for sales funnel building.
• No marketplace, so you have to market your courses independently.
• Has limited support for multiple languages, which could hinder global reach.

Free plan available ($1+10% transaction fee). Paid plans start at $39/month

5. Podia – Best for One-on-One Coaching Sessions

Podia is a versatile platform tailored for entrepreneurs and educators passionate about sharing knowledge through one-on-one coaching sessions. Its intuitive interface simplifies creating and selling online courses, digital downloads, and membership sites, but Podia truly shines in its personalized coaching offerings.

With Podia, coaches can effortlessly schedule sessions, manage bookings, and receive payments, all within a single ecosystem. The direct messaging feature enhances the coaching experience by allowing seamless communication between coach and client. This fosters a more intimate learning environment, enabling coaches to provide tailored guidance and support.

Moreover, Podia’s commitment to a no-transaction-fee policy means that coaches retain more earnings, making it an economically attractive option for professionals looking to grow their personal brand and business. The platform’s ability to integrate with various marketing tools also assists coaches in expanding their reach and nurturing client relationships.

• Podia does not charge transaction fees, allowing creators to keep more earnings.
• Includes features like email marketing and customer messaging, adding to its versatility.
• Covers digital commerce needs like memberships, digital downloads, coaching packages, and traditional courses.
• There is no mobile app, which could limit access for users on the go.
• Reporting tools are basic and may not meet users’ needs seeking detailed analytics.
• No conversion-boosting features are available, which could hinder marketing efforts.

Free plan available (10% fees applicable). Paid plans start at $4/month

6. Skillshare – Best for Video Courses 

I haven’t tried Skillshare myself yet, but based on what my peers say, it excels as an online learning community known for its vast collection of video courses. This online course creator focuses on creative and interactive learning and offers over 29,000 courses in design, photography, and writing categories.

My colleagues appreciate Skillshare’s project-based approach, which encourages practical application. This makes it popular among learners who want hands-on experience. Courses like “Digital Illustration: Learn to Use Procreate” and “Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design” have high enrollments, showcasing the quality content and expertise of the instructors.

They also find the platform appealing due to its accessibility and rich content. For a subscription fee, users get unlimited access to all courses, allowing them to explore various subjects at their own pace. Its user-friendly interface and community features, like peer reviews and project sharing, create an engaging learning environment.

• Opportunities for interaction with instructors and learners enhance the learning experience.
• The platform is easy to navigate and suits learners of all levels.
• Users can become instructors, sharing their expertise and potentially earning money.
• Skillshare does not offer certificates, which may not suit those seeking formal qualifications.
• The annual subscription fee can be high, and the auto-renewal policy can be off-putting for some users.
• Some courses may lack depth due to their short duration, which might not suit in-depth learning.

One month free trial available. The paid version is available on custom pricing

7. Udemy – Best for Cohort-Based Learning

Udemy Business stands out as a leading platform for cohort-based learning, particularly for leadership development. It offers a dynamic blend of self-paced and interactive learning experiences designed to foster innovation, resilience, and problem-solving among leaders. The programs are tailored to align with organizational goals, ensuring that learning translates into tangible business outcomes.

The cohort learning approach incorporates asynchronous micro-learning modules, collaborative forums, and live expert-led sessions. With over 50 specialized courses, Udemy Business caters to all leadership levels, providing relevant and actionable content.

Moreover, AI and machine learning analytics help organizations predict behavioral changes and gain insights to drive impact. Whether upskilling emerging leaders or enhancing the capabilities of established ones, Udemy Business delivers a comprehensive and impactful cohort learning experience.

• Learners can study at their own pace, fitting their schedule.
• Purchased courses come with lifetime access.
• Courses are reasonably priced. This makes learning accessible to a wider audience.
• Course quality can be inconsistent since various instructors create them.
• Certificates of completion are not officially verified by external partners.
• Some courses may lack interactive elements.

Free personal plan (limited to 7 days only). Starts at $30/month/user

8. LearnWorlds – Best for Building Branded Websites, Blogs, and Communities 

LearnWorlds is a top platform for creating branded websites, blogs, and communities, especially for educational content. It offers a comprehensive set of tools that enable educators and entrepreneurs to deliver interactive and engaging learning experiences. With LearnWorlds, users can create unique online courses, integrate social learning activities, and build vibrant communities to enhance the value of their educational offerings.

The platform’s built-in community feature provides a space where learners can connect, discuss, and grow together. I like this feature because it promotes active participation and collaboration, leading to deeper understanding and knowledge retention.

LearnWorlds offers a stable and secure environment for hosting branded communities, free from the unpredictability of social media algorithms. Users have full control over their content and the community engagement rules. The platform’s intuitive design and SEO-optimized templates ensure that creating a professional-looking academy or blog is quick and easy.

• It offers a robust set of tools for course creation and marketing.
• There are many course options available.
• The platform integrates academy design with smart analytics and marketing.
• The starting plan includes a $5 transaction fee on each course sale.
• Does not offer advanced options like A/B testing and automation rules.
• Full white-label options start at $299/month, which may be prohibitive for smaller businesses

30-day free trial available. Starts at $24/month.

9. iSpring Suite – Best for eLearning Software for PowerPoint

I have been using Spring Suite for quite some time now, and if you’re looking to create strong PowerPoint-based eLearning courses, it’s a top choice. Being the best free online course builder, this platform is known for its versatility and user-friendliness, iSpring Suite caters to instructional designers, course developers, L&D professionals, and educators aiming to create engaging courses effortlessly and share learning content across any device.

A key feature of iSpring Suite is its direct integration with PowerPoint. This makes it easy for users familiar with Microsoft’s presentation tool to create interactive courses without needing coding or design skills. I appreciate this intuitive nature, its short learning curve, and the robust support provided by the iSpring team.

The iSpring Suite toolkit supports creating professional courses, quizzes, interactive assessments, and simulations within the PowerPoint interface. The software’s HTML5 output ensures modules are accessible on various devices, enhancing the learning experience.

• It builds courses ready for mobile devices and adaptable to different screen sizes.
• The tool is easy to use and has an intuitive user interface.
• The product is known for good customer support and helpful resources.
• Want more global commands, like “convert all notes to speech,” to streamline workflow.
• Certain features, like some drag-and-drop capabilities, are missing compared to other tools.
• Features like simulations and branching scenarios have a learning curve.

Free plan available (Limited to three question types only). Starts at $770/author/year

10. Coassemble – Best for Creating Immersive Learning Experiences

Coassemble creates immersive learning experiences. Its user-friendly authoring tool allows easy creation of courses, templates, and policies with a WYSIWYG functionality. This feature enables you to create interactive and visually stunning courses without coding skills.

One of Coassemble’s key features is its customizable templates. The platform offers a comprehensive library of templates, themes, and multimedia assets that can be tailored to fit your brand and teaching style. Additionally, Coassemble includes an AI assistant for quizzes, helping you create quizzes quickly and align assessments with learning outcomes.

Engaging in interactive courses is another highlight of Coassemble. The platform incorporates videos, interactive quizzes, and infographics to make learning enjoyable and memorable. It also offers SCORM compatibility, allowing you to export courses to any LMS. This flexibility ensures that your courses can reach a wider audience.

• The platform features a simple drag-and-drop tool for creating courses.
• Courses are optimized for mobile devices, enhancing learning flexibility.
• Coassemble provides live chat support in all packages, ensuring quick assistance.
• Currently lacks built-in e-commerce functionality.
• Does not offer a large library of pre-made content, which may require additional content creation or procurement.
• May have limited advanced customization options for users seeking highly tailored course designs.

Free plan available (lacks image library). Starts at $7.50/member/monthly

Evaluation Criteria 

The evaluation of products or tools chosen for this article follows an unbiased, systematic approach that ensures a fair, insightful, and well-rounded review. This method employs six key factors:

• User Reviews / Ratings: Direct experiences from users, including ratings and feedback from reputable sites, provide a ground-level perspective. This feedback is critical in understanding overall satisfaction and potential problems.
• Essential Features & Functionality: The value of a product is ascertained by its core features and overall functionality. Through an in-depth exploration of these aspects, the practical usefulness and effectiveness of the tools are carefully evaluated.
• Ease of Use: The user-friendliness of a product or service is assessed, focusing on the design, interface, and navigation. This ensures a positive experience for users of all levels of expertise.
• Customer Support: The quality of customer support is examined, taking into account its efficiency and how well it supports users in different phases – setting up, addressing concerns, and resolving operational issues.
• Value for Money: Value for money is evaluated by comparing the quality, performance, and features. The goal is to help the reader understand whether they would be getting their money’s worth.
• Personal Experience / Experts’ Opinions: This part of the evaluation criteria draws insightful observations from the personal experience of the writer and the opinions of industry experts.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can i sell my courses using free online course creator software.

Yes, some free online course creator software allows you to sell courses, but with limited features. Free plans often restrict the number of courses, learners, and advanced tools, making it challenging to scale your business without upgrading to paid plans.

Do I need any technical skills to use online course creator software?

No, most online course creator software is designed for ease of use, catering to non-technical users. These platforms offer drag-and-drop tools, templates, and intuitive interfaces, enabling you to create and manage courses without technical expertise.

What are the limitations of a free online course builder?

Free course creator builder often limits the number of courses, learners, and features. Advanced tools like marketing automation, detailed analytics, and extensive customization options may only be available in paid plans, restricting the growth and scalability of your online courses.

Are there any downsides to using free course creator software?

Yes, downsides include limited features, support, and scalability. Free plans may lack advanced tools and integrations, reducing the effectiveness of your courses. Additionally, customer support for free users is often minimal, hindering troubleshooting and course management.

About the author

ProProfs Editorial Team

The ProProfs Training Maker Editorial Team is a passionate group of eLearning experts dedicated to empowering your learning experiences with top-notch training content. We stay ahead of the curve on trends, tackle technical hurdles, and provide practical tips to boost your business. With our commitment to quality and integrity, you can be confident you're getting the most reliable resources to enhance your training initiatives.

More From Forbes

8 free online software development courses in 2024.

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Software developers and engineers are in high demand across all industries

Software development is one of the most in-demand technical skills of 2024, and indeed, of the future.

In addition to software engineering, this skill ranks highly as one that is needed by employers to close the talent and skills gap, according to Springboard's latest report on the State of the Workplace Skills Gap . It comes in at fourth on the list of the top skills where there are major workforce gaps, being preceded only by data analysis, project management, and AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning.

It is expected that the job demand for software developers will increase by 25%—which is more than eight times the average job growth rate, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .

In the World Economic Forum's Job Skills On the Rise in its 2023 report , AI and big data, technological literacy, and networks and cybersecurity were ranked highly as skills that are set to shape talent demand and workforce trends over the coming years, making software development and engineering a necessity.

To make things a little more interesting, Coursera, a provider of online flexible training and upskilling courses for the workforce, revealed in its Job Skills of 2024 report that in the fastest growing tech skills, software development and engineering as relates to cybersecurity is most needed in 2024 and beyond.

For example, it makes mention of system security, security software, and cyberattacks as key knowledge areas for professionals keen on the this field to develop.

As relates to software development outside of cybersecurity, it appears that systems design and software architecture are the most essential skills that aspiring tech professionals should zone in on.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, software development vs software engineering.

Before attempting to learn software development and software engineering skills, one question that might confuse you is, What is the difference between software development, and software engineering?

To clarify, ComputerScience.org states:

"One commonly cited model describes engineers as creators of the architecture that powers computer applications and developers as individuals who use that architecture to carry out programming tasks. In this sense, software developers function as a specialized subset of software engineers.

"Another model explaining the difference describes engineers as the professionals who conceive of and design solution-oriented systems. Meanwhile, developers apply technical skills to refine and realize those systems.

"To use a metaphor, think of software creation like a restaurant—software engineers design the menu, while software developers make the actual food."

It is essential to note, however, that these fields and roles do tend to have some overlap, and the skills and knowledge required, such as programming languages, frameworks, and libraries, are pretty much the same for both. Therefore the skills you learn in a software development course are highly relevant for software engineering, and vice versa.

Free Software Development Courses And Certifications For 2024

Below are some free online courses, most of which allow you to study at your own pace so you can acquire specific programming and technical skills relevant to software development and engineering.

Most of these courses, such as the Foundations of UX Design, come with a Google career certificate, evidencing your skills, which you can proudly share to your LinkedIn profile and resume.

• CS50's Introduction to Computer Science—Harvard University
• Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python—MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX)
• Git and GitHub Beginners crash course—Bluelime Learning Solutions via Udemy
• Introduction to HTML5—University of Michigan via Coursera
• Introduction to CSS3—University of Michigan via Coursera
• Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design—Google (part of UX Design Certificate) via Coursera
• Single Page Web Applications with AngularJS—Johns Hopkins University via Coursera
• Java FullStack Developer Specialization—Board Infinity via Coursera

You can learn software development essentials through self-study, to get your foot in the door ... [+] within your technology career

Start your career journey today and enrol on one of these free courses. It's better to start now than to wait until later and regret your choice. Learn these foundational technical skills, and they will last you a lifetime.

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