1. Introduction
In a digitally fast-paced world, where data and metrics have become a staple in everyday business, Microsoft Excel skills have proven indispensable. Amongst a plethora of software tools, Excel touts a standout position owing to its comprehensive and multifaceted approach to data processing, calculation, analysis, and representation. Essentially, becoming proficient in Excel can bring a professional edge to your work, irrespective of your field.
1.1 Importance of Free Excel Course
For employees, job seekers, or even self-employed professionals, having profound knowledge of Excel can make a significant difference. This is where free Excel courses come handy. They not only allow you to master this versatile tool without any costs but also give you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. With a breadth of function-specific tutorials and resources, they equip you with practical skills that can streamline your work, increase your efficiency, and enhance your resume.
1.2 Excel Recovery Software
Excel recovery software is a must-be for Excel users. Most of them will choose DataNumen Excel Repair:
1.3 Objectives of this Comparison
This comparison aims to help you make an informed decision about choosing a free Excel course that satisfies your needs. We will look into several major online platforms offering free Excel courses, delve into their pros and cons, and recommend courses based on varying user needs. The goal is to ensure that you find a course compatible with your learning style, needs, and goals.
2. Udemy EXCEL FOR BEGINNERS Free
This is a beginner-level course offered by the popular online platform Udemy. It’s designed to provide the uninitiated a first foray into the landscape of Excel, familiarizing users with the basics such as entering data, basic operations, functions, formatting, and building simple formulas.
2.1 Pros
- Accessibility: This course is accessible to everyone, regardless of prior experience or skill level.
- Extensive coverage: Covering all the basic aspects, it provides a comprehensive introduction to Excel.
- User-friendly interface: Udemy’s user interface is easy to navigate, and it’s also possible to save lectures for offline viewing.
2.2 Cons
- Lack of depth: This course might not be suited for someone looking for an advanced understanding of Excel, as it primarily focuses on the basics.
- Course Completion Certificate: Udemy does not offer a course completion certificate for this free course.
- No Instructor Interaction: The course does not include instructor-student interaction, meaning doubts or questions may be left unanswered.
3. Skillshare Microsoft Excel Course Certificate
Skillshare’s Microsoft Excel Course offers a deeper dive into Excel functionalities, suitable for intermediate level learners. The course tackles a comprehensive list of topics such as data management, formula creation, conducting complex functions, and using pivot tables, among others.
3.1 Pros
- Detailed exploration: This course offers a more in-depth look into Excel’s functions, making it suitable for those wishing to go beyond the basics.
- Practical application: The course involves real-world examples, increasing the understanding and practical application of Excel skills.
- Community interaction: Skillshare provides an active community that allows you to interact with other users, share ideas, and clear doubts.
3.2 Cons
- Intermediate learners: It might not be the best choice for beginners, given its focus on more advanced functions and formulas.
- Limited access: While Skillshare offers a free version of the course, access to all the features and material is restricted to paying members, limiting the resources for free users.
- No Official Certificate: Skillshare doesn’t provide an official certificate of completion for the course.
4. PwC via Coursera Excel Course for Free
Offered by the prestigious PwC, this course available on Coursera, is a carefully designed program that caters to beginners and intermediate learners. It covers everything from data analysis basics and building data models to creating accessible and clean reports. It’s intertwined with interactive assignments and quizzes for effective learning.
4.1 Pros
- Credibility: The course’s connection with PwC, a leading global professional services network, lends credibility to your learning.
- Thorough coverage: Includes detailed coverage of data analysis, data models, and creating clean reports.
- Interactive approach: The courses have assignments and quizzes for better understanding and engagement.
4.2 Cons
- Time-bound access: While the course content is available for free, the learners would have limited-term access to the courses.
- Course Certificate: A course completion certificate is provided, but it is not free and needs to be purchased.
- Steeper learning curve: Given its comprehensive coverage and detail, beginners might face a steeper learning curve.
5. Excel Exposure Excel Course Free
Excel Exposure is another comprehensive course designed to give users a deep understanding of Excel. The course is structured into various modules that cover everything from basic Excel operations to advanced features like pivot tables and VLOOKUP.
5.1 Pros
- Detailed Modules: The course is divided into various structured and detailed modules, making it easy to understand and follow.
- Practical Assignments: To ensure practical understanding, the course includes assignments and exercises for users to practice what they’ve learned.
- Advanced Features: Apart from basic operations, the course also provides deep insights into advanced Excel functions.
5.2 Cons
- Limited Interaction: The platform lacks a system for interacting with the instructor or fellow students. This could make resolving queries or doubts difficult.
- No Certification: There’s no certificate of completion offered after finishing the course.
- Self-paced: While the course offers flexibility, some might find the lack of a strict structure and timelines challenging to maintain steady progress.
6. Excel Easy Excel Course Free
Excel Easy offers a straightforward and beginner-friendly course for Excel. It comprises step-by-step tutorials to ease the learning process for new users. It covers basics along with functionality-specific modules like functions, data analysis, and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).
6.1 Pros
- Step-by-step approach: The course offers a stepwise introduction to each concept, making it user-friendly for absolute beginners.
- Simplicity: The course follows a simple and straightforward structure that’s easy to navigate.
- VBA lessons: It stands out for offering beginner-level introduction to Excel VBA, unlike many other free courses.
6.2 Cons
- Limited Resource: The course focuses on a brief introduction to aspects rather than an exhaustive walkthrough.
- No interactive elements: There are no quizzes or assignments to back the learning, which might hamper practical understanding.
- No certificate: Once again, there’s no certificate of completion offered after concluding the course.
7. Class Central Microsoft Excel Courses and Certifications
Class Central offers an impressive array of Excel courses and certifications, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. The platform aggregates a wide variety of Excel courses provided by different educational websites, offering a plethora of learning opportunities to the users.
7.1 Pros
- Variety of courses: Class Central provides a vast number of Excel courses from various sources, giving learners abundant choice.
- Wide skill levels: With courses ranging from beginner to advanced, the platform caters to all skill levels.
- Review system: The platform supports user reviews, assisting in making an informed decision on the course selection.
7.2 Cons
- Third-party platform: Since Class Central is an aggregator, the quality, depth, and teaching style might vary significantly across courses.
- Course completion certification: Not all courses might offer a completion certificate, and some may charge for it.
- Overwhelming options: The vast array of options without a strict categorization can potentially be overwhelming for users, making the choice difficult.
8. University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera Excel Course for Free
The University of Colorado Boulder offers a specialization on Coursera titled ‘Everyday Excel’. It comprises three courses that focus on real-world applications of Excel. From its basics to advanced usage, every step is covered with handy examples and quizzes.
8.1 Pros
- Real-world applications: The course focuses on showing the students how to apply learned Excel skills in real-life scenarios.
- Reputable institution: Being offered by a renowned university, it can add some significant value to your CV.
- Comprehensive Coverage: The course covers a wide range of topics from basic to advanced.
8.2 Cons
- Access Time: The course materials are available for free during the course tenure only. To have continued access, the paid version is needed.
- No Free Certificate: While the courses are free, the certificate comes with the paid version only.
- Extensive Length: The full course takes approximately 4 months of study time, which may be too long for some users.
9. Davidson College via edX Excel Course with Certificate
Drafted by Davidson College and offered via edX, this Excel course caters to beginners interested in learning Excel functions for managing and interpreting data. The course covers core Excel concepts, including data formatting, formulas, charts, and tables, among others.
9.1 Pros
- Suitable for beginners: The course is designed for absolute beginners, providing a step-by-step guide to core Excel functions.
- Data-centric approach: The teaching material is built around real-world examples of data management and interpretation, enabling practical learning.
- Reputed educator: The course is presented by Davidson College, a respected institution, adding credibility to one’s learning experience.
9.2 Cons
- Fee for Certificate: While the course material can be accessed for free, a fee is charged for the issuance of a certificate.
- Basic Skill Level: The course is a fundamental introduction to Excel, it’s not as helpful for those seeking to learn advanced features and functions.
- Limited Support: There is limited support or interaction with instructors, which may make clarification of queries challenging.
10. Bond University via FutureLearn Excel Course
Bond University offers a course via FutureLearn that primarily focuses on using Excel for data analytics. This course is designed to provide learners with the basic Excel functions along with data analysis tools and methods that are used in the industry.
10.1 Pros
- Data Analytics focus: The course provides insightful learning into using Excel as a tool for data analytics, making it suitable for those interested in the field.
- Industry examples: The course offers real-world industry examples to provide practical learning experiences.
- Reputed university: The course’s connection to Bond University adds credibility to it.
10.2 Cons
- Limited access: Free access limits the course content to a certain number of weeks, after which a premium subscription is required.
- Course certificate fee: A certificate of completion is available, but it comes with an additional cost.
- Specific Focus: The course’s emphasis on data analytics might not cater to those seeking a broad-based Excel course covering multiple functionalities.
11. Macquarie University Excel Skills for Business Essentials Via Coursera
Brought to you by Macquarie University via Coursera, the ‘Excel Skills for Business Essentials’ course is designed to equip learners with a broad scope of vital Excel skills. It delves into fundamental topics like worksheet design, working with data, and performing computations and formatting.
11.1 Pros
- Comprehensive foundation: This course builds a strong Excel foundation, covering most of the essential Excel skills.
- Great for beginners: The course is designed for beginners, focusing on essentials and necessary Excel skills for business.
- Interaction with the community: Coursera offers a platform where learners can interact with other learners from around the world.
11.2 Cons
- Paid Certification: Although the course content is freely accessible, the certificate comes with a price.
- Limited advanced content: As the course is focused on fundamentals, it may not appeal to those seeking more advanced Excel knowledge.
- Time-bound course: The course content is available for free only for a limited time, and one needs to purchase the course for continued access.
12. Summary
12.1 Overall Comparison Table
| Course | Contents |
|---|---|
| Udemy EXCEL FOR BEGINNERS Free | Basic Excel functions, data entry, basic operations, and simple formulas |
| Skillshare Microsoft Excel Course Certificate | Intermediate-level Excel lessons including data management, formula creation, conducting complex functions, and using pivot tables |
| PwC via Coursera Excel Course for Free | Data analysis basics, building data models, creating accessible and clean reports with interactive assignments and quizzes |
| Excel Exposure Excel Course Free | Profound understanding of Excel operations including advancement features like pivot tables and VLOOKUP |
| Excel Easy Excel Course Free | Beginner-friendly course featuring step-by-step tutorials on core Excel operations and features, along with introduction to VBA |
| Class Central Microsoft Excel Courses and Certifications | Window to a varied array of Excel courses from different platforms, allowing abundant choices at different skill levels |
| University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera Excel Course for Free | A comprehensive Excel specialization course built around real-world applications of Excel, from basic to advanced usability |
| Davidson College via edX Excel Course with Certificate | Beginner tailored course covering core Excel operations as well as utilizing Excel for data management and interpretation |
| Bond University via FutureLearn Excel Course | Data analytics focused course providing practical learning experience with Excel |
| Macquarie University Excel Skills for Business Essentials Via Coursera | A broad scope of essential Excel skills focusing on worksheet design, working with data, and performing computations and formatting |
12.2 Recommended Course Based on Various Needs
All excel courses listed have their merits, and the best choice depends on your specific needs and skill level. Beginners may find the ‘Udemy EXCEL FOR BEGINNERS Free’ and ‘Excel Easy Excel Course Free’ courses most helpful. Intermediate learners who wish to delve into data-centric applications might find great insights in ‘Skillshare Microsoft Excel Course Certificate’, ‘PwC via Coursera Excel Course for Free’, and ‘Bond University via FutureLearn Excel Course’. ‘Class Central Microsoft Excel Courses and Certifications’ offers the broadest array of choices, desirable for those seeking specific skill applications or wanting to explore further.
13. Conclusion
13.1 Final Thoughts and Takeaways for Choosing a Free Excel Course
The decision to choose a free Excel course must depend upon your specific goals, current knowledge level, and future aspirations. Whether you are a beginner looking to understand the basics, an intermediate user aspiring to master Excel for your work, or an advanced user aiming to broaden your skills, the right course for you exists. It’s worth dedicating some time to explore each platform, assess the course contents, and match it with your learning goals.
Take note of the learning style that each course offers, whether it’s video tutorials, interactive exercises, community interactions, or expert-feedback sessions. Remember, learning Excel is an investment of time that can significantly pay off in your professional life. It’s a universally helpful skill that can aid in an array of tasks spanning different industries. Take your time, choose wisely, and dive into the world of Excel with an open mind to make the most of these learning resources.
Author Introduction:
Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, which provides a wide range of products, including a product to repair PDF documents.