Free cloud courses and training from AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
AWS Skill Builder, Microsoft Learn and Google Skills offer free official training. Here are the main free courses, learning paths and free accounts from each, and what is not free.
Pick your cloud ↓- AWS Skill Builder
- Microsoft Learn
- Google Skills
- Official links only
Last updated . CloudBrum is independent of AWS, Microsoft and Google. Offers change often, so confirm details on the official page before you sign up.
Which cloud do you want to learn?
Choose one to jump to its free courses. Not sure? Start with the cloud your team or target employer uses.
Free AWS training
Free courses on AWS Skill Builder, plus the AWS Free Tier for hands-on practice.
AWS Skill Builder is the official AWS learning centre. A free account gives you hundreds of self-paced digital courses and learning plans, and free exam-prep material. The full catalogue of hands-on labs needs a paid Skill Builder subscription.
What is free
- Hundreds of self-paced digital courses and learning plans
- Free practice question sets for AWS exams
- 10 hands-on labs in the Builder Labs learning plan
- Up to $200 in Free Tier credits for new customers
What is not free
- The full Builder Labs catalogue (paid subscription)
- The other Cloud Quest roles (paid subscription)
- Certification exams
- AWS resources once your credits or free plan end
Free courses and learning paths
AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials
A free, self-paced course on Skill Builder covering cloud concepts, core AWS services, security, architecture, pricing and support. AWS recommends it for people who are new to the cloud.
Getting started with AWS Cloud Essentials
AWS's own getting-started page for people who are new to the cloud.
Introduction to AWS Cloud: Builder Labs learning plan
A free learning plan with 10 foundational hands-on labs, covering services such as Amazon EC2, Amazon S3 and AWS Lambda.
AWS Cloud Quest
Learn by playing. The Cloud Practitioner and Generative AI Practitioner roles are free with any Skill Builder account; the other roles need a subscription.
Free exam preparation
Official Practice Question Sets of 20 questions and Exam Prep courses for AWS Certification, free on Skill Builder. The exam itself is paid.
AI and machine learning training
AWS's collection of AI and machine learning training, including generative AI learning plans. Check each item for its cost.
Free accounts, credits and hands-on practice
AWS Free Tier
New customers can get up to $200 in credits ($100 on sign-up and up to $100 more for trying key services), a free plan that lasts up to 6 months, and 30+ services with free monthly limits. The terms change, so read the current page.
AWS Workshops
Free, self-paced, hands-on workshops that you run in your own AWS account. Some resources can cost a small amount unless the Free Tier covers them.
Getting started tutorials
Step-by-step tutorials for services such as Amazon S3, AWS Lambda and Amazon Bedrock.
AWS Educate
Free cloud training and hands-on labs. AWS says anyone aged 13 or over can sign up with just an email address. Learners can earn digital badges.
Good to know: AWS Free Tier credits and the free plan are for new AWS customers and change over time. Some workshops create resources that can cost money in your own account, so set a budget alert first and delete what you create when you finish.
Free Azure training
Free learning paths on Microsoft Learn, plus a free Azure account for hands-on work.
Microsoft Learn is the official Microsoft learning site, and its training is free for anyone. Many exercises need an Azure subscription: Microsoft's Learn FAQ says the built-in sandboxes are no longer available. The Azure free account or Azure for Students can cover that.
What is free
- All Microsoft Learn training: learning paths and modules
- Study guides and practice assessments
- The Azure Architecture Center
- A $200 credit and free services with a new Azure account
What is not free
- Certification exams
- Azure resources beyond the credit and free-service limits
Free courses and learning paths
Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure
Microsoft's free four-part series: cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, management and governance, then guided projects. The first three parts line up with the AZ-900 exam.
- Part 1: Describe cloud concepts (learn.microsoft.com, opens in a new tab)
- Part 2: Describe Azure architecture and services (learn.microsoft.com, opens in a new tab)
- Part 3: Describe Azure management and governance (learn.microsoft.com, opens in a new tab)
- Part 4: Apply Azure skills in guided projects (learn.microsoft.com, opens in a new tab)
AZ-900 study guide and free practice assessment
The official study guide lists what the AZ-900 exam covers. The practice assessment is free and you can retake it as often as you like.
Azure Administrator (AZ-104) learning paths
Free paths for the Azure Administrator Associate exam. Start with the prerequisites path, then follow the study guide.
Training for Azure
Microsoft's Azure training hub: Azure fundamentals paths, instructor-led options and a browse page for all Azure content.
Career paths
Free, role-based collections of learning paths, for example for developers or data engineers.
Azure Architecture Center
Free reference architectures, design guides and best practices for building on Azure.
Free accounts, credits and hands-on practice
Azure free account
A $200 credit to use in the first 30 days, popular services free for 12 months (new customers), and a list of always-free services. To keep using free services after the credit period you upgrade to pay-as-you-go.
Azure for Students
Microsoft describes it as free, with no credit card required and a $100 credit that can be used within 12 months. You verify your student status through your school email, and can renew each year while you are a student.
Using your own subscription on Microsoft Learn
Microsoft's FAQ on exercises: the built-in sandboxes are no longer available, so exercises run in your own Azure subscription, for example one from a free trial.
Good to know: With the Azure free account the $200 credit lasts 30 days, and you must upgrade to pay-as-you-go to keep free services after that. Set a budget alert and delete resources you no longer need.
Free Google Cloud training
Courses, labs and skill badges on Google Skills, plus $300 in free credit for new customers.
Google Skills, the new home of Google Cloud Skills Boost, has more than 3,000 learning resources: courses, hands-on labs and learning paths. Free access works through learning credits. For example, GEAR members can claim 35 monthly credits at no cost, and university students can request 200.
What is free
- Google Skills content through free credits (GEAR members get 35 a month, students can request 200)
- $300 in free credit for new Google Cloud customers
- 20+ products with a free tier, up to monthly limits
- Quickstarts, tutorials and community learning
What is not free
- Courses and labs beyond the credits you hold
- Certification exams (there is a registration fee)
- Google Cloud resources beyond the free credit and free tier
Free courses and learning paths
Cloud Digital Leader learning path
For anyone who wants to show their knowledge of cloud computing basics and how Google Cloud products and services can help an organisation reach its goals. There are no prerequisites. The exam has a registration fee.
Generative AI Leader learning path
On-demand courses that go from a broad overview of generative AI to using it and Google Cloud in an organisation. Google says the certification is for any job role, with or without hands-on technical experience.
Introduction to Agents and Google's Agent Ecosystem
A foundation in AI agents, from their core architecture to their business impact. Complete the path to earn a skill badge.
Skill badges
Hands-on challenges that prove you can do real work on Google Cloud. A badge can go on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Full course catalogue
Search all courses, labs and learning paths on Google Skills by topic, level and format.
The Arcade
Monthly games and challenges on Google Skills. Earn points to use toward swag or charitable donations.
Free accounts, credits and hands-on practice
Google Cloud Free Program
New customers get $300 in free credit and are not charged until they activate a full paid account. 20+ products also have a free tier with monthly limits that do not use up the credit.
GEAR program
Learn to build and scale AI agents alongside other developers. Members can claim 35 monthly learning credits at no cost and use them on Google Skills.
Student learning credits
University students can request 200 Google Skills credits to use toward courses and labs at no cost.
Quickstarts and tutorials
Tutorials and walkthroughs for getting started with Google Cloud products.
Google Developer Groups
Learn in a community with support from experts and peers. Google says these groups also have access to study jams and certification programmes.
Good to know: Google Skills learning credits and the $300 Google Cloud free credit are two different things: the first pays for training content and labs, the second for resources in your own Google Cloud account. Set a budget alert on your own account and delete resources when you finish.
A simple path for beginners
Five steps from zero to a first small project, using only the free material above.
- Pick one cloudStart with the cloud your team or target employer uses. The core ideas carry over to the others.
- Do the free fundamentalsAWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials, Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or Google's Cloud Digital Leader path.
- Build something smallOpen a free account and deploy a simple website, database or function. Set a budget alert first.
- Test yourselfUse the free practice questions: the AWS Official Practice Question Set or the Microsoft practice assessment.
- Decide about certificationExams cost money. Book one when you can explain the ideas without notes.
Frequently asked questions about free cloud training
Is cloud training from AWS, Azure and Google Cloud really free?
Much of the self-paced learning is free: AWS Skill Builder has hundreds of free digital courses, Microsoft Learn training is free, and Google Skills offers free access through credits and programmes. Hands-on labs, some practice material and the certification exams can cost money, so check each provider's page.
Which free course should a beginner start with?
Pick one cloud and start with its fundamentals: AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials, Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) on Microsoft Learn, or the Cloud Digital Leader learning path on Google Skills. All three need no cloud experience.
Do I need a credit card for a free cloud account?
It depends on the programme, so read the sign-up page. Azure for Students and AWS Educate are described by their providers as not needing a credit card, while a standard free account may ask for payment details to confirm who you are.
Will free training get me a certification or a job?
Free courses build knowledge, but they do not guarantee a certification or a job. Certification exams are separate and usually paid. Practising on a free account and building small projects helps most.
How often do these free offers change?
Often. Credits, free plan lengths and course lists change, and platforms get renamed: Google Cloud Skills Boost is now Google Skills. We checked the pages on 12 October 2026, but always confirm on the official page before you sign up.
Is CloudBrum part of AWS, Microsoft or Google?
No. CloudBrum is an independent website. Every course and offer link on this page goes to the provider's own site, and the names and logos belong to their owners.
Want a trainer for your team, or stuck while practising?
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