Best Free SEO Courses Worth Taking in 2026

Beginner: 4

Intermediate: 3

Advanced: 3

To save you some time, we’ve created a curated list of actually best free SEO courses that are worth completing. These cover a range of formats and skill levels, from foundational learning to advanced link building and ecommerce SEO. 

Our team has picked out these courses based on course comprehensiveness, teaching quality, and practical relevance in 2026.

If you are not sure where to start, read on, and we will break down what makes each one worth your time.

Ecommerce Link Building Crash Course by Freddie Chatt

Best for: Ecommerce SEOs, DTC brands, and link builders focused on product-led marketing.

Link: Freddie Chatt’s Ecommerce Link Building Course

Freddie Chatt’s Ecommerce Link Building Crash Course is one of the few resources that goes beyond generic outreach advice for Ecommerce. It’s a free 5-day email newsletter course that walks through real link acquisition methods specifically for Ecommerce and DTC brands.

It’s focused on practical and repeatable tactics. It’s not very theory-heavy, and every module includes clear examples you can apply to client or brand projects right away.

Local SEO Course by Localo

Best for: Freelancers, agencies or small businesses that want to rank in local search and Map results.

Link: Localo Local SEO Course

Localo has a free course centered on local SEO. It will teach you how to optimize business listings on Google, manage Google Business Profile, build local-search-optimized websites, and improve visibility for location-based searches. It consists of 9 modules (with 3 released modules currently available), each with video lessons, practical tasks, and a certificate/badge on completion. Time to complete depends on how many modules you use – it’s modular and self-paced.

Intro to AI-Driven SEO by Le Wagon

Best for: Anyone curious about combining modern SEO practices with AI and learning content creation, AI-assisted optimization, and future-oriented work tactics.

Link: Le Wagon Intro to AI-Driven SEO

This course focuses on how to use AI tools to boost SEO starting with keyword research and ending with content generation, optimization, and using AI for SEO-focused content strategies. Because it emphasizes AI-assisted workflows, it could be especially useful now when search engines and content creation are evolving fast.

Free SEO Roadmap & Guides by LearningSEO.io

Best for: Self-learners who want a comprehensive, flexible SEO education without a formal course structure.

Link: LearningSEO.io

LearningSEO.io isn’t a “course” in the traditional sense. It’s a free and evolving SEO learning roadmap curated by experts. It covers everything from fundamentals (keyword research, on-page, technical SEO) to advanced topics (site audits, CMS-specific optimization, link building, SEO process, SEO automation, niche-oriented SEO). As it’s a collection of resources, rather than a linear course, time to complete depends on how deeply you decide to go. This flexibility makes it a good fit for part-time learners or those who want to explore at their own speed.

SEO Course for Beginners by Ahrefs Academy

Best for: Beginners who want a straightforward introduction to SEO using real data tools.

Link: Ahrefs Academy

Ahrefs is one of the most widely-used and advanced SEO tools out there. Their free SEO Course for Beginners walks through the fundamentals of search optimization, such as keyword research, on-page SEO, link building, and technical basics. 

Everything is explained with practical examples from the Ahrefs software toolset. It’s concise, straightforward, and ideal for anyone who wants to understand how SEO looks in practice.

SEO Training: Building Sustainable Traffic by HubSpot Academy

Best for: Digital marketers and small business owners who want to enhance their SEO knowledge with options for certification.

Link: HubSpot Academy

This course will help you understand all major SEO fundamentals, and teach you how to craft a comprehensive SEO strategy for your brand. 

It offers short, structured modules covering keyword strategy, on-page optimization, audits, and link fundamentals. Includes quizzes and practical checklists. 

SEO for Beginners (+ Mini Courses) by Yoast Academy

Best for: WordPress site owners, small publishers, and freelancers managing multiple sites.

Link: Yoast SEO Academy

Great for WordPress users, this course covers the fundamentals of SEO and WordPress website optimization. It will teach you the foundational skills of technical setup, plugin configuration, and structured data. 

It offers 2 hours of video content, but the course can take up to 12-16 hours if carefully completing all the readings and quizzes. It is beginner-friendly and straight to the point. 

SEO Unlocked by Neil Patel

Best for: Learners who prefer a hands-on, creator-led course with real examples and templated worksheets.

Link: Neil Patel SEO Unlocked

This course is a free video series that includes templates, worksheets, and outreach examples. The lessons cover keyword research, competitive analysis, on-page optimization, link building, content strategy, and technical SEO fundamentals. 

The pace is fast but beginner-friendly, and will give you repeatable workflows rather than just theory. It’s a great option if you want a practical introduction without getting overwhelmed.

Digital Garage / Search Central by Google

Best for: Beginners looking for foundational knowledge straight from Google.

Link: Google Digital Garage | Google Search Central

Google’s own resources can be a great choice for learning the basics of SEO and staying compliant with best practices. 

Google Digital Garage’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing includes official guidance on SEO fundamentals as part of a wider digital marketing program. It can be perfect if you are new to the world of search marketing and looking for a structured introduction from Google. Search Central also provides the official SEO Starter Guide.

SEO Toolkit / SEO Essentials by Semrush Academy

Best for: SEO specialists who want practical training using one of the most popular SEO tools.
Link: Semrush Academy

This free, tool-based training from Semrush teaches you workflows directly inside the platform. It includes video modules on keyword research, technical audits, and link building.

There are plenty of “free” SEO courses out there, but most either exist to sell you something, or they talk about keyword density as if it’s still 2012. The SEO landscape is changing ever so quickly, especially in the age of AI and constant algorithm shifts, so finding genuinely useful and current material isn’t easy. 

Free SEO courses can be hit or miss, but the ones above stand out for their structure, accessibility and practical value. Whether you’re building links for ecommerce brands, refining your technical SEO process, or just dipping your toes into the world of search, each of these free courses provides a clear learning path. SEO changes constantly, but the fundamentals stay the same.

Collaborator doesn’t offer its own course just yet, but you can follow us on LinkedIn, Reddit and YouTube to stay up to date with SEO trends, expert insights, and practical tips on getting the most out of the platform 💙