If you’ve been thinking about learning how to trade but don’t want to spend a lot of money upfront, you’re in luck. There are plenty of free online trading courses out there that can teach you the basics without charging you a penny. Whether you’re curious about stocks, forex, or cryptocurrencies, these courses are a great way to learn the ropes without committing financially.
But with so many courses around, it can be tough to figure out which ones are actually helpful. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of 10 free online trading courses that can give you the foundational knowledge to start your journey toward financial freedom.
The 10 Free Online Trading Courses:
1. Investopedia Academy: Introduction to Day Trading
Platform: Investopedia
Duration: 1 hour
Who It’s For: Beginners
Investopedia, one of the most trusted names in finance education, offers a free introductory course to day trading. This short but comprehensive course provides an overview of strategies, risk management, and market psychology. With clear explanations and practical advice, it is considered one of the top free online trading courses for individuals interested in exploring day trading.
2. Coursera: Financial Markets by Yale University
Platform: Coursera
Duration: 33 hours
Who It’s For: Intermediate learners
Yale University offers a “Financial Markets” course on Coursera taught by Nobel laureate Robert Shiller. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and trading, offering valuable insights into how markets operate. While not solely focused on trading, it offers a broader context that is essential for traders.
3. TD Ameritrade: Investor Education Center
Platform: TD Ameritrade
Duration: Self-paced
Who It’s For: All levels
TD Ameritrade offers a wealth of free educational resources for both new and experienced traders. Its Investor Education Center features a range of free online trading courses, from options trading to forex. Its interactive learning modules, quizzes, and live webcasts provide a thorough trading education without any cost.
4. Trading Academy by eToro
Platform: eToro
Duration: Self-paced
Who It’s For: Beginners
eToro, a popular trading platform, provides a free trading academy with lessons covering a variety of assets, including stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. Its courses cater to complete beginners, making it an excellent entry point for those new to the market. With real-world examples and easy-to-understand concepts, this is one of the best free online trading courses for aspiring traders.
5. BabyPips: School of Pipsology
Platform: BabyPips
Duration: Self-paced
Who It’s For: Forex beginners
BabyPips is well-known in the forex trading community for its “School of Pipsology,” a free, in-depth resource that breaks down forex trading in a fun and engaging way. The course covers everything from the basics to advanced trading strategies, all presented in an easy-to-follow format. If you’re specifically interested in forex, this is one of the top free online trading courses to consider.
6. Alison: Diploma in Stock Trading
Platform: Alison
Duration: 10-15 hours
Who It’s For: Beginners
Alison offers a diploma in stock trading, a free online course designed for beginners who want to learn how to trade stocks. The course covers stock market terminology, trading strategies, and risk management. Upon completion, you can even download a certificate, which is a nice bonus for anyone looking to build their resume.
7. Skillshare: Stock Market Fundamentals
Platform: Skillshare
Duration: 1 hour
Who It’s For: Beginners
Skillshare offers a wide range of free courses, and “Stock Market Fundamentals” is a popular one for beginners. The course covers key concepts like how to read stock charts, analyze company performance, and develop a trading strategy. It’s one of the more concise free online trading courses, making it perfect for someone who wants to learn the basics quickly.
8. Udemy: Stock Trading and Investing for Beginners
Platform: Udemy
Duration: 2 hours
Who It’s For: Beginners
This Udemy course focuses on the fundamentals of stock trading and investing. While Udemy is known for its paid courses, there are often free versions available, especially for beginners. The course covers essential topics like technical analysis, stock chart patterns, and how to minimize risks. It’s one of the most popular free online trading courses on Udemy for beginners.
9. Khan Academy: Stocks and Bonds
Platform: Khan Academy
Duration: Self-paced
Who It’s For: Beginners
Khan Academy’s “Stocks and Bonds” course provides a clear and concise introduction to the stock market, trading, and bonds. While it’s not exclusively a trading course, the material is highly useful for anyone who wants to understand how financial markets work. The course is free and available to anyone, making it one of the most accessible free online trading courses for beginners.
10. Raging Bull: Free Training
Platform: Raging Bull
Duration: Self-paced
Who It’s For: Beginners and Intermediate
Raging Bull offers a variety of free trading webinars and educational resources for beginners and intermediate traders. The platform focuses on day trading and swing trading, providing insights into strategies, market analysis, and trading psychology. It’s a great option if you’re looking for more hands-on, practical advice in your free online trading courses.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re thinking about getting into trading, why not check out some of those free online trading courses? They’re a great way to learn without spending a dime. You can pick up the basics and see if trading is something you really want to dive into.
Just keep in mind that it’s not a magic money-making scheme. It takes time to get the hang of things, and you’ll probably make some mistakes along the way—that’s part of the learning process. But with these free courses, you can start building your knowledge and confidence without any pressure. Just take your time, enjoy the learning journey, and see where it takes you. Who knows? You might just find a new passion!
