Top Free Online Courses to Learn Microsoft Excel

Mastering Microsoft Excel is a valuable skill that can significantly enhance your productivity and open up numerous professional opportunities. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your intermediate skills, there are plenty of high-quality, free online Excel courses available. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best options to help you get started with Excel for free.

1. Excel Efficiency Essentials by Financial Edge Training

• Provider: Financial Edge Training
• Duration: Self-paced
• Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Description: This course is designed to boost your efficiency in Excel by covering essential shortcuts, tips, and tricks. It’s perfect for both beginners and intermediate users looking to streamline their workflow and improve their productivity in handling spreadsheets.

2. Excel Skills for Business: Essentials by Macquarie University

• Provider: Coursera (Macquarie University)
• Duration: 6 weeks, 2-4 hours per week
• Level: Beginner
• Description: This course starts with the basics, covering essential functions and features of Excel, and gradually builds up to more complex tasks. You’ll learn how to create and format spreadsheets, use basic formulas, and manage data effectively. It’s an excellent starting point for anyone new to Excel.

3. LinkedIn Learning: Master Microsoft Excel

• Provider: LinkedIn
• Duration: 12 hours 50 minutes of content
• Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Description: This comprehensive course covers a wide range of topics, from basic functions to advanced data analysis and visualization. It’s perfect for those who want to master the full spectrum of Excel skills.

4. Excel Fundamentals for Data Analysis by IBM

• Provider: Coursera (IBM)
• Duration: 4 weeks, 2-4 hours per week
• Level: Beginner
• Description: This course provides a solid foundation in using Excel for data analysis. It covers essential skills like data manipulation, basic functions and formulas, and introductory data visualization. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped with the fundamental skills needed to perform basic data analysis tasks in Excel.

5. GoSkills & HubSpot Academy Excel for Marketers Course

• Provider: GoSkills and HubSpot Academy
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Level: Beginner
• Description: This course is designed for marketers and business professionals who need to quickly get up to speed with Excel’s most common formulas, functions, and shortcuts. It’s perfect for those who need a refresher in Excel fundamentals and offers a certificate of achievement upon completion.

Additional Resources

1. Microsoft’s Excel for Windows Training

• Provider: Microsoft
• Description: Microsoft offers a comprehensive training resource hub for all Microsoft Office applications, including Excel. The training includes free tutorials that cover the latest version of Excel, organized into functional learning modules. The videos are broken down into short topics and modules that are practical, straightforward, and easy to understand.

2. The Spreadsheet Page

• Provider: Contextures
• Description: This resource offers hundreds of downloadable spreadsheets that provide step-by-step instructions for performing data validation, adding filters and conditional formatting, designing charts, creating PivotTables, and running functions. It’s a great resource for both beginners and advanced users.

3. Chandoo.org

• Provider: Chandoo.org
• Description: This site provides 16 easy-to-digest Excel tutorial videos, downloadable exercise files, and reference guides. It includes unlimited quiz and test attempts and offers a certificate of completion. It’s designed to help beginners quickly learn the most common formulas, functions, and tools needed to handle everyday Excel tasks.

4. Trump Excel

• Provider: Trump Excel
• Description: This site offers numerous free Excel tutorials and videos, including topics like Excel functions, tips to boost productivity, VBA tips to automate repetitive tasks, charting tips, and dashboard tutorials. It also includes free courses on topics like Excel Power Query and VBA.

5. Introduction to MS Excel by Simplilearn

• Provider: Simplilearn
• Duration: 7 hours of self-paced video lessons
• Level: Beginner
• Description: This course is designed for beginners and covers essential spreadsheet features, how to automate activities, analyze data, create reports, and use Excel for real-world tasks. It offers a shareable certificate upon completion.

Tips for Learning Excel

• Start with the Basics: Begin with courses that cover the fundamentals of Excel, such as creating and formatting spreadsheets, using basic formulas, and managing data effectively.
• Practice with Templates: Use downloadable templates to practice your skills. Templates can help you apply new knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• Focus on Productivity: Courses like “Excel Efficiency Essentials” can help you learn time-saving shortcuts and tips to streamline your workflow.
• Explore Advanced Topics: Once you’ve mastered the basics, move on to more advanced topics like data analysis, visualization, and automation.
• Use Online Resources: Websites like Chandoo.org and Trump Excel offer a wealth of free resources, including tutorials, videos, and downloadable exercise files.

By following these tips and utilizing the free online courses mentioned above, you can significantly enhance your skills in Microsoft Excel and become more productive in your professional and personal endeavors. Happy learning!

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Related Reading

• Comprehensive Spreadsheet Training Courses for All Skill Levels
• Best Courses for Excel: Enhance Your Skills from Beginner to Advanced
• How to Learn Excel Fast for Free

Next Steps

1. Enroll in a Free Course: Choose one of the recommended free online courses mentioned in the article, such as Excel Skills for Business: Essentials by Macquarie University or Excel Efficiency Essentials by Financial Edge Training, to kickstart your learning journey.
2. Utilize Microsoft’s Training Resources: Head over to Microsoft’s Excel Training for comprehensive resources that cover everything from basics to advanced features. It’s a great way to complement your course learning.
3. Practice with Downloadable Templates: Download free templates from Chandoo.org or The Spreadsheet Page to apply what you learn in a practical context.
4. Join Online Forums: Participate in online Excel forums or communities, such as the Excel subreddit or the Excel Forum, where you can ask questions, share knowledge, and learn from others.
5. Explore Video Tutorials: Check out YouTube channels like ExcelIsFun for a vast array of tutorials that cover various Excel topics and can enhance your understanding and skills.