Who Actually Issues This
Every credential here is awarded by the provider you see next to it, under that provider's own rules — not by Zuyini. We don't issue anything in this section; we just find it, verify it's real, and show you exactly what you'd be earning.
Credential Taxonomy — Exactly as Each Provider Names It
Provider Certification
$0 to earnThe provider calls this a certification in their own words, and you'll need to pass an exam or assessment to earn it.
Verified Micro-Credential
Provider-issuedA focused, hands-on skill the provider verifies directly — through a lab assessment, a skill badge or a superbadge.
University Course Certificate
Not a degreeA certificate from the university or course team for completing the coursework or assessment. It's real, but it isn't a degree.
Completion Certificate / Badge
Not a certificationThe provider's record that you finished the course or hit a milestone — useful proof, but not a certification.
Worth Knowing
Google's Professional Agentic Architect Certification exam itself isn't free — it's currently $120 at the discounted beta rate, down from $200. What is free is the Google Skills Starter tier: 35 credits a month, limited hands-on labs, and skill badges. That's the free layer listed below; the paid exam isn't part of our $0 list.
Verified Providers
Microsoft
Applied SkillsIBM
SkillsBuildHubSpot
Academy CertificationsHarvard
CS50Univ. Helsinki
MOOCsAWS
EducateOpen University
OpenLearnHP Foundation
HP LIFEKaggle
Learn CertificatesSalesforce
Trailhead SuperbadgesNo credentials match that search — try a different term, provider or type.
Free CertificationsFree Provider Certifications
Google Skillshop + HubSpot Academy
These are provider-issued certifications whose official pages currently list them as free. Programs change, so it's worth checking the provider's page again before you enroll.
Google Skillshop — Google-Issued Certifications
Google Ads Display Certification
Create and optimize Google Display campaigns.
Google Ads Measurement Certification
Measure advertising performance and optimize against goals.
Google Analytics Certification
Validate Google Analytics / GA4 knowledge and interpretation.
AI-Powered Shopping Ads Certification
Demonstrate Shopping / AI-powered commerce advertising knowledge.
HubSpot Academy — Free Certification Courses
Digital Marketing Certification
Digital strategy, SEO, content, email, social and advertising.
Social Media Marketing Certification
Social strategy, content, reach, community and ROI.
Inbound Marketing Certification
Customer-centric inbound content, nurturing and automation.
Inbound Certification
Inbound methodology, flywheel, personas and buyer journey.
Content Marketing Certification
Content strategy, creation, repurposing, promotion and analysis.
Inbound Sales Certification
Identify, connect, explore and advise modern buyers.
Heads up: a few HubSpot software-product certifications require paid product access for the practical exercises. Those are left off this $0 list unless the credential can actually be earned without the paid tier.
Micro-CredentialsVerified Micro-Credentials
Microsoft Applied Skills + Google Skills
Hands-on proof beyond course completion.
Microsoft Applied Skills — Microsoft-Verified, Lab-Based
Microsoft describes Applied Skills as scenario-based micro-credentials earned through interactive lab assessments. Microsoft explicitly identified the AI-focused credentials below as free in its 2026 Credentials AI Challenge.
Create agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio
Build and configure an agent with knowledge, topics and tools.
Generate reports with AI research agents
Use AI research agents to scope, refine and finalize business reports.
Streamline business workflows with AI chat
Apply Microsoft Copilot Chat to business workflows.
Enhance agents with autonomous capabilities
Production-focused agent knowledge, tools and autonomous flows.
Develop an agent with integrated tools
Create an AI agent in Microsoft Foundry and integrate tools.
Google Skills' Starter tier is no-cost and currently includes 35 free credits a month, limited hands-on labs, and the ability to earn skill badges across levels. Those badges count as real, provider-issued micro-credentials — separate from the paid professional certification exam.
Digital BadgesDigital Badges & Skills
IBM + AWS + Salesforce
Free provider credentials with practical skill evidence.
IBM SkillsBuild — 100% Free Learning + IBM Digital Credentials
IBM SkillsBuild states that its learning is 100% free. The catalog labels many courses and pathways with “Earn a digital credential!”
Getting Started with Generative AI
Foundations, ethics and large language models.
Craft Precise Prompts for AI Models
Prompt engineering and model interaction.
Intelligent by Design: Build an AI Agent
Agent design and implementation.
Cloud Computing Fundamentals
Cloud concepts and foundational architecture.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Foundational cybersecurity knowledge and practices.
University-IssuedFree University Course Certificates
Harvard CS50 + University of Helsinki
Harvard CS50 — Free CS50 Certificate Track
CS50 states that its courses offer a free CS50 certificate, distinct from the paid edX verified certificate. Learners earn the free certificate by meeting the course requirements.
CS50x — Introduction to Computer Science
Flagship computer science foundations.
CS50P — Introduction to Programming with Python
Python programming and problem solving.
CS50 AI — Artificial Intelligence with Python
Search, knowledge, uncertainty, optimization, learning and language.
CS50 SQL — Introduction to Databases with SQL
Relational database design, querying and optimization.
CS50 Cybersecurity
Accounts, data, systems, software, network security and privacy.
CS50 Web — Web Programming with Python & JavaScript
Web apps, APIs, databases, front-end and back-end development.
University of Helsinki — Free Course Certificates
Full Stack Open
Modern web development with React, Node, APIs, GraphQL, testing, TypeScript, containers and more. The course is totally free; the course certificate and even eligible ECTS credits can be free.
Python Programming MOOC 2026
Introduction + Advanced Programming. Learners who obtain a passing grade can download a University of Helsinki course certificate; no university user account is required to study.
Completion ProofFree Completion Proof
OpenLearn + HP LIFE + Kaggle
World-class learning with provider-issued proof of completion.
The Open University — OpenLearn
Nearly 1,000 free courses. The Open University says every OpenLearn course can earn a free Statement of Participation, and some courses additionally award a free OU-branded digital badge after quiz requirements. These are valuable CPD/learning records but do not carry formal university credit.
HP LIFE — HP Foundation
30+ free business and digital-skills courses. HP LIFE states that its courses are free and that learners receive a free Certificate of Completion each time they finish a course. Current categories include Communication, Digital Business Skills, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing and Professional Development.
Kaggle Learn — Completion Certificates
Kaggle says learners earn a completion certificate for every Learn course they finish. Use these as practical data/ML evidence, especially when paired with a notebook or competition project. Popular skill areas include Python, Pandas, SQL, Intro to Machine Learning, Intermediate ML, Data Visualization, Deep Learning, Computer Vision and Feature Engineering.
On your resume or LinkedIn, use the credential's exact name — for example “Microsoft Applied Skills: Generate reports with AI research agents,” not “Microsoft Certified AI Engineer.” The same goes for an OpenLearn Statement of Participation, a Kaggle completion certificate, an AWS badge or a Salesforce Superbadge: list it as what it is, not as a professional certification.
Role StackingCredential-to-Role Stacks
Pair external proof with Zuyini role mastery and a portfolio artifact
A good stack isn't random: start with your target role, add one or two credentials that prove you know its actual tools or domain, then finish with a capstone that shows you can apply the skill.
AI / Agent Engineer
IBM AI Fundamentals → IBM Build an AI Agent → Microsoft Applied Skills → Google Skills badges → Zuyini AI Engineer / Agent Mastery.
Software / Full-Stack Engineer
Harvard CS50x or CS50P → University of Helsinki Full Stack Open → Zuyini Software Developer / Full-Stack Engineer.
Data / ML
Kaggle Learn certificates → IBM Data Fundamentals → Zuyini Data Scientist / ML Engineer → portfolio notebook or deployed model.
Cloud / Platform
AWS Educate badges → IBM Cloud Computing Fundamentals → Zuyini Cloud / Platform Engineer → deployed service + SLO/runbook.
Cybersecurity
Harvard CS50 Cybersecurity → IBM Cybersecurity Fundamentals → Zuyini Security Engineer → authorized threat model / lab evidence.
Marketing / Growth
Google Ads + Google Analytics certifications → HubSpot Digital / Inbound certifications → Zuyini Digital Marketing / Growth PM.
CRM / Agentforce
Salesforce Trailhead Superbadges → Zuyini CRM Engineer / Salesforce Agentforce path → hands-on automation / agent artifact.
Business / Entrepreneurship
HP LIFE certificates → HubSpot Inbound / Sales → Zuyini Mini MBA / Entrepreneurship / Business Management capstone.
How We Verify Every Listing
- We link to each provider's own official page, not a reseller or aggregator.
- We confirm the credential itself is free, not just the training that leads up to it.
- We label every credential by its real type — certification, micro-credential, course certificate or badge — and never blur the four.
- We flag hidden costs up front: subscriptions, lab credits, paid product tiers or exam fees.
- We re-check every link and price before each update to this directory.
- We use the provider's exact credential name — never a rebranded or embellished version.
- We pair every credential with real hands-on proof, so this stays skills-first, not badge-first.