Free Resources
Study smarter withoutpaying for everything.
Explore free official training, video courses, practice questions, labs, tools, flashcards, and certification communities in one place.
Build a free study stack
Start with official material, then add practice.
Official vendor training
Start with the people who create the technology.
Official learning platforms are a strong first stop because they are closely connected to the technologies and certification objectives being studied.
Microsoft Certifications
Microsoft Learn
Official Microsoft learning paths, modules, practice assessments, and hands-on learning for Azure, Microsoft 365, security, data, and related certifications.
AWS Certifications
AWS Skill Builder
Official AWS digital training with free learning content covering cloud fundamentals, architecture, operations, security, and certification preparation.
Google Cloud Certifications
Google Cloud Skills Boost
Official Google Cloud learning with courses, skill paths, and hands-on cloud training.
CompTIA Certifications
CompTIA Exam Objectives
Use the official CompTIA exam objectives as a certification study checklist for exams such as A+, Network+, Security+, and others.
Cisco Certifications
Cisco Networking Academy
Official Cisco networking, cybersecurity, and Packet Tracer learning resources for foundational and certification-focused study.
Linux & Cloud-Native
Linux Foundation Training
Linux and open-source learning resources, including introductory material useful before Linux and cloud-native certifications.
Free video learning
Learn from established IT instructors.
CompTIA
Professor Messer
Free video courses aligned to major CompTIA exam objectives, especially A+, Network+, and Security+.
CCNA
Jeremy's IT Lab
Free CCNA-focused video lessons and Packet Tracer labs designed around Cisco networking concepts.
General IT Learning
NetworkChuck
Beginner-friendly videos covering networking, Linux, cybersecurity, cloud, and general IT skills.
Cybersecurity
TCM Security
Cybersecurity and ethical-hacking learning with practical security content and introductory training.
Practice tests and flashcards
Study the material first. Then test yourself.
Practice resources work best after you understand the exam objectives and core material.
Microsoft
Microsoft Practice Assessments
Free official practice assessments for supported Microsoft certification exams.
CompTIA Practice
OpenExamPrep
Free certification practice questions covering several CompTIA and other technology certifications.
Multi-Vendor Practice
CertSafari
Free certification practice material across cloud, networking, and other IT certification areas.
CompTIA Fundamentals
ExamCompass
Free practice quizzes commonly used for CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ review.
Cloud Certifications
Tutorials Dojo
Cloud certification training and free sample practice material for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
Flashcards
Anki
Free spaced-repetition flashcard software useful for commands, ports, terminology, acronyms, and exam facts.
Labs and tools
Turn exam knowledge into hands-on skill.
Build networks, virtual machines, containers, Linux systems, cloud environments, and cybersecurity labs while you study.
Networking Labs
Cisco Packet Tracer
Cisco network simulation software commonly used for CCNA and networking practice.
Advanced Networking
GNS3
Free network emulation platform for building more advanced multi-vendor networking labs.
Home Labs
VirtualBox
Free virtualization software for building Linux, Windows, networking, and server home labs.
DevOps & Containers
Docker
Container tooling useful for DevOps, cloud-native, Linux, Kubernetes, and application-platform learning.
Cybersecurity Labs
TryHackMe
Browser-based cybersecurity learning with free rooms covering security fundamentals, SOC topics, Linux, and offensive-security skills.
Security Skills
Hack The Box Academy
Hands-on cybersecurity learning covering Linux, enumeration, web security, penetration testing, and defensive skills.
Linux
Linux Journey
Free Linux learning covering command-line fundamentals, filesystems, processes, networking, and system concepts.
Security Operations
MITRE ATT&CK
Free cybersecurity knowledge base for adversary tactics and techniques used heavily in defensive-security study.
Communities
Learn from people pursuing the same goals.
Cisco Community
Cisco Learning Network
Cisco certification discussions, learning resources, technical communities, and certification guidance.
Community Discussion
Reddit IT Certification Communities
Certification communities can provide study experiences, exam discussions, resource recommendations, and peer support.
IT Certification Community
TechExams
Long-running certification and IT-career discussion community covering networking, cybersecurity, cloud, and professional development.
Free study does not always mean a free certification exam.
Many certification providers offer free learning resources while still charging for the certification exam itself. ThirdBadge separates study resources from exam costs so you know what is actually free.