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. Here’s a detailed overview of the best free Excel training courses to help you learn Microsoft Excel effectively.
1. Excel Efficiency Essentials by Financial Edge Training
Provider: Financial Edge Training
Duration: Self-paced
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
This concise and practical course is designed to boost your efficiency in Excel. It covers essential shortcuts, tips, and tricks to help you work faster and more effectively with Excel. 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
This course from Macquarie University is part of a broader Excel Skills for Business specialization. It 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: 12h 50m of content
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
LinkedIn Learning offers a comprehensive course that covers a wide range of topics, from basic functions to advanced data analysis and visualization. This course is ideal for those who want to master various aspects of Excel.
4. Useful Excel for Beginners
Provider: Udemy
Duration: 9hr 38min
Level: Beginner
This course is specifically designed for beginners, making it easy to follow and practice along with downloadable files. It’s perfect for those who need a refresher in Excel fundamentals or are new to the application.
5. Excel Fundamentals for Data Analysis by IBM
Provider: Coursera (IBM)
Duration: 4 weeks, 2–4 hours per week
Level: Beginner
This course provides a solid foundation in using Excel for data analysis. It covers essential skills such as 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.
Additional Free Resources
1. GoSkills & HubSpot Academy Excel for Marketers Course
This course is designed to help you quickly get up to speed with Excel’s most common formulas, functions, and shortcuts. It’s perfect for marketers, business owners, and other professionals who need a refresher in Excel fundamentals. The course can be completed in under two hours and offers a certificate of achievement.
2. Microsoft’s Excel for Windows Training
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.
3. The Spreadsheet Page
The Spreadsheet Page offers professionally designed Excel templates that you can download and customize for personal, business, and educational purposes. The site provides step-by-step instructions for performing data validation, adding filters and conditional formatting, designing charts, creating PivotTables, running functions, and more. Debra Dalgleish, a Microsoft Excel Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award recipient, has built hundreds of Excel solutions for clients as a consultant.
4. Chandoo.org
Chandoo.org is another fantastic resource for learning Excel at no cost. The site includes 16 easy-to-digest Excel tutorial videos, downloadable exercise files, and reference guides. It also offers unlimited quiz and test attempts, along with a certificate of completion. This course is designed to help beginners quickly learn the most common formulas, functions, and tools they need to handle everyday Excel tasks with ease.
5. Trump Excel
Trump Excel is a tutorial site created by Sumit Bansal, a Microsoft Excel MVP award winner. The site offers a huge number of free Excel tutorials and videos, including 100+ Excel functions with examples and videos, Excel tips to boost productivity, Excel VBA tips to automate repetitive tasks, and Excel charting tips. Additionally, there are free courses on topics like Excel Power Query, VBA, Dashboard, and a comprehensive Excel training made up of 12+ hours of basic and advanced videos.
6. Introduction to MS Excel by Simplilearn
Simplilearn offers a free training course that includes seven hours of self-paced video lessons. This course is great for beginners and covers essential spreadsheet features, how to automate activities, analyze data, create reports, and use Excel for real-world tasks. It also offers a shareable certificate once you complete the course.
Tips for Learning Excel Quickly
- Start with the Basics: Begin with beginner courses that cover essential functions and features of Excel.
- Practice Regularly: Downloadable exercise files and practice worksheets can help you apply new knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Use Free Resources: Utilize free resources like templates, shortcuts, and add-ins to work smarter and save time.
- Focus on Practical Skills: Learn practical skills such as data manipulation, basic functions and formulas, and introductory data visualization.
- Join Online Communities: Participate in online communities and forums to get tips and advice from experienced users.
By following these tips and using the free online Excel training courses mentioned above, you can master Microsoft Excel and enhance your productivity and professional opportunities.
Conclusion
Mastering Microsoft Excel is a valuable skill that can significantly enhance your productivity and open up numerous professional opportunities. With the abundance of high-quality, free online Excel courses available, there’s no excuse not to start learning today. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your intermediate skills, these courses will help you learn Microsoft Excel effectively and efficiently. So, dive into these courses and take your Excel skills to the next level without spending a penny!
For more in-depth Excel knowledge, check out our other helpful resources like Master Microsoft Excel: Your Comprehensive Guide to Office Excel Training Resources and Comprehensive Excel Course from Beginner to Advanced Mastery.
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Next Steps
- Enroll in Free Courses: Choose a course from the list provided in this article that matches your current skill level. For instance, consider Excel Skills for Business: Essentials by Macquarie University for a comprehensive beginner experience.
- Practice with Downloadable Files: Make use of the practice materials included in the courses to apply what you’ve learned. Regular practice will help solidify your skills.
- Explore Additional Resources: Enhance your learning by visiting sites like Chandoo.org for free tutorials or Microsoft’s Excel for Windows Training for structured lessons.
- Join Online Communities: Engage with online forums such as Reddit’s Excel Community and LinkedIn Groups where you can ask questions and share tips with fellow Excel learners.
- Stay Updated: Keep an eye on current free Excel training options by visiting platforms like FE Training for the latest courses available.
