Best Free Cybersecurity Courses in 2026 (with Certificate and in English)
Yes, there are completely free cybersecurity courses with included certificates available in Spanish. These are not filler materials — they are programs from institutions like Google, Cisco, IBM or Accenture, accessible from your browser at no initial cost.
Why learn cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is no longer an exclusive topic for technicians. Today it affects anyone who has email, online banking or social media. Phishing, password theft and identity fraud are everyday threats.
Understanding the fundamentals to protect yourself has real value — and the demand for profiles with digital security knowledge keeps growing.
Free and with certificate: what it really means
Some courses are free to study but charge for the certificate — this is Coursera's audit model. Others include it at no extra cost upon program completion.
A certificate from Google, Cisco, IBM or Accenture has real recognition. It does not equal an official degree, but demonstrates that you completed structured training from a known institution.
Google / Coursera
Google offers two different formats within Coursera: an introductory 10-hour course and a 6-month professional certificate focused on employability. The first is ideal for understanding key concepts. The second is designed for those who want to work in cybersecurity.
Content is available in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Portuguese. Auditing is free — you only pay if you want the official certificate. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ High recognition. Clear structure. Available in multiple languages.
⚠️ The certificate has a cost. The 6-month program requires real commitment — not for starting from zero without clear motivation.
Cisco NetAcad
Cisco offers the most complete catalog available in Spanish. From a 6-hour introduction to 70-hour courses on complete fundamentals or ethical hacking. It also includes training in network defense, endpoint security and threat management.
The certificate is free upon completion of each course. Available in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese — some courses also in German and Italian. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ The most complete catalog. Free certificate. Clear level progression.
⚠️ Some courses are long — 70 hours require planning. The platform can be somewhat technical for users without previous background.
Accenture Foundation
Accenture offers four free courses through its training portal. They cover fundamentals at two levels, cloud security and safe browsing. These are the shortest on the list — between 1.5 and 8 hours — and are available in six languages including Spanish, German, French, Italian and Portuguese.
They include completion certificate. Access is public and has no prior requirements. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ Short courses, ideal to start. Six languages. No requirements.
⚠️ Certificate recognition is lower than Google or Cisco. No advanced progression within the platform.
Santander Open Academy
A single course aimed at non-technical users: "Digital security for your everyday life". Eight hours, in Spanish, English and Portuguese. The approach is practical — passwords, phishing, online shopping, mobile privacy.
Free certificate upon completion. Designed for those with no prior technical background. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ The most accessible for the basic user. Direct and applicable content.
⚠️ Only one course available. No option to deepen knowledge on the same platform.
IBM SkillsBuild
IBM offers a 6-hour cybersecurity analyst course, aimed at those who want to understand how a professional in the sector works. Available in Spanish, English, German, French and Portuguese.
The approach is more professional than technical — it covers real roles, tools and workflows in security teams. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ Real professional perspective. Good duration for the content it covers.
⚠️ Not the ideal starting point if you have no background — better after an introductory course.
Cibervoluntarios
Cibervoluntarios is a Spanish NGO with free training in Spanish. Its courses are the shortest on the list — one hour each — and cover very specific topics: cybersecurity fundamentals, digital threats, social media security and safe online shopping.
They are ideal for starting from zero without time commitment. Certificate included upon completion. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ The easiest entry point. One hour per topic. In Spanish. No requirements.
⚠️ Very introductory content — does not replace more comprehensive training if the goal is professional.
Academica.mx
Open academic platform with three courses available in Spanish: computer security, information security protocols for digital information and social engineering. Between 12 and 25 hours each. The approach is more academic and theoretical than the rest.
Free certificate upon completion. Only available in Spanish. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ Rigorous academic approach. Good complement for those who want theoretical depth.
⚠️ Spanish only. Less modern interface than other platforms.
Google Skillshop
Digital Skills for Professionals — 40 hours of training in digital skills with security module included. It is focused on employability and professional development, not exclusively on cybersecurity.
Free, in Spanish, with Google certificate upon completion. View available courses →
Holdtag Opinion
✅ Free Google certificate. Useful if the goal is to improve your professional profile in general.
⚠️ Cybersecurity is only part of the program — not specific security training.
Where to start according to your profile?
Not all courses are for the same starting point. These are the three most common cases:
Start with Cibervoluntarios — one hour per topic, no commitment. Then, Santander Open Academy for a more complete view of your digital everyday.
Cisco NetAcad: start with Introduction to Cybersecurity (6h) and continue with Cybersecurity Fundamentals (70h). Free certificate at each stage.
Google Professional Certificate in Coursera (6 months) + Cisco Ethical Hacker (70h). These are the two programs with the highest professional recognition on the list.
Is the certificate worth anything?
It depends on the goal. To better protect yourself in your daily life, the certificate does not matter — what matters is what you learn. For the job market, recognition varies greatly depending on the institution.
A certificate from Google or Cisco has real weight on LinkedIn and in company selection processes that value continuous learning. It is not equivalent to an official certification like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP, but it demonstrates initiative and structured knowledge.
Certificates from Accenture, Santander or Cibervoluntarios have less professional weight but are valid as evidence of complementary training.
VIEW ALL FREE ONLINE COURSES
Free online courses classified by level, duration and language
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to program to take these courses?
No. All basic-level courses on the list — Cibervoluntarios, Santander, Accenture, Cisco's introduction — are designed for people without technical knowledge. Only advanced courses like Cisco's Ethical Hacker assume prior background.
Do they work on mobile?
Yes. All platforms on the list work from your mobile browser. Some — like Coursera or Cisco NetAcad — have their own app that allows you to download content to view offline.
What level will I be at after completing a basic course?
With an introductory course you will be able to identify the most common threats, set up better passwords, recognize phishing attempts and protect your accounts with 2FA. You will not be a security professional, but you will be well above the average user.
Which is the best if I want to work in cybersecurity?
The Google Professional Certificate in Coursera is the most recognized to start with no prior experience. Complemented with Cisco's Ethical Hacker and IBM SkillsBuild course, you have a solid foundation to enter the sector. The next step would be official certifications like CompTIA Security+.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED
Free privacy and digital security tools
