Free Cybersecurity Certifications and Certificates That Are Still Free in Late 2026
As of October 2026, several genuinely free cybersecurity credentials remain: Cisco Networking Academy’s Introduction to Cybersecurity and Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path (free courses with Cisco badges), IBM SkillsBuild’s Cybersecurity Fundamentals badge, Fortinet NSE 1 (which replaced Fortinet Certified Fundamentals in July 2026), and Microsoft Applied Skills lab assessments, which Microsoft lists without an exam fee. The best-known free certification has gone: ISC2 closed its free Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) programme on 20 May 2026, and the exam now costs US$199. Many “free” options are free to learn but charge for the exam: Microsoft Learn paths, Cisco CCST (US$125) and the Google Cybersecurity Certificate (US$49 a month on Coursera). Free badges show learning; most job ads still ask for a paid, proctored certification, so use free credentials to prepare and to show initiative.
Lists of “free cybersecurity certifications” age fast, and several popular ones changed in 2026. This list was checked against each provider in October 2026 and separates three things that get blurred: credentials that are free, learning that is free but leads to a paid exam, and programmes that are no longer free.
Which cybersecurity certifications are still free?
| Credential | Provider | What is free | What it proves | Status (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Cybersecurity | Cisco Networking Academy | Course and Cisco badge for passing the final exam | Basic threats and defences | Free |
| Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path | Cisco Networking Academy | Self-paced path (about 120 hours) and a badge for the final exam | Network defence, cryptography, vulnerability assessment, incident response basics | Free; the CCST Cybersecurity exam it prepares for is US$125 |
| Cybersecurity Fundamentals | IBM SkillsBuild | Course and IBM digital badge (pass the assessment at 80%) | Threat actors, attack types, cryptography, detect-and-respond basics | Free |
| NSE 1: Cybersecurity and Cloud Fundamentals | Fortinet Training Institute | Self-paced course; certification on completion, no exam | Foundational security and cloud awareness | Free; replaced Fortinet Certified Fundamentals in July 2026 |
| Microsoft Applied Skills (e.g. Defend against cyberthreats with Microsoft Defender XDR) | Microsoft Learn | Interactive lab-based assessment launched from the credential page; no exam fee is listed | You can do specific tasks in Microsoft security tools | Available; individual credentials retire over time, so check the page |
| AI Agents Course certificate | Hugging Face | Course and certificates for the fundamentals unit and full completion | Building and evaluating AI agents (useful for AI security) | Free |
Which free programmes ended or changed in 2026?
- ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC). ISC2 ended its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity programme to new participants on 20 May 2026, after more than 65,000 people earned CC through it. Unexpired exam codes can be used until 31 December 2026. The exam is now US$199 in the Americas, plus US$50 a year once certified.
- Fortinet Certified Fundamentals. Replaced by NSE 1 in July 2026. NSE 1 is still free.
- CompTIA exam prices rose in mid-2026 (Security+, CySA+ and PenTest+ vouchers from US$425 to US$439). Not free, but it changes the budget for the step after a free badge.
Which options are free to learn but charge for the exam?
| Option | Free part | Paid part (Oct 2026) | Best for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn SC-900 and SC-200 paths | All learning paths | Certification exam fee (varies by country) | Microsoft-heavy employers | Vendor-specific |
| Cisco Networking Academy → CCST Cybersecurity | Course and badge | US$125 exam | Lowest-cost recognised exam | Less known than Security+ |
| Google Cybersecurity Certificate | 7-day trial; financial aid available | US$49/month on Coursera (US) | Guided start for complete beginners | A course certificate, not a proctored certification |
| AWS Skill Builder security learning plan | Digital courses | Most hands-on labs need a subscription; exams paid | Cloud and DevOps staff | Labs behind a paywall |
| TryHackMe, Hack The Box Academy, LetsDefend, Blue Team Labs Online | Free rooms, modules and challenges | Full libraries and their own certifications | Hands-on practice | Free tiers carry no certificate |
| PlayCISO | Browser labs, scanners and most tools | Pro US$5/month or US$40/year; Projects Certificate of Completion with any plan | Hands-on SOC, IR and leadership practice | Not an industry certification; no VM attack boxes |
Are free cybersecurity certificates worth it?
Yes, for learning and for showing initiative, as long as you are clear what they are. A free badge is usually an unproctored course assessment. Job filters mostly look for proctored certifications: in CyberSeek’s US data (514,359 cybersecurity postings, May 2024 to April 2025), the most requested were CISSP, Security+, CISA, CISM and GIAC certifications, all paid. The sensible route on a small budget:
- Earn two or three free badges that match your target role (for a SOC: Cisco Junior Cybersecurity Analyst and IBM Cybersecurity Fundamentals).
- Build hands-on evidence for free: browser labs, TryHackMe free rooms, LetsDefend’s free plan. Write up what you did.
- Sit one recognised exam when you can pass it first time: CCST Cybersecurity (US$125), ISC2 CC (US$199) or Security+ (US$439).
The Cyber Certification Roadmap has a $0 budget setting that builds this route and names the exam to take when it is funded.
How do you tell whether a “free certification” is really free?
- Is the exam free, or only the course?
- Is the free offer time-limited (a promotion, a closing programme, a trial)?
- Is there a renewal or maintenance fee after you pass?
- Is the credential proctored, and does it have a verification page an employer can check?
- When was the claim last checked? PlayCISO’s learning library prints its last review date for this reason.
Which free credentials fit which target role?
- SOC analyst: Cisco Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path and IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Fundamentals, plus the Microsoft Applied Skills Defender XDR assessment if the SOC runs Microsoft tools. Practise triage in the SOC Log Triage Trainer.
- Cloud security: Fortinet NSE 1 for the basics, then the free AWS Skill Builder or Microsoft Learn security paths. Practise in the Cloud Posture Lab.
- Application security: no badge is needed to start; PortSwigger’s Web Security Academy labs are free and respected. Practise token handling in the JWT Lab.
- GRC: read NIST CSF 2.0 (free) and work through the NIST CSF Toolkit and Risk Register; the paid step later is usually ISC2 CC or ISACA CISA.
- AI security: the Hugging Face AI Agents Course certificate and the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications (free reading).
Checklist: building a free-first certification path
- Pick the target role first; free badges are only useful if they point somewhere.
- Choose two free credentials from the table that match it.
- Do one hands-on lab a week and keep notes for interviews.
- Set aside money for one exam (US$125 to US$439 as of October 2026).
- Re-check prices and programme status on the provider’s site before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What cybersecurity certifications are still free in 2026?
As of October 2026: Cisco Networking Academy badges (Introduction to Cybersecurity; Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path), the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Fundamentals badge, Fortinet NSE 1, and Microsoft Applied Skills lab-based credentials such as Defend against cyberthreats with Microsoft Defender XDR. ISC2 CC is no longer free.
Is the ISC2 CC certification still free?
No. ISC2 closed its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity programme to new participants on 20 May 2026. Exam codes already issued and unexpired can be used until 31 December 2026. The exam is now US$199 in the Americas plus a US$50 annual maintenance fee once certified.
Are free cybersecurity certificates worth it for getting a job?
They help you learn, show initiative on a CV and prepare for a paid exam, but few job ads ask for them. In CyberSeek’s US data the most requested certifications are paid ones such as Security+ and CISSP. Use free badges plus hands-on lab work to get ready, then sit one recognised exam.
What is the difference between a free certificate and a certification?
A certificate (or badge) shows you completed a course or assessment, usually unproctored. A certification is a proctored exam from an independent body with renewal requirements, such as Security+ or CISSP. Employers and job filters mostly look for certifications.
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