New courses get created, older courses get monetized, so here's the up-to-date list you need in 2026 to learn SQL as a beginner - entirely FREE (at the moment of posting this).
Newest & Trending
freeCodeCamp - Relational Databases Certification - Significantly refreshed in 2025, interactive command-line based learning, the most "hands-on" developer experience.
Data with Baraa - YouTube playlists:
- Newest one (2025)
- These are a bit older but also new: one and another - New and trending extensive YouTube playlists of long-form videos, as a free version of Baraa's content on his website.
Udemy - free SQL courses (only those entirely free, rating above 4 stars)
- Newest (created in 2025): SQL basics for beginners, Hands-on introduction to SQL with PostgreSQL, Free SQL course for beginners
- Up to 5 years old: Learn SQL / MySQL database basics, EssentialSQL: Get Started Learning SQL, Beginner's Introduction to SQL and Databases, Beginners Introduction to SQL and Database Part II, Fundamentals of SQL, SQL Beginner's Level Course, SQL for beginners - Microsoft SQL Server - Collection of self-paced video courses covering various SQL dialects (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server), offering flexibility and multiple teaching styles, though quality and depth vary significantly between instructors and some courses may lack comprehensive coverage.
Skillup - SQL course (Free for 90 days, completion certificate) - Structured online course with video lectures and hands-on exercises, offering a completion certificate and professional format similar to paid courses, though the 90-day access limit requires focused learning and may not suit those preferring self-paced long-term study.
Approved & Still New
roadmap.sh - interactive course - AI-powered interactive chat-based learning experience that adapts to your pace and questions, offering a modern conversational approach to SQL fundamentals, though it may lack the depth and structured progression of traditional courses.
Harvard University - CS50's Introduction to Databases with SQL (Closes on 31st Dec 2025) - Academic-quality course with video lectures, problem sets, and projects following Harvard's CS50 teaching style, offering rigorous database design and SQL fundamentals, though it requires significant time commitment and closes enrollment at the end of 2025.
Alex The Analyst - YouTube video "Learn SQL Beginner to Advanced in Under 4 Hours" - Condensed single-video format covering SQL fundamentals to advanced topics in under 4 hours, ideal for quick overview or review, though the fast pace may be overwhelming for complete beginners and lacks hands-on practice opportunities.
Coursera:
- University of Michigan - Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)
- University of Colorado Boulder - The Structured Query Language (SQL)
Academic courses with video lectures and assignments covering SQL syntax, database design, and data analysis techniques, offering structured university-level content with flexible scheduling, though certificates and graded assignments require payment (all course materials are free in audit mode).
Old but Gold
Khan Academy - Intro to SQL Web version and a YouTube playlist - Free interactive web-based lessons with embedded challenges and auto-feedback, offering a beginner-friendly introduction to SQL basics with immediate practice, though it focuses on fundamentals and may not cover advanced topics or real-world database systems.
SQLBolt - Introduction to SQL - Browser-based interactive tutorial with progressive lessons and immediate practice exercises, offering a quick and practical way to learn SQL fundamentals directly in your browser without setup, though it lacks formal certification and may not cover advanced database administration topics.
Special mentions
Bro Code - YouTube playlist, viral in 2024 - Popular YouTube playlist format with step-by-step video tutorials covering SQL basics, offering an accessible and free learning path that gained viral popularity in 2023, though it may lack structured progression and hands-on projects compared to formal courses.
SQLZoo - Interactive SQL Tutorial - Free interactive tutorial with progressive exercises using real-world statistics and Nobel Prize data, offering a systematic approach that has been a gold standard for over two decades, though the interface may feel dated compared to modern platforms.
W3Schools - SQL Tutorial - Free comprehensive reference and tutorial with live code sandboxes, offering a dependable resource for quick lookups and learning SQL syntax, though it functions more as a reference guide than a structured course with progression.
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