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Are free digital marketing certificates enough?

What Google, HubSpot and Meta certificates prove, what they cost, and how to use them alongside a course.

Compare: All comparisons | vs TAFE or RTO diploma | vs bootcamps | vs free certificates

Quick answer: Free certificates from Google Skillshop and HubSpot Academy are worth collecting, and the names are widely known. Most prove you understand one company's tools, and none is a nationally recognised Australian qualification. Collect them alongside a structured course like 20 Minute Marketing, which teaches the channels in sequence and gives you portfolio work to show.

Free and low cost certificates compared

CertificateCostWhat it coversGood to knowSource
Google Skillshop certifications, such as Google AdsFoundational certifications are free. Google says some exams will require a fee in futureGoogle's own productsGoogle Ads certifications are valid for one year[1] [2]
HubSpot Academy Digital Marketing certification"Completely free & online"Digital marketing basics, taught through HubSpotAbout 3 hours[3]
Meta Certified Digital Marketing AssociateUSD $49 exam voucherMeta's apps and adsA proctored exam, sold through Meta Blueprint's official Pearson VUE store[4]
Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Professional Certificate (Coursera)$49 USD a month in the US and Canada. No Australian price publishedBroad digital marketing and e-commerceAbout 6 months at 10 hours a week. Carries a US credit recommendation (ACE), not an Australian qualification[5]
Udemy certificates of completionVaries by courseWhatever the course coversUdemy says it "is not an accredited institution"[6]
20 Minute MarketingEssentials $499, Deluxe $799, Expert $999, paid once. Short courses $79 to $149SEO, Google Ads, social media, email and SMS, websites and AI tools, in sequenceCertificate of Completion plus a practice brief for your portfolio. Not a recognised qualificationCurrent price list

None of these certificates, including ours, is a nationally recognised Australian qualification.

What free certificates do better

  • They are free or close to it. Google Skillshop foundational certifications and HubSpot Academy cost nothing [1] [3].
  • The platform owner issued them. A Google Ads certification comes from Google. An employer who runs Google Ads knows exactly what it covers.
  • Some are properly examined. Meta's associate certification is a proctored exam [4].

Why we recommend collecting them alongside a course

Most free certificates prove you understand one company's tools. They do not show you how the channels fit together, or give you a piece of work to show. Certificates also expire: Google Ads certifications last one year [2].

A structured course fills those gaps. Ours teaches the channels in sequence, and each course ends with a practice brief you can put in a portfolio. The free certificates then back up what your portfolio shows.

A simple plan: course plus certificates

  • Learning Google Ads? Take our Google Ads course ($149), then sit the Google Ads certifications on Skillshop.
  • Learning social media? Take our Social Media course ($149), then consider the Meta associate exam (USD $49).
  • Starting from scratch? Take Essentials ($499) for the foundations, and add the free HubSpot Digital Marketing certification (about 3 hours).

Not sure which course fits? Use the course finder or see all courses.

Frequently asked questions

Is this course accredited?

No, and that's a deliberate choice. 20 Minute Marketing is not a registered training organisation, and our courses are not nationally recognised training.

Accreditation adds cost, and that cost would put practical digital marketing education out of reach for many people, especially young people starting out. It is also slow. The national Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication hasn't been updated since October 2020, while Google, Meta and the AI tools change every few months. We update our lessons when the platforms change, and every lesson is written by someone who runs digital marketing for two national brands.

If you need a qualification on the national register, a TAFE or RTO course is the right choice. If you want current, practical skills, a portfolio you can show an employer or client, and a Certificate of Completion, you're in the right place. Many learners also collect free certificates from Google and HubSpot alongside our courses.

Is the Google digital marketing certificate enough to get a job?

On its own it shows you know Google's tools, which is useful. In our view most hiring managers also want to see that you can do the work, which is what a portfolio shows. Collect the certificate and build the portfolio. Neither is an Australian recognised qualification.

Are Google certifications free?

Google says its foundational certifications on Skillshop are available free of charge, and that some exams will require a fee in future. Google Ads certifications are valid for one year.

Is Google Digital Garage still available?

No. Google moved Digital Garage into Skillshop and began retiring the old platform in early 2025. The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course continues on Skillshop.

Are Udemy certificates recognised?

Udemy says: "Udemy is not an accredited institution. Certificates demonstrate skills and accomplishments, but they cannot be used for formal accreditation."

Not sure where to start?

Answer three questions about your experience, your goal and your time, and we will point you to the right course.

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Sources, checked 28 September 2026 unless marked

Prices and course details were read on each provider's own website on the date shown. Prices change, so check the provider's page before you decide. Figures shown to the cent on a provider's page are rounded to the nearest dollar here.

  1. Google Skillshop Help, certifications (foundational certifications free of charge). https://support.google.com/skillshop/answer/14746215, checked 28 September 2026.
  2. Google Ads Help, Google Ads certification (valid one year). https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9702955?hl=en, checked 28 September 2026.
  3. HubSpot Academy, certification overview. https://academy.hubspot.com/certification-overview, checked 28 September 2026.
  4. Meta Blueprint exam voucher store (run by Pearson VUE for Meta Blueprint), Meta Certified Associate exam voucher. https://facebook-blueprintglobal1.pearsonvue.com/facebook-certified-associate-exam-voucher/p/FBVCH-CA, checked 28 September 2026.
  5. Coursera, Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Professional Certificate. https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-digital-marketing-ecommerce, checked 28 September 2026.
  6. Udemy Support, Certificates of Completion FAQ. https://support.udemy.com/hc/en-us/articles/14291607637015-Certificates-of-Completion-Frequently-Asked-Questions, checked 28 September 2026.
  7. Google Skillshop Help, legacy Digital Garage certificates. https://support.google.com/skillshop/answer/18077120?hl=en, checked 25 September 2026.

Compare: All comparisons | vs TAFE or RTO diploma | vs bootcamps | vs free certificates