1. Esri’s “GIS Basics” Course

• Provider: Esri (creators of ArcGIS)
• Duration: ~3 hours
• Cost: Free
• Focus: Intro to GIS, spatial data, and how GIS is used in real-world situations.
• Best For: Beginners using Esri/ArcGIS tools.

2. Coursera – “Fundamentals of GIS” (by UC Davis)

• Provider: Coursera / University of California, Davis
• Duration: ~4 weeks
• Cost: Free to audit (certificate costs extra)
• Tools Taught: ArcGIS
• Best For: Academic-style intro with hands-on projects

3. QGIS for Beginners (Udemy

• Provider: Udemy
• Duration: ~5 hours
• Cost: Often discounted to $10–20
• Focus: QGIS (Free, open-source alternative to ArcGIS)
• Best For: Practical GIS skills using free tools

4. OpenCourseWare – Penn State: “Geographic Information Systems”

• Provider: Penn State University
• Cost: Free (no certification)
• Format: Self-paced, university-level content
• Best For: Independent learners wanting depth

5. LinkedIn Learning – “Learning GIS”

• Provider: LinkedIn Learning
• Duration: ~1 hour
• Cost: Free trial available
• Focus: Overview of GIS tools and applications
• Best For: Quick intro before diving deeper