Best Google Ads Courses in 2027 (Free & Paid, Compared)

By Corey Frankosky · Last Updated October 26, 2026

The best Google Ads courses in 2027 are Google Skillshop if you want the free official certification, Isaac Rudansky's Udemy course if you want the deepest low-cost video training, and LinkedIn Learning's Google Ads Essential Training if you want a quick primer. If you run a local business and want a practitioner's process, my own course is an option too.

I checked every course page myself in October 2026. Below you will find a comparison table, a short review of each Google Ads course, what the certification exam requires, and how to pick the right Google Ads training for you.

1Best Google Ads Courses at a Glance

"Not listed" means the course page did not show that detail when I checked it. Prices change often, so confirm them before you buy.

Question to Answer:

Do you need a certificate you can show an employer, or do you just need to run your own account well?

2Free Google Ads Courses

If you want a free Google Ads course, start here.

Google Skillshop: Google Ads Learning Paths and Certifications

What it covers: Skillshop is Google's own training site, and it describes itself as "Free Google Ads training for every kind of advertiser." It lists five Google Ads certifications: Search, Display, Measurement, Video and AI-powered Shopping Ads. Each path is self-paced and ends in an online assessment.

Best for: Anyone who wants Google's own credential, and agencies that need certified strategists for Google Partner status.

Honest limitation: It teaches Google's product view and Google's best practices, not independent strategy. The certification also expires after one year, so you will retake the assessment every year.

Free PPC Course and Google Ads Training Videos (Surfside PPC)

This is my course. The free PPC course is "Seven modules and nineteen lessons, start to finish," delivered as YouTube videos you can take in order or jump around in. It covers Google Ads basics and strategy, keyword research, conversion tracking, bidding and budget, ads and CTR, and optimization and cleanup applied to a real business. There is no email required for the core lessons. Only the two bonus videos ask for an email.

Best for: Small business owners running their own ads, new PPC managers, freelancers, and people who tried Google Ads once and quit.

Honest limitation: There is no certificate and no community. The page says "Updated 2026," and it notes a few deeper lessons are older where the mechanics have not changed.

Question to Answer:

Could a free course cover what you need before you spend money on paid Google Ads training?

3Paid Google Ads Training on Udemy

Udemy courses are one-time purchases, and both pages list lifetime access and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Ultimate 2026 Google Ads Training: Profit with Pay Per Click (Isaac Rudansky)

What it covers: This is the big one. The course page lists 31 sections, 204 lectures and 35 hours 19 minutes of video. It covers account fundamentals, keywords and search terms, audience targeting, ad copy, bidding strategies, conversion tracking, remarketing, and Performance Max, Demand Gen and YouTube advertising. It was last updated in January 2026, and it is rated 4.5 out of 5 from 55,587 ratings with 239,637 students. When I checked on October 26, 2026, it was $22.99 on sale with a $149.99 list price.

Best for: Self-learners who want a long, deep video course for a low price.

Honest limitation: It is very long and has been refreshed in parts over time, so some sections are newer than others. It also includes a lecture offering a complimentary account audit from the instructor's agency, AdVenture Media.

Ultimate 2026 Google Ads Training: Step by Step Process (Yassine Rochd)

What it covers: This shorter Udemy course runs 5 sections, 29 lectures and 3 hours 27 minutes. It covers account structure, bidding, keywords and match types, ad writing, Quality Score and conversion tracking. The page says no prior knowledge of Google Ads is needed. It was last updated in June 2026 and is rated 4.6 from 176 ratings. No price showed on the page when I checked.

Best for: Beginners who want a short overview they can finish in an afternoon.

Honest limitation: It is small and new, with 176 ratings, and the basics lean heavily on Search. Deeper topics like Performance Max are not listed in the curriculum.

Question to Answer:

Do you have the time to finish a 35-hour course, or would a 3-hour overview get you started faster?

4Subscription Courses: Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

These three come with a platform subscription you may already have.

Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate (Coursera)

What it covers: This is a series of 8 courses from Google, with "over 190 hours of instruction and practice-based assessments," according to the Coursera page. It covers the marketing funnel, SEO, SEM and display ads, social media, email, analytics and running an e-commerce store. In the US and Canada it is $49 per month after a 7-day free trial, and the page says most learners finish for less than $300.

Best for: Career changers who want a broad entry-level digital marketing credential.

Honest limitation: It is not really a Google Ads course. The paid search content sits mostly in one 4-hour module, "Search engine marketing (SEM) and display advertising," inside Course 2. That is roughly 4 of 190+ hours.

Digital Marketing & Paid Search Specialist Specialization (EDUCBA on Coursera)

What it covers: A 4-course beginner series from EDUCBA. The first two courses cover marketing fundamentals. The second half includes "Apply Google Ads for Campaign Setup and Optimization" and "Master Advanced Google Ads Optimization Strategies," with bidding, forecasting, automation and reporting. It is included with Coursera Plus, the FAQ says you cannot take it for free, and it was updated in August 2026.

Best for: Coursera Plus subscribers who want a structured Google Ads track with a certificate.

Honest limitation: No rating or review count is shown, half the series is general marketing, and it comes from a training company rather than Google or a known practitioner. The page also gives two different lengths, 4 weeks and 11 to 12 weeks.

Google Ads Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning)

What it covers: Brad Batesole's 2 hour 24 minute course covers pay-per-click basics, keyword research and targeting, building your first campaign and ad, tracking and monitoring, and key optimization strategies. It is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 1,117 ratings and includes a LinkedIn Learning certificate of completion. Access comes with a subscription, which starts with a 1-month free trial.

Best for: People who already have LinkedIn Learning or LinkedIn Premium and want a quick primer.

Honest limitation: It was released on October 17, 2024, which makes it the oldest course on this list, and it is short.

Question to Answer:

Are you already paying for Coursera Plus or LinkedIn Learning, and would one of these courses fill your gap?

5The Surfside PPC Google Ads Course

This is my course. It is not better than every course here. It suits a specific kind of learner.

What it covers: The Surfside PPC Google Ads Course 2027 is $49 for 12 months of access. It has 9 main modules plus 3 bonus modules of on-demand video, and it covers the current Google Ads platform, including Performance Max, Smart Bidding and conversion tracking with Google Tag Manager. You also get my Digital Marketing Course at no extra cost, a private community for questions, new modules as they are added, and an archived lesson library from the previous version.

Best for: Local business owners and beginners who want a practitioner's step-by-step process. It is built around running a real account, not around passing an exam.

Honest limitation: Access is 12 months, not lifetime. There is no certificate and no public rating on the page. If you need a credential for a job application, Skillshop or a Coursera certificate will serve you better. You can see everything included on the Surfside PPC training page, and I wrote more about what to look for in a Google Ads course here.

Question to Answer:

Are you trying to earn a credential, or are you trying to get leads from your own account?

6The Google Ads Certification Course and Exam

If you want a Google Ads certification course, the only official credential comes from Skillshop, and the training is free. Here is what Google says about the assessment itself:

• Passing score: You need 80% or greater to pass, per Google Ads Help.
• Time limit: You have 75 minutes, and the timer cannot be paused (Google Ads Help).
• Retakes: If you do not pass, you can retake the assessment one day later (Google Ads Help).
• Validity: Skillshop certifications are valid for one year from the date of certification (Skillshop Help).
• Renewal: You renew by retaking and passing the assessment. The recertification window starts 30 days before your certification expires, and you cannot retake an active certification before that window (Skillshop Help).

Do Google Partners need certified users? Yes. Certifications are one of the three requirement categories for Partner status, alongside performance and spend. Google requires "a minimum of 50% of your account strategists certified in Google Ads (capped at 100 users)," with at least one certification in each product area that has $500 USD or more in campaign spend over 90 days (Google Ads Help). The qualifying certifications are Apps, Display, Search, Video and Shopping ads. Google Ads Professional certifications do not count, and each person's Skillshop account must be linked to their Google Ads user email (Google Ads Help).

For study tips and which certification to take first, read my full Google Ads certification guide.

Question to Answer:

Does your job or your agency's Partner status actually require a Google certification?

7How to Choose the Best Google Ads Course for You

Match the course to your goal. Here is how I would decide.

1. You need a credential. Take the free Skillshop path and pass the Search certification first.
2. You want depth on a budget. Isaac Rudansky's Udemy course has the most hours on this list. Wait for a Udemy sale.
3. You want a fast overview. LinkedIn Learning's 2 hour 24 minute course or Yassine Rochd's 3.5 hour Udemy course will get you through the basics quickly.
4. You run a local business and manage your own ads. Start with my free PPC course. If you want the full process plus a community to ask questions, the paid course is $49 for 12 months.
5. You already pay for a platform. Use what you have. Coursera Plus covers the EDUCBA track, and LinkedIn Premium covers Google Ads Essential Training.

Keep in mind, no course replaces time inside a live account. Whatever you pick, set up conversion tracking first and practice on a small budget while you learn.

Question to Answer:

Which of these five situations sounds the most like you right now?

8Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free Google Ads course?

Google Skillshop is the best free Google Ads course if you want the official certification. If you want a practitioner's step-by-step walkthrough instead, the Surfside PPC free PPC course has seven modules and nineteen lessons with no email required for the core lessons.

Is the Google Ads certification worth it?

It is worth it if you work at an agency or want a credential for job applications. Google Partner status requires at least 50% of account strategists to be certified. If you only manage your own account, practical training will help you more than the certificate.

How long is the Google Ads certification valid?

Skillshop certifications are valid for one year. You can renew by retaking and passing the assessment during the window that starts 30 days before your certification expires.

What score do you need to pass the Google Ads certification exam?

You need a score of 80% or greater, and you have 75 minutes to finish. If you do not pass, you can retake the assessment one day later.

Which Google Ads course is best for beginners?

For a short start, LinkedIn Learning's Google Ads Essential Training runs 2 hours 24 minutes and Yassine Rochd's Udemy course runs 3 hours 27 minutes. For local business owners who want a full process, the Surfside PPC course is $49 for 12 months.

9Sources

All pages were checked in October 2026. Prices, ratings and student counts change often.

• Google, Skillshop: "Free Google Ads training for every kind of advertiser," https://skillshop.withgoogle.com/googleads, checked October 2026.
• Google, Google Ads Help: "About Google Ads certifications," https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9702955?hl=en, checked October 2026.
• Google, Skillshop Help: "Digital badges for Skillshop Google Ads/GMP/GA," https://support.google.com/skillshop/answer/14739507, checked October 2026.
• Google, Google Ads Help: "How to become a Google Partner or Premier Partner," https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9702452?hl=en, checked October 2026.
• Google, Google Ads Help: "About the User certifications page in Google Partners," https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9702278?hl=en, checked October 2026.
• Coursera: "Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate," https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-digital-marketing-ecommerce, checked October 2026.
• Coursera: "Attract and Engage Customers with Digital Marketing," https://www.coursera.org/learn/attract-and-engage-customers, checked October 2026.
• Coursera: "Digital Marketing & Paid Search Specialist Specialization," https://www.coursera.org/specializations/digital-marketing-paid-search-specialist, checked October 2026.
• Udemy: "Ultimate 2026 Google Ads Training: Profit with Pay Per Click," https://www.udemy.com/course/the-ultimate-google-adwords-training-course/, checked October 2026.
• Udemy: "Ultimate 2026 Google Ads Training: Step by Step Process," https://www.udemy.com/course/ultimate-google-ads-training/, checked October 2026.
• LinkedIn Learning: "Google Ads Essential Training," https://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-ads-essential-training-20147240, checked October 2026.
• Surfside PPC: "Google Ads Course 2027," https://surfsideppc.com/products/google-ads-course, checked October 2026.
• Surfside PPC: "Free PPC Course: Learn Google Ads From Scratch," https://surfsideppc.com/pages/free-ppc-course, checked October 2026.