Learn social media

The best way to learn social media, ranked by what employers ask for

102 of 7,767 live roles ask for social media. 5 courses and certificates compared: paid, free with a certificate, free, and trusted videos. The best free start is Social Media Marketing Certification (HubSpot Academy).

Live roles ask

102

1% of the board

Options compared

5

courses & certificates

Four ways to learn it

Social media, from certified programme to free video

The best option of each kind, ranked on how well-regarded it is, what it costs to finish with a certificate, and how squarely it teaches this. The ringed one is where most people should start. Sponsorship plays no part.

Certified programme2 comparedFree certificate2 comparedFree coursenone yetTrusted video1 compared

Social media

102 live roles ask for it

Our pickCertified programmeMeta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

Coursera

Free to auditCertificate

One of the strongest ways to learn social media

Take itStart
Free certificateSocial Media Marketing Certification

HubSpot Academy

Free · free certificateFree certificate

One of the strongest ways to learn social media

Take itStart
Free course

None yet

Trusted videoHow To Start Social Media Marketing | Social Media Marketing Tutorial For Beginners | Simplilearn

Simplilearn

Free50 min235K views

Useful, with trade-offs

Worth consideringWatch

Who asks for it

Where social media is asked for

  • Marketing33 roles
  • Data12 roles
  • Design9 roles
  • Product4 roles

Roles

Jobs that list it

Director of Product DesignOperational Resilience ManagerProduct DesignerContent ReviewerProduct Marketing ManagerSocial MediaCEO Communications DirectorCSTCredit AnalystProduct Manager

Everything else

More ways to learn social media

Best first, with the verdict and what each costs.

Often asked for together

Skills that come with social media

Questions

Learning social media

Is social media worth learning?

102 of the 7,767 live roles on insiderOne ask for it (1%), most often in marketing roles (33).

Can I learn social media for free?

Yes. Social Media Marketing Certification from HubSpot Academy is free, and so is its certificate. Of the options compared here, it is the best one that costs nothing.

What is the best way to learn social media?

For most people, Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (Coursera, free to audit). It is ranked on how well-regarded it is, what it costs to finish with a certificate, and how squarely it teaches social media. Sponsorship plays no part.

Your own plan

Social media is one skill. Which ones is your next role missing?

Tell insiderOne where you're headed and it reads the live board for the gaps between you and it, then ranks a way to learn each one for your budget. Free to start.

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Counts from 7,767 live roles, updated 13 September 2026.