Free SQL Learning Resources for Beginners: Top Picks for 2026

SQL runs everything from your favorite apps to business reports worth billions. And here’s good news: you don’t need to pay for a pricey course to learn it.

Maybe you’re a marketer tired of waiting on data teams. Maybe you want to switch careers into data work. Or maybe you’re just curious about how databases work. A free SQL learning resource for beginners can take you from total newbie to job-ready. But there are dozens of choices online, and picking the right one feels hard.

This guide makes it easy. We found which free online SQL resources work, and which ones waste your time.

Table of Contents

Mimo SQL Course
SQLBolt
SQLZoo
Select Star SQL
Khan Academy
freeCodeCamp
Alex The Analyst (YouTube)
Luke Barousse (YouTube)
W3Schools

Mimo SQL Course

Best for: Beginners who want a modern, mobile-friendly learning experience with AI-powered help

Time needed: Self-paced; most complete the basics in 2-3 weeks

Certificate: Yes, with paid plan

Mimo SQL Course stands out as our top pick for SQL beginners in 2026. The platform was built mobile-first, so you can learn during your commute or lunch break. The curriculum covers everything from basic SELECT statements to complex JOINs and subqueries.

Two things set Mimo apart:

• bite-sized lessons that fit busy schedules
• an AI assistant that helps when you get stuck

The AI assistant cuts down frustration. Instead of googling error messages or hunting through forums, you can ask for hints and explanations right inside the app.

The interface is clean and modern, a stark contrast to some older platforms that look like they were built in 2005. For beginners who’ve tried learning SQL before and quit, Mimo’s approach often clicks where others failed.

Key features:

• Learn on your phone or computer
• AI help when you get stuck
• Build real projects as you learn
• Short lessons that fit busy days
• Covers basics through advanced JOINs
• Free to start; paid plans for full access

SQLBolt

Best for: Beginners who want to learn in a browser with zero setup

Time needed: 4-8 hours for complete beginners

Certificate: No

SQLBolt has 18 lessons from basic SELECT queries to INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. You practice right away—learn a concept, try it, see if it works. This “learn by doing” approach helps ideas stick.

The downside is that SQLBolt teaches syntax well but hides real-world messiness. You won’t learn how to connect to a company’s database or handle user permissions. The datasets are simple and small.

What you’ll learn:

• SELECT queries and basic syntax
• WHERE clauses for filtering data
• JOINs (inner and outer)
• NULL handling
• Aggregate functions (COUNT, SUM, AVG)
• Schema changes (CREATE, ALTER, DROP TABLE)

SQLZoo

Best for: Learners who want rigorous practice with real-world data

Time needed: 15-30 hours depending on depth

Certificate: No

SQLZoo looks like a website from 1998. Some call it “clunky” and “dated.” The design won’t win any awards. But don’t let that fool you. It has some of the best free exercises anywhere online.

What makes it special is the real data. You won’t query fake tables called “A” and “B.” Instead, you’ll work with Nobel Prize winners, COVID stats, world population figures, and Euro 2012 soccer results. This context makes abstract ideas click. And you’ll remember them longer.

However, SQLZoo is picky about answers. It might reject correct queries if your column names differ. Some say that trains precision, a must in jobs where “almost right” causes silent data bugs. Others find it annoying. Either way, the learning value outweighs the frustration.

What you’ll learn:

• All the basics plus more
• Window functions (LAG, LEAD, RANK)
• Tricky JOINs and self-joins
• How to handle NULLs right
• Real data analysis patterns
• Hard problems from complex setups

Select Star SQL

Best for: Readers who want narrative-driven learning and deeper mental models

Time needed: 6-10 hours

Certificate: No

Select Star SQL tells a story instead of giving random exercises. You play detective using data on historical death row cases. The topic is heavy, but the data is complex enough to teach real skills.

It teaches how SQL actually runs. Most tutorials show the order you write code (SELECT → FROM → WHERE). This one shows the order the computer reads it (FROM → WHERE → GROUP BY → SELECT). That shift explains a lot of weird errors beginners hit. For example, many beginners try to filter using a column alias they defined in SELECT. It doesn’t work. Once you understand that WHERE runs before SELECT, it makes sense.

The writing style suits people who prefer reading over watching videos. Each chapter builds on the last. By the end, you have a mental picture of how SQL engines actually process your code.

The downside is the single dataset. If the topic bothers you, the whole course becomes hard to use.

What you’ll learn:

• Core query skills
• How SQL runs behind the scenes
• Mental models for thinking about data
• How to solve data problems
• Why errors happen and how to fix them

Khan Academy

Best for: Complete beginners who prefer video lessons with a gentle pace

Time needed: 8-12 hours

Certificate: No

Khan Academy’s SQL course mixes video lessons with coding practice. The teaching style feels like a patient tutor sitting next to you. Videos are shot at the command-line level, clearly showing what happens in the code.

The course uses SQLite and covers the fundamentals well. Interactive challenges follow each video, so you apply what you just watched. The mix of watching and doing helps cement knowledge. If you’ve felt lost in other SQL courses, Khan Academy’s gentle approach might be what you need.

Some users find it too gentle, leaving them unprepared for real debugging frustration. The content also hasn’t changed in years. While the basics remain accurate, examples feel dated compared to newer platforms.

What you’ll learn:

• SELECT statements and basic syntax
• Filtering with WHERE
• Sorting with ORDER BY
• Basic aggregate functions
• SQLite fundamentals

freeCodeCamp

Best for: Weekend warriors who want comprehensive coverage in one sitting

Time needed: 4+ hours per video course

Certificate: No

freeCodeCamp hosts marathon courses on YouTube, some run past four hours. Their PostgreSQL tutorial takes you from install to advanced queries in one sitting.

The instructors are industry professionals who explain clearly. Production quality is solid. You see the code being written in real time, which helps visual learners follow along. The pace assumes you’re coding alongside the video, pausing when needed.

The downside is a lack of interactivity. You’re watching, not doing. Without built-in exercises, you must motivate yourself to practice separately.

What you’ll learn:

• PostgreSQL from install to advanced
• Full SQL basics in one sitting
• Live coding demos
• Database setup

Alex The Analyst (YouTube)

Best for: Career changers who want portfolio-ready projects

Time needed: Varies by playlist; 10-20 hours for core content

Certificate: No

Alex Freberg gets recommended constantly for people targeting data analyst jobs. His strategy centers on full project walkthroughs, raw data to finished dashboard.

His COVID data project is a prime example. Download messy data, import it into SQL Server, clean it with queries, visualize in Tableau. His honesty about which skills matter (versus academic fluff) clicks with career changers.

What you’ll learn:

• Full data project workflow
• Importing and cleaning data
• SQL Server basics
• Linking SQL to charts
• Building portfolio projects
• Job hunting tips

Luke Barousse (YouTube)

Best for: Learners who want to master professional development environments

Time needed: Varies; 5-15 hours for setup and core content

Certificate: No

Luke Barousse brings high production values and covers what most courses skip: environment setup. If you’ve only used browser-based SQL tools, you’re missing part of the picture. Jobs often require connecting to servers, managing credentials, and using professional IDEs.

Luke’s PostgreSQL and VS Code setup guides for Mac and Windows fill that gap. Following along gets you comfortable with the tools you’ll use professionally. He helps learners conquer the fear of the command line and local server installation.

Luke’s content pairs well with browser-based fundamentals. Learn syntax with SQLBolt, then follow Luke’s setup guides to run queries on your own machine. This progression builds complete skills.

What you’ll learn:

• PostgreSQL setup
• VS Code for SQL
• Command line basics
• Pro dev environment setup
• Job market data analysis

W3Schools

Best for: Quick reference and syntax lookups

Time needed: N/A (reference use)

Certificate: Yes (paid)

W3Schools is a reference, not a learning course. But for quick lookups during actual work, it’s invaluable.

The “Try it Yourself” editor lets you test syntax quickly. Need to remember how LEFT JOIN works? Pull up the page, see the example, run a test query, and move on. This use case is where W3Schools shines.

What’s available:

• Complete SQL command reference
• Every function documented
• “Try it Yourself” live editor
• Quick syntax examples
• Comprehensive but shallow coverage

Start Learning SQL Today

You’ve seen the landscape. Plenty of free SQL learning resources exist, and the best ones rival expensive bootcamps. The only cost is your time and effort.

For most beginners, we recommend starting with Mimo. The modern interface, AI assistance, and project-based learning remove the friction that stops most people. You can make real progress in just a few minutes a day.

Ready to write your first query? Start the free Mimo SQL course and see how quickly you can go from zero to confident with databases.