For Canadians seeking to expand their financial knowledge beyond the basics, identifying quality educational resources can be challenging. Paid courses are seemingly everywhere, but free or low-cost resources can be harder to find.
To help you make sense of your options, we’ve compiled the best free courses—both online and in person—that deliver practical insights without the price tag. Read through your options and explore the ones that align with where you are (or want to be!) in your personal finance journey.
Each course listed here must:
Read more in the full methodology below.
This course covers a wide range of topics related to personal finances, specifically for Canadians—all for free. Each of the eight lessons is taught by a different professor, which isn’t typical of most free personal finance courses. There are also bonus lessons about responsible investing and cryptocurrencies, as well as online multiple-choice tests and exams.
Here’s what’s included McGill Personal Finance Essentials:
We recommend regularly dedicating some time to the material so you can more easily pick up where you left off. Depending on your learning style (and how motivated you are to finish the course), you might enjoy the learn-at-your-own-pace format.
This is not a continuing-ed course, but you’ll receive a McGill Personal Finance Essentials attestation of completion certificate to add to your CV.
When it comes to learning about personal income tax, there’s no better primary source than the Government of Canada. This free course on Canada.ca is great for anyone doing their taxes for the first time, starting their first job, or wanting to better understand how income tax all works.
It’s organized as mini courses with multiple lessons. There are seven chapters, ranging from 12 to 76 minutes in length, each containing a handful of lessons. You’ll know exactly how much time you need to dedicate to each section, so you can easily break up your study time. Here’s what’s covered:
Deadlines, tax tips and more
read now
Learning about debt is the first step toward managing how much you owe. The Credit Counselling Society is a non-profit debt-counselling organization that helps Canadians create debt management plans. The society’s on-demand financial education library is always growing and currently includes over 25 lessons. Each one takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Topics include:
Through the credit course, you can learn about how credit works in Canada, as well as credit scores, credit reports, and how to access your own credit report for free. There’s some myth-busting, too.
Although you won’t get a certificate of completion, you can repeat these courses and access them anytime, on any device.
Desjardins is the largest financial cooperative group in Canada, working to support its members and help clients feel financially empowered. Desjardins accredits more than 400 instructors to offer what it describes as “objective and neutral workshops.” Each course is broken into a handful of modules and users can easily switch between different modules to learn about topics that matter to them.
These are the current courses or paths:
Each lesson takes 20 minutes and you can complete them in any order. There are 15 lessons in total, so if you choose to complete every course, it will take you five hours.
This course is great for residents of Ontario and Quebec who want to learn on their own or even as a group (the site encourages groups or classes to take the course). You don’t need to be a Desjardins client to sign up.
The Bank of Canada Museum is based in Ottawa, in the heart of Canada’s central bank. In October 2024, it launched this free course intended for students in grades 7 to 12. The lesson plans and workshop activities were designed for educators without financial certification who work with teenagers.
Adam Young, evaluation and education specialist at the Bank of Canada Museum, says the course was created to demystify the Canadian economy and to help make the central bank’s core functions easier for the public to understand.
The chapters take 70 to 110 minutes to complete, not including optional homework time. Students can take the online courses, multiple choice quizzes, and lessons as many times as they want, but won’t earn a certificate of completion. The course consists of six modules accompanied by discussion topics, interactive activities on YouTube, and educational comic strips:
Young says that the Bank of Canada Museum chose to focus on students in grades 7 to 12 because it wanted a different entry point into financial concepts that intersect with school topics, including social studies, health, math, the economy, and business.
Teachers can access the free online resources on The Bank of Canada Museum’s website. The organization encourages others to use it within their circles, including non-profits and youth-serving organizations.
Understanding how credit works in Canada is important for newcomers—it’s an important tool for reaching financial goals. But debt can have a negative impact, and newcomers are more likely than other Canadians to be affected by scams and fraud, which can ultimately affect their debt and credit history.
According to an Interac survey, 70% of new Canadians polled feel they are more susceptible to financial scams than the general population, and 53% say they and/or an immediate family member have been targeted by fraud.
Credit Canada, a reputable non-profit credit counselling service, built a newcomer course all about credit. This free online course is available in eight languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, and Tagalog. The course is broken down into four modules that take around 13 minutes each to complete:
Each of the modules has dynamic presentations with moving graphics, engaging case studies, and quizzes.
MoneySense’s editorial team of journalists assessed other aspects of the courses, including pace, comprehension, real-life application, and more. First, we looked at their cost and accessibility. The course had to be free to all Canadians. The purchase of additional course materials had to be at the discretion of the student. We also looked at the quality of educators, including their reputation and expertise in the topic(s) covered. Lessons and course material had to be useful and relevant to Canadians. There are many courses that talk generally about finance and investing, but the information had to work under a Canadian lens to make our list.
Financial literacy is a skill set that allows you to confidently make financial decisions, such as managing debt, contributing to savings, or starting to invest. You can become more financially literate by enrolling in one of the financial courses above, reading money-related articles from trusted sites, subscribing to financial newsletters, listening to podcasts, or working with a financial advisor. The more you educate yourself about money, the more comfortable you’ll become in managing your finances.
How financially literate are Canadians?
According to a 2024 survey conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of Tangerine Bank, only 3% of Canadians could identify the meaning of six acronyms commonly used in personal finance. The acronyms were: TFSA (tax-free savings account), RSP (retirement savings plan), GIC (guaranteed investment certificates), ETF (exchange-traded fund), ESG (environmental, social and governance), and ROI (return on investment). Among those surveyed, 41% described themselves as “confident in their understanding of financial terminology.” This points to a gap between Canadians’ perceived and actual levels of financial literacy.
How can I help spread financial literacy?
The free finance courses are a great starting point. Share them with friends and family who might benefit from the topics covered or start having open and honest money conversations. This can encourage others to think about their money and financial goals. If you’re a teacher or instructor, take advantage of the multitude of free materials and workshops available through these free finance courses.
My bank offers free seminars on investing—is it worth the time?
Banks and other financial institutions want educated clients and customers, so many do their best to create workshops that help you make better investing decisions. That said, be aware that they may only discuss or focus on the products and services they provide. It’s always a good idea to explore all your options and make decisions that best fit your financial goals.
An influencer I follow has a course, but it’s not free—should I take it?
Some influencers—or finfluencers, as financial influencers are often called—use courses, seminars, and e-books to earn income. They may also earn money through advertising partnerships and speaking engagements, so it’s important to do your homework and find trustworthy finfluencers. They should be producing content relevant to Canadians and have credentials related to the topic. Look for Canadian credentials such as CFP, QAFP, RFP, and FPI. And, don’t be misled by calls to provide your credit card or personal details via social media.
Ask MoneySense
The post The best free personal finance and investing courses in Canada appeared first on MoneySense.
To help you make sense of your options, we’ve compiled the best free courses—both online and in person—that deliver practical insights without the price tag. Read through your options and explore the ones that align with where you are (or want to be!) in your personal finance journey.
What did we look for when comparing courses?
Each course listed here must:
- Be free for Canadians
- Come from a quality educator
- Provide lessons that teach something useful and relevant to Canadians
- Be accessible, whether that’s online or in person in multiple locations
Read more in the full methodology below.
Best all-around free personal finance course
McGill Personal Finance Essentials
This course covers a wide range of topics related to personal finances, specifically for Canadians—all for free. Each of the eight lessons is taught by a different professor, which isn’t typical of most free personal finance courses. There are also bonus lessons about responsible investing and cryptocurrencies, as well as online multiple-choice tests and exams.
Here’s what’s included McGill Personal Finance Essentials:
- Budgeting and Saving
- Your Money: Today and Tomorrow
- Understanding Debt and Borrowing
- The Art of Investing
- Retirement Planning
- The Realities of Real Estate
- Behavioural Finance
We recommend regularly dedicating some time to the material so you can more easily pick up where you left off. Depending on your learning style (and how motivated you are to finish the course), you might enjoy the learn-at-your-own-pace format.
This is not a continuing-ed course, but you’ll receive a McGill Personal Finance Essentials attestation of completion certificate to add to your CV.
Best free Canadian income tax course
Government of Canada’s Learn About Your Taxes course
When it comes to learning about personal income tax, there’s no better primary source than the Government of Canada. This free course on Canada.ca is great for anyone doing their taxes for the first time, starting their first job, or wanting to better understand how income tax all works.
It’s organized as mini courses with multiple lessons. There are seven chapters, ranging from 12 to 76 minutes in length, each containing a handful of lessons. You’ll know exactly how much time you need to dedicate to each section, so you can easily break up your study time. Here’s what’s covered:
| Chapter | Number of lessons | Approx. time to complete |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of taxes | 4 | 21 minutes |
| Starting to work | 8 | 54 minutes |
| Preparing to do your taxes | 3 | 27 minutes |
| Completing a basic tax return | 7 | 76 minutes |
| After sending us your tax return | 4 | 38 minutes |
| Accessing your benefits and credits | 2 | 19 minutes |
| Saving for the future | 1 | 10 minutes |
| Using My Account | 2 | 12 minutes |
Also read
Income Tax Guide for Canadians
Deadlines, tax tips and more
read now
Best free course for managing debt in Canada
The Credit Counselling Society’s The Truth About Credit
Learning about debt is the first step toward managing how much you owe. The Credit Counselling Society is a non-profit debt-counselling organization that helps Canadians create debt management plans. The society’s on-demand financial education library is always growing and currently includes over 25 lessons. Each one takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Topics include:
- Budgeting
- Credit
- Fraud
Through the credit course, you can learn about how credit works in Canada, as well as credit scores, credit reports, and how to access your own credit report for free. There’s some myth-busting, too.
Although you won’t get a certificate of completion, you can repeat these courses and access them anytime, on any device.
Best free personal finance course for young Canadians
Desjardins Personal Finance: I’m in Charge
Desjardins is the largest financial cooperative group in Canada, working to support its members and help clients feel financially empowered. Desjardins accredits more than 400 instructors to offer what it describes as “objective and neutral workshops.” Each course is broken into a handful of modules and users can easily switch between different modules to learn about topics that matter to them.
These are the current courses or paths:
- Money in Everyday Life
- Finances and Peace of Mind
- Making My Project a Reality
- Decipher Savings and Investment
- Introduction to Financial Life
Each lesson takes 20 minutes and you can complete them in any order. There are 15 lessons in total, so if you choose to complete every course, it will take you five hours.
This course is great for residents of Ontario and Quebec who want to learn on their own or even as a group (the site encourages groups or classes to take the course). You don’t need to be a Desjardins client to sign up.
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subscribe nowBest free economics 101 course for teenagers
The Bank of Canada Museum: You Are the Economy
The Bank of Canada Museum is based in Ottawa, in the heart of Canada’s central bank. In October 2024, it launched this free course intended for students in grades 7 to 12. The lesson plans and workshop activities were designed for educators without financial certification who work with teenagers.
Adam Young, evaluation and education specialist at the Bank of Canada Museum, says the course was created to demystify the Canadian economy and to help make the central bank’s core functions easier for the public to understand.
The chapters take 70 to 110 minutes to complete, not including optional homework time. Students can take the online courses, multiple choice quizzes, and lessons as many times as they want, but won’t earn a certificate of completion. The course consists of six modules accompanied by discussion topics, interactive activities on YouTube, and educational comic strips:
- Thinking like an economist: Introduction to foundational economic concepts using everyday examples.
- Building budgets: Introduction to learning how to balance and create to build a monthly budget.
- Connecting Canadian industries: Exploring different industries in the Canadian economy and seeing how they are interconnected and evolving.
- Decoding Canadian economic data: Develop data literacy skills by interpreting charts of Canadian economic data.
- Tracing Canada’s place in the world: Use data visualization tools to learn about how Canada’s place in the global economy has evolved.
- Investing wisely: Make investment decisions based on what’s important to you and see how your spending and earning connects you to the global economy.
Young says that the Bank of Canada Museum chose to focus on students in grades 7 to 12 because it wanted a different entry point into financial concepts that intersect with school topics, including social studies, health, math, the economy, and business.
Teachers can access the free online resources on The Bank of Canada Museum’s website. The organization encourages others to use it within their circles, including non-profits and youth-serving organizations.
Best free credit course for newcomers
Building Credit From the Ground Up: A Program for Newcomers to Canada
Understanding how credit works in Canada is important for newcomers—it’s an important tool for reaching financial goals. But debt can have a negative impact, and newcomers are more likely than other Canadians to be affected by scams and fraud, which can ultimately affect their debt and credit history.
According to an Interac survey, 70% of new Canadians polled feel they are more susceptible to financial scams than the general population, and 53% say they and/or an immediate family member have been targeted by fraud.
Credit Canada, a reputable non-profit credit counselling service, built a newcomer course all about credit. This free online course is available in eight languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, and Tagalog. The course is broken down into four modules that take around 13 minutes each to complete:
- Essentials of Credit in Canada: The basics about how credit works and resources.
- How to Build Your Credit History in Canada: How to establish a strong credit history in Canada right away.
- How to Improve Your Credit Score: How to check and monitor a credit score.
- What to Do If You Run Into Problems with Credit: Learn problem-solving strategies, including avoiding fraud and debt payment strategies.
Each of the modules has dynamic presentations with moving graphics, engaging case studies, and quizzes.
Also read
Earning, saving and spending in Canada: A guide for new immigrants
read nowMethodology: Best free finance and investing courses in Canada
MoneySense’s editorial team of journalists assessed other aspects of the courses, including pace, comprehension, real-life application, and more. First, we looked at their cost and accessibility. The course had to be free to all Canadians. The purchase of additional course materials had to be at the discretion of the student. We also looked at the quality of educators, including their reputation and expertise in the topic(s) covered. Lessons and course material had to be useful and relevant to Canadians. There are many courses that talk generally about finance and investing, but the information had to work under a Canadian lens to make our list.
Financial literacy FAQs
What is financial literacy?Financial literacy is a skill set that allows you to confidently make financial decisions, such as managing debt, contributing to savings, or starting to invest. You can become more financially literate by enrolling in one of the financial courses above, reading money-related articles from trusted sites, subscribing to financial newsletters, listening to podcasts, or working with a financial advisor. The more you educate yourself about money, the more comfortable you’ll become in managing your finances.
How financially literate are Canadians?
According to a 2024 survey conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of Tangerine Bank, only 3% of Canadians could identify the meaning of six acronyms commonly used in personal finance. The acronyms were: TFSA (tax-free savings account), RSP (retirement savings plan), GIC (guaranteed investment certificates), ETF (exchange-traded fund), ESG (environmental, social and governance), and ROI (return on investment). Among those surveyed, 41% described themselves as “confident in their understanding of financial terminology.” This points to a gap between Canadians’ perceived and actual levels of financial literacy.
How can I help spread financial literacy?
The free finance courses are a great starting point. Share them with friends and family who might benefit from the topics covered or start having open and honest money conversations. This can encourage others to think about their money and financial goals. If you’re a teacher or instructor, take advantage of the multitude of free materials and workshops available through these free finance courses.
My bank offers free seminars on investing—is it worth the time?
Banks and other financial institutions want educated clients and customers, so many do their best to create workshops that help you make better investing decisions. That said, be aware that they may only discuss or focus on the products and services they provide. It’s always a good idea to explore all your options and make decisions that best fit your financial goals.
An influencer I follow has a course, but it’s not free—should I take it?
Some influencers—or finfluencers, as financial influencers are often called—use courses, seminars, and e-books to earn income. They may also earn money through advertising partnerships and speaking engagements, so it’s important to do your homework and find trustworthy finfluencers. They should be producing content relevant to Canadians and have credentials related to the topic. Look for Canadian credentials such as CFP, QAFP, RFP, and FPI. And, don’t be misled by calls to provide your credit card or personal details via social media.
Ask MoneySense
Have a personal finance question? Submit it here.
email nowMore about financial literacy:
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The post The best free personal finance and investing courses in Canada appeared first on MoneySense.