By 
Quick answer: What is Science of Apps?
- Who we are — a behavioral UX audit consultancy.
- What we offer — 2,403 free certifications and skill tests.
- How tests work — scenario questions based on published standards.
- Certificates — founder-signed, credential ID + QR.
- Mission — make skills visible and verifiable for everyone.
Key takeaways
- SOA started as a behavioral UX audit consultancy: we study how people actually use products.
- We apply the same science to learning: scenario tests, not trivia.
- All 2,403 certifications are free, with no sign-up needed to take a test.
- Certificates are verifiable by credential ID and QR code.
- We're honest about limits: SOA certificates are not proctored and not for visas or admissions.
The story
Science of Apps began as a behavioral UX audit consultancy. Our work is to understand why people behave the way they do inside apps (where they hesitate, what they ignore, what makes them come back) and to fix products using published research such as the Laws of UX1. Founder Sushant Singh has scaled consumer apps to lacs of users, and the same question kept coming up with every team we worked with: how do you know someone actually has a skill?
Degrees are slow and expensive. Many certifications cost hundreds of dollars. Course-completion certificates prove attendance, not ability. We wanted something in between: quick, free, rigorous and verifiable.
What we built
| Science of Apps certifications | |
|---|---|
| Catalogue | 2,403 certifications and skill tests, 29 categories2 |
| Format | Scenario questions based on a published standard or research |
| Time | 10–30 minutes |
| Cost | Free; no sign-up to take a test |
| Grading | Server-side; pass mark typically 70% |
| Certificate | Founder-signed PDF with credential ID and QR code |
| Limits | Not proctored; not for visas, immigration or admissions |
Our principles
- Free means free. No paywall on tests or certificates.
- Scenarios over trivia. We test judgment in realistic situations, because that's what jobs require and what research says builds learning3.
- Grounded in sources. Every test is built on a named standard or body of research.
- Verifiable by default. Every certificate can be checked in seconds.
- Honest about limits. We say clearly what our certificates are and aren't.
Prove it free: the tests that match this guide
Start with the certifications that show what SOA is about. (Disclosure: Science of Apps publishes these tests.)
Who it's for
- Students proving skills before their first job.
- Career changers testing a new field.
- Professionals showing current skills in AI, data, finance, HR, UX and more.
- Employers screening and upskilling teams at no cost.
What's next
We're expanding role certifications (Product Manager, AI Product Manager, Prompt Engineer, UX/UI Designer and more), publishing in-depth guides like this one, and making verification even easier. Read how we design certifications and our 2027 certification roadmap.
Frequently asked questions
What is Science of Apps?
A behavioral UX audit consultancy that also offers 2,403 free, verifiable certifications and skill tests across 29 categories.
Are Science of Apps certifications really free?
Yes. Tests and certificates are free, and you don't need to sign up to take a test.
Who founded Science of Apps?
Science of Apps was founded by Sushant Singh, who has scaled consumer apps to lacs of users.
Are SOA certificates accredited?
They're free skills credentials built on published standards and verifiable by ID and QR code; they aren't proctored or accredited exams.
What is next for Science of Apps?
We're expanding role certifications (Product Manager, AI Product Manager, Prompt Engineer, UX/UI Designer and more), publishing in-depth guides like this one, and making verification even easier. Read how we design certifications and our 2027 certification roadmap.
Sources
- Science of Apps: Laws of UX
- Science of Apps: free online certifications
- Dunlosky et al. (2013): effective learning techniques
- Science of Apps: about
- Checked November 11, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- How SOA designs certifications — inside soa's learning design process
- CertificationsHow SOA designs certificationsHow Science of Apps designs each certification: a published standard, realistic scenarios, expert review, a 70% pass mark and verifiable certificates.
- Original dataIndian app statistics 2026: subscribers, broadband, UPI, installs, startups and what top apps look likeIndian app statistics for 2026 from official and public data: 1.35 billion telecom subscribers, 24 billion UPI payments a month and top-app benchmarks.
- How to make an appHow to build an app like Duolingo: features, psychology, stack and costWhat makes Duolingo work — short lessons, streaks, leagues, adaptive practice — and how to build a learning app like it: MVP, tech stack and cost.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications for people without a degree in 2027: skills-first routes into good jobsThe top 10 online certifications for people without a degree in 2027: Google career certificates, CompTIA A+ and Security+, AWS, Salesforce, CPC and more.
- Career guidesEdTech careers in 2027: how education technology works, learning platforms, evidence of impact, teacher adoption, data privacy for students, AI tutors, roles from content to product, and India's edtech landscapeEdTech careers in 2027: learning platforms, evidence of impact, teacher adoption, student data privacy, AI tutors and roles from content to product.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Are machine learning certifications worth it in 2027? An honest answer, and the ones that areAre machine learning certifications worth it in 2027? Proctored platform exams usually are; courses help you learn. 5 that are worth it.
Get the ideas, not the noise.
Sign up with Google and we’ll send you short UX psychology tips by email — why people tap, stall and leave, and what to do about it. Unsubscribe anytime. Prefer something to keep? Get the free Laws of UX guide as a PDF.
Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.