By Quick answer: Are Microsoft certifications free in 2027?
- Free — all Microsoft Learn training and sandboxes.
- Paid — exams, priced by country.
- Free renewal — role-based certifications, yearly online.
- Discounts — sometimes via training events.
Key takeaways
- You can prepare for any Microsoft exam for free.
- Renewal is free, which lowers long-term cost.
- Check Microsoft's events page for exam offers.
Microsoft makes all its certification training free on Microsoft Learn, and renewing role-based certifications costs nothing. Only the initial exam is paid. Here's what that means for the most popular certifications.
Five Microsoft options
Training is free; exams are priced by country; role-based renewals are free. Checked 3 November 2026.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud TrainingMicrosoft | Free1 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 2 | Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country2 | 45 minutes | Free test |
| 3 | Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country3 | Microsoft fundamentals exam | Free test |
| 4 | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Microsoft | Exam priced by country4 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 5 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country5 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- Microsoft Azure Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training before you pay.Start free test →
- AZ-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- AI-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- PL-300 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) before you pay.Start free test →
Each option, and what's free
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Learn Free AI & Cloud TrainingFree training for allFree
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Free training, paid examExam priced by country
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)Free training, paid examExam priced by country
Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training
- Cost
- Free1
Free learning paths and sandboxes for every Microsoft certification. Microsoft Learn's free learning paths and sandboxes cover every Microsoft certification, from Azure and AI to Power BI. The training is free; only the certification exams are paid, and they're priced by country.
Best forfree training for all
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country2
- Format
- 45 minutes
Free training; 45-minute exam priced by country. Microsoft's Azure fundamentals exam covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, pricing and governance in 45 minutes. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and it doesn't expire.
Best forfree training, paid exam
Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country3
- Format
- Microsoft fundamentals exam
Free training; exam priced by country. Microsoft's AI fundamentals exam covers machine learning, computer vision, language and generative AI workloads on Azure. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and fundamentals certifications don't expire.
Best forfree training, paid exam
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country4
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Free training; 100-minute exam; free yearly renewal. Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst exam proves you can prepare, model and visualise data and share reports securely. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, with free Microsoft Learn training and free online renewal every 12 months.
Best forfree training, paid exam, free renewal
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country5
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Free training; 100-minute exam; free yearly renewal. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can manage Azure identity, storage, compute and networking. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, and renews free online every 12 months, which keeps long-term cost low.
Best forfree training, paid exam, free renewal
Free renewal, explained
Role-based and specialty Microsoft certifications expire after a year, but you can renew free by passing an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Fundamentals certifications don't expire.
How we ranked these picks
Details come from Microsoft Learn and certification pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are Microsoft certifications free?
Training is free; exams are paid.
How much do Microsoft exams cost?
Microsoft prices exams by country; the price shows at booking.
Is renewal free?
Yes for role-based certifications, online each year.
Can I get a free exam voucher?
Microsoft sometimes offers discounts through events; check its site.
Is there a free practice test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free Microsoft practice tests.
Sources
- Microsoft — Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 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
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best Certification Providers & Platforms of 2027 — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) review for 2027: is it worth it, who it's for and the best alternativesMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) review for 2027: 45 minutes, free training, priced by country, who it suits and why AZ-104 should follow.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best Microsoft certifications in 2027: which Azure, AI and Power BI exams are worth itWhich Microsoft certifications are worth it in 2027: AZ-900, AZ-104, PL-300, AI-900, AI-102, DP-100 and free Microsoft Learn training, with exam details.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) review for 2027: is it worth it, who it's for and the best alternativesAzure Administrator (AZ-104) review for 2027: 100 minutes, priced by country, free renewal, who it suits and alternatives.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) review for 2027: is it worth it, who it's for and the best alternativesMicrosoft PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) review for 2027: 100 minutes, priced by country, free renewal, who it suits and alternatives.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) review for 2027: is it worth it, who it's for and the best alternativesAzure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) review for 2027: free training, priced by country, what it covers, who it suits and what to take next.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) review for 2027: is it worth it, who it's for and the best alternativesAzure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) review for 2027: what it tests, priced by country, who it suits and AWS and Google alternatives.
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