Let’s be real — not every student has the budget to pay for fancy courses or premium training programs. When I was looking for free internships with certificates myself, I realised there are good options out there — you just have to know where to look.
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Whether you’re in engineering, coding, marketing, writing, or social work, these free internship programs in 2025 can help you build your skills and earn a valid certificate — without spending a rupee.
Here’s my personal short-list, after a LOT of research and talking to past interns.
AICTE Virtual Internship – Free & Govt Verified
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About: The AICTE Internship Portal connects students with verified companies and government-backed projects.
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Sectors: Tech, Marketing, HR, Content, Management, Data Entry.
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Certificate: Yes, given by the company and AICTE.
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Paid/Unpaid: Mostly unpaid, but free to join.
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Where to Apply: internship.aicte-india.org
2️⃣ LetsGrowMore Virtual Internship Program (LGMVIP)
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About: A super popular task-based internship for beginners in web dev, Python, ML, or Android.
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Sectors: Web Dev, ML, Data Science, App Dev.
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Certificate: Yes — you get an internship certificate and LOR if you do well.
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Paid/Unpaid: Unpaid, but completely free.
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Where to Apply: letsgrowmore.in
3️⃣ CodSoft Virtual Internship
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About: Short-term, beginner-friendly — same style as LetsGrowMore.
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Sectors: Python, Web Dev, C++, Java.
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Certificate: Yes, plus Letter of Recommendation if you complete all tasks.
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Paid/Unpaid: Unpaid, but zero fees.
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Where to Apply: codsoft.in
4️⃣ Prodigy Infotech Internship
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About: Project-based, fully remote, easy to complete for beginners.
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Sectors: Python, ML, Data Science, Web/App Dev.
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Certificate: Yes, with LOR for top performers.
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Paid/Unpaid: Unpaid but no fees — you just do the tasks.
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Where to Apply: prodigyinfotech.dev
5️⃣ UN Volunteers (UNV) Online Volunteering
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About: Work with real NGOs & UN projects online — tasks like research, writing, designing, translating.
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Sectors: Research, Policy, Social Work, Design.
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Certificate: Yes — official UN Volunteer certificate.
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Paid/Unpaid: Unpaid but free — fully global.
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Where to Apply: onlinevolunteering.org
6️⃣ Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC) – Leads & Volunteers
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About: Not a formal internship, but if you work as a core team member or lead, you get certificates and huge networking value.
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Sectors: Tech, Coding, Open Source.
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Certificate: Yes — GDSC Core Member/Lead certificate.
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Paid/Unpaid: Unpaid, fully free.
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Where to Apply: Through your college GDSC or developers.google.com/community/gdsc
How to Choose the Best Free Internship for You
Pick a domain that matches your career goal.
Read past intern reviews — stick to legit names.
Submit tasks seriously — the certificate only matters if you actually did work.
Add your work to GitHub or a portfolio — makes your free internship much more valuable in placements.
How to Apply for a Free Internship with Certificate
Shortlist 3–4 programs from this list.
Visit the official site — never trust random WhatsApp forwards.
Fill out the form, submit basic details (most don’t ask for a resume).
Join the WhatsApp/Slack group if they have one.
Complete tasks and submit on time — don’t ghost, or you won’t get the certificate.
FAQs – Free Internship with Certificate 2025
Is a free internship valid on my resume?
Absolutely! As long as you have real tasks/projects to show, it’s legit.
Do free internships give Letters of Recommendation?
Some do — like LetsGrowMore, CodSoft, or Prodigy Infotech — if you do all tasks well.
Can first-year students apply?
Yes — most free virtual internships are open to all years.
Is there any hidden cost?
No — just make sure you’re applying directly on their official websites.
Are there paid free internships too?
Not really — ‘free’ means you don’t pay, but these internships are mostly unpaid. If you want a stipend, check AICTE’s paid listings.