Grow with Google SEO Course Review 2026, Is Google’s Free Training Actually Enough?

Grow with Google is Google’s free training hub for building digital skills. It includes several SEO related lessons, including a Skillshop course focused on becoming more searchable online. 

For parent bloggers, the big question is simple. Is Google’s free training enough to rank a blog, grow traffic, and earn income, or will you still need a structured blogging platform and support.

In this review, you’ll see what Grow with Google actually includes for SEO, what it does well, what it does not cover in depth, and who it is best suited for in 2026.

What Is the Grow with Google SEO Course?

The Grow with Google SEO training is part of Google’s broader free digital skills platform. It includes modules that teach how search engines work and how to improve a website’s visibility in search results. Google offers these lessons through its training hubs like Google Digital Garage and Skillshop, where you can find free courses designed to help businesses, marketers, and beginners learn online marketing fundamentals, including SEO. 

One example from Google’s training library is a free course that explains how to make sure customers find your business online and how SEO and search engine advertising work together to improve visibility. 

The training is aimed at giving learners practical digital marketing skills – such as how Google search works, how to identify keywords, and how to help a site rank higher organically. It is not a single, standalone paid course, but a collection of free, self-paced SEO lessons and tools developed by Google experts. 

Because it comes directly from the company that runs the world’s largest search engine, this SEO training reflects how Google itself understands search and ranking fundamentals, which can make it a strong starting point for beginners.

Who Is Behind the Grow with Google SEO Course?

The Grow with Google SEO resources are created and maintained by Google – the global tech company known for its search engine, advertising platforms, and digital tools. The Grow with Google initiative is part of Google’s effort to help individuals and small businesses learn digital skills that matter in today’s online economy. 

The training modules draw on the expertise of Google product teams and educational partners. Some SEO-related lessons are delivered as part of Google Digital Garage or Skillshop, both official Google learning platforms. These programs share free training in digital marketing, search visibility, and tools like Google Analytics. 

Because Google itself designs the training, you are learning from the source of search engine technology. However, this also means the SEO courses tend to focus on foundational principles rather than niche-specific strategies or tailored blogging SEO hacks.

Is the Grow with Google SEO Course a Scam?

No. The Grow with Google SEO training is not a scam. It is an official educational initiative created and maintained by Google itself. The courses are genuinely free, there are no hidden upsells, and you are not pushed into buying software or coaching.

The training delivers exactly what it promises. Introductory education on how search works, how Google views websites, and how to improve online visibility using best practices. There are no income claims, no hype, and no unrealistic promises of fast rankings or passive income.

That said, being legitimate does not mean it is enough on its own. Grow with Google focuses on fundamentals. It does not offer personalised coaching, advanced SEO tactics, or niche specific strategies for bloggers trying to grow traffic and income.

So while it is trustworthy and safe, it is best viewed as a starting point rather than a complete SEO solution.

How the Grow with Google SEO Course Works

Grow with Google SEO training works through a collection of free, self paced lessons hosted across Google’s learning platforms, mainly Google Digital Garage and Skillshop.

You start by selecting SEO or digital marketing related modules. These lessons explain how search engines work, how Google indexes and ranks content, and what website owners can do to improve visibility. Topics often include search fundamentals, keywords, on page optimisation, mobile friendliness, and measuring performance.

The courses are broken into short lessons with videos, text explanations, and simple quizzes. You can complete them at your own pace and revisit content whenever needed. There are no deadlines and no pressure to finish quickly.

Some courses provide certificates of completion, which can be useful for CVs or LinkedIn profiles. However, these certificates do not replace hands on SEO experience or real world site growth.

Importantly, Grow with Google does not walk you through building a blog from scratch, creating content calendars, or monetising traffic. It teaches what Google expects from websites, not how to build a blogging business step by step.

For beginners, this structure is clear and accessible. For bloggers with income goals, it usually needs to be paired with more practical training that shows how to apply SEO to real content and real websites.

Support and Community

Grow with Google’s SEO training does not come with a traditional support team or community like a paid course does. Because it is free and self-paced, you do not get dedicated coaching, weekly live sessions, or private groups where you can ask questions and receive tailored guidance.

Instead, support comes from the learning platform itself, Google’s help pages, and public resources such as:

• Google’s own Help Center for tools like Search Console and Analytics.
• YouTube tutorials and community forums.
• Peer support in external blogging or SEO groups (not officially run by Google).

You should plan to troubleshoot SEO questions through search, forums, or third-party communities rather than expecting direct responses from the Grow with Google team.

In that sense, the “community” around this training is the broad internet of SEO blogs, forums, Reddit groups, and YouTube channels where students help each other. It’s useful, but not the structured, private support environment you get with paid courses.

For parents and beginners who need hands-on feedback or accountability, this free format may feel isolating unless you supplement it with community groups or a mentor.

Who Grow with Google SEO Course Is For

Grow with Google SEO training is best for:

• Beginners with zero SEO experience who want official, foundational guidance straight from Google.
• Bloggers and small business owners on a budget who do not want to pay for expensive training.
• People who prefer self-paced learning and are comfortable exploring lessons without live support.
• Anyone who wants to understand how search engines actually work from the source.

Because it is free and beginner-friendly, this training works well as a first step before investing in more advanced SEO systems or paid programs.

Who Grow with Google SEO Course Is Not For

Grow with Google SEO training is not ideal for:

• People who want structured coaching, feedback, or a tight community to ask questions.
• Bloggers or marketers who want advanced, in-depth strategy taught in a step-by-step format.
• Anyone seeking a done-for-you SEO plan or personalised audit support.
• Learners who prefer video lessons with modern blogging examples tailored specifically to blogs, rather than corporate SEO fundamentals.

It is a free foundational resource, not a premium program designed for people who want a complete traffic and revenue system.

Grow with Google SEO Course Pros and Cons

Let’s run you through what I liked about Grow with Google, and what could be better too…

Pros

• Free training from the company that built the world’s dominant search engine. You learn SEO fundamentals close to the source. 
• Covers broad digital marketing and search visibility basics, including SEO, analytics, and online presence strategies. 
• Self-paced format means you can learn slowly, in short sessions, without a set schedule. 
• Includes beginner-friendly modules that explain core ideas in simple terms with practical examples. 
• Some parts include certification, which you can add to resumes or portfolios. 

Cons

• No structured coaching or dedicated support – you are largely learning on your own. 
• Not specifically tailored to blog SEO in detail; it covers wider digital marketing concepts. 
• Because it is free and broad, topics may feel introductory for people who want deep, blog-specific SEO tactics. 
• No private community or live feedback unless you join external groups independently.

What Others Are Saying

Public feedback on Google’s SEO-related training (often under Google Digital Garage or the broader Grow with Google offerings) is generally positive, especially considering it’s free. Many learners appreciate how the lessons break down complex digital marketing and SEO concepts into clear, manageable modules. The curriculum is often described as well organised and easy to consume in short chunks, which helps people stay consistent with learning. 

Reviewers highlight that the videos and lessons help beginners build confidence with key ideas like search engine basics, keyword planning, and online visibility strategies. The course’s modular setup lets learners complete lessons at their own pace and gain a certificate when they meet the requirements. 

Where feedback is more mixed, learners note that while the content is solid for foundational digital marketing and SEO, it may not answer every specific question bloggers have about ranking blog posts. Some say advanced topics or blog-specific SEO strategies still require supplemental learning. 

Overall, external reviewers suggest that the value of Grow with Google SEO training is high for beginners – especially given that it is free – and it is a great starting point before moving into more advanced paid courses or hands-on SEO tools

What Are the Alternatives?

Grow with Google’s free SEO training is a solid foundation for beginners, but it only scratches the surface of what many bloggers and content creators need to grow long-term. If you want deeper, blog-specific SEO training, community support, or more guided learning, here are some strong alternatives that fit different goals and budgets.

Key Comparison Insights

• Grow with Google is unbeatable for a free, foundational start to SEO.
• Wealthy Affiliate goes broader and deeper with a full system, including SEO integrated into blog strategy, tools, and community.
• Advanced SEO courses like SEO That Works or Ahrefs Academy are best once you have the basics down and want serious search traffic growth.
• SEO courses tailored for bloggers fit learners who want blog-specific strategies without the broader business training of Wealthy Affiliate.

Final Verdict on Grow with Google SEO Course

Grow with Google’s SEO training is legitimate, accurate, and genuinely useful for beginners. It explains how search works from the source and removes a lot of confusion around SEO basics. For a free resource, that matters.

That said, it stops at fundamentals. There is no structured blogging roadmap, no accountability, and no ongoing support to help you turn SEO knowledge into traffic, content, and income. You still have to figure out hosting, content strategy, monetisation, and long-term growth on your own.

If you want a no-cost starting point, Grow with Google is worth using. If you want a complete system that shows you how SEO fits into building a real blog and earning from it, you will outgrow this training quickly.

Let’s Chat

Have you tried Grow with Google’s SEO training yet, or are you still deciding where to start?

Did you find free SEO courses helpful, or did you want more structure and guidance?

Drop a comment below and tell me where you’re at. I read and reply to every message.