Want to learn options and expand your investment toolkit beyond basic stocks? You’re in the perfect place!
Whether your goal is to hedge risk, generate monthly income, or grow your portfolio with precision, learning options is a strategic move for any active investor.
In this article, I’ll explore 5 of the best options courses to help you transition from confusion to confidence in your options journey.
Why Should You Learn Options?
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Options unlock dimensions of investing that remain invisible to stock-only traders, allowing you to harness time value, leverage, and probability to your advantage.
Think of them as the financial equivalent of a Swiss Army knife – adaptable tools that expand your investment capabilities far beyond what traditional securities offer.
Professional options education from experienced instructors helps you sidestep preventable mistakes. And transform options from complex derivatives into practical tools for lifetime financial empowerment.
Also, options investing isn’t about guessing stock directions; it’s about creating probability-driven setups with defined outcomes. When used correctly, options can:
- Provide downside protection
- Generate a steady monthly income
- Enhance long-term investing returns
- Offer leverage with calculated risk
The path to mastering these sophisticated strategies begins with structured education, which is precisely what these top-rated free options courses deliver. Let’s explore them!
#1 Introduction to Options – Framework Investing
| You might want to check out: Introduction to Options by Framework Investing |
This course offers a broad, conceptual overview of options and their place in everyday economic activity. Rather than jumping straight into charts or trading strategies, it helps you understand the deeper logic of options — what they are, how they’ve evolved, and why they’re more central to modern finance than most people realize.
Example: Explore how options serve as risk-transfer tools, much like insurance, and why they’re used not only by traders but also by institutions and corporations around the world.This Course is Great for: Thoughtful learners who want to understand the “why” behind options, not just the “how”
Level: Beginner
Note: If you’ve never heard options explained this way, this course will likely reshape your thoughts.
Download Syllabus
#2 Beginner Options Trading Course – Option Alpha
| You might want to check out: Beginner Course by Option Alpha |
This is a structured and complete video course for new traders who want to understand every moving part of options—from strike prices to probability. With over 160 high-quality videos, it walks you through foundational topics and gradually builds toward multi-leg strategies and portfolio design.
Example: Learn how time decay affects the value of an at-the-money call option and how traders use this decay to generate income.This Course is Great for: Option Investors who want structure and a step-by-step system
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Note: One of the most comprehensive free courses available today.
#3 Options Education – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) Campus
| You might want to check out: IBKR Campus: Options Education |
IBKR’s education hub features in-depth video lessons, tutorials, and webinars tailored for both beginners and intermediate traders. You’ll also learn how to use IBKR’s platform tools to execute and manage trades in real time.
Example: Set up a vertical call spread using IBKR’s Trader Workstation with live market data.This Course is Great for: DIY traders who want to practice in a professional platform environment
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Note: Ideal if you want to learn and trade on the same platform.
#4 Options 101 – Udemy
| You might want to check out: Options 101: Basics of Call and Put Options in 1 Hour |
Short on time? This no-fluff course teaches the essentials in about an hour. It’s ideal for people who want a crash course on calls, puts, intrinsic value, and payoff diagrams.
Example: Understand how buying a $100 call option works when the stock rises to $110, and how your profit is calculated.This Course is Great for: Anyone who wants a fast but effective primer when it comes to learning how to invest in options
Level: Beginner
Note: Best for quick learners and visual thinkers.
#5 High Probability Options Trading Strategies – Karl Zurn (Alison)
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You might want to check out High Probability Options Trading Strategies on Alison |
Taught by options trader Karl Zurn, this free course on Alison focuses on identifying and executing high-probability trades with a defined edge.
It covers topics like volatility, risk-to-reward ratios, and how to use technical indicators to spot trade setups.
The course also explores popular strategies such as credit spreads and iron condors, emphasising consistency and discipline over guesswork.
Example: Learn how to set up a credit spread on the S&P 500 index with a 70% probability of profit, including trade selection, entry timing, and exit management.
This Course is Great for Traders who want to focus on consistent, probability-based strategies
Level: Intermediate
Note: Best suited for learners who already understand basic options and want to improve their strategic decision-making.
Bonus Free Course: Options Trading for Beginners – Invest with Henry (YouTube)
You might want to check out: Options Trading for Beginners FULL FREE COURSE (4 Hours)
This full-length, beginner-friendly course by Invest with Henry offers a clear and engaging introduction to options trading, all available for free on YouTube.
In just four hours, Henry breaks down complex concepts like calls, puts, strike prices, implied volatility, and basic income strategies.
The visual explanations and real-world examples make it easy to follow, even if you’re completely new to the world of options.
Example: See how selling a cash-secured put works in a sideways market and why it can be a safer entry strategy for long-term investors.
This Course is Great for: Visual learners and beginners who prefer learning via YouTube
Level: Beginner
Note: A great starting point if you’re looking for a solid video course without signing up for a platform or paying a fee.
Build On What You’ve Learned: Master Options Trading with the Everything Bundle
| You might want to check out: Learn Trading Examples at Your Own Pace – The Everything Bundle |
If you’ve got the basics done and want to go deeper, the Everything Bundle pulls together a full learning path — from foundational concepts to more advanced strategies. It’s designed for learners who want to see how real trades are planned, managed, and adjusted over time.
You’ll find examples of actual trades with context: what the market looked like, why a certain strategy was chosen, and how the position was managed as things played out. It’s a helpful way to bridge the gap between theory and execution.
Example: Follow a credit spread trade on SPY — from entry to exit — with commentary on risk, timing, and adjustments along the way.
This course is great for: Learners who want a complete, start-to-finish options investment roadmap
Level: All levels
Quick Summary Of The Best Free Courses to Learn Options
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to spend thousands to start learning options. Many of the best option trading courses are free, offering a deeper understanding than most paid programs.
The real power comes when you combine this knowledge with structure and consistency.
When you’re ready to move from learning to mastery, enrolling in paid structured programs as a next step can fast-track your results. That’s why I also recommend my Advanced Options Bundle Course—for serious investors ready to trade with professional discipline.
Want to Learn Options the Right Way?
You can start with one of these top free courses, apply the strategies learnt to your actual investment portfolio, and upgrade to pro-level investing in options when you’re ready.
