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10 Best Salesforce and CRM Certifications of 2026
This list is for Salesforce admins, CRM consultants and business analysts who want a credential that proves their CRM skills, plus beginners planning their first exam. It mixes Salesforce's own proctored exams (Platform Administrator, Platform App Builder, Agentforce Sales Consultant and Business Analyst), free learning from Trailhead and HubSpot Academy, and paid Coursera programs that prepare you for the exams. We compared documented features and published prices from each provider's own pages. Scores weigh features (recognition and depth) at 40 percent, and ease of use (beginner fit and time) and value at 30 percent each. Salesforce publishes its USD 200 exam fees on a help page we could not load as plain text, so those prices are marked as pending. Microsoft's Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) and Sales Functional Consultant certifications are retired, so they are not ranked.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 11, 2026 · 10 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 11, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Start with Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator: it has no prerequisite, its outline covers setup, data, automation and Agentforce, and it is required before the Agentforce Sales Consultant exam. Prepare on Trailhead for free, and add a Coursera program only if you want deadlines and demos. Admins who build flows and custom objects should add Platform App Builder next, analysts should take Business Analyst, and implementation consultants should add Agentforce Sales Consultant. If your company runs HubSpot instead of Salesforce, the free HubSpot Academy software certifications are the quickest proof of skill.
Top picks
Best overall
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
8.6 / 10
working or aspiring Salesforce admins
Read the review →Runner-up
Salesforce Trailhead
8.4 / 10
anyone preparing for a Salesforce exam on no budget
Read the review →Also great
HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification
8.3 / 10
admins and marketers at companies that run HubSpot
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator | working or aspiring Salesforce admins | USD 200 per attempt, USD 100 retake, plus tax (USD check pending) | 8.6 |
| 2 | Salesforce Trailhead | anyone preparing for a Salesforce exam on no budget | Free | 8.4 |
| 3 | HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification | admins and marketers at companies that run HubSpot | Free (USD check pending) | 8.3 |
| 4 | Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder | admins moving into no-code app building | USD 200 per attempt, USD 100 retake, plus tax (USD check pending) | 8.2 |
| 5 | Salesforce Certified Agentforce Sales Consultant | consultants who implement Sales Cloud for clients | USD 200 per attempt, USD 100 retake, plus tax (USD check pending) | 7.8 |
| 6 | Salesforce Certified Business Analyst | business analysts on Salesforce teams | USD 200 per attempt, USD 100 retake, plus tax (USD check pending) | 7.7 |
| 7 |  Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate | beginners with no CRM experience | Included in Coursera subscriptions from $49 per month | 7.6 |
| 8 | Salesforce Admin & App Builder Certification Prep | self-learners preparing for two Salesforce exams at once | Included in Coursera subscriptions from $49 per month | 7.5 |
| 9 | Salesforce Fundamentals Specialization | business staff who want a university-branded Salesforce certificate | Included in Coursera subscriptions from $49 per month | 7.4 |
| 10 | Salesforce Admin Certification Preparation | part-time learners preparing only for the admin exam | Included in Coursera subscriptions from $49 per month | 7.1 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
Salesforce's core admin exam, testing setup, security, data, automation and Agentforce basics on the Salesforce Platform.
salesforce.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: working or aspiring Salesforce admins
The Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator credential is the one most admin job posts mean when they ask for a Salesforce certification, and it is the base for the consultant track. Salesforce's exam guide lists 60 scored multiple-choice questions plus up to five unscored ones, 105 minutes, and a 68% passing score in English. The outline spreads weight across configuration and setup (15%), Object Manager and Lightning App Builder (15%), data and analytics management (17%), automation (15%), and sales, service and productivity apps, with Agentforce at 8%. There is no prerequisite, but Salesforce recommends six or more months working as an admin. The fee is USD 200 and a retake is USD 100, both before tax. We compared documented features and published prices: it costs more than course certificates, yet it is the proctored credential employers can verify on a Trailblazer profile.
Standout feature
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator is the best choice for admins because its 60-question exam covers setup, data, automation and Agentforce in one USD 200 credential.
Use cases
Accidental admins at small companies
Prove they can manage users, security and automation
Outcome: A verifiable credential on their Trailblazer profile
Career changers aiming at admin roles
Add a recognized exam to a resume
Outcome: Eligibility for the consultant track exams
Key features
- 60 multiple-choice questions plus up to five unscored questions
- 105 minutes, 68% passing score for the English exam
- Largest topic is Data and Analytics Management at 17%
- Agentforce now makes up 8% of the exam
- Proctored at a testing center or online
Pros
- No prerequisite certification
- Required before the Agentforce Sales Consultant exam
- Retake costs USD 100, half the first attempt
Cons
- Salesforce recommends 6 or more months of hands-on admin experience
- Fee is USD 200 plus local tax
- Exam outline follows Salesforce releases, so study material dates quickly
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Salesforce Trailhead
Salesforce's free learning platform with badges, trails, superbadges and hands-on practice orgs.
trailhead.salesforce.com8.4
out of 10
Best for: anyone preparing for a Salesforce exam on no budget
Trailhead is where most people preparing for a Salesforce exam start, and it costs nothing. Salesforce describes it as "Real-world practice, 100% free": you earn badges by finishing short units, follow trails or curated Trailhead Journeys, and test applied skills with superbadges that ask you to solve business scenarios in a real Salesforce environment. Trailmixes let you build your own playlist, which helps when you study for a specific exam such as Platform Administrator or Platform App Builder. There is also a mobile app and an Agentblazer program for AI skills. The trade-off is that none of this is a proctored certification. Badges show effort on a Trailblazer profile, but employers who ask for a certification mean the paid exams. We compared documented features and published prices, and Trailhead is the clear first step before paying USD 200 for an exam.
Standout feature
Salesforce Trailhead is the best free starting point because Salesforce offers its hands-on practice 100% free.
Use cases
Exam candidates
Study for Platform Administrator or App Builder
Outcome: Hands-on practice before paying the exam fee
Working admins
Learn new release features
Outcome: Badges that track ongoing learning
Key features
- Badges built from short, hands-on units
- Trails and Trailhead Journeys as guided learning paths
- Superbadges that test skills on real business scenarios
- Trailmixes for custom learning playlists
- Trailhead Mobile App and Agentblazer AI learning
Pros
- Salesforce says practice is 100% free
- Hands-on challenges run in real Salesforce environments
- Official source, so content follows Salesforce product names and releases
Cons
- Badges and superbadges are not proctored certifications
- Self-directed, with no instructor unless you buy separate training
- The volume of trails can make it hard to know where to start
Rank 3 · Also great
HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification
A free HubSpot Academy certification on setting up and using HubSpot's Sales Hub CRM tools.
hubspot.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: admins and marketers at companies that run HubSpot
For CRM admins outside the Salesforce world, the HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification is the quickest credential to earn. HubSpot Academy lists it at two hours: you watch video lessons, pass short quizzes, then take a certification exam and complete practical exercises. HubSpot describes its certifications as completely free and online, and the badges can go on LinkedIn. If you manage marketing or service as well, the Service Hub Software certification (two hours) and Marketing Hub Software certification (five hours) cover the other hubs, and Revenue Operations (seven hours) takes a wider view of pipeline and reporting. The limits are clear. It only helps if your employer runs HubSpot, it is not proctored, and the overview page does not publish question counts or passing scores. We compared documented features and published prices, and for HubSpot shops it is the best value on this list.
Standout feature
The HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification is the best free CRM certification for HubSpot users because it takes about two hours and costs nothing.
Use cases
Marketing ops staff at HubSpot companies
Show they can configure Sales Hub
Outcome: A free badge for LinkedIn
Freelance CRM consultants
Prove HubSpot skills to clients
Outcome: A set of free HubSpot certifications across hubs
Key features
- HubSpot lists the course at 2 hours
- Lessons with videos and short quizzes
- Certification exam plus practical exercises
- Sister certifications for Service Hub Software (2 hours) and Marketing Hub Software (5 hours)
- Revenue Operations certification (7 hours) for a broader CRM ops view
Pros
- HubSpot Academy describes its certifications as completely free and online
- Short enough to finish in an afternoon
- Badges can be added to a LinkedIn profile
Cons
- Only relevant if your employer uses HubSpot
- Not a proctored exam like Salesforce or Microsoft credentials
- HubSpot Academy does not publish question counts or passing scores on its overview page
Rank 4
Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder
Salesforce's exam for building custom declarative apps: data models, automation, user interface and deployment.
salesforce.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: admins moving into no-code app building
The Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder exam tests whether you can design and ship custom apps with clicks rather than code. Salesforce's exam guide sets 60 scored questions plus up to five unscored ones, 105 minutes and a 73% passing score, and aligns questions to the Summer '26 release. The weighting tells you what matters: business logic and process automation is 32%, data modeling and management 20%, Salesforce fundamentals 18%, user interface 17% and app deployment 13%. There is no prerequisite, but Salesforce recommends six months to a year of building apps on the platform. The fee is USD 200 with a USD 100 retake, before tax. We compared documented features and published prices: it is a logical second credential for admins who already build flows and custom objects, and it shows more depth on data modeling and automation than the admin exam alone.
Standout feature
Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder is the best choice for no-code builders because 32% of its exam covers business logic and process automation.
Use cases
Admins who build flows and custom objects
Prove declarative development skills
Outcome: A second credential that signals app building depth
Business analysts on Salesforce projects
Understand data models and deployment
Outcome: Fluency with sandboxes and change sets
Key features
- 60 multiple-choice questions plus up to five unscored questions
- 105 minutes, 73% passing score
- Business Logic and Process Automation is 32% of the exam
- Data Modeling and Management is 20%
- Questions align to the Summer '26 release
Pros
- No prerequisite certification
- Covers app deployment with sandboxes and change sets (13%)
- Pairs naturally with the Platform Administrator exam
Cons
- Higher passing score (73%) than the admin exam (68%)
- Salesforce recommends 6 months to 1 year of app building experience
- USD 200 fee plus tax
Rank 5
Salesforce Certified Agentforce Sales Consultant
Salesforce's consultant exam for designing Sales Cloud solutions, formerly called Sales Cloud Consultant.
salesforce.com7.8
out of 10
Best for: consultants who implement Sales Cloud for clients
The Salesforce Certified Agentforce Sales Consultant credential, the renamed Sales Cloud Consultant, is aimed at people who design and implement sales solutions on Salesforce rather than only maintain them. Salesforce's prerequisites page requires the Platform Administrator certification first, so the realistic total is two exams at USD 200 each, before tax, with USD 100 for a retake. That makes it the most expensive path on this list, but it is also the one consulting partners tend to ask for when they staff Sales Cloud projects. We could not load the current exam guide, so we do not list question counts or topic weights here; read the guide on Salesforce Help before booking. We compared documented features and published prices, and for consultants the extra exam is worth it, while in-house admins usually get more from App Builder or Business Analyst.
Standout feature
Salesforce Certified Agentforce Sales Consultant is the best choice for implementation consultants because it requires and builds on the Platform Administrator credential.
Use cases
Consultants at Salesforce partners
Qualify to lead Sales Cloud implementations
Outcome: A consultant-level credential clients recognize
Senior admins
Move into solution design
Outcome: A step toward architect-track credentials
Key features
- Consultant-level credential for Sales Cloud implementations
- Requires Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator first
- Same USD 200 fee as the admin exams
- Retake costs USD 100
- Listed under the Agentforce Sales Consultant name on Salesforce's prerequisites page
Pros
- Signals implementation skills beyond day-to-day admin work
- Common requirement at Salesforce consulting partners
- Builds directly on the admin credential
Cons
- Platform Administrator is a mandatory prerequisite
- Total cost is at least USD 400 across both exams before tax
- Exam guide details were not available to us, so check the format before booking
Rank 6
Salesforce Certified Business Analyst
Salesforce's exam for analysts who gather requirements, map processes and write user stories on Salesforce projects.
salesforce.com7.7
out of 10
Best for: business analysts on Salesforce teams
The Salesforce Certified Business Analyst exam is about the work around configuration: discovery, stakeholder management, process mapping, requirements and user stories. Salesforce's guide lists 60 scored questions plus up to five unscored ones, 105 minutes and a 72% passing score. Collaboration with stakeholders carries the most weight at 23%, requirements and user stories are 18% each, customer discovery 17%, and business process mapping and development support with user acceptance 12% each. There is no prerequisite, but Salesforce recommends two years of business analyst experience and two years on the Salesforce Platform, so this is not a beginner credential. The fee is USD 200 with a USD 100 retake, before tax. The current guide aligns to the Winter '25 release. We compared documented features and published prices: for analysts and functional consultants it proves a different skill set than the admin exam.
Standout feature
Salesforce Certified Business Analyst is the best choice for analysts because its exam weights stakeholder collaboration at 23% and needs no admin prerequisite.
Use cases
Functional consultants
Show they can run discovery and write user stories
Outcome: A Salesforce credential focused on analysis
Business analysts joining a Salesforce team
Prove platform-specific analysis skills
Outcome: A recognized credential without the admin prerequisite
Key features
- 60 multiple-choice questions plus up to five unscored questions
- 105 minutes, 72% passing score
- Collaboration with Stakeholders is the largest topic at 23%
- Requirements and User Stories are 18% each
- No prerequisite certification
Pros
- Focuses on discovery, process mapping and user acceptance, not configuration
- No admin certification required
- Useful for consultants who run workshops
Cons
- Salesforce recommends 2 years of business analyst and 2 years of Salesforce experience
- Exam guide aligns to the Winter '25 release
- USD 200 fee plus tax
Rank 7
Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate
A four-course beginner program on Coursera, developed with Trailhead, that teaches Salesforce Sales Cloud for sales operations roles.
coursera.org7.6
out of 10
Best for: beginners with no CRM experience
The Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate is the most structured beginner route into Salesforce on this list. Built with Trailhead, Salesforce's learning platform, it runs four courses that start with how CRM works in sales, marketing and service, then cover lead management (30 hours), opportunity management (26 hours), and customer success with reports and dashboards. Learners build a portfolio by working in Sales Cloud and Service Cloud for a fictional social media company. Coursera estimates three months at 10 hours a week and states that no previous Salesforce, sales or CRM experience is needed. The program page shows a 4.6 rating from 2,174 reviews and more than 106,000 enrollments. It is a course certificate rather than a proctored exam, and it leans toward sales operations, not admin setup. We compared documented features and published prices, and at Coursera's $49 per month it is a good first step before Trailhead and the admin exam.
Standout feature
The Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate is the best course for beginners because it was developed with Trailhead and needs no CRM experience.
Use cases
Career changers from retail or customer service
Learn Salesforce from zero
Outcome: A Sales Cloud portfolio and a shareable certificate
New sales ops hires
Get productive with leads, opportunities and dashboards
Outcome: Working knowledge of Sales Cloud reporting
Key features
- Four courses: Sales and CRM Overview, Lead Management, Opportunity Management and a fourth on customer success, reports and dashboards
- Developed in partnership with Trailhead
- Hands-on portfolio in Sales Cloud and Service Cloud for a fictional company
- Coursera estimates 3 months at 10 hours a week
- Shareable certificate for LinkedIn
Pros
- Coursera says no previous Salesforce, sales or CRM experience is needed
- Rated 4.6 from 2,174 reviews on the program page
- More than 106,000 learners enrolled
Cons
- A course certificate, not a proctored Salesforce certification
- Aimed at sales operations, not admin configuration
- Monthly subscription cost grows if you study slowly
Rank 8
Salesforce Admin & App Builder Certification Prep
A five-course LearnKartS specialization on Coursera that prepares for both the Administrator and Platform App Builder exams.
coursera.org7.5
out of 10
Best for: self-learners preparing for two Salesforce exams at once
Salesforce Admin & App Builder Certification Prep is a five-course LearnKartS specialization on Coursera for people who want to prepare for both of the most common Salesforce exams in one go. It covers Salesforce fundamentals and setup, user security and page layouts, Lightning App Builder, reports and dashboards, and deployment with sandboxes and change sets, with 26 demos ranging from validation rules and permission sets to Lightning Flows and Data Loader. The program names the Administrator (CRT-101) and Platform App Builder (CRT-403) exams as its target. Coursera estimates four weeks at 10 hours a week. It is a third-party course, and the page notes it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Salesforce. Reviews are few so far, at 4.2 from 9. We compared documented features and published prices: it is a compact paid supplement to Trailhead, but the USD 200 exam fees come on top.
Standout feature
Salesforce Admin & App Builder Certification Prep is the best choice for two-exam prep because it targets CRT-101 and CRT-403 with 26 demos.
Use cases
Self-taught admins
Prepare for Administrator and App Builder together
Outcome: Guided demos for both exam outlines
IT staff new to Salesforce
Learn security, flows and deployment quickly
Outcome: A month-long structured plan
Key features
- Five courses covering setup, security, Lightning App Builder, reports and deployment
- 26 demos including validation rules, permission sets, record types, Lightning Flows, Data Loader and change sets
- Aligned to the Administrator (CRT-101) and Platform App Builder (CRT-403) exams
- Coursera estimates 4 weeks at 10 hours a week
- Shareable certificate from LearnKartS
Pros
- One program for both of the most common Salesforce exams
- Demo-heavy format follows real admin tasks
- Beginner level with no Salesforce experience assumed
Cons
- Third-party course, not affiliated with or endorsed by Salesforce
- Only 9 reviews on the program page so far
- Does not include the Salesforce exam fees
Rank 9
Salesforce Fundamentals Specialization
A four-course University of California, Irvine specialization on Coursera that follows Salesforce's business administration Trailmix.
coursera.org7.4
out of 10
Best for: business staff who want a university-branded Salesforce certificate
The Salesforce Fundamentals Specialization from the University of California, Irvine walks learners through Salesforce's own Fundamentals for Business Administration Trailmix in four Coursera courses. It covers building a user interface, managing permissions and data security, creating objects, modeling data for reports and dashboards, and automating business processes. Each course has formative quizzes and short hands-on projects, and Coursera estimates four weeks at 10 hours a week. The page shows a 4.2 rating from 272 reviews and more than 25,000 enrollments. The draw is the university name on the certificate and the structure around Trailhead content. The drawbacks are that the material is available free on Trailhead, it is not mapped to a specific exam, and the certificate is not proctored. We compared documented features and published prices, and it suits people who want deadlines and a university certificate more than an exam.
Standout feature
The Salesforce Fundamentals Specialization is the best university-branded option because UC Irvine issues the certificate after four courses built on a Salesforce Trailmix.
Use cases
Operations managers adopting Salesforce
Understand what the platform can do
Outcome: A UC Irvine certificate and basic admin skills
Students
Add Salesforce fundamentals to a resume
Outcome: A structured four-week program
Key features
- Four courses following the Salesforce Fundamentals for Business Administration Trailmix
- Covers user permissions, data security, object creation, reports and process automation
- Formative quizzes and short hands-on projects in each course
- Coursera estimates 4 weeks at 10 hours a week
- Career certificate from University of California, Irvine
Pros
- University-issued certificate
- Rated 4.2 from 272 reviews
- More than 25,000 learners enrolled
Cons
- Not mapped to a specific Salesforce exam
- Course certificate, not proctored
- Covers fundamentals only
Rank 10
Salesforce Admin Certification Preparation
A three-course LearnKartS specialization on Coursera aimed at the Salesforce Administrator exam.
coursera.org7.1
out of 10
Best for: part-time learners preparing only for the admin exam
Salesforce Admin Certification Preparation is a three-course LearnKartS specialization on Coursera for people who want to pass the Administrator exam at a slow, steady pace. Coursera estimates eight weeks at three hours a week. The courses move from Salesforce setup and Classic versus Lightning to leads, Web-to-Lead forms, quotes and AppExchange apps, then reports and dashboards in Lightning Report Builder, and finally security with org-wide defaults, role hierarchies, profiles and permission sets, with more than 20 demos. Two points count against it: the page shows a 3.8 rating from 70 reviews, and its automation module teaches Workflow Rules and Process Builder, while the current admin exam outline puts weight on automation and Agentforce. It is also a third-party course not endorsed by Salesforce. We compared documented features and published prices, and the sibling Admin & App Builder program is the stronger paid option.
Standout feature
Salesforce Admin Certification Preparation is the lightest weekly commitment on this list at 3 hours a week for 8 weeks.
Use cases
Working professionals with little spare time
Prepare for the admin exam over two months
Outcome: A paced plan with 20+ demos
Graduates
Learn security and reporting basics
Outcome: A shareable LearnKartS certificate
Key features
- Three courses from CRM basics to advanced administration
- 20+ hands-on demos built on admin scenarios
- Covers Web-to-Lead, quotes, AppExchange apps, Lightning Report Builder, OWD, roles, profiles and permission sets
- Coursera estimates 8 weeks at 3 hours a week
- Shareable certificate from LearnKartS
Pros
- Light weekly time commitment
- Focused on the admin exam only
- More than 8,000 learners enrolled
Cons
- Rated 3.8 from 70 reviews, the lowest on this list
- Teaches Workflow Rules and Process Builder, which Salesforce has been replacing with Flow
- Third-party course, not affiliated with or endorsed by Salesforce
Frequently asked questions
+Which CRM certification is best?
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator is the best CRM certification for most admins and consultants. It is a proctored exam of 60 questions in 105 minutes with no prerequisite, and it costs USD 200 per Salesforce's exam pricing page. If your employer runs HubSpot, the free HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification is the quicker, more relevant choice.
+Which certification is best in Salesforce?
Platform Administrator is the best first Salesforce certification. It has no prerequisite and is required before consultant exams such as Agentforce Sales Consultant. After it, Platform App Builder is the usual second exam for admins, and Business Analyst suits analysts.
+Which certification is best for a Salesforce career?
For most people it is Platform Administrator, then one role-specific exam. Builders add Platform App Builder (73% passing score), analysts add Business Analyst (72%), and implementation consultants add Agentforce Sales Consultant. Each exam is USD 200 with a USD 100 retake, per Salesforce.
+How much does a Salesforce certification cost?
Most Salesforce certification exams cost USD 200 plus tax, and a retake costs USD 100. Salesforce's pricing page lists that fee for administrator, consultant, business analyst and marketer exams, and USD 75 for Foundations exams. Studying on Trailhead is free.
+Can I get a CRM certification for free?
Yes, HubSpot Academy certifications are free. HubSpot lists Sales Hub Software and Service Hub Software at about two hours each and Marketing Hub Software at five hours. Salesforce Trailhead badges are also free, but Salesforce's proctored certifications are paid.
+How long does it take to prepare for the Salesforce Administrator exam?
Salesforce recommends 6 or more months of hands-on admin experience before the exam. Structured courses are shorter: Coursera estimates 8 weeks at 3 hours a week for LearnKartS's admin prep and 4 weeks at 10 hours a week for its Admin & App Builder prep.
+Is there a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM certification?
Not at the fundamentals level right now. Microsoft's pages mark Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) as retired, and the Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant Associate certification retired on 11/30/2024, so check Microsoft Learn for current Dynamics 365 credentials before you study.
About this list
Updated November 11, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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