Swift is a modern open-source programming language of Apple used for creating applications within their ecosystem, like macOS or iOS.
It was designed with performance and simplicity in mind and picked up many design features and concepts from other modern languages.
You will need to learn this language to become an app developer for Apple devices, such as the iPhone and iPad.
In this article, I have chosen the top ten Swift courses to learn Swift for beginners and also intermediate learners. Most of them are free or allow a trial.
1. Introduction to Programming in Swift 5
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approx. 11 hours.
- Price: 7 days of a free trial.
- Provider: Source.
Course’s highlights
The course is created for people who want to learn about the basics of Swift and develop their careers in that direction.
Regardless of whether you have prior experience and knowledge or not, you can join this course to gain a comprehensive introduction to the basics of this programming language.
It will teach you about the Swift 5 programming concepts, model view controller, and object-oriented programming.
You can develop the skills required to install the necessary programming tools, work with data such as Strings and Integers, work with data constructs such as dictionaries and arrays, and make reusable code with functions.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/swift-5-programming-introduction
Pros
- Shareable certificate.
- Quiz to practice.
- Dates limites flexibles.
- The course is well structured.
- Financial assistance is available.
Cons
- Not go into depth.
2. Learn Swift: Introduction
Specifications
- Difficulty:
- Duration: 6 Hours.
- Price: 7 days trial, $19.99 a month.
- Provider: Codecademy.
Course’s highlights
Learn Swift: Introduction by Codecademy is a detailed course of 6 hours. It is a certification course, implying that if you choose the pro plan, you will get a certification.
This course is ideal for complete beginners in programming. You will begin with the fundamental programming concepts followed by digging deeper into the advanced Swift topics.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-swift-introduction
Pros
- No prerequisites.
- 7 days trial.
- Beginner-friendly.
- Earn a certificate.
Cons
- Not suitable for advanced learners.
3. Swift for Beginners
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approx. 7 Days.
- Price: Free.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course’s highlights
As the name suggests, the course is intended for beginners without prior knowledge and experience. So it has no prerequisites.
You will start with acquiring fundamentals related to this language and work your own way to understand the core principles to make your first application.
By the end of this course, you will complete some exercises designed to challenge your understanding of Swift. They allow you to apply the knowledge you’ve received.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/swift-for-beginners–ud1022
Pros
- No prerequisites.
- Enroll for free.
- Lessons are well structured.
- Have exercises.
Cons
- No certificate.
4. Learn Swift
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 25 Hours.
- Price: 7 days trial, $19.99 a month.
- Provider: Codecademy.
Course’s highlights
This 25-hour course will provide a certificate if you sign up for the Pro plan.
You will start with the fundamental programming concepts followed by digging deeper into the more advanced Swift topics, such as classes and structures. You’ll build everything from a Magic 8-Ball to a Caesar Cipher.
When you take this course, a lot of essential skills and topics around Swift will be covered. Signing up for this course means joining 45,000,000+ other Codecademy learners.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-swift
Pros
- No prerequisites.
- Try it for seven days before signing up.
- Cover essential skills and topics around Swift.
- Earn a certificate of completion with the Pro plan.
Cons
- Need more practice.
5. Swift in Depth
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 5h 5m.
- Price: $29 per month after a 10-day trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course’s highlights
This course will introduce Swift in considerable depth, focusing on parts of this programming language that you will find unfamiliar or new.
This course is designed for working programmers and requires prior experience with an Object-Oriented Language (OOL). You do not need to know anything regarding the Apple ecosystem.
This course is a language course, not an OSX or iOS programming course. It covers the latest version of Swift (2.0)
Enroll Here: Currently Unavailable
Pros
- Gain a 10-day trial.
- Short duration.
- Cover quite in-depth knowledge.
- The content is explained easily.
Cons
- There are prerequisites.
6. Learn Intermediate Swift
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 9 Hours.
- Price: 7 days trial, $19.99 a month.
- Provider: Codecademy.
Course’s highlights
This course will walk you through how to use enumerations to structure information and use options to handle values that might be absent.
You will also receive valuable knowledge on writing powerful higher-order functions, which will work with various types. You will also be guided on using access control to organize your code better.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-intermediate-swift
Pros
- Get a lot of high ratings.
- Great for the money.
- It only takes 9 hours to complete.
- Earn a certificate of completion.
Cons
- Lack of practice.
7. Swift Fundamentals
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 3h 47m.
- Price: $19 per month after a 10-day trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course’s highlights
This course by Pluralsight will provide a foundation in Swift fundamentals, including core syntax, best practices, and working with data.
You will learn all the basics of control flow into extensions and closures, protocol-oriented programming, how to utilize functionality that exists in Swift, and more. It is possible to complete a series of on-demand video presentations at your own pace.
By the end of this course, you should have a foundational knowledge of Swift, helping you as you develop apps on iPad, iPhone, or Mac.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/swift3-fundamentals
Pros
- Try for free.
- Finished quickly.
- The course is well structured.
- Everything is easy to understand.
Cons
- Need more practice.
8. Become an iOS Developer
Specifications
- Duration: 6 months. At 10 hours/week
- Price: $399 per month.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course’s highlights
If you have time for upskilling, you should consider this course by Udacity.
This nano-degree program will give you everything you need to know about the Swift programming language. Apart from the theory part, this course will give you a chance to build a portfolio of iOS apps for iPhone and iPad.
It does not require prior programming experience, but it is rather time-consuming. You have to spend around 10 hours per week for about six months. Hence, it requires self-discipline and a good dose of eagerness to learn.
Also, you have to pay $360 per month or pay around $1800 full for six months of access, which doesn’t come cheap.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/ios-developer-nanodegree–nd003
Pros
- Real-world projects.
- Gain practical tips.
- No prior knowledge is required.
- Project feedback from experienced reviewers.
Cons
- Costly.
9. Meta iOS Developer Professional Certificate
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 8 months.
- Price: $49 per month after the trial ends.
- Provider: Coursera.
Course’s highlights
Have you ever thought of creating your own mobile apps? This course will walk you through building apps for iOS devices and begin a career as an iOS Developer. By the end of the course, you should be able to build and run an app powered by iOS OS.
Upon completion, you will get exclusive access to the Meta Career Programs Job Board, connecting you with more than 200 employers who have committed to finding candidates through Meta’s certificate programs.
In addition, you get support resources that help you when searching for a job.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/meta-ios-developer
Pros
- A 7-day free trial.
- No prerequisites
- Shareable certificates.
- Learn at your own pace.
- Course videos and readings.
- Quizzes and graded assignments.
Cons
- Long duration.
10. Swift 5 iOS Application Developer
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: About four months (Suggested: 3 hours/week).
- Price: $79/month X 4 months = approx. $316.
- Provider: Coursera
Course’s highlights
This 4-course specialization will take you from the absolute basics of Swift and how to code iOS apps to sell your mobile apps in the app store.
You will learn how to build a fully functional app with user interactions, in-app purchase integrations, subscription features, and more.
At the end of this program, you’ll complete some projects to showcase your proficiency in iOS and Swift 5 programming, and you will develop the skills needed to start a career as an iOS/Swift application developer.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/swift-5-ios-app-developer
Pros
- 7 days free trial.
- Financial support.
- Access all courses.
- Get a certificate.
Cons
- The scoring system could be better.
Learning Guide
First Impression
Well-made programs and courses must present engaging and valuable content.
They must fit a set of criteria and be well-ranked, such as Affordability, comprehensive curriculum, and caring instructors.
Consider the Online Option
It would be great if your chosen course had an online option, allowing you to study or read the material anywhere and anytime.
The good news is that every course on my list will enable learners to join online, and some even let you study at your own pace.
Price
Cost is also something that you need to consider. Some courses are available for free, while others are paid.
Most of the options on this list even give you a trial, so you can complete the course for free (as long as it ends within the trial period).
Practice
For every niche of information technology, it’s hard to understand what you learn without practice. Hence, you should consider a course that includes practice, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned to real-world examples.
That way, you will also be able to find out all the kinks before moving into the new knowledge in the field.
Facilitated by an Experienced Developer
The instructor will be an experienced developer who has various hands-on experiences with Swift. It is also essential that they understand the programming language and can effectively communicate how it works.
Reviews From Previous Learners
The most accurate way to know if a course is meeting your expectations is to look for reviews from previous students. They will include opposing opinions, but the majority opinion is usually more accurate.
FAQs
What Should I Look For in an Excellent Swift Course?
You should consider the overview, content, and previous learners’ experience.
Why Should I Learn Swift?
It is a modern and widely used programming language with many powerful features. By learning more about this language, you can build apps more quickly and easily maintain projects.
Is Swift Hard to Learn?
No, it is easy to learn. This language uses a simple and expressive syntax that is easy to understand, even if you don’t have any prior experience with coding.
How Long Does It Take to Become an iOS Developer?
Learning how to code is a long process. It’s not difficult, but it takes practice and time. It will take about 500 to 1000 hours to learn how to code.
What Makes a Good Swift Course?
When you’re looking for a Swift course, ensure the course has the following.
- Decent price.
- Good ratings.
- Up-to-date.
- Lots of participants.
- Real-life applications.
- Certifications (optional).
Final Thoughts
Swift has a very promising future, not just as a language for iOS development, but also as one potential back-end web programming language.
So why not secure your future career by joining one of these courses today? Many beginner-friendly courses, such as Learn Swift: Introduction, are available to welcome you.
Thanks for your time!