Programming is an essential digital skill that continues to be in high demand. Among programming languages, one that stands out due to its popularity is Swift. Swift is used in the development of iOS applications, and programmers that specialize in this language bring home handsome salaries.
In this article, we take a look at the best online swift courses, classes, and training to help you learn the basics of this language or bring your programming skills to the next level. We also help you choose the right course and discuss certificates and certifications.
What Is Swift?
Swift is a general-purpose programming language designed to build high-powered projects quickly and simply. It was developed by Apple to build apps for its devices, including the MacBook, iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad. Swift also works with Apple’s Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks.
On top of that, Swift is easy to learn compared to other programming languages and it can efficiently detect errors. Spotify, Youtube, and Instagram are some of the many companies hiring Swift developers.
Why Online Swift Courses Are Important for Professional Development
Swift is one of the most popular programming languages in software development. Learning Swift will open countless professional opportunities and allow you to be at forefront of the field. Moreover, mastering this language will significantly increase your earning potential as Swift developers are some of the best-paid professionals in tech. According to Payscale, the average salary for a Swift developer is $106,232 a year.
In addition, the more you strengthen your coding and programming prowess, the better your problem-solving and logic skills will get. As our reliance on technology and automation grows, these skills will make you a more valuable worker regardless of your profession or industry.
Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn Swift?
Attending a coding bootcamp is an excellent way to learn Swift. Joining one of the best Swift bootcamps will allow you to master the basics of this language in a matter of weeks or months through hands-on coursework. In addition, bootcamps pride themselves on offering strong career support to fully prepare students for their professional lives.
Overview: The Best Online Swift Courses, Classes, or Training
Getting a more in-depth understanding of programming languages is crucial to become a more versatile programmer. Below, we take a close look at some of the Swift courses, classes, or training you can join to learn this programming language.
| Provider | Course | Price | Length | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Nerd Ranch | Swift Essentials | $1,000 | 2 days | No |
| Brainstation | iOS Development Course | $3,950 | 5-10 weeks | Yes |
| Codecademy | Build iOS Apps with SwiftUI | Free | 10 weeks | Yes |
| CodePath | Intro to Mobile Product Development | Free | 8 weeks | No |
| Coursera | Toward the Future of iOS Development with Swift | Free | 4 weeks | Yes |
| Devmountain | iOS Development Course | $7,900 | 13 weeks | No |
| edX | CurtinX’s Mobile App Development with Swift Professional Certificate | $497 | 6 months | Yes |
| LinkedIn Learning | Swift 5 Essential Training | $34.99 | 4-5 hours | Yes |
| Noble Desktop | IOS App Development Bootcamp | $2,495 | 60 hours | Yes |
| OpenClassroom | Learn Fundamentals of the Swift Programming Language | Free | 20 hours | Yes |
| Pluralsight | Swift for iOS Developers | Free | 2-3 hours | Yes |
| The Tech Academy | Mobile App Developer Bootcamp | $9, 540 | 18 weeks | Yes |
| Turntotech | iOS Bootcamp | $12,000 | 16 weeks | Yes |
| Udacity | Swift for Developers | Free | 7 days | No |
| Udemy | Swift 5 Programming Qualification | $89.99 | 3 hours | Yes |
In Detail: The Best Online Swift Classes, Courses, or Training
Swift Essentials | Big Nerd Ranch
- Learning Format: Full-time bootcamp
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift basics, the standard library, modeling with custom types, writing flexible code
This intensive two-day course covers the best practices and patterns of Swift development. To take this class, you need to have prior knowledge of basic Swift syntax. If you have no previous Swift experience, the coordinators can provide a pre-course workbook after registering for your class.
You will start by learning the basic Swift syntax to work with variables and control flow. You will also learn how to handle errors safely by working with failable operations. Next, you will practice storing, organizing, and processing data.
The coursework also covers modeling with custom types. You will design custom structures, classes, and enumerations. Lastly, you will participate in flexible coding exercises with the use of generics and learn modern patterns such as protocol-oriented programming.
Key Takeaway: This course is ideal for students seeking to dip their toes into Swift programming and covers a large number of topics.
iOS Development Course | Brainstation
- Learning Format: Part-time; on-campus or remote
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Programming fundamentals, app development principles, interactive app components, Swift libraries
This certificate course teaches students about Swift and Xcode, an integrated development environment. It is taught by industry experts from some of the most innovative companies in the world and relies on a collaborative, project-based learning approach.
You can choose to attend on-campus or online. The in-person version involves hands-on training with personalized instruction. By the end of the course, students would have developed a mobile application and learned how to upload it to the app store.
In the Programming Fundamentals unit, students engage in coding challenges and start to build the foundation of their app. They also learn about Swift’s UIKit and the model-view-controller structure. In the Swift Libraries unit, students use CocoaPods to manage dependencies from third-party libraries. After finishing these units, the students will be ready to finish their mobile applications.
Key Takeaway: For your final project, you can choose to work on your app idea. This course can be financed through flexible payment options.
Build iOS Apps with Swift UI | Codecademy
- Learning Format: Full-time
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift, SwiftUI, iOS, wireframing, Xcode
In this course, you will learn about iOS development and writing Swift code. You will wireframe an app and become familiar with arrays and dictionaries. You will also work on various projects that will test your programming skills, including building a morse decoder, a Pokedex, and a magic eight-ball.
Key Takeaway: This is a free course that offers a certificate and that can be completed in a month.
Intro to Mobile Product Development | CodePath
- Learning Format: Full-time; on-campus or remote
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: App design, mobile coding labs, industry panels
This course is specifically designed for freshmen and sophomores in computer science programs. Every Saturday, students will participate in hands-on sessions that tackle mobile application development or product design. Students also work on a flashcard app for iOS or Android. The coursework also tackles entrepreneurship, mobile engineering, and design.
Key Takeaway: This course is free yet it gives you access to high-quality learning materials
Toward the Future of iOS Development with Swift | Coursera
- Learning Format: Part-time
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift, Objective-C
This course is an introduction to Swift that will serve as excellent preparation for more advanced app development programs. During this course, students master the basic programming skills needed to start manipulating data in functions. In the final week, they create a full-fledged application to put what they have learned in previous weeks into practice.
Key Takeaway: This course will allow you to explore the latest technologies used by Swift developers.
iOS Development Course | Devmountain
- Learning Format: Full-time course; on-campus or remote
- Level: Intermediate
- Subjects Covered: Swift, Xcode, Objective-C, UI, UX
This iOS development course from Devmountain focuses on collaborating with Github and Xcode using Objective-C and Swift to create apps for Apple products. This is an intermediate course, so you need previous programming experience.
In the first three weeks, you will be introduced to Swift and complete coding exercises with daily presentations and guided discussions. Next, you will use Xcode to design and debug iOS apps and learn how to work with Objective-C. You will also learn about user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) programming.
The curriculum also covers different data models, debugging and testing apps, and writing automated coding tests. In the last two weeks, you will register as an Apple developer and present the app you have been working on with your classmates.
Key Takeaway: Completing this course will strengthen your portfolio and make you a more desirable candidate for developer jobs. This is an excellent course to learn to debug using Swift.
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CurtinX’s Mobile App Development with Swift Professional Certificate | edX
- Learning Format: Part-time
- Level: Intermediate
- Subjects Covered: Computer science, mobile development, iOS SDK, Xcode
This is a six-month course with two focus areas: building an iOS app from beginning to end and learning about augmented reality. This is a great course option to become familiar with the iOS Software Development Kit (SDK) and other Apple developer tools such as Xcode, iOS Simulator, and Analyzer.
Key Takeaway: This program is one of the longest on this list. This means you will have plenty of time to master the topics covered by the curriculum.
Swift 5 Essential Training | LinkedIn Learning
- Learning Format: Self-paced
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift basics, app development
This course provides you with a foundational knowledge of Swift through hands-on instruction delivered by an experienced teacher. You will also learn how to create apps with Swift after studying standard data types, methods, conditional logic, functions, and classes.
Key Takeaway: This course’s price tag is low given the breadth and quality of the curriculum.
iOS App Development Bootcamp | Noble Desktop
- Learning Format: Full-time bootcamp; on-campus or remote
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift, iOS, Xcode
In this bootcamp, you get to build your very own iPhone or iPad apps using Swift and Xcode. You will also learn to embed videos as well as add geolocation and external web links, which are functions that are not covered by many of the other courses on this list.
First, students deal with variables, data types, type interference, and strings. Next, they create enumerations and auto layouts. Later, they work on several applications, including a weather forecast app. In the final week, they test their application and submit it to the app store.
Key Takeaway: This bootcamp can be taken again for free if the student fails the first time.
Learn Fundamentals of the Swift Programming Language | OpenClassroom
- Learning Format: Part-time
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Fundamentals of Swift
There are four parts to this class. The first section establishes the basics of Swift. You’ll take advantage of Playground and build a solid foundation when it comes to variables. Next, you’ll learn about control flows. After that, you will be collecting data with arrays and organizing it with dictionaries. Lastly, you will implement elementary functions and take a quiz about code optimization.
Key Takeaway: This is a great course to master the fundamentals of Swift.
Swift for iOS Developers | Pluralsight
- Learning Format: Self-paced
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift, Objective-C, Xcode
This course tackles the features of Swift from an Objective-C developer’s point of view. You will learn how to leverage Swift 1.2 and Xcode 6.4 to build real-world applications. In addition, you’ll also learn authentication, keychain access, and flow code controls.
Key Takeaway: This is one of the shortest courses on this list as it can be completed in less than three hours.
Mobile App Developer Bootcamp | The Tech Academy
- Learning Format: Full-time or part-time bootcamp; on-campus or remote
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: iOS development, Android development, version control, Visual Studio, project management, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, SQL, databases
This program is different from many others on the list because it covers app development across different platforms. Aside from iOS development, you will also learn to create apps for Android through Xamarin.
During 112 hours of study time, you will study the programming languages Swift, Objective-C, and Java. Students will also become familiar with UI/UX design basics, object-oriented programming fundamentals, and app security.
Key Takeaway: A key feature of this bootcamp is a job placement course that will help students land their first programming job.
iOS Bootcamp | Turntotech
- Learning Format: Full-time
- Level: Intermediate
- Subjects Covered: Computer science fundamentals, OS architecture, UI/UX design, AWS, security, testing, design patterns
On your first day, you will be given a series of challenging problems that will help the instructor assess your tech and programming background. You will then participate in object-oriented programming activities and start developing applications.
You will mainly focus on OS architecture, UI/UX design, AWS data storing, and web services interactions. The curriculum also covers advanced Swift topics like app performance, security, testing, and design patterns.
Key Takeaway: This immersive 16-week course is ideal to get a firm handle on mobile development.
Swift for Developers | Udacity
- Learning Format: Self-paced
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift basics, UI
This free course is a quick and practical introduction to the basics of Swift and its variables, constants, types, and functions. It also involves syntax exercises with hands-on practice in Xcode. In just seven days, students will be able to build their own iOS apps.
Key Takeaway: For a free course, this course has a lot of high-quality and engaging content.
Swift 5 Programming Qualification | Udemy
- Learning Format: Self-paced
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift basics
This certificate course from Udemy is designed to help students prepare for the Swift Level 1 examination. The curriculum covers working with arrays, optionals, classes, methods, and functions.
Key Takeaway: In just three hours of intense training, you can prepare for an important examination and earn a certificate of completion.
Online Swift Classes, Training, or Courses: Which Is the Right Option?
When it comes to learning a skill like Swift, you will often encounter three types of learning options: classes, courses, and training. Before you can decide which one is right for you, you need to learn to differentiate them.
Classes are one-off lessons that last from a few hours to a couple of days. They are perfect for students who don’t have much time. Courses, on the other hand, are longer programs offered by schools or bootcamps. They involve a series of lessons that can take weeks or months to complete. Courses are for students willing to commit to longer programs.
Finally, training programs offer a more practical learning experience, where the student is taught the skills needed to perform a particular job. The emphasis here is on practice over theory. A good example of a training program is a coding bootcamp, where the student is given the training necessary to join the job market. Training programs are an ideal option for those seeking to become Swift developers.
How to Choose the Right Online Swift Course, Class, or Training Program
Cost
When it comes to pricing, Swift courses and programs run the gamut from zero to thousands of dollars. When choosing, carefully weigh your budget against the value offered by the program and find a balance.
A free course might sound tempting, but it would be a waste of time if the content lacks quality. On the other hand, a course that costs thousands of dollars might turn out to be a bad investment if it doesn’t offer additional services like career support. As said before, consider the cost carefully and determine if the services that you’ll be getting justify the cost.
Certificates
When possible, choose a course that results in a certificate of completion. A certificate can be a nice credential to add to your resume and can help you stand out among other candidates when applying for jobs. Some learning platforms allow you to take the course for free but ask for a fee if you want to receive a certificate.
Course Duration
When applying for an online Swift course, the length of the program is one of the first things you want to consider. Some courses can be completed in mere hours, while others require a full-time commitment over several weeks or months. Know how much time you are willing to commit and choose your program appropriately.
Swift Course Certificates vs. Certifications
A lot of the courses on this list offer a certificate. This type of credential should not be confused with a certification. To put it simply, a certificate generally refers to a document that proves that you have completed a course of study. It is awarded by a learning institution and does not generally involve an exam.
On the other hand, a certification, also known as a professional certification, shows your mastery over a specific skill or technology. Instead of being awarded by a learning institution, it is given out by a standard-setting institution, such as (ISC)² in the case of cyber security. Finally, students must pass a test in order to earn it.
Importance of Swift Certifications
When it comes to Swift, it can be hard to tell the difference between certificate and certification. A lot of organizations claim to offer professional certification, but the credentials they offer are more aligned with the definition of “certificate”. Since Swift is a language developed by Apple, it makes sense to seek certification from the tech giant directly.
Fortunately, Apple Developer offers several Swift-related certifications. We recommend the App Development with Swift: Associate and the App Development with Swift: Certified User. Both of these certifications are available through an exam administered by Certiport.
Why You Should Take Online Swift Courses or Classes
If you have an interest in software development, whether for mobile or desktop, Swift should on your radar. This language is hugely popular and learning it will help you become a more versatile and in-demand programmer.
Taking an online Swift course or class is a great way to learn the basics of this programming language and even explore advanced concepts. The courses on this list have been vetted by our experts at Career Karma and are guaranteed to have the high-quality content you need to master the fundamentals of this powerful language.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
