13 Best iOS Development Courses Online in 2024 [Free + Paid]

Here, we discuss the best iOS development courses. This article evaluates submissions from the Hackr community and resources from other popular learning platforms, which cover designing, developing, and maintaining mobile applications for Apple's operating system. Now, we're sharing our findings. 

After all, the best iOS development courses set learners up for lucrative career paths (developers earn average salaries over $100K, well above average for American workers). We evaluated these options, always considering the depth of coverage and overall value.

So if you're ready to learn how to become a mobile app developer, we found the 13 best iOS development courses available online in 2024.

Featured iOS Development Courses [Editor’s Picks]

• [Udemy] iOS & Swift - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp
• [Educative] Swift Programming for Mobile App Development
• [Coursera] Foundations of Objective-C App Development
• [Apple Developer Program] Develop apps for iOS

Choosing the Best iOS Development Courses 

To help us find the 13 best ios developer courses in 2024, we used the following criteria.

• Creator Expertise: How experienced are they with teaching iOS development? And what was the ratio of positive student reviews?
• Course Content: How comprehensive is the course curriculum? How engaging is the style of presentation? Are the topics relevant to real-world challenges for an iOS developer?
• Community: How many people have taken the course or are currently enrolled? Is it easy to reach out to other students if you get stuck?

The 13 Best iOS Development Courses in 2024

1. [Udemy] iOS & Swift - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp

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Why We Chose This Course

With over 1.9 million current and former students, a leadership role at London App Brewery, and a popular programming boot camp, Dr. Yu is one of the most experienced and respected instructors on Udemy, meaning you’re in great hands with her comprehensive iOS dev course.

As one of the best ways to learn Swift for iOS development, this course covers programming basics, control structures, flow control, and advanced topics like OOP and inheritance. You’ll also get hands-on by building 25 apps for your portfolio, which is ideal when applying for junior iOS developer jobs and you need to tackle Swift interview questions.

By the end of this course, you’ll be familiar with responsive UI design, iOS app design patterns, networking and APIs, and version control with Git. You’ll also have a strong grasp of essential development tools like Xcode, UIKit, SwiftUI, and CoreData, and that’s not to mention the augmented reality apps you’ll build with ARKit and machine learning apps with CoreML. 

As an added bonus, this course also covers how to wireframe, mockup, and prototype app ideas and extra lessons on marketing your new apps. 

Pros

• Build 25 apps for your portfolio
• Learn to create augmented reality apps with ARKit
• Sections on marketing your app for success
• More than 59 hours of video content

Cons

• Large time commitment may not suit everyone

2. [Educative] Swift Programming for Mobile App Development

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Why We Chose This Course

While many courses on our list focus on video content, this offering from Educative bucks the trend with a mostly text-based approach. That’s not to say you won’t see examples, as this six-hour course encourages beginners to read and program as they make progress.

The course focuses on building a foundation in the Swift programming language, essential to creating apps for Apple platforms. With a total of 12 modules, expect to cover Swift data types, operators, and expressions, before advancing to OOP, files, directories, and error handling.

Don’t expect any fluff with this fundamentals of Swift development course, as it provides a no-nonsense look at basic app development, which is what you’ll need if you want to expand into more advanced projects on your own.

The most interesting thing? The course features hands-on coding environments that you can use in your browser. And while it’s technically a paid course, if you want to earn certificates of completion, Educative also offers a free trial.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly course to learn Swift
• Expertly presented in bite-size chunks
• Hands-on coding environments to reinforce your learning
• Text-based learning approach instead of video

Cons

• Lack of video resources may not suit all learners

3. [Coursera] Foundations of Objective-C App Development

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Why We Chose This Course

This offering from Coursera is the starter course in the iOS Development specialization track. At only 15 hours (over four weeks) in length, this short course is notably presented by the University of California, Irvine.

While many iOS dev courses focus on Swift, the Objective-C programming language is the original choice for developing macOS and iOS, which is still widely used in 2024. In fact, many core iOS and macOS apps are written in Objective-C despite Swift’s surge in popularity.

An essential aspect of iOS development with Objective-C is using objects and blocks to organize code, and that’s exactly what you’ll learn here. And as a hands-on course, you’ll be able to prototype four different apps within four weeks. 

Like all iOS courses, note that you’ll need an iOS device or a virtual machine to get started.

Pros

• World-class instructors from a prestigious university
• Short and concise course on app development
• Focus on Objective-C language
• Get started quickly with fundamentals

Cons

• Isn’t updated for the latest iOS systems, but it’s easy to tackle this issue
• Examples shown with XCode 7 rather than the latest XCode 14.x

4. [Coursera] OS App Development with Swift Specialization

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Why We Chose This Course

This iOS course provides an in-depth introduction to the fundamentals of iOS application development with the Swift programming language.

Offered by the University of Toronto, it covers key concepts, such as using powerful development tools, designing user interfaces and interactions, and incorporating features in the system, making it ideal for learning iOS development.

Over the course of the program, students gain a comprehensive understanding of iOS app development that can easily be applied to creating high-quality, robust applications for Apple’s mobile devices.

Additionally, learners also get to apply their knowledge in a final Capstone Project where they design their own functional photo editing for the Apple Ecosystem. With this knowledge, students will be well-equipped to take on any challenge related to iOS app development with confidence.

Pros

• Hands-on practice with capstone project
• Learn how to use design interfaces as part of app design
• Get to know frameworks and system processes to use in your app

Cons

• Works with outdated Swift

5. [FreeCodeCamp] iOS Development Course - Use Swift 5 and UIKit to Build a Netflix Clone

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Why We Chose This Course

This iOS developer course is great for learning how to build an iOS app from scratch for free. It provides an in-depth look into the app development process, starting with creating a new Xcode project and walking through every step of the development process, including

• Creating the main tab bar view controller
• Setting up a home view controller table view
• Customizing the navigation bar
• Sending URL requests and parsing JSON response
• Using extensions and consuming API to fetch data for each section and so much more.

The instructor also guides participants on how to create a custom CollectionViewCell and pass data to the collectionview. By the end of this course, you will have learned essential concepts and developed an iOS app from start to finish!

Pros

• Free course that teaches you a lot about creating iOS apps
• Learn by creating an app
• Learn the MVVM design pattern

Cons

• Lacks the structure/guidance of any paid iOS development course on this list

6. [LinkedIn Learning] Get Started with iOS App Development

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Why We Chose This Course

This is one of the best ios development classes for beginners that want an in-depth and comprehensive overview of the essential tools, language, and knowledge needed to build and develop iOS apps. It helps new developers get acquainted with the software development kit used to create iOS applications and gain hands-on experience with Swift 5.

In addition, it covers how to use version control, storyboards, the basics of the Interface Builder, and much more. This course is ideal for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of programming and create their own mobile apps or games for macOS or iOS. With this course, anyone can become proficient in developing iOS applications quickly and easily.

Pros

• Learn Swift development
• Learn how to build and deploy iOS and macOS apps with XCode
• Explore debugging and learning based on native iOS system apps

Cons

• Swift and iOS versions in this course are outdated to learn

7. [edX] Build your very first iOS app

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Why We Chose This Course

This ios developer training course provides a solid foundation for understanding the principles of coding, enabling you to create high-quality apps with an intuitive user interface.

The course covers Xcode, Swift language, and programming fundamentals such as variables and data types, control flow, if-then-else statements, logical operators, switch statements, arrays, and dictionaries. With these skills, you can create complex programs that are more capable of responding to user input.

Additionally, the course also walks you through building interactive interfaces with Interface Builder in Xcode and provides guidance on how to use the various areas of the Xcode project navigator. This comprehensive approach will give you the confidence to develop our own mobile applications using advanced tools such as Swift programming language and Xcode.

Pros

• Learn how to create intuitive and responsive apps
• Beginner friendly
• Learn how to use Apple Developer Tools

Cons

• Not updated for latest SwiftUI and XCode

8. [Udacity] Become an iOS Developer

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Why We Chose This Course

It covers the fundamentals of Swift and Xcode development, allowing students to learn the basics of building an app from scratch. This course also provides students with more advanced topics like networking, Grand Central Dispatch, and Core Data. With these skills, students can create sophisticated applications and be ready to publish their work in the App Store. 

This course also offers hands-on experience in designing an app with UIKit and working with audio recording and playback features. All these features make this course an ideal choice for beginners or intermediate-level developers who want to understand iOS development thoroughly.

Pros

• Career placement support with LinkedIn profile optimization for interviews
• Mentor support
• Real-world industry projects
• Personalized feedback and access to student forum

Cons

• None

9. [Apple Developer Program] Develop apps for iOS

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Why We Chose This Course

This is one of the best iOS app development courses to learn essential topics such as Xcode, SwiftUI, and UIKit, which are necessary for creating engaging and functional iOS apps.

One of the highlights of this iOS app development course is that it's offered by Apple itself, meaning you're learning directly from the source. The instructors are knowledgeable and experienced in iOS development, providing valuable insights and tips throughout the course.

The course is well-structured and easy to follow, making it accessible even to beginners with no prior experience in app development. Additionally, the interactive exercises and quizzes help reinforce your learning and ensure that you retain what you've learned.

Overall, if you're interested in learning how to develop iOS apps and want a comprehensive introduction to the topic, the Develop apps for iOS course from Apple is an excellent choice.

Pros

• Goes in-depth with latest frameworks and tools you need to develop Apple ecosystem apps
• Learn XCode, SwiftIUI, and XCode from Apple
• Directs you to anything and everything you need to learn alongside or before this course from Apple

Cons

• Can be too complex for beginners new to the Apple ecosystem

10. [PluralSight] iOS App Development: The Big Picture

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Why We Chose This Course

This course offers a comprehensive, high-level introduction to the iOS app development process. It covers everything from Apple’s Xcode IDE and the Swift programming language to essential iOS concepts and all of the architectural patterns, techniques, and design principles necessary for successful iOS app development. 

This course also provides an introduction to adaptive interfaces as well as guidance on leveraging Swift with powerful architectural patterns to take your application game to the next level.

All of these elements together create a comprehensive guide that will help any aspiring or experienced developer gain the knowledge they need to develop successful, professional-grade iOS applications.

Pros

• Offers a comprehensive overview of the iOS app development process
• Suitable for both aspiring and experienced developers
• Teaches you everything from Xcode and Swift to essential iOS concepts and design principles

Cons

• May not provide enough depth or detail for those seeking more advanced knowledge

11. [Udemy] SwiftUI Masterclass 2024 - iOS App Development & Swift

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Why We Chose This Course

Instructor Robert Petras features more than 28,000 current and former students on his profile. If you want to learn to develop iOS apps with SwiftUI, this course is ideal as you can expect to build professional iOS apps for a range of Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and macOS desktop.

Students also cover a range of essential programming concepts via project-based learning. Meaning you’ll be learning the Swift language, the SwiftUI framework, concurrency, asynchronous programming, REST APIs, version control with Git, Face ID, Touch ID, and more.

Impressively, this course regularly sees new content updates. We found new material added in January, February, and March of this year. Those seeking fresh information will benefit from actively-updated course materials and a growing cohort of students.

Pros

• Learn the Swift language and the SwiftUI
• Covers SwiftUI design concepts in detail
• Code-based explanations
• Develop iOS apps with practical activities

Cons

• May not provide coding fundamentals for beginners

12. [BitDegree] iOS App Development: From an Absolute Beginner to a Paid Professional

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Why We Chose This Course

This course is the ideal option for aspiring beginners and professionals alike who are looking to upgrade their skills and become proficient in developing professional-grade apps for iOS.

With over 10,000 users in the chatroom and 24/7 tutors available to answer questions, this tutorial provides a comprehensive foundation of Swift 4, Xcode 9, core data, APIs, HTTP, networking, building with Firebase, ARKit and augmented reality, machine learning & CoreMl, tables & data and more.

Through hands-on learning with this intensive coursework and helpful support from experienced tutors and peers, you can confidently create stunning apps that will impress your clients or employers.

Pros

• Forum support with students and teachers
• Learn ML frameworks in iOS
• Learn how to launch your app on the App Store

Cons

• Works with older versions of XCode and SwiftUI

13. [Stanford] CS193p iPhone Application Development Spring 2020

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Why We Chose This Course

This iOS apps development course is provided by the prestigious Stanford University, this course equips students with the fundamentals of building applications for iPhone and iPad using SwiftUI.

From creating reusable components to combining them to make more complex user interfaces, the course covers topics such as MVVM, properties layout @ViewBuilder, protocols shapes, view modifier animation, animation demo, emoji art drag/drop, and gestures. Meaning it’s ideal for learning iOS app development.

Instructors provide insights on navigating Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines to create intuitive user experiences and detailed animations. Students also have access to learning software such as Xcode 12 that helps students speed up their development process.

Pros

• Learn about making apps with SwiftUI and XCode
• Learn how to create responsive UI and how to work with REST APIs
• Goes in depth for concepts like designs and animations.

Cons

• Not beginner-friendly

Conclusion

With the release of iOS 16 and future updates, developers need to stay up-to-date with the latest updates and features to create high-quality apps. Thankfully, there are many online courses available that provide comprehensive training on iOS app development. 

In this article, we have compiled a list of the 13 best iOS development courses online in 2024, both free and paid options. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer looking to expand your skills, these courses cover everything from Xcode and Swift programming to essential iOS concepts and design principles.

Looking to apply for iOS developer jobs? Get ready with these:

iOS interview questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is iOS Development?

iOS development is the process of creating mobile applications for Apple's iOS operating system.

2. Which Is The Best iOS Development Course?

The best iOS development course may vary based on individual preferences, but popular options include Udemy’s complete boot camp, Coursera’s Objective-C foundations program, and Apple's own developer program.

3. Is iOS Development A Good Career?

iOS Dev can be a good career choice for those interested in creating innovative mobile applications for one of the largest platforms in the world.

4. What Skills Do I Need To Be An iOS Developer?

To be an iOS developer, you need skills such as proficiency in Swift or Objective-C programming languages, knowledge of the XCode development environment, and experience with app architecture design and implementation.