Most iOS developers use Swift to develop iOS applications. It is one of the most popular programming languages used by professional developers and has a huge demand in the job market.
Therefore, it has been observed that people want to learn app development with Swift. But it becomes challenging for them when it comes to finding the best books and courses to learn.
Read on to learn about:
- Intro to App Development with Swift
- Best iOS App Development Courses to Learn Swift
- Best iOS App Development Books to Learn Swift
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you aspire to be a Swift developer and want to make a career in the mobile app development service field, then you must check this blog. We have shared a list of the best books and courses that you need to embark on your career. Let’s start!
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Intro to App Development with Swift
Swift is a powerful programming language developed by Apple in July 2010 for macOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and beyond. The language has made it easier for developers to develop apps for iPhones, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.
Here are some of the best features of Swift that you must know:
- It makes code easier to read and write
- Supports inferred types for cleaner code and lesser mistakes
- Memory can be managed automatically
- Fast and accurate iteration over a range or collection
- Functional programming patterns, e.g., map and filter
Without further ado, let’s check the best books and courses to learn Swift so that you can start developing apps.
Best iOS App Development Courses to Learn Swift
Before you move ahead, check this table to find the important details of the courses. This table will help to make an easy decision. Moreover, ensure which course will best suit your requirements.
Now, let’s get started.
Course | Abstract | Duration | Price | Level |
---|---|---|---|---|
Intro to iOS App Development with Swift | Introduction of iOS application developmentHelps to build an appGet exposure to programming languages | 1 month | Free | Intermediate |
iOS App Development with Swift Specialization | Get familiar with the development tools, such as XCodeLearn how to enhance the features of an appBuild a fully-function photo-editing app. | 5 month | Free | Intermediate |
Learn How to Design and Build iOS Apps | Learn various tools and techniques to build an app from scratch Focus on Swift programming | 6 month | USD 497.63 | Beginner |
Developing iOS 10 Apps with Swift | Build apps for iOS using the iOS SDKIntroduction to Swift and learn user interface design Cover object-oriented design, animation, multi-threading, networking, and more | 22 month | Free | Beginner |
Udacity – Intro to iOS App Development with Swift
The Intro to iOS App Development with Swift will help you to build an app that records a conversation between 2 people. Later, it modulates the voice to sound like a Chipmunk or Darth Vader.

This course is all about the introduction of iOS application development with the Swift programming language from Apple. Moreover, it will help you to get into the iOS Developer Nanodegree.
Later, you can join the iOS Developer Nanodegree course to make your career in web and app development, machine learning, and data science.
Instructor: Jarrod Parkes
iOS Developer Certification: No
Coursera – iOS App Development with Swift Specialization

The iOS App Development with Swift Specialization will cover all the fundamental points of Swift. You will get familiar with the development tools, such as XCode, design interface, and interactions.
Learn to evaluate the usability, and integrate the camera, photo, and the information of the location to enhance the features of the app.
In the final stage of this course, you will be able to create a fully-functioning photo editing app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
However, you will need a Mac computer for this course. So, make sure you arrange a Mac computer before you start the sessions. You will also get an iOS application development certification after the completion of this course.
Instructor: Parham Aarabi, Professor, University of Toronto
iOS Developer Certification: Yes, on course completion
edX – Learn How to Design and Build iOS Apps
The Learn How to Design and Build iOS Apps course is designed to help you learn various tools, techniques, and concepts that are required to build a basic iOS application from scratch.

Starting from the Swift programming language to the utilization of the iOS Software Development Kit (SDK) and various tools, such as Xcode, debugger, analyzer, and iOS Simulator, you will learn everything to create mobile apps.
Through various lessons of this course, focus on Swift programming and different aspects of mobile app development. You will get practical and hands-on skills to enhance your app development career with an iOS app developer certification.
Instructor: Dr. David A. McMeekin, Senior Academic, Curtin University; Tristan W. Reed, Software Engineer, Curtin University
iOS Developer Certification: Yes, on course completion
iTunes U – Developing iOS 10 Apps with Swift
Developing iOS 10 Apps with Swift is the free course offered by Stanford’s School of Engineering, which specially focuses on building applications for the iPhone and iPad platforms using the iOS SDK.

This course will give an introduction to Swift and various topics, such as interface design for mobile devices and unique user interactions by multi-touch technologies.
You will also cover the following topics through 49 lessons, and the majority of them are in a video format.
- Object-oriented design using the model-view-controller
- Paradigm and memory management
- Object-oriented database API
- Animation
- Mobile device power management
- Multi-threading
- Networking
Offered By: Stanford’s School of Engineering
iOS Developer Certification: No
We have discussed the best courses for mobile app development with Swift. Now, we will share the best iOS app development books to learn Swift. Let’s check!
Best iOS App Development Books to Learn Swift
Before checking the best iOS app development books, let’s check out this table that will make the selection process easy for you. Know what to expect from the best iOS development book and how much it costs. Let’s get started:
Book | Abstract | Price | Level |
---|---|---|---|
App Development with Swift | Helps to develop a fully-function appLearn the foundation programming conceptsGet industry best practices | Free | Intermediate |
Beginner’s Guide to iOS 11 App Development Using Swift 4 | Introduction to iOS app developmentHelps with the installation and setting-upLearn to design interfaces and testing of the app | USD 14.99 | Beginner |
App Development with Swift
This App Development with Swift book is for those who have an interest in enhancing their skills to develop their own iOS app. One can learn how to implement ideas to bring them to life and become a successful mobile application developer.

Moreover, this book is helpful for everyone, even if you are a complete newbie or want to expand your skill sets. After the completion of this book, users will be able to develop a fully functioning app.
Unit 1 starts by introducing iOS development tools and basic concepts using Swift as the language. Get industry best practices by following a step-by-step curriculum and learning to create applications from scratch.
Offered By: Apple Education
Beginner’s Guide to iOS 11 App Development Using Swift 4
This Beginner’s Guide to iOS 11 App Development Using Swift 4 book is for beginners who have no experience in mobile app development. The book helps you to learn the installation of the required programming environment and set up the simulators.

You can learn to develop simple apps with a step-by-step process. Moreover, you will learn the basics of the Swift 4 programming language with some practical examples, screenshots, and code snippets.
Every code line is explained clearly in this book with all the instructions to develop apps. If you follow all the processes to develop the apps, you can also learn to design interfaces, connecting interface objects to code, develop efficient Swift code, and test the app in simulators and real devices.
Here are some of the apps developed which are included in this book that you can refer to:
1. Body mass index (BMI) calculator app
2. SOS sender app
3. Bounce the ball game app
Offered By: S. Yamacli
After curating the list of best books and courses for app development with Swift, we have also answered the most common questions that readers ask. Let’s check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to find the best iOS app development courses?
- Decide Your Criteria – You need to decide your expectations from a course and the purpose to learn mobile app development.
- Explore Your Choices – There must be several courses, but make sure to choose one that matches your requirements, such as budget and course duration.
- Read Thoroughly – Read all the instructions carefully and make sure that you have understood everything about the course.
- Narrow Down Your Choices – Cut down the options by selecting one which has all the required details.
- Start Learning – Now you have found the right course, start preparing for it.
What are other books for app development with Swift?
- Beginning iOS 14 & Swift 5 App Development
- Learning Swift: Building Apps for macOS, iOS, and Beyond
- iOS 14 Programming Fundamentals with Swift
Start Developing iOS Apps Swift
Now you know the best books and courses for developing an app in Swift, it’s time to start developing your own iOS apps.