Finding the Best Online Mobile App Development Courses in 2021
If you’ve ever considered taking an online mobile app development course, there’s never been a better time than 2021. There are plenty of job opportunities for developers, and it’s a well-paid and growing field. The average salary of software developers is $110,140 per year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It is also estimated that the software development field will grow by 22 percent by 2029, which is significantly faster than other occupations. So if you want to see your app on the app store, read on to find out the best online courses for mobile app development.
What Is Mobile App Development?
Mobile app development is a branch of software development specializing in applications for mobile devices. Mobile app developers commonly have job titles such as “iOS app developer” or “Android app developer”. However, it does not mean they are restricted to one operating system. Many developers learn to design cross-platform applications as well.
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Every application on your mobile device is designed by mobile app developers. They specialize in augmented reality, game development, or social media development. Mobile app developers commonly begin their careers working in web design because it gives them a good foundation for working with user interfaces.
The Best Online Courses for Mobile App Development 2021
There are hundreds of online courses you can enroll in to learn mobile app design and development. These courses allow you to learn from home in your own time and provide step-by-step instructions to create a mobile app in a relatively short time frame.
Android App Development Specialization by Coursera
Price: Free
Length: Five Months
Certificate: Yes
This Android App Development Specialization course is offered for free on Coursera. Coursera has partnered with Vanderbilt University to offer this course. The course is led by professors from the university.
In this course, you will focus on using the Java programming language to create mobile apps for Android devices. The course takes roughly five months to complete, and ends with a capstone project that can be added to your professional portfolio.
Android N: From Beginner to Paid Professional by Udemy
Price: $24.99
Length: 25 Hours
Certificate: Yes
Udemy offers this Android N: From Beginner to Paid Professional course for $24.99. However, it’s worth noting that Udemy prices can change frequently. The course is self paced, entirely online, and takes roughly 25 hours to complete.
In this course, you will learn how to build basic Android apps. The course focuses on programming with Java, and will teach you object-oriented programming with Java and Android. By the end of the course, you will be ready to apply to beginner-level Android developer jobs.
Android Basics by Google and Udacity
Price: $279/Month
Length: 3 Months
Certificate: Yes
For a subscription of $279 per month, you can access this Android Basics nanodegree program offered by Udacity. It takes most students around three months to complete the course, with 10 hours of studying per week. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.
The curriculum for this course was developed with Google, with the goal of preparing beginning Android developers for real-world jobs. You will learn all the Android development basics, and you will have completed six different projects by the end of the course.
Build Your First Android App by Coursera
Price: Free
Length: 22 Hours
Certificate: Yes
Another free course is Build Your First Android App by Coursera. It takes approximately 22 hours to complete and you receive a certificate of completion when you finish.
Offered in conjunction with CentraleSupelec, this course is taught by experts in the field. You will learn to design, build, and distribute Android apps. The course is entirely project based, giving you plenty of opportunities for hands-on practice and portfolio building.
C# for Beginners - Make Windows Apps by Skillshare
Price: $19/Month
Length: Self-paced Course
Certificate: No
If you are willing to pay $19 per month for a Skillshare membership, you’ll have full access to this C# for Beginners – Make Windows Apps course. This course is completely self-paced. It’s worth noting that this course does not offer a certificate.
This course is focused on the C# programming language. While a good understanding of the language is helpful, it is not required. You will have the opportunity to learn C# during the course. You will work on various projects throughout the course and will finish with a fully functioning Windows application.
The Complete Android N Developer Course by Udemy
Price: $129.99
Length: 32 Hours
Certificate: Yes
Another app developer course from Udemy is The Complete Android N Developer Course. This course takes roughly 32 hours to complete. You will earn a certificate of completion at the end of the course.
During this course, you will study Android 7 Nougat. The course revolves around building applications, and allows you to build your own versions of popular apps such as Uber, Whatsapp, and Instagram.
The Complete React Native + Hooks Course by Udemy
Price: $94.99
Length: 38 Hours
Certificate: Yes
React Native is a open-source mobile development software created by Facebook. During this course by Udemy you will spend around 38 hours studying React Native, and will earn a certificate of completion upon finishing the course.
The course will teach you how to use React Native with Hook, Context, and React Navigation to build mobile applications. It also teaches you how to test and deploy your own applications on the Apple and Google Play stores.
Developing iOS 11 Apps with Swift by iTunes U and Stanford University
Price: Free
Length: 21 Hours
Certificate: No
Swift is a programming language used to develop iOS apps. This free Developing iOS 11 Apps with Swift course is offered on the iTunes U platform in partnership with Stanford University. It takes approximately 21 hours to complete.
This course is completely self paced, and will teach you how to use all of the tools and APIs necessary to build iOS applications. You need a background in C# and object-oriented programming in order to keep up with this course.
Foundations of Objective-C App Development by Coursera
Price: Free
Length: 15 Hours
Certificate: Yes
Offered by Coursera in partnership with the University of California at Irvine, this free Foundations of Objective-C App Development course is a great option for future iOS developers. You can complete the course in just 15 hours, and will earn a certificate of completion.
This course focuses primarily on teaching students how to use Objective-C, as well as its similarities for other C programming languages. While this specific course will not teach you how to build mobile applications, it is one of the best places to start if you are a beginner.
iOS 11 Fundamentals by Pluralsight
Price: $29/Month
Length: 4.5 Hours
Certificate: No
Pluralsight is a similar platform to Skillshare, and offers this iOS 11 Fundamentals course with its $29 per month subscription. This course is offered entirely online and self paced. You don’t need any previous knowledge or experience in app development to take this course.
During the four and a half hours of video lectures, you will learn how to use XCode and Swift to build iOS apps. The goal of this course is to teach you how to build apps in iOS that are transferable to other devices. By the end of the course, you should have a good grasp of how to create cross-platform mobile applications.
iOS App Development with Swift Specialization by Coursera
Price: Free
Length: Five Months
Certificate: Yes
If you’re looking for a free iOS course, you can enroll in this iOS App Development with Swift Specialization course offered by Coursera. This course takes around five months to complete, and you will receive a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
Offered in conjunction with the University of Toronto, this course is a college degree specialization split into four parts. Each part is designed to teach you about Swift, XCode, various design interfaces, and how to build applications in iOS.
iOS & Swift - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp by Udemy
Price: $94.99
Length: 60 Hours
Certificate: Yes
This iOS & Swift – The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp course takes around 60 hours to complete. In this course, you will evolve from beginner to expert. By the end of the course you’ll be able to build any iOS app.
You will study iOS development and all of Apple’s latest technologies and frameworks, including SwiftUI. As well as app development, you will learn about marketing and design to help you develop into an all-round expert mobile app developer.
Java for Android by Coursera
Price: Free
Length: 39 Hours
Certificate: Yes
This is another free course offered by Coursera with Vanderbilt University. You will study the fundamentals of programming in Java, and learn how to use various Java features to design and deploy mobile applications for Android devices.
It is completely free of charge and will take most students around 39 hours to finish. You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in several hands-on projects during the course. This will give you some practical experience and help build your portfolio.
The Ultimate iOS 11 Course by Mammoth Interactive
Price: $500
Length: Self-paced
Certificate: No
This course will teach you the basics of the various technologies needed to develop mobile apps for iOS devices. These technologies include XCode, Swift, ARKit, CoreML, SpriteKit, and WatchKit.
Mammoth Interactive offers this all-inclusive course for $500. The course is completely online and self paced, allowing you flexibility over your daily schedule. By the end of the course, you will have completed several projects to add to your professional portfolio.
Windows Phone Mobile App Development by Udemy
Price: $24.99
Length: Two Hours
Certificate: Yes
Finally, this course provided by Udemy is a good way to broaden your mobile app development skills. In this course, you will work on projects to learn how to develop mobile applications for Windows devices.
It also covers the challenges of bringing a Windows app to the mobile app market. You should already have a good understanding of C# development before enrolling in this course.
What Do Mobile App Development Courses Cover?
Mobile app development courses have the primary goal of preparing students to become mobile app developers. In any mobile app development course, you can expect to learn coding skills using either Swift or Java, user interface technologies, and the relevant software for the operating system you intend to develop for.
If you enroll in an iOS app development course, you will be strictly learning iOS development tools. Other courses focus on how to create apps for Android. Some courses will also teach you how to create cross-platform applications.
How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Course
Since there are so many mobile app development courses to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which course is right for you. While you can certainly gain useful knowledge and skills from nearly all of the courses listed above, it is important to carefully consider your needs before choosing a course.
Career Goals
The most important step is determining your career goals. If you simply want to become a mobile app developer, any of these courses will be a fit. But most developers work with a specific operating system, so it is good to narrow down your goals before you begin learning.
Course Level
Another important factor to consider is the course level. If you are completely new to mobile app development, you’ll want to ensure your course is suitable for beginners. On the other hand, if you have experience as a web developer or advanced coding experience, opt for an intermediate or expert-level course.
Course Reviews
Finally, read the reviews by former students. Not only is this a good way to determine the legitimacy of the course, it’s a good way to see what other students gained from it. You can use reviews to learn about more specific aspects of the course that may not be listed in the description or syllabus.
Mobile App Development Certifications
Most mobile app development roles don’t require you to have any professional certifications. However, being certified is a fantastic way to prove your practical skills and potential. Below we’ve listed three of the best certifications to add to your resume.
Associate Android Developer Certification
The Associate Android Developer certification is offered by Google and is designed to test and show off your proficiency in Android development. This certification is for entry-level Android developers and can be a useful tool to help kickstart your career.
Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification
You can complete the App Builder certification through the Salesforce Platform. This certification is broader than the Associate Android Developer certification. It demonstrates your proficiency in building all sorts of applications using the Salesforce Platform.
MTA: HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals Certification
The MTA: HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals certification is a good starting point for Windows certifications. This certification is meant for entry-level Windows developers, and will validate your ability to develop apps in Windows using HTML5.
Next Steps After Finishing Your Course
There are many career paths you can take that use your skills in mobile app development. Many web developers also specialize in mobile app development. This is a lucrative field, with web developers earning over $70,000 per year, according to USNews. You can pursue a career move immediately after completing a course.
Getting a degree will also increase your chances of success. Most mobile app developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field prior to starting their careers, according to the East Coast Polytechnic Institute. You could look into taking an online computer science degree.
The Bottomline
2021 is the year to get into mobile app development, with significantly high job growth projections and a guarantee of a decent salary. You can also easily learn mobile app development from home by enrolling in an online course.
While you might choose to later pursue an online bachelor’s degree at some point, starting with one of the best mobile app development courses online is a great first step. So if the idea of combining tech know-how with a creative mind appeals to you, signing up for a flexible online course in app development is a great career move.
