Kotlin is a cross-platform, general-purpose programming language made by JetBrains. It is designed to be effortless to learn for beginners, with human-friendly syntax and fewer boilerplates required.
I have chosen the 10 best courses, which are among the great places to learn Kotlin programming language. They are all led by skilled instructors and offered for free or a meager fee. Most of them even allow trials.
1. Getting Started with Kotlin
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 2h 9m.
- Price: $19 per month after a 10-day trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course’s highlights
The course will walk you through Kotlin language and ensure you master this language quickly so that you can apply it in your projects.
You’ll start by learning to install the Kotlin tools, install the IDEs to utilize Kotlin, and learn some basic language syntax. Then, this course will teach you how to use the object-oriented features of Kotlin.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/kotlin-getting-started
Pros
- Get a 10-day trial.
- Concise duration.
- Led by skilled professionals.
- Beginner-friendly.
Cons
- No certificates.
2. Learn Kotlin
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 15 Hours.
- Price: $19.99 monthly.
- Provider: Codecademy.
Course highlights
The Learn Kotlin course by Codecademy will introduce you to fundamental programming topics via interactive, hands-on learning.
You will start from the bottom with data types and variables and move up to the top with functions and classes to have a robust grasp of Kotlin.
This free limited-access course does not require you to have prior programming experience to join. That means anyone can join it.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-kotlin
Pros
- Newcomers-friendly.
- There are no prerequisites.
- Received many positive reviews.
- Earn a certificate of completion (with Pro plan).
Cons
- Knowledge is not too in-depth.
3. Kotlin Fundamentals
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginners.
- Duration: 4h 47m
- Price: $19 per month after a 10-day trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course highlights
In this course, you will dig into Kotlin apps without prior Kotlin knowledge.
You’ll start by learning how to use Kotlin for functional programming, then explore generic types’ reification. After that, you’ll have an in-depth look at immutability and null checks in Kotlin.
Eventually, you will learn how to use higher-order functions. By the end of the course, you should know the features and syntax of Kotlin.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/fundamentals-kotlin
Pros
- Cheap
- Short duration.
- Lessons are greatly structured.
- The content is easy to understand and clear.
Cons
- No certificates.
4. Become an Android Kotlin Developer
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 4 months at 10 hours/week
- Price: $1356 for 4-month access.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course highlights
This program is built in collaboration with Google. It will prepare learners to become professional Android developers and allow them to make a diverse portfolio of projects to show potential employers.
By the end of the course, you can use the Android development platform best practices, Kotlin, Android Studio, and Android Jetpack to build apps for the world’s most-used mobile platform.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/android-kotlin-developer-nanodegree–nd940
Pros
- Great for value.
- The content is clear.
- Quite in-depth knowledge.
- Useful for those pursuing a career.
Cons
- Pricey.
5. Developing Android Applications with Kotlin
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 43m.
- Price: $19 per month after a 10-day trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course highlights
This course will let you know whether native Android application development is suitable for your use case and how Kotlin will favor this process.
First, the course will tell you why native development with Kotlin will be an excellent option for your next project.
Then, you will explore some benefits of Kotlin. Finally, you will be taught some exciting tools available to develop native Android applications.
By the end of this course, you will have the essential knowledge and skills to decide whether building a native Android app with Kotlin is the right fit.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/developing-android-applications-kotlin-big-picture
Pros
- Super concise.
- Try for free.
- Hands-on learning.
- Taught by an experienced instructor.
Cons
- You won’t have a certificate to show off to your employer.
6. Android App Development with Kotlin
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 43 sections (53h 24m).
- Price: $49
- Provider: Oak Academy.
Course’s highlights
The course is offered on the Udemy platform. It is ideal for those who are new to programming and need to learn to build Android applications.
The beauty of this course is that it doesn’t require any programming experience. All you need is a smartphone and a passion for Android App Development.
You will be taught about the process of making Android apps. When you finish this course, you should be able to create a simple yet powerful application that can be shared with your friends.
Enroll Here: https://www.udemy.com/course/android-app-development-with-kotlin-beginner-to-advanced/
Pros
- Led by a skilled professional.
- Helpful Examples.
- Clarity of Instruction.
Cons
- Get mixed opinions.
7. Developing Android Apps with Kotlin
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: About 2 months.
- Price: Free.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course’s highlights
This course is developed by Udacity and Google. It should give you hands-on experience as you will have the opportunity to build real Android apps utilizing best practices with modern app architecture.
You will be taught to utilize Android Jetpack components, like Work Manager for background processing, room for databases, and the new Navigation component.
You should be able to use the main features of Kotlin to write the app code more concisely and quickly.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/developing-android-apps-with-kotlin–ud9012
Pros
- Offered for free.
- Rich and clear learning content.
- Learn at your own pace.
- Interactive quizzes.
Cons
- Not beginner friendly.
8. Kotlin for Java Developers
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: Approx. 25 hours.
- Provider: Coursera.
Course’s highlights
This course will show you the beauty and power of Kotlin. You will have a basis of this language, and a discussion of various corner cases, mainly regarding Java interoperability.
It will refer to the similarities and differences between these languages. So its prerequisite is the Java experience.
This course doesn’t cover the programming fundamentals. Instead, it’ll discuss Basic syntax, functional programming with Kotlin, the power of the Kotlin standard library, object-oriented programming with Kotlin, Java interoperability.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/kotlin-for-java-developers
Pros
- Shareable certificate.
- Flexible deadlines.
- Financial aid is available.
- Very comprehensive and detailed.
Cons
- Some learners complain that the instructor has a terrible accent.
9. Advanced Android with Kotlin
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: Approx. 2 Months.
- Price: Free.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course Highlights
This course will guide you through adding various advanced features to your app, beginning with best practices for utilizing Android’s notification system.
You will learn how to make and clip custom views, draw to a canvas, add animations to your applications, and more.
Also, you will add maps to the app and learn how to style them. Testing apps is as essential as building them, so you will learn to test your app to detect any bugs to fix them so that your customers never see them.
Finally, you will be taught how to allow users to log in to your application with their existing accounts.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/advanced-android-with-kotlin–ud940
Pros
- Taught by industry experts.
- Interactive quizzes.
- Self-paced learning.
- Rich learning content.
Cons
- No certificate.
10. Kotlin Bootcamp for Programmers
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: Approx. 2 Weeks.
- Price: Free.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course highlights
Nothing can be greater for a Kotlin newcomer than a free course specially designed by Google. It will focus on the knowledge of Kotlin basics by delivering a number of practice tests after each topic to check on your knowledge.
It is one of the best free Kotlin courses presented by industry pros. You will also get some interactive quizzes that help assess your understanding.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/kotlin-bootcamp-for-programmers–ud9011
Pros
- There are prerequisites.
- Taught by industry experts.
- Interactive quizzes.
- Self-paced learning.
Cons
- There are prerequisites.
Learning Guide
Certificate or Not?
Many courses offer certificates when you complete them, while others do not. So it is essential to consider your needs.
If your goal is to get knowledge, you don’t have to worry too much about whether your chosen course provides a certificate.
On the other hand, if you need a certificate to show off to your potential employer, consider options that might meet your needs.
On my list, courses offered by Codecademy or Coursera offer certificates once you complete your course. Yet, you will need to pay a fee to get the certificate.
The Instructor
There is no denying that the instructor has an essential role in a course.
A good course must be led by a professional with many years of experience who can convey his knowledge in an easy-to-understand way. The best way to know the instructor of a course is to read reviews from previous learners.
Hands-on Experience
The best way to understand what you learn after each session is to apply it and real-life examples. So you should consider courses that offer practice exercises or quizzes, such as those offered through Coursera.
Price
You also need to consider the price of the courses when considering them.
The key is to choose something that’s worth your money. Most of the courses on my list are free to try. So you should use that to decide if a course is worth the investment.
FAQs
What is Kotlin?
It is an open-source programming language made by JetBrains. It has become popular as it can be utilized to program Android apps.
This language was originally meant as an alternative to Java, meaning it is fully compatible with Java.
So Kotlin can be used for modernizing and updating the projects written with Java and expanding them. It is one of the main perks of utilizing this language.
What Is Kotlin Used For?
There are ways Kotlin can be used. I have highlighted the most common ones.
- Android development.
- Server-side programming.
- Cross-platform development.
Kotlin vs. Java: Which Option Is Better?
Regarding Android development, it is rather a given that the future belongs to Kotlin.
Is It Okay To Learn Kotlin Without Java?
Yes, it is possible to learn Kotlin without Java. Although Kotlin was built on Java Virtual Machine and JavaScript, it is not necessary to have any Java knowledge to learn this programming language.
Is Kotlin Easy or Hard?
For those who have previous developer experiences, understanding and learning Kotlin will be almost effortless.
Kotlin’s design and syntax are simple to comprehend and yet very powerful to use. It is one of the main reasons why Kotlin has surpassed Java as the go-to language for Android app development.
Is Python Easier Than Kotlin?
Python is easier to learn and read than Kotlin. Python is dynamic while Kotlin is a static programming language.
Is Kotlin Enough to Get a Job?
Yes, getting excellent skills in Kotlin is enough to get a job. Being a highly skilled Kotlin developer will open up various doors of opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Above are the best Kotlin courses available online, including free and paid, that are worth enrolling.
Don’t hesitate if you have no previous experience or knowledge, as most of the options on this list are designed for beginners, such as Getting Started with Kotlin by Pluralsight. Thanks for your time!