best kotlin course for this year [6 kotlin courses for beginners]

Best Kotlin Course for 2024 [6 Kotlin Courses for Beginners]

What’s the best Kotlin course this year?

Read on to find out.

We based our findings off of 3 categories:

  • Value
  • Newbie-friendly
  • Best overall (value + user-friendliness)

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation if you buy something. Read my disclosure for more details.

TLDR: Best Kotlin Course

💸 Best Value 💸
Pluralsight: Kotlin Fundamentals

💥 Best for Newbies 💥
Codecademy Pro: Learn Kotlin

🥇 Best Overall 🥇
Educative: The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is a Java-based language that combines object-oriented and functional programming features. It runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

In addition, Kotlin is 100% interoperable with Java.

Kotlin is also an official language for Android.

💡Fun fact: Kotlin was developed by JetBrains.

Now let’s look at 6 of the best Kotlin courses out there.

1. Codecademy Pro: Learn Kotlin

In Learn Kotlin, you’ll learn about the fundamentals of Kotlin. This includes writing your first print statement and creating your own objects and classes.

The course is broken down into 7 modules:

  • Introduction to Kotlin
  • Data Types & Variables
  • Conditional Expressions
  • Collections
  • Loops
  • Functions
  • Classes
Introduction to data types & variables in the course Learn Kotlin on Codecademy

You’ll also work on 7 mini projects throughout the course such as Shape Maker, Math Magic and Self-Grading Quiz.

Codecademy Pro uses interactive lessons, quizzes and the occasional video to reinforce concepts.

So you’ll be doing your programming exercises and quizzes within the same browser as the lessons.

💰 Price: $39.99 per month / $240 per year
⏲️ Duration: 15 hours
📉 Level: Beginner
🖥️ Format: Interactive lessons
🎖️ Certificate: Yes


2. Educative: Kotlin Crash Course for Programmers

Kotlin is Google’s primary programming language choice for Android app development.

As a result, the demand for Kotlin developers is only growing.

Kotlin Crash Course for Programmers is geared towards aspiring Android app developers.

In addition, you’ll learn everything from variable declarations to conditions, loops and functions.

So while you won’t get a complete Kotlin education, you’ll learn some of the core basics.

With 7 modules, you’ll learn:

  • Kotlin principles
  • variables
  • data types
  • conditions
  • collections
  • loops
  • functions

And more.

Lesson on loops in the Educative.io course Kotlin Crash Course for Programmers

So by the end of the course, you’ll be able to write basic Kotlin applications.

And then you can seek out more advanced material on Educative.io or other platforms such as Treehouse or Coursera.

Educative.io uses interactive lessons to reinforce concepts.

Instead of videos, they use code playgrounds, code snippets and quizzes.

So you do all of your work in the same browser.

This platform is ideal for developers who learn better by doing rather than watching videos.

💰 Price: $29 per year
⏲️ Duration: 6 hours
📉 Level: Beginner
🖥️ Format: Interactive lessons
🎖️ Certificate: Yes


3. Educative: The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming

The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming is based on the book Programming Kotlin by Venkat Subramaniam.

Clocking in at 20 hours, The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming is definitely the most bang for your buck.

First you’ll gain a comprehensive education on all things Kotlin.

Then, you’ll learn about the differences between Java and Kotlin.

In addition, you’ll learn how to work with functions and collections.

In the second half of the course, you’ll work on advanced Kotlin concepts:

  • lambdas
  • fluency
  • asynchronous programming

Also much more.

Finally, you’ll build an Android application that communicates with a backend service.

With 22 modules in this course, you’ll learn about Kotlin basics like:

  • Kotlin essentials
  • working with functions
  • external iteration
  • using collections
  • objects and classes
  • class hierarchies and inheritance
Lesson on Inheritance in the Educative.io course The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming

Then you’ll learn more advanced Kotlin concepts such as:

  • extension through delegation
  • programming recursion and memoization
  • coroutines
  • intermixing Java and Kotlin
  • programming Spring applications with Kotlin

And much, much more.

By the completion of this course, you’ll have a deep understanding of Kotlin.

Like we mentioned earlier, Educative.io doesn’t use videos in their courses.

Instead, they use code playgrounds, code snippets, quizzes and illustrations to reinforce concepts.

The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming is for programmers that learn best by doing.

💰 Price: $39 per year
⏲️ Duration: 20 hours
📉 Level: Beginner
🖥️ Format: Interactive lessons
🎖️ Certificate: Yes


4. Pluralsight: Kotlin Fundamentals

Kotlin Fundamentals is ideal for programmers with no prior experience with Kotlin.

There are 14 modules in this course.

First, you’ll learn how to use Kotlin for functional programming.

Then, you’ll learn about programming with types.

In addition, you’ll learn about companion objects and using high level functions to simplify your code.

Lesson in the Pluralsight course Kotlin Fundamentals

Some other concepts include:

  • working with infinite collections
  • working with Java functional interfaces
  • using nullability restraints
  • Kotlin collection classes
  • higher order functions

And beyond.

At the completion of this course, you’ll know Kotlin features and syntax basics.

Also, keep in mind that Pluralsight is a video-based platform.

For example, there are no interactive exercises in this course.

But this is beneficial because you’ll learn step-by-step how to set everything up outside of your browser.

💰 Price: $29 per month / $299 per year
⏲️ Duration: 4.75 hours
📉 Level: Beginner
🖥️ Format: Video
🎖️ Certificate: Yes


5. Treehouse: Kotlin for Java Developers

Kotlin for Java Developers is an intermediate course. Here you’ll learn how to build a card game using the basics of Kotlin.

So all concepts will be taught in relation to your project (i.e. card class, card constructors, deck functions).

In addition, you’ll learn how Kotlin relates to Java, and how you can use the two together.

Creating Solitaire game in the course Kotlin for Java Developers on Treehouse

There are four modules in Kotlin for Java Developers:

  • Hello Kotlin! – classes, constructors, functions
  • Modelling Solitaire – create objects, foundations, creating Tableau, testing
  • Putting it All Together – add functionality, handling user interactions, Nullability
  • Is This Thing On? – testing the game in its completed stage

By the end of this course, you’ll have a full functional Solitaire card game you can add to your portfolio or show off to your friends.

Treehouse is a video-based platform. So if you’re a visual learner, this course may be for you.

However, there are interactive quizzes throughout.

While you’ll do all other work outside of the browser, Treehouse will explain how to get set up.

💰 Price: $29 per month / $240 per year
⏲️ Duration: 2.5 hours
📉 Level: Intermediate
🖥️ Format: Video
🎖️ Certificate: No


🔥 Geena’s Hot Take

I love having something to show for my work. Otherwise I lose interest.

Mini projects are cool. But Kotlin for Java Developers on Treehouse takes it a step further.

So by creating Solitaire, not only am I creating something… But it’s something I’ll actually use and be proud to show off to people I know.

6. Coursera: Kotlin for Java Developers

Kotlin for Java Developers is an intermediate course. You should have a strong background in Java.

For beginner Kotlin courses, check out the courses we listed from Codecademy, Educative and Pluralsight.

Kotlin for Java Developers was created by JetBrains. They’re also the creators of Kotlin, so this might be the best Kotlin course to take.

Kotlin was created by JetBrains and so was the course Kotlin for Java Developers

In this course, you’ll first get a basic overview of Kotlin.

In addition, you’ll learn how Java and Kotlin are similar. Also, you’ll learn the key differences in the two.

Also, you’ll learn about basic syntax and nullability.

You’ll also become familiar with functional programming and object-oriented programming with Kotlin.

The course curriculum is broken down into a total of five week-long modules:

Week 1

With 4 videos, you’ll briefly touch on Kotlin and its history.

Week 2

There are 17 videos in this module. Here you’ll learn things like:

  • variables, functions, conditionals
  • loops, exceptions, extensions
  • named and default arguments

And beyond.

Week 3

With 19 videos, you’ll learn about nullability and functional programming.

Also, you’ll learn about common operations, Lambda and more.

Week 4

This course also has 19 videos where you’ll learn about properties, object-oriented programming and conventions.

Week 5

Finally, in Week 5, 18 videos cover sequences, Lamda with receiver and types.

Throughout Kotlin for Java Developers, you’ll work on mini concept-related challenges.

Awesome course! Clear and straightforward introduction to Kotlin, covering a wide range of features the language can provide…

Gustavo T V, Kotlin for Java Developers student

Coursera is a video-based platform. So if you’re a visual learner, this might be a good platform for you.

However, there are some interactive quizzes in this course.

But keep in mind that you’ll be doing all of your work outside of the browser.

So there will be some more hands-on work with setting up your dev environment.

💰 Price: $49
⏲️ Duration: 25 hours
📉 Level: Intermediate
🖥️ Format: Video
🎖️ Certificate: Yes


What’s the best Kotlin Course?: Conclusion

Today we showed you 5 Kotlin courses:

Codecademy Pro: Learn Kotlin

Educative: Kotlin Crash Course for Programmers

Educative: The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming

Pluralsight: Kotlin Fundamentals

Treehouse: Kotlin for Java Developers

Coursera: Kotlin for Java Developers

But what is the best Kotlin course?

In our opinion, we think Educative: The Ultimate Guide to Kotlin Programming is best in terms of value, newbie-friendliness and general awesomeness.


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