Swift Playgrounds
Apple's free iPad and Mac app, now called Swift Playground, that teaches real Swift code through guided puzzles and then lets learners build SwiftUI apps they can submit to the App Store.
What is Swift Playgrounds?
Swift Playgrounds is Apple's free app for learning to code on iPad and Mac. Apple now calls it Swift Playground, singular. It teaches Swift, the same language developers use to build apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
The idea is to start with friendly puzzles and end with real apps. Apple says Swift is approachable enough to be your very first programming language.
How it works
Learners begin with Get Started with Code, a set of guided puzzles where typed commands move a character through a puzzle world. Kids see their code run right away and fix it when the character goes the wrong way.
Next comes Get Started with Apps, which introduces SwiftUI. Changes appear instantly in a live preview as you type. On iPad there is a special coding keyboard, code completion and touch tools like color pickers.
There is no parent dashboard. A parent helps most by sitting in for the first few puzzles and later by helping with app ideas.
What it covers
| Stage | What learners do | Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| Get Started with Code | Solve puzzles with typed Swift | Commands, loops, functions, conditionals, variables |
| Challenges | Extra puzzles and experiments | Parameters, types, initialization, operators |
| Get Started with Apps | Build simple apps | SwiftUI, views, layout |
| App projects | Build and share your own apps | SwiftUI, Swift Packages, SpriteKit, App Gallery samples |
Projects can move to Xcode on a Mac, and finished apps can be submitted to App Store Connect.
Who it's best for
Swift Playgrounds suits kids about 8 and up in an iPad or Mac household, and teens who want to build real apps. It is a good next step for kids who already know block coding from Scratch or Code.org.
Families with Windows, Chromebook or Android devices can't use it. Pre-readers need a picture-block app first.
Pricing at a glance
It is free on the App Store. As of October 2026, the iPad app needs iPadOS 18.0 or later and the Mac app needs macOS 15.0 or later. App Store publishing requires a paid Apple Developer Program membership.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
There is nothing to pay for. Some ESA programs may cover a device or a coding class; each program decides. Start at our scholarships hub, save paid coding classes to your wishlist, and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
Scratch and Code.org are free and run on almost any device. Tynker adds a parent dashboard and Python. CodeCombat teaches typed Python or JavaScript in a game on any computer. For a live teacher, CodaKid offers private lessons. See more coding programs for kids and middle school coding.
Who Swift Playgrounds is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Kids 8 and up in iPad or Mac households
- Teens who want to build real iPhone and iPad apps
- Families who want free, ad-free text coding
Look elsewhere if
- Families with Windows, Chromebook or Android devices
- Pre-readers and young kids who need picture blocks
- Kids who need a structured course with a teacher
Swift Playgrounds pros and cons
Pros
- Free from Apple, with no ads or in-app purchases
- Teaches Swift, the language used for real Apple apps
- Clear path from puzzles to SwiftUI app building
- Projects open in Xcode as skills grow
- Supports 16 languages on iPad
Cons
- Apple devices only, and recent OS versions are required
- Big step up from puzzle lessons to building apps
- App Store reviewers report occasional bugs and confusing lesson order
- No parent dashboard or progress reports
What’s included
- Free on iPad and Mac
- Get Started with Code puzzle lessons teach commands, loops, functions and variables
- Get Started with Apps lessons introduce SwiftUI
- Build real apps with live previews, then open them in Xcode
- Submit finished apps to App Store Connect
- Available in English and 15 other languages on iPad
How much does Swift Playgrounds cost?
Swift Playground is free from Apple on the App Store for iPad and Mac, with no in-app purchases. As of October 2026 the iPad app requires iPadOS 18.0 or later and the Mac app requires macOS 15.0 or later. Learning and building apps is free; submitting an app to the App Store requires an Apple Developer Program membership, which Apple charges for separately.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | One-time | Free |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
As of October 2026, the iPad app holds a 3.7 out of 5 rating from about 1,900 App Store ratings. Reviewers like that it makes learning to program fun and that adults enjoy it too. Complaints include occasional file errors and maps that fail to load, a lesson order some find confusing, and limits once projects go beyond the basics.
Common praise
- Makes learning to program fun
- Intuitive design that adults enjoy too
Common complaints
- Occasional file errors and loading glitches
- Lesson sequence some find confusing
- Limited for advanced custom layouts
Sources: apps.apple.com · id908519492
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Swift Playgrounds FAQs
Is Swift Playgrounds free?
Yes. Apple offers Swift Playground free on the App Store for both iPad and Mac. Publishing a finished app to the App Store needs a paid Apple Developer Program membership, but learning and building are free.
What age is Swift Playgrounds for?
Apple's App Store description says it is perfect for anyone just starting out, from eight to one-hundred-and-eight. Younger kids who can't read well yet usually do better with picture-block apps first.
Is it called Swift Playgrounds or Swift Playground?
Apple now calls the app Swift Playground, singular, though older pages and the App Store web address still say Swift Playgrounds. It is the same app.
What devices does Swift Playgrounds run on?
It runs on iPad and Mac only. As of October 2026, the iPad version requires iPadOS 18.0 or later and the Mac version requires macOS 15.0 or later. There is no Windows, Chromebook or Android version.
Can kids build real apps in Swift Playgrounds?
Yes. Learners can build apps with SwiftUI, use frameworks such as SpriteKit, open projects in Xcode on a Mac, and submit finished apps to App Store Connect.
What happened to Learn to Code 1 and 2?
Apple's current App Store description refers to the guided puzzle lessons as Get Started with Code and the app lessons as Get Started with Apps. The puzzles still teach commands, loops, functions, conditionals and variables.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: