DataCamp Review: Is It The Right Platform For You?

Catherine Cooke

15 March, 2023

DataCamp

Established in 2013 DataCamp is an online platform that specializes in topics like data science and analytics. It offers 380+ courses taught by one of the 260+ expert instructors from Datacamp itself and top Institutions like Duke University.

So if you are someone who is looking to build or deepen your data skills, then DataCamp may be the right online platform for you. All its courses are interactive and designed, so you can learn at your own pace.

Datacamp banner

If you are anything like me, then you probably have a bunch of questions you want answering like: What courses does DataCamp offer? Is it ok if I am a complete beginner? What’s the difference between its plans? 

To answer these questions and more, let’s dive into our in-depth DataCamp review.

Interactive & Engaging

DataCamp courses focus on interactive learning, with many videos and engaging exercises to complete.

Experienced Experts

Over 260+ experts from the data science and analytics community.

Clear Pricing Plans

A clear and simple pricing plan page which is pretty refreshing as not all online platforms are so transparent.

Wide Range

DataCamp caters to absolute beginners and learners with some knowledge. Its courses are for everyone.

Community

Datacamp has a large and active community of learners who ask questions, share knowledge and collaborate on projects.

Not a Verified Certificate

DataCamp doesn’t offer a verified certificate from a partnered University or Organization. Instead, a Statement of Accomplishment is given once successfully completing the course. If you are looking for a verified certificate it is best to check out platforms like Coursera or edX.

Video Content Lacking Detail

Some of DataCamps video tutorials are a little short and lacking in detail, and therefore may leave you feeling like you are missing something.

DataCamp Review Verdict

Datacamp is an online learning platform that offers courses, tracks and certifications in data science, statistics and programming. All its learning programs are designed to help learners gain or advance their skills for a career in the data world. Its content is highly engaging including coding exercises, quizzes and hands-on projects. If you are a complete beginner or looking to land your dream job in data science, there is a course or certification to suit all. Datacamp offers a Basic (free) plan and a Premium paid plan for individual learners which you can subscribe to monthly or annually. A couple of plans is also available for Teams and Businesses. If you aren’t ready to financially commit, then getting started with a free Basic plan will give you a selection of courses to get a taste of the platform.

Who Is DataCamp For?

You may be a little unsure if DataCamp is the right platform for you?

Well, let me explain a little about what to expect from DataCamp. It’s an online learning platform that focuses on learning data skills at your own pace. Its learning methodology is broken into a 4 part process: Assess, Learn, Practice and Apply, that helps to give learners a well-rounded learning experience.

Datacamp learning methodology

Datacamp Learning Methodology

DataCamp Courses

Its 380+ courses are bite sized and digestible for learners, combining videos with interactive exercises to create an engaging learning experience. Its courses fall into 3 main areas, including learning a new technology, launching your career and mastering a specific skill:

  • Learn a new technology: By following short videos that are led by expert instructors, and then practice what you have learned with interactive exercises. Its most popular Technology courses include Python, R and SQL.
  • Career Tracks: A collection of courses that are curated by industry experts to help you grow your data skills and advance your career. Its most popular Career Track courses include Data Analyst, Data Scientist and Data Analyst.
  • Skill Tracks: Gain specific expertises with learning a skill track, that is a collection, of course, curated by industry experts to grow your data skills. Its most popular Skill Track courses include R Programming, Importing & Cleaning Data and Data Visualization.

Datacamp Certification Programs

Datacamp has recently added a couple of certifications to its platform. The certifications have been built in partnership with industry leaders that prove you have the skills available for a career in the particular field. Currently, it offers certifications as a Data Scientist and a Data Analyst. The best part about these certifications are that they are included in your paid Premium plan.

Datacamp Certification Programs

Datacamp Certification Programs

When you successfully complete one of its professional certifications you will receive a certificate to prove you now have the knowledge for the job role in your chosen certification.

Datacamp Professional Certification

If you are looking for a bigger pool of learning programs that are certified and build in partnership with top Universities and Industry Organizations it’s best to check out platforms like edX or Coursera.

DataCamp for Business

DataCamp for businesses is flexible online training for every role, from non-coding essentials to data science and machine learning. It has worked with 2,500+ companies like Google and ebay to help upskill their employees. DataCamp for business focuses on upskilling your team to make better data-driven decisions.

Datacamp for Business

Datacamp for Business

It offers a couple of different plans, Teams and Enterprise which you can try out with a free trial or a free demo. The Teams plan is designed for 2 users+ and is billed annually. Whereas the Enterprise is for larger organizations and is custom priced.

Datacamp business plans

Datacamp for The Classroom

Datacamp generously offers free access for educators, all you need to do is to apply to get access to your free, 1200+ hours of data science courses.

Datacamp for the classroom

Datacamp For The Classroom

Datacamp believes in empowering students with data skills for the future, by providing free access to educators. As an educator, you can create assignments for your students and can track your student’s growth and progress. After you have submitted your application, it can take a few days for it to be approved.

Doesn’t sound bad does it?

If you’re an educator in data science and data concepts and think your students will benefit from the interactive courses Datacamp offers, then check it out here.

How Much Are DataCamp Courses?

DataCamp works on a subscription model offering 2 different plans for individual learners. Users can choose from the Basic Plan (the free account) or the Premium Plan. The Premium plan can be paid for on a monthly or yearly basis, if you do decide to go for the annual plan you will be saving a few dollars. There is a handy currency-converter in the top-right corner above the pricing plans for all our global learners (see image below).

Datacamp Pricing Plans

DataCamp plans & pricing

> Check out Datacamp subscription plans

DataCamp for Business

DataCamp for Business offers 2 different plans either the Teams or the Enterprise. The Team Plan ($12.42 per user a month) with a minimum of 2 users or more. Then there is the Enterprise Plan which is custom priced depending on your business needs, you can contact sales for pricing and a demo.

Datacamp Pricing TeamsDataCamp Business Plans

DataCamp has worked with 2,500+ successful companies like Google, Microsoft and ebay to upskill its employees to empower them with knowledge to make them the best at their job. Here are just some of the reasons you will love Datacamp for Business:

  • Create tailored learning content
  • Measure the impact of online training
  • Receive expert guidance
  • Provide hands-on skill building

Datacamp Companies

DataCamp Professional and Enterprise Plans

Datacamp for Business is billed on an annual basis and unless you opt out of the auto-renewal you will automatically be charged for the following year.

How To Open A DataCamp Account?

The registration process for DataCamp is really intuitive. I still thought it would be helpful to give you a step by step of how to join.

Datacamp Sign Up

DataCamp Start Learning For Free

  1. Open a browser and visit datacamp.com
  2. You can Create Your Free Account
  3. Either sign up with Linkedin, Facebook or Google
  4. Or enter your email and password and click Get Started

Once you are signed up you will complete a basic profile and then be taken to My Progress where you can begin to check out various options in the left side bar like Career Tracks, Skill Tracks, Courses, Projects and more.

Datacamp My Progress

DataCamp My Progress

You can then begin to browse different courses. A great feature is the filter courses (see image below) where you can pick the Technologies, Topics or sort by Most Relevant and Newest. All its courses combine short expert videos with immediate hands-on exercises.

Datacamp Courses

DataCamp Filter Courses

Examples Of The Most Popular DataCamp Course

I thought it would be helpful to look at the 5 most popular courses at Datacamp as it will give you good indication of what other learners are enjoying.

  1. Data Scientist with Python – A career track that will help you gain python skills you need to succeed as a data scientist. No prior coding experience is required. In this track, you’ll learn how versatile language allows you to import, clean, manipulate and visualize data. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating and will take 88 hours to complete.
  2. Python Programming – A skill track to gain the foundational skills to become a Python programmer. In this track, you’ll learn the Python basics you need to start on your programming journey. The course instructor Hugo is a highly experienced data scientist, educator, writer and podcaster at Datacamp. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating and will take 15 hours to complete.
  3. Data Scientist with R – A career track that will help you gain the career-building R skills you need to succeed as a data scientist. No prior coding experience is required. In this track, you’ll get hands-on with some of the most popular R packages and work on real-world datasets. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating and will take 76 hours to complete.
  4. Machine Learning Fundamentals with Python – A skill track where you will learn the fundamental concepts in Machine Learning. If you are a beginner, this is a great place to start. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating and will take 20 hours to complete 5 courses.
  5. Data Analyst with Python – A career track where you will gain the career-building Python skills you need to succeed as a data analyst. Through interactive exercises, you’ll get hands-on experience with some of the most popular Python libraries. It consists of 16 courses that will take 62 hours.

> More information at Datacamp

6 Tips To Find The Perfect DataCamp Course

If you are undecided about which course is right for you. I have put together 6 tips to help you pick the best course for you.

Skill & Career Tracks

DataCamp Curriculum Team has designed learning programs called ‘Tracks’ there are two different types Skill Tracks and Career Tracks. Each track contains a series of courses to follow and complete for you to gain the skills and knowledge to your chosen path.

Datacamp Skill track

DataCamp Skill Tracks

Skill Tracks range from 3-7 courses, focusing on specific complementary skills in various programming languages. Its courses have been curated for intermediate to advanced learners.

Datacamp Career Tracks

DataCamp Career Tracks

Career Tracks range from 12-30 courses, that begin with introductory courses in Python, R and SQL and cover basic skills and move through to more focused and advanced topics.

Statement of Accomplishment

Once you have completed a Track you will be provided with a Statement of Accomplishment free of charge. As long as you have successfully completed the course you are able to download it which means you then have the possibility to manually share it on your LinkedIn profile.

Datacamp Statement of accomplishment

DataCamp Statement of Accomplishment

Note: DataCamp Statement of Accomplishment is not an accredited certificate, but it does show you have successfully completed a course and learnt new skills.

Free courses

With a free DataCamp account, you can access the first chapter of most courses. This is the great way to try and test out a course and decide whether you want to financially subscribe to one of its subscription plans.

Datacamp Start Course For Free

DataCamp Start Course For Free

DataCamp Instructor Profile

When you view a course or a track you will see on the right side of the screen the instructor and collaborators for the course. You are able to click onto their profile and read a small bio about them.

Some of the DataCamp Instructors are staff based at DataCamp who are experts in their fields and others are from Universities like Oregon State and Washington State.

Datacamp Instructor

DataCamp Instructor

I want to add here that compared to other elearning platforms that I have reviewed the instructor profile feels a little sparse and limited. If you are looking for a more detailed instructor profile and links to their social media then it’s maybe worth checking out Coursera or edX.

DataCamp Assessments

DataCamp offers taking an assessment for free. You can filter by Technology (see image below) and choose your topic. You won’t need to register or enter any credit card details to do this. This can be really helpful if you aren’t sure on where to start or if you have some knowledge in a technology but are lacking in some areas.

Datacamp Take The Assessment

DataCamp Take The Assessment

Each assessment is designed to test your knowledge in your chosen technology and will take between 5-10 minutes. After completing the assessment, you will need to sign into DataCamp to receive your results. You will then be given your results (a percentage) which are mapped on a graph of Novice, Intermediate and Advanced. A series of personalized recommendations (courses) are given to you. This is a great place to start for DataCamp newbies, you can check out your free assessment here.

Datcamp Test your skills

DataCamp Test Your Skills 

DataCamp Community

DataCamp has an active community full of news threads, a resource center, tutorials, cheat sheets, chats and a podcast. Not only is it resource rich but a great way to stay connected with other learners.

Datacamp Community

DataCamp Community

As well as a thriving community, DataCamp also has a slack community page (see image above). Some of the channels include #introduction, #jobs, #feedback which is an ideal way to engage with other learners for any doubts or questions you may have.

 

CriteriaComment
Ease of use

Opening an account at DataCamp is free and really straightforward. You can either sign up via your Linkedin, Facebook, Google or you can enter your email and password.

The layout of its platform is easy to navigate around. I particularly like how easy it is to find  pricing plans from the homepage.

Convenience

Its courses are bite-sized and self paced with no deadlines which means learners can study anywhere and at any time.

There are options to download course videos and lesson slides to view when you are offline.

DataCamp mobile app (iOS and Android) gives you access to your current lesson and the next lesson without internet connection allowing you to study on the go.

Available platforms

DataCamp courses are 100% online which you can access from a desktop, laptop and mobile.

DataCamp now offers mobile-only subscription for both IOS (4.9 rating) and Android (4.7 rating). Mobile subscribers will have unlimited access to the DataCamp app’s mobile courses, practice exercises and daily streak (they call them XP and it is a point system based on how well you are doing and how engaged you are with DataCamp).

Official certifications:

DataCamp offers a free Statement of Accomplishment when you have successfully completed a course. This is not an accredited certificate but you are able to share it on your Linkedin.

Categories

DataCamps offers close to 350 courses which specialize in topics about data science technologies like R programming and Python. DataCamp is constantly adding new courses and they keep current courses updated with the latest technologies and methodologies. On its platform it offers Current courses and Upcoming courses for learners to view.

Free courses

DataCamp offers a free subscription plan on a select number of courses which give you access to its first few chapters.

As well as access to its first chapters of all courses you can also access projects, practice challenges and skill assessment.

Content quality

Datcamp suggests that an instructor spends 10-30 hours over 6-8 weeks to create a course.

An instructor will work closely with one of the Curriculum leads at DataCamp to determine topic and produce the content with a Content developer who will help the instructor and provide feedback. Once the course launches, data will be shared with how learners are engaging with the material and how it can be improved over time.

The content of its courses are closely followed and to the highest standard.

Languages

Datcamp course videos are only available in English, but with subtitles in the following languages; Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Note: Subtitles cannot currently be downloaded with videos to watch offline.

Instructors

DataCamp instructors are subject matter experts in data science and analytics. DataCamp works closely with its instructors (270 in total) to support them throughout the course development process, but they do take ownership of their work and the course.

Course requirements

The majority of courses follow a similar structure  that includes video content, interactive exercises, accompanying course material which is downloadable and skill assessments. Its courses are created by its instructors who closely work with the team at DataCamp.

Course structure

DataCamp courses are bite-sized classes that are based around video content with interactive exercises. After most videos you have interactive exercises to engage with. It offers close to 350 data science technology related courses.

As well as courses DataCamp has Skill and Career Tracks which are designed with a combination of different courses to give you the knowledge for that Skill or Career. If you do decide to take one of the track programs it will require a bigger commitment of time.

You are able to download video content and additional course material, which allows you to watch when you are on the go or a time more convenient for you.

Whilst learning at DataCamp you will collect XP points based on the course, exercises and other actions you complete on DataCamp. Your total of XP will appear in the top right-hand corner of your screen. If you choose the option to take a hint or show a solution, points will be deducted It’s main purpose is to keep learners engaged and motivated.

Quizzes & tests

DataCamp offers practice questions and assessments for you to take to test your knowledge, but there are no formal quizzes or tests.

Payments & refunds

You can make payments on DataCamp with Credit card or Paypal. Plus certain Visa/Master debit cards are accepted.

DataCamp is a subscription service and your account will automatically renew on either your monthly or yearly subscription. You may cancel your subscription at any time. However, it doesn’t refund unused portions of a subscription.

Support

DataCamp offers a support chat bot. You are also able to submit a request and can add your email address, subject and description and they will then get in touch with you.

Overall rating

DataCamp courses are comprehensive and well-detailed, they are presented in a digestible way which is particularly useful if you are a beginner. It is a great option for someone who is new to the world of data science. One thing that makes its stand out from other platforms is its Career and Skill tracks. It is definitely worth a try if you are looking to improve skills or a new career in data science and analytics.

Will DataCamp Help Me With My Career?

Upskillwise.com is fully supported by its readers. If you register or buy a course using our links, we may receive a commission. This does not affect our ratings, methodology or partners.

DataCamp courses are ideal for someone who is new to data science or someone that already has some knowledge and is looking to improve skills or even a career change.

The Skill or Career Track feature is pretty appealing if you are looking to be guided in the right direction to learn a skill or gain the knowledge for a career path in data science. The fact that these courses are put together by experts in their fields means you can be rest assured that everything you are learning is relevant.

Even though DataCamp doesn’t offer accredited certificates it still provides you with a Statement of Accomplishment for free which you can share manually via your LinkedIn profile. These certificates are still recognised by industry experts working in the world of data science.

DataCamp prides itself on keeping its courses updated and relevant. Therefore it is constantly expanding its curriculum so learners can keep up with the latest in data science and analytics.

Is DataCamp Legit?

Something which most of us ask when considering an elearning platform: Is this platform legit? Will it be worth my money?

It’s completely normal to have that moment of doubt as you are typing in your card details and there is no turning back. Well let me reassure you.

DataCamp was founded in 2013 as a start up company in Belgium.  The company was founded by Dieter De Mesmaeker, Martijn Theuwissen and Jonathan Cornelissen. Its headquarters are based in New York and they have offices in Belgium and London.

So, DataCamp is legit and it’s safe to use, you won’t be scammed.

Datacamp Vs Codecademy

Datacamp and Codecademy are two popular online learning platforms that offer courses in various data science and programming languages. Some of the key differences in the categories each platform offers is that Datacamp focuses on data science topics whereas Codecademy is geared towards learning different programming languages. Each platform has a slightly different teaching style, Datacamp follows learning by doing approach, whereas Codecademy offers more interactive tutorials and exercises to help learners understand programming concepts. Both platforms offer free and paid plans which are similarly priced. Datacamp has recently introduced certification programs which have been built in partnership with industry leaders and are designed to prepare you for a specific job role. If you are still undecided, then check out our detailed Datacamp Vs Codecademy article.

Last Thoughts: Is DataCamp Worth It?

Ok, so let’s conclude with whether DataCamp is worth it.

If you are looking to build your skills and gain knowledge in data science and analytics skills then DataCamp is a good option for you. The added feature is to follow and complete one its skill or career tracks to get the most out of your learning.

Although it does offer a certificate when you have successfully completed your course, this certificate is not accredited. So if you are looking to earn a validated certificate that is partnered by a University or Institution then its best you check out platforms like Coursera and edX as probably they are a better fit.

You will love DataCamp for its:

  • Interactive and engaging courses
  • Point system to stay motivated
  • Experienced instructors
  • Courses for beginners
  • Downloadable videos and course material

Review Updates:

15/03/23 – Datacamp Vs Codecademy

27/02/23 – How much are Datacamp Courses? Updated

14/02/23 – Upskillwise discount coupon – 25% off Datacamp

27/01/23 – Datacamp Verdict Updated

23/01/23 – Datacamp Pros and Cons – Community

22/11/22 – Datacamp for business

06/09/22 – Data Literacy Month (discounted memberships)

25/08/22 – Update Datacamp Certification Programs

11/08/22 – Datacamp Certification Programs

28/07/22 – Datacamp Pricing Update

11/05/22 – Datacamp Promo offer

2/12/21 – Who is DataCamp for?

Catherine Cooke

Hey. I am Catherine and I have been working as a freelancer for many years now. In 2005, I graduated from a BA honours in Art & Design from BCU and then went onto complete a Master’s Degree in Teaching from UEL. The skills I gained from learning and teaching have led me to create Upskillwise, a place for learners like myself to find the best possible resources and courses to train and upskill themselves, either personally or professionally. If you have a question, please feel free to ask me anything or leave me a comment.

Alternatives

edX: offers over 2,650 online elearning courses that are partnered with established universities and companies. Its most popular subjects are computer science, engineering, humanities, statistics and data analysis.

Udacity: offers around 200 courses. Its courses are focused on gaining skills for careers in the tech and business industry. Like DataCamp its courses aren’t accredited but they are highly recognised by industry experts.

Pluralsight: With over 7500+ courses on technology skills for the future. It’s courses work on a subscription model and are all self paced.

Please, leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to help you out.

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myLuv
myLuv
1 month ago

Hello Cathy, thanks for this article, very helpful and informative. Most of these platforms are good and doing really good but, they all have a monetary aspect attached either to their services or certifications in some way or the other, which is totally fine and understandable.

That said, could you also review – “https://www.freecodecamp.org/”, and share your thoughts? – Regards.

Laxmankatti
Laxmankatti
2 months ago

Hi, I have read a lot from this blog thank you for sharing this information.

hrishii
hrishii
2 months ago

Thank you for sharing valuable information.

hrishii
hrishii
3 months ago

Hi I have read a lot from this blog; thank you for sharing this information.

Yuvraj
Yuvraj
4 months ago

Thanks for sharing. It is really amazing content. Loved it Catherine.

Umair Ahmad
Umair Ahmad
4 months ago

Amazing information. I really enjoyed reading this thread and discussion by the people.

Umair Ahmad
Umair Ahmad
5 months ago

Amazing information. I really enjoyed reading this thread

Umair Ahmad
Umair Ahmad
5 months ago

Amazing information. I really enjoyed reading this thread

bharath
bharath
7 months ago

Thanks For Sharing Your Information,This Article Is Very clear

veereshkumar
veereshkumar
9 months ago

I have read a lot from this blog thank you for sharing this information.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 months ago

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about a Data science course.

Anusha
Anusha
10 months ago

Hi,Thanks for sharing this informative piece with everyone. Your information is really helpful for us to keep sharing

Anitha
Anitha
11 months ago

I read your blog. I found it very informative.

Anusha
Anusha
11 months ago

Hi Thank You for sharing such a great blog. Your information is really helpful for us to keep sharing.

Nitika Trivedi
Nitika Trivedi
1 year ago

Awesome Blog, This information is extremely Beneficial for all the beginners. Really amazing!!! Keep it up and keep posting. Thanks for sharing this.

Alex
Alex
1 year ago

What about the recently initiated professional certificate for data science that they give?

Antti Rask
Antti Rask
1 year ago

There is now (a recent addition) also a Data Analyst Certification. I know for a fact, since I completed it as soon as it became available. There will always be talk about what the use of a certification is (no matter where it’s from, although I acknowledge that some might sound better in a cv than others), but at least for me the point of it all was the exercises. There were two longer SQL case studies (no real time limit) and then a case study + live presentation (over Zoom). And while they only imitate the real life scenarios,… Read more »

Data Science Training in Hyderabad
Data Science Training in Hyderabad
1 year ago

Thank you for sharing a good information 

Python Courses in Hyderabad
Python Courses in Hyderabad
1 year ago

Thank you for sharing this blog with us

Dean Phillips
Dean Phillips
1 year ago

My brother and I were having a conversation on foundational data analytics courses after he said he was interested in taking it up. I wanted to gain a better understanding of the these courses and luckily for me, I found your wonderful article. I am most fond of where you mentioned that datacamp caters to absolute beginners and learners with some knowledge, where there is something for everyone. This is a great point you highlighted, where those interested in entering the field will happy to be made aware of. Thanks for this! I’ll be sure to share this with my brother… Read more »

Taher
Taher
1 year ago

Can data camp give me all the knowledge required to become a data scientist and can i fully depend on it for the skills?

360DigiTMG
360DigiTMG
2 years ago

Such a very useful information!Thanks for sharing this useful information with us. Really great effort.

360DigiTMG
360DigiTMG
2 years ago

Your content is very unique and understandable useful for the readers

THIYAGARAJAN
THIYAGARAJAN
2 years ago

Feeling grateful for providing a comprehensively detailed discussion on DataCamp. Great work.

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