The easiest way to become a data scientist is by using online resources or learning platforms. There are thousands of these platforms and resources available today, and DataCamp is one of them.
DataCamp is an e-learning platform reputed for its personalized data training model. It offers a range of self-paced courses covering data-related subjects like Python programming and machine learning under the guidance of expert instructors.
Getting started with DataCamp requires you to create an account. Afterward, you can select a subscription plan (with options starting at just $25 per month).
However, you can opt for limited, free access to their course to get a taste of what’s in store.
Our Honest DataCamp Review Verdict
DataCamp is a standout online learning platform for individuals seeking to advance their skills in data science, statistics, and programming. Whether aiming for a career in the data sector or enhancing your existing knowledge, DataCamp offers many courses, tracks, and certifications to cater to your specific goals.
What sets DataCamp apart is its comprehensive approach to interactive learning. Their curriculum is meticulously designed to provide a structured and practical data science journey. Including coding exercises, tests, and valuable projects ensures hands-on experience and skill development.
Pros and Cons of Datacamp
| Why we love DataCamp | What we don’t like about DataCamp |
|---|---|
| DataCamp courses offer exercises designed for easy completion alongside captivating, bite-sized video tutorials. | DataCamp doesn’t give verified certificates from partner universities or organizations. |
| With over 260 professionals from the data analytics and science fields, DataCamp provides a wealth of expertise. | Some videos are too short and superficial, leaving learners feeling like they missed important details. |
| DataCamp caters to both absolute beginners and more experienced students, welcoming all learners. | As courses are created by teams rather than instructors, the lack of consistency may affect some users’ learning experience. |
| DataCamp boasts a sizable and vibrant learning community where members can discuss questions, exchange information, and collaborate on projects. | |
| DataCamp motivates students with leaderboards, streaks, and badges, which can be particularly appealing to competitive learners. | |
| DataCamp’s pricing plan page is straightforward, making it easy to understand the costs without hidden fees. |
Who Is DataCamp For?
DataCamp is a valuable resource for individuals with different data science goals and experience levels. It caters to:
Aspiring Data Scientists:
If you’re looking to embark on a career in data science, DataCamp’s courses provide a strong foundation in R, Python, and SQL programming, equipping you with essential skills.
Working Data Scientists:
DataCamp is also an excellent choice for data professionals seeking to enhance their coding abilities, engage in real projects, and connect with peers in the data science community at all proficiency levels.
Businesses Who Want to Upskill Their Employees:
DataCamp is also suitable for employers who want to upgrade their workers’ skill sets with data.
Popular Programs and Courses
DataCamp offers a diverse range of programs and courses designed to meet the needs of learners in data science and analytics. These courses are known for their quality instructors, self-paced learning format, and the potential for learners to specialize in specific career paths.
Here’s an overview of some of the popular programs and courses offered by DataCamp:
Introduction Courses
- Introduction to Python: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the Python programming language and its applications in data science. It covers data manipulation, functions, and packages, culminating with NumPy for scientific computing.
- Introduction to SQL: Focusing on SQL, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL, this course equips learners with data extraction and manipulation skills, crucial for data scientists.
- Introduction to R: Geared toward data analysts, this course introduces the open-source language R, covering essential concepts like vectors, factors, lists, and data frames.
- Introduction to Power BI: Designed for data analysts, this course teaches how to create impactful data models using Power BI, including loading and transforming data with Power Query.
Skill Tracks
- R Programming: This skill track provides an in-depth understanding of programming in R, which is essential for data scientists and analysts. It covers common R elements and advanced concepts like conditional statements, loops, and vectorized functions.
- Data Scientist with Python: In this extensive course, students learn to work with Python for data science, covering data manipulation, visualization, and popular libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib.
- Data Engineer with Python: Aimed at future data engineers, this track includes 19 courses introducing programming languages and big data tools. Students create databases and data engineering pipelines in self-paced projects.
- Machine Learning Scientist with R: This skill track focuses on developing, training, and visualizing machine learning models, essential for machine learning scientists and engineers. Learners are introduced to Bayesian statistics, natural language processing, and Spark.
How to Open a DataCamp Account
DataCamp’s registration process is straightforward. To help you get started, I’ve outlined a step-by-step guide:
- Open a web browser and navigate to DataCamp.com.
- You’ll have the option to Register for Free.
- Choose to register using your Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn account, or you can click “Get Started” after providing your email and creating a password.
- Once you’ve completed a brief profile during the signup process, you’ll be directed to My Progress. From here, you can explore various options in the left sidebar, such as Career Tracks, Skill Tracks, Courses, Projects, and more.
Learning Experience
Right from the start, I was captivated by its unique approach to learning. Unlike the typical video-only courses, DataCamp offered a combination of video lessons and practical exercises, providing an engaging and interactive learning experience.
Several standout features marked my learning experience on DataCamp:
Excellent User Experience and Interface
DataCamp’s courses are designed with progress bars, rewarding you with experience points as you complete tutorial videos and coding practices. This gamified approach keeps you engaged and motivated throughout your learning journey.
Additionally, each course includes a wrap-up chapter, providing a general overview of how to apply the learned concepts to real-world problems.
Smooth and Connected Learning
DataCamp ensures you remember what you’ve learned by periodically revisiting important concepts across different tracks. Furthermore, the courses often overlap to reinforce your knowledge, and the platform allows for ample practice after course completion.
Differences in Course Difficulty
The difficulty of DataCamp’s courses can vary due to the diversity of teachers and the composition of different tracks. This variance can affect your learning experience, but it also exposes you to a broader range of challenges.
Note: My experience with DataCamp was challenging. I encountered sporadic bugs in coding practices, sometimes leading to frustration and wasted time.
How to Find the Best Course
When searching for the best course, consider DataCamp’s curated ‘Tracks.’ These course curricula, categorized as ‘Career’ and ‘Skill,’ are meticulously designed to guide your data science journey and foster complementary skills. They are available in multiple programming languages.
DataCamp Pricing and Payment Options
DataCamp’s pricing is straightforward, and there are no hidden fees.
Both students and businesses stand to benefit significantly from DataCamp’s competitive pricing, with the standard subscription plan priced at just $25 per month. You can pay via a connected credit or debit card; automatic subscriptions are also allowed.
As part of its user-friendly features, you can easily cancel your subscription anytime.
However, it’s important to note that we do not offer prorated refunds for unused subscription time. This means that even if you decide to cancel your membership, you will retain access until the end of your subscription period.
For detailed pricing information and additional insights, you can explore DataCamp’s official pricing page.
Is DataCamp Accredited?
The simple answer is no. While DataCamp offers professional certifications, they have yet to be independently verified by other universities or organizations.
Is DataCamp Certificate Recognized?
The perceived value of DataCamp certificates may vary depending on the company’s familiarity with DataCamp and their regard for the certification. Nonetheless, increasing the number of certifications you hold is advantageous.
Is DataCamp Worth It? Our Detailed Rating
| Criteria | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 | DataCamp’s user-friendly site simplifies learning in a cluttered e-learning market, prioritizing essential content and clean design. Its distraction-free layout aids easy course access and info retrieval. |
| Course Selection | 4.5 | The platform provides an intuitive navigation despite its broad course selection, bolstering the user experience. |
| Instructor Quality | 4.5 | While the level of individual interaction may vary across subjects, the instructors are experts from esteemed instituitions. |
| Learning Experience | 4.0 | DataCamp’s learning approach is unique, combining video lessons with interactive exercises. Notable features include gamified progress tracking, practical application guidance, and integrated learning reinforcement. |
| Cost and Value | 4.0 | DataCamp is reasonably priced when compared to other options. The pricing structure is straightforward and there are no hidden fees. |
| Certification Value | 3.5 | Certificates from DataCamp are not accredited and recognization depends on whether your employers have heard about the platform. |
| Support Services | 4.5 | DataCamp provide a lot of learning resources to users. There is also an option to contact their support team which have been praised by previous users for their professionalism. |
| Mobile Experience | 4.5 | For individuals with hectic schedules, the mobile app’s offline capability enables learning on the move. |
| Community and Networking | 4.5 | DataCamp fosters a robust learning community, facilitating peer interaction to enrich the learning experience, though its level of engagement may vary depending on the specific course. |
| Real-User Reviews | Varied | We found user reviews across multiple platforms offering varying experiences. So, it’s advisable to check several online reviews about the platform. |
| Overall Rating | 4.5 | DataCamp offers a user-friendly online learning platform with a wide range of courses. The platform’s unique learning approach combines video lessons with hands-on experiences. Pricing is reasonable and transparent. |
Conclusion
DataCamp is an excellent option for those looking to enhance their skills in data science and analytics. You can opt for one of its career or skill tracks to streamline your learning journey.
Upon completing a course, DataCamp issues a certificate, but it’s important to note that these certificates lack formal certification. If you’re seeking a verified credential backed by a university or institution, platforms like Coursera and edX are recommended alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Is DataCamp suitable for beginners?
Reviews generally suggest that DataCamp is suitable for beginners. Even the most advanced courses offered by DataCamp are designed to focus on simplicity and ease of comprehension.
Do employers recognize a DataCamp certificate?
Employers typically do not view a DataCamp certificate as equivalent to a degree. However, earning a DataCamp certificate demonstrates your commitment to acquiring relevant skills for your field.
Will DataCamp help me secure a job?
Possibly, but relying solely on a DataCamp course may not be sufficient to secure employment. To increase your chances, you should network with industry specialists and gain practical experience.
What happens if you fail a DataCamp certification?
If you fail a DataCamp certification, you’ll have another opportunity to pass the exam. If you don’t pass on the second attempt, the entire certification process will reset. It is recommended to use the 14-day waiting period before reattempting to review and prepare for the material.
Is DataCamp better than Coursera?
Coursera is a better option if you are looking for degrees and certificates that are widely recognized. DataCamp, on the other hand, is an excellent choice if you are specifically interested in data science and prefer experiential learning. Your choice of platform should be based on your requirements and preferences.
Is there anything better than DataCamp?
While DataCamp focuses primarily on data science and teaches computer languages like Python and SQL, other alternatives exist. To enhance your coding skills, consider Codecademy, which offers a more project-based learning approach. Dataquest is another option that provides a hands-on approach to education. The choice depends on your specific goals and preferences.
