DataCamp Review

Are you looking for online courses related to Python, ChatGPT, AI, machine learning, SQL, R, and many other IT- and technology-specific fields? If so, look no further - this DataCamp review is for you.

DataCamp is a very popular MOOC (in plain terms - online learning platform), especially for anyone who’s interested in studying some of the aforementioned subjects. Naturally, popularity attracts opinions, and divides students - is DataCamp worth it, or are there better alternatives?

Things such as features, prices, learning experience, and everything in between work to answer that very question. Those aspects are also what we’ll focus on today, as well.

Verdict at a Glance: DataCamp is a leading data & AI course provider. It offers over 400 different courses on a variety of topics surrounding data and AI, with tools to tailor each experience to be unique for the students. While there are no accredited certificates, DataCamp still offers high-quality, fairly-priced learning experiences for anyone interested.

DataCamp Review: Introduction

DataCamp is a MOOC-providing platform established in 2013. In this context, MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Courses - this means that the company specializes in providing online courses to students all over the world. I’ve mentioned this in the introduction of my DataCamp review, but the platform specializes almost solely in courses that revolve around the topics of data and AI.

As they themselves state, more than 90% of the world’s data has been created in the past few years^[1] - this means that there’s a need for data-savvy specialists now more than ever before.

The platform aims to teach people the essential skills needed to work with data - all in the comfort of their own home (or wherever else they might be; the courses are taught and transmitted through an internet browser, meaning that you can learn them practically anywhere where there’s an internet connection).

Who is DataCamp for? DataCamp is aimed at individuals and businesses looking to gain or enhance skills in data science, programming, and machine learning. The platform accommodates all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, and offers structured learning paths for career development.

DataCamp Review: PROS

Being a leader in the space, it will probably come as no surprise that DataCamp has A LOT to offer to potential learners and users of the platform. It’s a sentiment echoed by many DataCamp reviews written by students, as well as something I’ve experienced firsthand, as well.

Simple to Use and Navigate Through

Many e-learning platforms these days try to pack as much stuff as possible within them. Since the market is becoming more and more competitive, some companies are trying to lure in potential new students by offering a huge quantity of various content.

Oftentimes, however, this results in the platform becoming over-encumbered and really frustrating to navigate through.

Upon my initial visit, DataCamp did kind of scare me, not gonna lie - there’s a lot to take in, section- and menu-wise. However, a couple of minutes spent on the site, and I already knew my way around.

In fact, I was pleasantly surprised - it actually is simplistic, has a contrasting color palette (it doesn’t bother your eyes), and portrays the main information and some “call to action” type of stuff.

The very first thing that you’ll see once you enter DataCamp is a banner with a registration form and a short, simple one-liner - “Build data and AI skills”. You can view the whole front page as a sort of a promotion, to all of the main services offered by DataCamp (so, if you’re one of the people wondering is DataCamp worth it, this page is for you).

You can access the courses by either entering a keyword into the search bar, or picking one from the drop-down "Explore" menu, at the top of the page. The available courses will range in topic and difficulty, but you can expect to find everything from ChatGPT introductions, all the way to SQL and Tableau fundamentals.

While you do have a few different ways to browse the course selection on DataCamp, if you’re lost, I found that it’s very convenient to select your skill level from the drop-down menu - you’ll see suggested courses for each level.

When you pick a course and enter its designated page, you’ll probably immediately notice one thing - it’s as simple as they come (although, you do need to log into the platform to view it fully). I mean, honestly - the page is very beginner-friendly, and contains all of the information that you might need to get started with the course.

I was a bit confused at first, thinking that I’m probably missing something, but nope - that’s all you get! I haven’t even seen many of the user DataCamp reviews mention this - it’s a big deal!

So, I have to commend DataCamp - while it's a point of personal preference, there's no denying that this is a really great layout as far as it concerns the students - no annoying pop-ups, no ads, no “recommended courses” or “you might also like…” or anything like that. Once you come to a specific course page, all of your attention can be directed at that single course.

While you can browse the platform to some extent without signing up, if you create and use a free account, you’ll be able to explore the first chapter of every course, without any problems. My advice would be to go ahead and create such an account, and only THEN glance through DataCamp’s selection - it will make the experience a bit more thorough and pleasant.

Speaking of that, the registration process itself is very simple - just enter your email and password in the registration form you can find at the beginning of the homepage and click "Start Learning for Free." Though, you can also log in using Google, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

You will be prompted to answer a short questionnaire about your goals for personalization purposes (like it's usually the case with online learning platforms). If you complete it, DataCamp will provide immediate course or career / skill track recommendations. However, you can just proceed with your own exploration.

The latter is quite convenient on DataCamp as well. You can explore courses based on technologies, like Python, R, Excel, and so on. You can also use filters, though these are mostly useful to sort out courses based on your learning status (to see which ones you've started, are in progress of learning, or finished).

The last thing that's left to discuss is the usage of the course dashboard itself. Once you start the course, you'll see a video player pop up. You can also turn on the transcript, which will be displayed on your left.

And, well, that's basically it – straightforward and convenient. One thing I did miss, though, is the option of taking notes, which many other online learning platforms provide.

However, DataCamp compensates for that with short tasks you have to complete once you finish a video. These tasks are made to check whether you understood the main idea, so you could proceed further with all the necessary knowledge.

Overall, I have to say - I’m surprised by the direction that the company took when it comes to its page layout designs. And why am I telling you all of these things in the first place? Isn’t this supposed to be a “site’s usage” part of the DataCamp review? Well, it is!

All of the above-mentioned information comes into play when deciding whether the site is easy to use or not. And when it comes to this DataCamp review, - the platform really is easy and fun to both navigate and use, in general!

I had no trouble finding the things that I was looking for (“About” section, course list, partners, pricing). The whole user interface felt intuitive and easy (at this point, it's not a shocker, right?), and, in general, my experience was quite pleasant.

I’ve noticed that many other Data Camp reviews also don’t seem to have any notable issues when it comes to how easy it is to navigate and find things on the site. So far - so good!

Courses Focused on a Specific Niche

This point seems self-explanatory, but is an integral part of what makes DataCamp successful and so attractive to its potential students. I’ve outlined this in the introduction, mentioned it a few times in this DataCamp review, and it’s even in the name, too - DataCamp is focused on data-driven and -specific courses.

“Data”, however, is a pretty broad term. A few years back, I would have said that the correct terminology to use would be “data science^[2]”. Indeed - I remember trying DataCamp out back then, and it was very focused on data science and analytics, as the main vocal points of the platform.

These days, the focus appears to have broadened quite significantly. It’s still very much data-heavy, but with more emphasis on topics such as AI, applied finance, and data manipulation (in the broad sense of the term).

By widening its focus like this, DataCamp does a pretty good job of solidifying itself as the leader in all-studies-data. This also works to increase its popularity, as well as shape a rather specific identity in the MOOC market. Either way, this is seen as a big benefit among student DataCamp reviews.

Highly Improved Content Quality

A lot of people wonder, “is DataCamp worth it?”. Content quality plays a big role in answering this question. This is probably a no-brainer, but if an online education-based company wants to survive and build a reputation for itself, the quality of the content should be at the top of the priority list.

Because this is such an important thing, let’s analyze what is the case with DataCamp's content quality as the next step in this DataCamp review. For starters, let me tell you this – in the beginning, DataCamp did get a fair amount of negative feedback considering this aspect, but it did improve exponentially based on that.

You see, if you looked for Data Camp reviews that would reflect the quality of the site’s courses in the past, you would have noticed a common trend. It can probably be summed up with the following statement:

“DataCamp is great, but…”

A lot of user DataCamp reviews that were talking about the courses on the site were indeed quite two-sided. Students seemed to genuinely enjoy the site, yet there was always something that they didn’t particularly like.

Some of the most common complaints when it came to the content on DataCamp was that it was a) not very practical, and b) way too text-based. Students claimed that, while there were usually great examples given, the instructors tended to get somewhat hand-holdy and "do the work for you".

Also, while most courses did have short videos, a lot of the assignments were very text-reliant, which resulted in huge walls of text that made some people discouraged (especially beginners).

However, it's not the case anymore. DataCamp improved its content quality a lot, especially when it comes to assignments that are now fun, short, and indeed practical.

With all that said, while it is true that the platform used to have some “meh” Data Camp reviews, as far as its content was concerned, this appears to be an issue that’s been solved a long time ago. The vast majority of students seem to enjoy and appreciate the current content quality. And I can attest to that from my own, personal experience, as well!

If you're wondering why I'm telling you all this in the first place (instead of just saying that DataCamp course quality is great), it's because I want to highlight that the company has one very important characteristic – listening to user feedback and actually hearing it.

Various Learning Options

DataCamp provides a versatile learning experience tailored to different educational needs. It offers three main options – individual courses, Skill Tracks, and Career Tracks.

If you're interested in honing a specific skill, individual courses are your go-to option. These are designed to provide targeted knowledge in areas like Python programming, data manipulation, or machine learning, among others.

For those looking to dig deeper into a particular domain, Skill Tracks might be the perfect choice. These are curated sequences of courses that offer a comprehensive understanding of a subject, giving you the tools you need to become proficient in that area. Skill Tracks cover everything from Tableau fundamentals to machine learning with Python.

However, if you're aiming for a complete career transformation or specialization, you might want to aim for Career Tracks. These intensive programs provide an end-to-end educational experience, equipping you with the skills required to launch or advance a career in fields like data science or data engineering.

Besides, DataCamp also offers certification for certain Career Tracks. There are two levels of certificates: Associate and Professional. You can get these certificates by passing the required exams within 30 days.

DataCamp refers to these as formal certificates that are recognized in the industry (and have to be renewed every 2 years). However, the certificates are not accredited. Though, at the same time, they do hold more weight than the Statements of Accomplishment provided for completing individual courses.

By the way, in addition to the courses listed on DataCamp, students can learn with the help of educational podcasts, e-books, webinars, tutorials, case studies, blog posts, and even cheat sheets. They can also test out their knowledge in the practice environment, which has over 65 different practice sessions. These are a few of the highlights that are seemingly often overlooked among user DataCamp reviews I’ve come across.

Education Gamification

In order for a company to stand out from its competition, it needs to have something that would be both unique and memorable to the user. This could be a competition, an affiliate program, special offers on courses, etc.

If you know a thing or two about online learning platforms, you’ll notice that these things aren’t all that unique in and of themselves. However, if given some sort of a twist, they can become a staple for the platform’s success.

DataCamp does offer an interesting and quite useful feature for its students. This feature is called “XP” or, in other words, “experience points”. Each user can earn XP by completing courses, performing certain tasks and other actions on the site (just like you would in a game).

If the student wants to reveal some sort of a hint or a method of solving a problem within a course, a certain amount of XP is used. The user’s experience is shown at the top of the profile page.

It should be said that XP doesn’t really serve a specific purpose. It’s not used in any specific way - these experience points are basically there to help you - the student - stay motivated to keep on learning.

It truly is an interesting concept. Not a lot of online learning platforms use something similar. However, even though XP doesn’t really serve a practical purpose, it’s still a nice method of encouraging students to learn and finish courses. If you like this type of interactiveness, then maybe you should consider the answers to the question “is DataCamp worth it?” to be a positive one, after all.

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DataCamp Review: CONS

It’s worth acknowledging that no MOOC provider is perfect, and DataCamp isn’t an exception, either. A lot of the “negative” things will depend on students’ own preferences and expectations. That being said, if there is one objective con that should be mentioned, it would have to do with the certificates offered by the course provider.

No Accredited Certificates

DataCamp’s certificates aren’t accredited. Apart from the aforementioned formal certificates (which are not accredited as well), the platform doesn’t even call the thing that it issues “certificates”, in the first place - instead, they’re referred to as “Statements of Accomplishment”.

DataCamp, as a whole, isn’t an ‘accredited course provider’. To be fair, for most people, this isn’t really an issue - if you’re looking to specifically increase your skill level in some field related to data, or to learn a new skill, in general, accreditation isn’t a necessity.

At the same time, it’s worth pointing out that not every student’s wants and needs are the same. Accreditation is important for those who want to, for example, make their online studies count towards their university credit. This isn’t something that’s possible with DataCamp.

Throughout the many online learning platforms that I’ve had the privilege of checking out, I have to say - accredited certificates are rare to come across. Chances are that if this is something that’s a “make it or break it” point for you, you’ll be searching for MOOCs that offer this perk, specifically.

Other DataCamp Products

One more thing that's often praised in many student DataCamp reviews is that, apart from courses and learning paths for individuals, DataCamp also offers programs for universities, businesses, and even a cloud-based coding environment.

DataCamp for Business

DataCamp for Business is designed to upskill teams in data science and analytics. Aimed at organizations looking to bolster their workforce's technical capabilities, it offers an extensive range of courses, hands-on projects, and interactive lessons.

It also provides supervisors with a dedicated dashboard, enabling them to closely monitor individual and team progress. DataCamp for Business serves as a valuable resource for both employees looking to improve their skills and employers aiming to advance their data strategies.

DataCamp for Universities

DataCamp for Universities is a comprehensive educational platform that offers a wide array of courses and learning tracks, making it a versatile resource for academic institutions looking to broaden their curriculum and give students a competitive edge in today's data-driven world.

It also comes with features that are beneficial for educators. Teachers can easily track student progress, assign coursework, and even customize the curriculum to better fit the educational goals of their specific institution.

Workspace

DataCamp's Workspace serves as an all-in-one coding environment that's hosted on the cloud, offering a robust alternative to traditional IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) for those focusing on data science and analytics. It's a practical space where you can write, execute, and debug code.

Though, it not only enables coding but also provides tools for tracking progress effectively and generating visualizations and charts. Besides, it offers a seamless environment to work on various projects and assignments together with others.

The Workspace is typically pre-configured with essential data files and coding libraries, making it easier to dive into hands-on exercises and projects. Supporting multiple languages like Python and R, it's a versatile platform suitable for data scientists and learners of all levels.

DataCamp Pricing Options

Now, pricing is a topic that made me really happy when it comes to this DataCamp review. No, it’s not because the prices of DataCamp’s courses are amazing (although they might be). The reason is actually much more simple than that.

As of late, I’ve been doing a lot of research on online learning platforms. Even though pricing seems to be a bit of a touchy subject, you would think that it’s important enough to be portrayed clearly on the site, right? Well, NOT BY A LONG SHOT.

I can’t stress this enough - there are sites that seemingly do everything in their power to hide the prices of their courses until you become a registered user and give them your email. That’s absolutely insane!

That said, DataCamp stands out of the crowd. It has a very clearly placed “Pricing” button on the top of the main page, which leads you to a super-clear and simple pricing plan page.

It was extremely refreshing to see - again, not a lot of student DataCamp reviews seem to mention this. I do, however, think that it’s somewhat of a big deal - it shows transparency and eliminates any and all suspicions of ill intent. So, let’s take a look at the prices.

DataCamp offers four options of plans that you can pick from - Basic, Premium, Teams, and Enterprise. Individual learners have three choices - pay $39 per month, monthly ($468 per year), pay $12.42 per month, yearly ($149.04 per year) or choose to learn for free.

The Basic free plan will only allow you to study the first chapters of every course. You will also be able to create a professional profile, and will have job board access. However, if you choose a paid plan, you’ll receive access to all of DataCamp's courses, a myriad of practice challenges, and all of the additional features that the plan provides.

Compared to some other e-learning platforms, the answer to the question “is DataCamp worth it?” does seem to be a positive one, at least when it comes to the prices.

Teams will have to pay $12.42 per user per month, billed annually. Enterprises will need to contact DataCamp for a custom quote. There are also three Workspace plans (free, $15/month paid monthly, and $8.25/month paid yearly), as well as three Recruit plans (free, $249 per month, or a custom one).

You wouldn’t really find many legitimate DataCamp reviews that would complain about the price of the content on the site. This just goes to show that perhaps the platform managed to find a great “price-to-quality” ratio, or is doing something else right.

Learning Experience: Positive or Negative?

Now, let's summarize everything that I've said in this DataCamp review and define the learning experience. Although it is more of a subjective point to cover, it’s still really worth looking into. That being said, I will try to keep it as short and as to the point as possible.

In general, people seem to be quite satisfied with DataCamp and the services that the platform provides. Many of the user DataCamp reviews found online are thankful and positive towards the company - students are genuinely happy about the content and the "general vibe" of the website.

And that’s the thing - I have noticed that many DataCamp reviews fail to mention this as a really positive thing. The general vibe that you get when visiting an online education-based platform is really important! This DataCamp review would have probably looked a lot more different if the site itself had left a bad taste in my mouth.

However, it didn’t - I really enjoyed almost every aspect of it. While it may seem a bit overwhelming at first, I found that DataCamp does a great job of both easing the student into the process of taking up a course, as well as showcasing all of its main features and functionalities.

The practice environment does a great job of supplementing the theory that you’ll study in the provided courses, and the XP system works as a somewhat gamified motivator, while providing some tangible benefits, too.

The one area that I personally had the least experience with was the Business-, University- and Workspace-related services. As mentioned before, they are targeted at larger business entities, educational institutions, as well as specific workspaces, so that you can study data together with your colleagues.

However, based on various user DataCamp reviews, I can see that people have quite positive experiences with these services as well.

DataCamp VS Competitors

As the last point in this DataCamp review, I want to compare DataCamp with some of the other popular learning providers. After all, it is one of the best, so it might help to see how it stays that way. 

DataCamp VS Udacity

Udacity is a bit similar to DataCamp, but it differs in course structure and the depth of learning. The major feature of the platform is Nanodegree programs that help prepare specialists in various tech fields (similar to DataCamp). However, these programs are more comprehensive and usually require a few months to complete.

	DATACAMP	UDACITY
Learning Material	Slides, Video Material, and Written Material	Video Material, Written Material
Offline courses
Discussion Board
Homework
Grading
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Learning processes of DataCamp and Udacity

DataCamp is more specialized and modular, ideal for those looking to quickly upskill in data science and analytics, while Udacity offers a broader curriculum and a more structured, in-depth learning that mimics traditional educational experience to some extent.

DataCamp VS Udemy

Udemy, compared to DataCamp, has a much broader focus, offering courses on a wide range of topics from technology all the way to personal development. Though, Udemy doesn't offer learning paths, it only has standalone courses. This gives users more flexibility but doesn't provide a structured pathway to the mastery of a specific skill.

	DATACAMP	UDEMY
Computer Science
Languages
Data Science
Business & Management
Engineering
Social Sciences
IT & Software
Health
Math & Logic
Personal Development
Arts/Music
Philosophy
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Subjects of DataCamp and Udemy

Thus, DataCamp is ideal for those who are focused on data science and analytics and prefer a structured, interactive learning environment. Udemy, on the other hand, offers more variety and flexibility but requires users to be more self-directed and discerning when selecting courses.

DataCamp VS edX

DataCamp and edX serve different niches and have different delivery styles. edX offers a broader range of academic subjects, including humanities, sciences, business, and more. It partners with universities and educational institutions to offer courses, professional certifications, and even degree programs.

	DATACAMP	EDX
Pros	Easy to use with a learn-by-doing approach Offers quality content Gamified in-browser coding experience The price matches the quality Suitable for learners ranging from beginner to advanced	A wide range of learning programs University-level courses Easy to navigate Verified certificates Free learning track available
Cons	No accredited certificates	Some courses have a hefty price tag Not the broadest course subject variety
Value For Money
Content Quality
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Pros and Cons of DataCamp and edX

In a nutshell, if you're looking to specialize in data science and want a hands-on, interactive learning experience, DataCamp would be more suitable. However, if you're seeking a broader academic curriculum with courses that resemble traditional online higher education, edX might be the better choice.

Conclusions

Now, what's the final verdict in this DataCamp review? Well, it's worth noting that DataCamp provides a variety of learning options and high-quality courses developed by industry experts. It also provides multiple other perks, such as hands-on exercises, real-world projects, and even a dedicated workspace for practice.

Besides, with its flexible learning timetables, DataCamp lets you fit education around your life, not the other way around. What's more, every finished course comes with a free certificate of completion. Even though they are not accredited, they can still serve as a tangible representation of your skill level. Also, let's not forget the possibility of earning formal certificates.

All these features combine to create a rich, comprehensive learning experience that can help you excel in your career. So, you should definitely give DataCamp a try if you're interested in courses on data science and other technology-specific fields.

Scientific References

1. J. Namjoshi, M. Rawat: 'Role of Smart Manufacturing in Industry 4.0';

2. M. L. Brodie: 'What is Data Science?'.