Are you looking to kickstart your data science journey or take your skills to the next level?
With so many online learning platforms available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why we are comparing three popular options: Codecademy vs DataCamp vs Dataquest.
But here’s the key question: which platform is best suited to your needs and learning style?
In this article, we will dive into the details of each platform, comparing their curriculum, cost, time commitment, learning style, community support, and more.
Armed with this information, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision and embark on your data science learning journey with confidence.
Buckle up as we explore the features and offerings of these three online data science learning platforms.
Course Offerings
Codecademy
Codecademy offers a variety of courses and learning paths for individuals interested in learning to code or expanding their programming skills.
Codecademy Plus is a paid plan that provides access to over 300 structured training courses, projects, quizzes, and a job board for connecting with recruiters and hiring managers.
The platform covers a wide range of programming languages and frameworks, including:
- Python
- JavaScript
- HTML & CSS
- SQL
- Bash
- C++
- R
- AI
- Web Development
- Data Science
- Computer Science
- And more ..
Codecademy also offers free courses, such as Introduction to UI and UX Design, which covers user experience and user interface design principles and the use of Figma, a popular collaborative design tool.
Another free course is Introduction to IT, which explores the basics of computing, networking, cybersecurity, and database management, providing an overview of the tech field and its diverse careers.
Codecademy’s course offerings are designed to cater to various learning goals and career paths, with options for beginners and advanced learners alike.
The platform’s events and webinars, such as The Evolution of Codecademy series and Creative Coding with Codecademy, offer additional learning opportunities and insights into the latest AI offerings and creative coding techniques.
Also read: Udemy vs Coursera vs DataCamp – Which Is Better?
DataCamp
DataCamp, on the other hand, takes a more specialized approach. It is a comprehensive online learning platform that offers interactive coding challenges, tutorials, and projects to help learners acquire and apply skills in data science and programming.
It provides 500+ courses covering various topics, including data analysis with Python and R, ChatGPT best practices, data science concepts, data exploration, big data analysis using PySpark, and more.
Plus, DataCamp offers 14 different Data Science Career Tracks, each focused on a specific area of data science.
DataCamp offers a specialized program for universities that enables students to fast-track their learning with in-demand data skills.
It provides 400+ hands-on courses in Python, SQL, R, Power BI, Excel, and more, along with world-class content from data leaders, industry-leading certifications, and a collaborative classroom learning solution called Workspace.
For individuals, DataCamp offers a free certification in data science and personalized resume reviews, along with interview preparation.
It also provides a Workspace feature that allows learners to start from 60+ datasets and templates to create insightful analyses with DataCamp’s AI-enabled data notebook.
For businesses, DataCamp offers a proven learning methodology and a DataCamp Signal feature that helps learners discover their data skill level for free.
In brief, Datacamp offers a wide range of courses and services for individuals, universities, and businesses to learn data science and AI skills online at their own pace.
Dataquest
Dataquest offers a variety of courses and learning paths for individuals interested in data science. The platform offers both free and paid courses.
Dataquest’s courses are designed to teach autonomy and project-based learning from the start, with a focus on predesigned career outcomes. The curriculum is delivered entirely online and is best for those who learn by doing.
Dataquest’s curriculum covers a range of topics, including probability and statistics for data analysis, collaboration tools like git and SQL databases, and popular programming languages for data analysis such as Python, R, and SQL.
The platform’s curriculum is designed to help students build job-ready portfolios and assist them in their job search. It is self-paced and can be tailored to skip courses with content that students are already comfortable with.
Dataquest offers free certificates of completion for its online courses, which can be helpful for students looking to showcase their skills and knowledge to potential employers.
The platform’s courses are designed to help students learn data science online and prepare for careers in data analysis, data science, and related fields.
Check out: DataCamp vs Sololearn – Which is Right For You?
Learning Style
Codecademy
Codecademy focuses on providing comprehensive learning paths for data science.
The curriculum at Codecademy is delivered through a combination of interactive coding challenges, text-based tutorials, projects, and video introductions.
These platforms utilize interactive coding challenges, video introductions, split-screen coding environments, and projects to provide a hands-on learning experience.
However, some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the overall format and quality of instruction at Codecademy, mentioning issues with the teaching approach and lack of reinforcement in learning.
Users have also highlighted the need for more interactive and engaging approaches to learning, emphasizing the importance of understanding how different individuals learn and tailoring instruction to accommodate various learning styles.
There are suggestions for Codecademy to incorporate educational theory experts to enhance the learning experience and create courses that help reinforce learning effectively.
You might find this useful: DataCamp vs HackerRank – Which Is Better?
DataCamp
DataCamp courses are designed to teach and practice data science and machine learning skills.
The learning style involves watching short video lessons and then immediately applying the concepts through interactive-in-browser exercises. This approach helps learners build confidence by applying new knowledge and skills right away.
DataCamp also offers real-world projects for learners to apply their coding skills to solve real-world problems.
The platform uses adaptive skill assessments to identify skill gaps and save time by focusing on the skills learners need most.
Daily bite-sized practice challenges help reinforce new skills through spaced repetition. The learning style is based on teaching and practicing, with learners watching videos and then jumping into exercises.
The exercises guide learners through the process, helping them understand the concepts better
Dataquest
Dataquest is a data science bootcamp that focuses on hands-on learning and project-based courses. The platform is designed to help students learn by doing, with a focus on real-world applications and practical exercises.
The curriculum is structured to help students gradually develop their skills, starting with the basics and progressing to more advanced topics.
Students can choose from career path courses, which can be completed in about 45 weeks, or skill paths courses, which allow them to quickly add in-demand skills to their resume.
The courses are designed to be challenging and engaging, with a focus on hands-on exercises and real-world projects instead of video lectures.
The instructors are experts in the field, and Dataquest works with top organizations and instructors around the world to develop their courses.
The platform is versatile and packed with information, providing great opportunities to practice important skills.
The curriculum is designed to fill gaps in knowledge and help students become job-ready, with a focus on earning a path certification by completing a capstone project in the career path courses.
Overall, Dataquest is a solid choice for those looking to develop specific programming and data science skills, with a focus on hands-on learning and practical applications.
Read this too: DataCamp vs DataQuest – Which Is Better?
Pricing
Codecademy
This platform offers separate pricing plans for individuals, students and teams.
For Individuals: The free Basic plan offers access to free courses, community support and limited practice on the mobile app.
The Plus Plan is priced at $14.99 per month (if billed annually) or $29.99 per month is billed monthly. It provides access to all courses, quizzes and skill paths.
The Pro Plan costs $19.99 per month (if billed annually) and $39.99 per month if billed monthly. It comes with professional certifications, technical interview prep and job readiness checker.
For Students: The free Basic Plan is available to students with limited features. The Pro Plan is available at 35% discount. Plus, students can also avail a free trial period before signing up for the Pro Plan.
For businesses: Codecademy offers two pricing plans for businesses.
The Teams Plan is priced at $299 per user per year and designed to accommodate up to 25 team members. It offers access to certificates of completion, learner groups and mobile practice.
The Enterprise Plan comes with custom pricing and is ideal for teams of more than 25 members. It provides access to Learning Path Customization, Skills Benchmarking and Peer Support.
Another interesting read: DataCamp vs Educative – Which Is Right For You?
DataCamp
DataCamp has four pricing plans designed for individuals and teams.
- The Premium plan costs $7 per month when billed annually and provides unlimited access to 470+ courses, 10,400+ exercises, and new content launched every week.
- The Teams plan costs $13 per user per month when billed annually and includes all the features of the Premium plan, plus additional features such as priority customer support, team performance reports, and license management.
- The Enterprise plan is customized for large organizations and comes with personalized pricing.
Additionally, DataCamp also a zero-cost Basic Plan that offers users limited access to courses. This plan is a great way to try the features of the platform before signing up for a paid plan.
DataCamp also offers several pricing plans and special deals for individuals and teams.
Also read: Datacamp Student Discounts In 2024
Dataquest
Dataquest offers a Free Plan and a Premium Plan for individuals who want to learn data science skills.
The Free Plan provides access to a limited number of courses and resources, while the Premium Plan is now available at a discounted rate of $24.50 per month.
The Premium Plan includes features like guided projects, assessments, and certificates to ensure students get the most learning possible.
It provides unlimited access to all of their learning paths, downloadable datasets, and over 700 practice problems and guided projects.
The platform also offers a 14-day, no-risk, money-back guarantee, and if students complete a career path and aren’t satisfied, they can receive a full refund.
Dataquest’s pricing is slightly more expensive than some of its competitors, but it offers a comprehensive learning experience for data science skills.
Check out: DataCamp vs Simplilearn – Which Is Right for You?
Support
Codecademy
Codecademy offers several support options for their courses, including:
- A community forum where users can ask questions and receive help from other learners
- Codecademy staff, a Chapters program that allows learners to join or start local or virtual meetups to collaborate and learn together
- Codecademy Forums section where users can read about others’ experiences, ask questions, and get help from their peers
Additionally, users can contact Codecademy directly through the Codecademy Forums or by posting a question, which will be answered by a Codecademy team member within a few days.
Codecademy also offers a variety of community spaces, such as Discord and Facebook, where users can connect with the Codecademy community and receive updates on new resources and community offerings.
The combination of these resources allows you to engage with a diverse community of data science learners, broadening your understanding and enhancing your learning experience.
Explore: DataCamp vs LeetCode – Which Is Better?
DataCamp
DataCamp, on the other hand, utilizes a third-party chat service and an internal forum to foster community interactions. This creates a platform where you can easily connect with fellow learners, exchange ideas, and find support.
Datacamp provides community support through the DataCamp Certified Community, which is an exclusive platform for all DataCamp learners who have become certified Data Scientists or Data Analysts.
This community provides a place to connect with other certified learners, access exclusive content and events, and make the most of your newly acquired skills.
It is designed to bring DataCamp certified learners together from around the world, providing exclusive content to stay at the forefront of the data industry and be better prepared for their careers.
The community also enables users to share their wins, ask questions, and support each other to make the most of their certification to become (even more) successful data professionals.
The chat service and internal forum provide opportunities to seek guidance and share insights, ensuring that you never feel alone on your data science learning journey.
Dataquest
Dataquest offers community support through its premium plan, where learners can collaborate on projects, seek help, discuss career-related questions, and engage in conversations about data science topics with other Dataquest learners.
Learners can also get technical and non-technical questions answered by searching the help center, reaching out in the members community, or contacting technical support agents and community moderators for assistance.
The platform’s community provides a supportive environment for learners to interact, learn, and grow together in their data science journey.
Also read: Datacamp vs Bootcamp.com
Time Commitment
Codecademy
The time commitment for Codecademy courses varies depending on the specific course and the learner’s prior experience and learning style.
Codecademy’s Data Science Career Path is designed to be completed in approximately 35 weeks, with individual Skill Paths taking between 6-10 weeks.
However, the actual time commitment can vary widely depending on the learner’s availability and dedication.
Codecademy recommends spending between 5 and 15 hours per week on coding if you’re looking to make a significant progress.
Codecademy learners have reported that they spend between 2 to 4 hours a day coding, often breaking up their study time into smaller increments throughout the day.
Some learners have also reported that they mark off 20-30 minute increments of time on their calendar to remind themselves to take a break and work on coding exercises.
Codecademy’s courses and paths are designed for self-guided learning, allowing learners to set their own pace and schedule.
However, the suggested time frame for course completion may not be realistic for all learners, particularly those with little programming experience or other time commitments.
In general, learning to code can be a substantial time commitment, but it is possible to make progress even with limited time availability by setting specific goals and making the most of small pockets of time throughout the day.
Also read: Datacamp vs Platzi – Which Is Better?
DataCamp
The time commitment for DataCamp courses can vary depending on the specific course and the learner’s prior experience and learning style.
DataCamp’s Machine Learning Fundamentals with Python Track has an average time commitment of 16 hours, but learners can spend more or less time depending on their learning pace.
The platform offers a variety of courses and skill tracks, with estimated time commitments ranging from a few hours to over 100 hours for career tracks.
DataCamp’s curriculum combines short video lessons and tutorials with fill-in-the-blank style exercises right afterward, later moving students to project work.
The platform’s online platform, called Practice Mode, offers instant personalized feedback on every exercise.
DataCamp’s lessons and career tracks are all written by different experts in the field, resulting in a variety of teachers and teaching styles. Its curriculum is best for those who learn by doing and applying what they learn quickly.
DataCamp’s curriculum is self-paced, and learners can take the courses any time, anywhere, and at their own pace.
Read this too: Datacamp vs Coursera – Which Is Right For You?
DataQuest
Dataquest’s curriculum is not time-limited, allowing learners to work at their own pace and cover everything they need to learn, including SQL and statistics, while letting them work at a comfortable pace.
Most learners find they’re able to meet their learning goals in six months, if studying fewer than ten hours per week. Learning goals can be accelerated with larger time commitments.
The time commitment for specific courses and paths can vary, with some taking as little as a few hours to complete and others taking several months.
Dataquest’s curriculum is designed for self-guided learning, allowing learners to set their own pace and schedule.
However, the suggested time frame for course completion may not work well for all learners, especially for those with minimal programming experience.
Conclusion
Each platform offers a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.
The best choice between Codecademy, DataCamp, and Dataquest depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Take into account your specific learning goals, preferred curriculum style, budget, and the level of support you require.
No matter which platform you choose, you will have the opportunity to enhance your data science skills to advance your career.
Daniel is an ecommerce expert specializing in the print-on-demand and dropshipping industry. With a background in software development, he has successfully turned his tech-savvy insights into a thriving 6-figure dropshipping business. He is a contributing writer for numerous top-tier tech & ecommerce blogs.