Is DataCamp Worth It? – Detailed Review & Analysis

Data science is a rapidly growing field with a high demand for new skilled workers. 

If you’ve been thinking about getting into programming, coding, statistical analysis, or other disciplines encompassed by data science, now is a great time to start! 

However, it can be tricky to know where to begin. If you’ve had a look online, you’ve probably been bombarded with many offers for online courses, tutorials, and workshops. 

One of the most well-known of these is DataCamp, a platform dedicated to teaching data science and related fields through interactive learning. 

If you’re interested in getting an unbiased review of DataCamp, learning what it’s all about, and deciding if it’s the right program for you, you’re in the right place! 

We’ll give you everything you need to know, including: 

• A Platform Overview
• Course Offerings and Content Quality
• Pricing and Subscription Models
• Learning Experience and Platform Usability
• User Reviews and Community Feedback 
• Pros and Cons: A Balanced View
• Comparing DataCamp to Other Online Learning Platforms
• Is DataCamp Worth the Investment?

Let’s dive in! 

What is DataCamp? A Platform Overview

DataCamp is an online learning provider that offers a range of courses in the field of data science. 

The platform’s mission statement is to “democratize data and AI skills for everyone.”  

This means making learning available from home, as well as in classrooms worldwide – making it flexible, multi-leveled, and affordable. 

Whether you’re looking for a new job, to pad your CV, or to jumpstart a new and exciting career path, DataCamp has courses tailored to your needs that you can complete at your own pace. 

Course Offerings and Content Quality

There are many different types of courses available through DataCamp. 

They offer courses in specific programming languages such as R and Python, enabling you to learn to code as well as hone your skills and apply them to real-world puzzles and problems. 

There are also statistics and data visualization courses, training in using specific software programs, basic computation skills like Sheets and Excel, AI and machine learning, and much more. 

DataCamp offers programs in the following areas: 

• Probability & Statistics
• Machine Learning
• Programming
• Data Manipulation
• Data Visualization
• Applied Finance
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Preparation
• Data Literacy
• Data Engineering
• Reporting
• Exploratory Data Analysis
• Data Management
• Data Warehouse
• Case Studies
• Cloud, and 
• Leadership.

It also has specific programs to increase proficiency in: 

• Python
• R
• Theory
• SQL
• Power BI
• Tableau
• Google Sheets
• Excel
• Spark
• AWS
• Julia
• PyTorch
• Shell
• Azure
• OpenAI
• ChatGPT
• Git
• Airflow
• Alteryx
• Databricks
• Docker
• MLflow
• Scala
• Snowflake
• dbt.

The courses are also taught in a variety of different ways suitable to many different learning styles. 

There are short videos, longer instructed courses, exercises and challenges, and interactive activities. 

Many highly trained instructors work for DataCamp both to teach and to design the courses, including data scientists and programmers who have worked for the likes of Microsoft, Google, and other big-name tech companies. 

Pricing and Subscription Models

For individuals, the two DataCamp plans are Basic and Premium. The Basic plan is free, so it’s a great option to get a taste of the platform and see if it’s the right fit for you! 

With this plan, you get access to the first chapter of every DataCamp course, including cheat sheets and tutorials, you can access skill assessments to see where you’re at, and participate in live “code-alongs” and competitions. 

You also get access to the employment features built into the website, including the ability to build a professional portfolio of your skills and accomplishments and apply for jobs through DataCamp. 

However, if you really want to get the most out of DataCamp, it’s worth upgrading to the premium subscription plan. 

This costs you 12 USD a month if you sign up for a year’s plan, or 39 USD a month with flexibility. 

With the subscription, you get access to everything offered in the basic plan as well as unlimited access to the full course library which houses over four hundred and seventy programs!

You also get unlimited learning on mobile, as well as personalized program paths. 

One of the biggest added values of the premium plan is the ability to earn certificates that verify your knowledge level, as well as employment track courses designed to get you hired right away!

You also gain access to unlimited step-by-step coding projects, the DataCamp Slack Community, and priority customer support. 

Learning Experience and Platform Usability

DataCamp works by employing a five-step process to maximize learning outcomes: 

1. Assess: To get started, you take an interactive assessment to see what your existing skill level is. 

This gives DataCamp a good idea of which courses to recommend for you, and where your strengths and weaknesses lie. There are specific assessments in each major area of interest. 

2. Learn: Once you know where to begin, learn new skills by following along to short, instructor-led videos, then apply that knowledge in interactive exercises.

3. Practice: Keep up your skills with daily challenges, projects, and competitions. 

4. Apply: Learn to apply the skills you’ve learned to real-world projects, helping you to perfect your work, identify any gaps, and see what you can do with your talent. 

Some examples of popular DataCamp projects include visualizing the rise of COVID-19 cases globally with ggplot2 or analyzing the relative popularity of programming languages over time-based on Stack Overflow data. 

5. Restarting and Reaching Out: If you’ve completed a course, take another assessment and continue learning and progressing and start applying for jobs directly through DataCamp or anywhere else you like! 

DataCamp also is run exclusively through your browser, so you don’t need to download or pay for any additional software or programs and it works on both Mac and PC. 

There is also a free mobile app available through the App Store and the Google Play Store. 

User Reviews and Community Feedback 

Overall, the data science community, business community, and general public have good things to say about DataCamp! 

According to a recent Forbes article focusing on DataCamps career-specific courses, “You can progress through the courses at a pace that suits your lifestyle and work demands. You’ll also learn valuable skills that can help you gain entry into a course-related field and likely increase your earning potential.” 

Reddit users report that DataCamp has helped them land their first job, get a new and better-paying job through the site itself, and overall helped them acquire many new skills and gain confidence in unfamiliar areas. 

One user reported that the course quickly paid for itself due to the freelance gigs they were able to get from home! 

However, some have said that while DataCamp is useful for a broad overview and introduction to many courses, they had to supplement what they learned with other resources to get a more complex skill set. 

Additionally, some complained that you cannot retake courses. However, as of 2023, you are able to reset your course progress and retake the course if you would like. 

Pros and Cons: A Balanced View

So, is DataCamp a good program overall? It seems useful and beneficial for the majority of its users, though like with anything there are a few drawbacks: 

Pros

• Wide range of courses available 
• Easy to engage with and intuitive courses
• Flexible pacing
• Market-ready skills
• Job opportunities within the program itself. 

Cons

• Weighted towards introductions and basics, with a smaller number of expert-level courses available. 

• Potential need to supplement with other resources to get the most from your new skills. 

Comparing DataCamp to Other Online Learning Platforms

Of course, DataCamp is far from the only online learning program for data science and related fields. Here’s a quick comparison with DataCamps top competitors: 

DataCamp

Cost: Free, premium at $12 a month with a year’s subscription, or $39 monthly. 

Courses: Over 470 interactive courses.  

Best For: Interactivity, challenges, competitions, and real-world problem-solving. Highly competitive pricing with a free option, comprehensive course with individually tailored learning programs, and professional opportunities through the site itself. 

Worst For: Smaller number of courses on offer than other programs, no university or outside business accredited degrees and certificates, no completely free courses. 

Coursera

Cost: $59 a month or $399 a year for Coursera plus, which gives you unlimited access to many of their courses. Individual pricing on certificates, degrees, and courses, though some are free.

Courses: More than 6900 courses, Professional Certificates, and degrees, including 1800 courses in Data Science. 

Best For: University degrees and programs, as well as business-run programs from the likes of Berkely, Google, Harvard, and IBM. Many different types of courses and a variety of subject matter. 

Worst For: Expensive subscription pricing, on top of having to pay for most of the courses themselves. Difficult to navigate platforms, with the majority of courses being external. 

edX

Cost: Varies widely. There are free courses available, but if you want a certificate of completion these are often hundreds of dollars, and their bootcamp programs are upwards of ten grand. 

Courses: Over 4000 courses, degrees, and certificates 190 of which are in Data Science. 

Best For: University-accredited courses, degrees, certificates, and bootcamps. Wide range of subjects outside of data science including IT, Computer Science, Finance, and Business. Some free access to highly acclaimed courses. 

Worst For: Expensive programs, with seemingly free courses charging a high price for proof of completion. Smaller focus on Data Science. 

Udemy 

Cost: A handful of free, well-reviewed introductory courses, but the majority cost around seventy dollars, though they are often on special for as low as twelve. 

Courses:  They advertise over 210,000 video-based courses, over 3600 of which are in data science, though these vary in length and quality. 

Best For: Short, free, one-off courses are available, which is great for beginners. They have the largest number of courses on offer. There is no hidden certificate fee on paid courses. 

Worst For: Many of the courses on offer are not highly moderated and not from official learning institutions. There is a high proportion of video-only content, though there are some with interactive and assessment-based options. 

Is DataCamp Worth the Investment?

Compared to other online Data Science programs, DataCamp is the most affordable option out there that still gets you a comprehensive course program. 

Additionally, it’s the only program that offers full access to all of its different courses with membership, has individually tailored learning plans and skills assessments, and offers all of its features in one comprehensive site! 

Datacamp can boost your career prospects, teach you new valuable skills, and even get you a job directly. If these things are important to you, then it is definitely worth the investment. 

Final Verdict

DataCamp is a great option for those who want to learn more data science skills for a low price, with comprehensive, interactive courses, fun activities, and great learning and career outcomes. 

If you’re looking for a flexible, at-home way to improve your skills, why not give the free trial a go and see if it’s right for you?