DataCamp Alternative: 365 Data Science vs DataCamp Comparison

One of the biggest challenges of online learning platforms is creating engagement among students, which helps them make the most of their learning experience.

365 Data Science designed a platform with gamified features to support and motivate students to build positive learning habits, which are rewarded with various benefits. In addition to the standard dashboard—where you set goals and track your progress—365 also offers an XP system, leaderboard, news feed, collectible cards, and much more.

DataCamp, on the other hand, does not offer gamified features apart from an XP system that measures your engagement with the platform based on the exercises, courses, and tracks you have completed. Students do not get rewards for earning XPs nor have a leaderboard where they can compete with other motivated learners—making the experience less memorable.

365 Data Science and DataCamp provide access to exercises that help students practice what they’ve learned.

DataCamp’s native ‘coding in the browser’ feature is believed to be one of its strongest assets. Students don’t need to switch between different windows while learning, which makes exercise activities seamless. Unfortunately, DataCamp’s resources are not downloadable and require internet access.

Alternatively, 365 Data Science focuses on course materials. All exercises are in the form of coding and solution notebook files. Moreover, 365 provides many additional resources, such as quizzes, course notes, templates, and other downloadable files, which you can keep even after canceling your subscription.

As previously noted, DataCamp is renowned for its coding in the browser feature. There is, however, a significant downside to this. Whether you need to solve a programming task during a job interview or have landed a job as a data professional, no employer will ever ask you to code in the browser. If this were the case, you’d need to be highly confident in setting up the real environment and solving complex tasks in the browser.

365 Data Science provides lessons dedicated to the set up in each programming-related course. All exercises and practical tasks are performed in a real environment to prepare you for the real-world challenges of any data science or analytics job and datasets of any size.

365 Data Science provides practical case studies where students can practice what they’ve learned in a practical context and highlights the business application of data science in their exercises. For example, 365 Data Science’s Probability Course features real-world data from Hamilton College, requiring students to apply the Bayesian Law to determine whether the college successfully diversifies its student population.

DataCamp offers a more significant number of advanced practical case studies in its course curriculum. If you’re a data scientist facing a particular problem, there is a good chance you’ll make a breakthrough with your project via DataCamp’s resources.

Exams indicate you meet a high standard of competence. They can give you a competitive advantage, more job opportunities, and a higher pay scale.

365 Data Science allows you to test the skills you’ve acquired with three types of timed online exams: Practice Exams, Course Exams, and Career Track Exams.

Practice Exams are optional. They aim to help you gain confidence in your skills, present areas you need to work on, and prepare you for your course and final career track exams.

Course Exams allow you to prove that you’ve gained the necessary skills and competencies in a specific data science area. A passing score of 60% is required to be eligible for a Course Certificate.

Career Track Exams are accessible to students who have successfully passed the required course exams in their chosen career track (Data Scientist, Data Analyst, or Business Analyst). The Career Tracks include eight mandatory courses and two electives. A passing score of 60% is required to be awarded a Career Track Certificate.

DataCamp, on the other hand, does not offer exams on its courses, career tracks, or skill tracks. They provide skill assessments that evaluate a student’s skill level on a given topic/skill and deliver personalized learning recommendations based on the results.

But DataCamp has recently introduced Timed Exams and Practical Exams as part of their Data Analyst and Data Scientist Certification. The Practical Exam is a case study that revolves around a real-world problem you must solve using the data set given to you. After completing your analyses, you must share your results in a presentation.

Perhaps, one of the most significant value propositions an online platform can offer to its students—besides quality content—are industry-recognized certificates that signal to employers that candidates have the necessary technical skills and character traits for the job.

Consequently, 365 Data Science replaced their Certificates of Completion—which required students to view the entire course content—with Certificates of Achievements, which entails students successfully passing their course exam with a minimum grade of 60%.

Career Track Certificates are granted to students who have successfully passed all their course exams in the track and career track exam.

This rigorous approach to earning a certificate provides job-market value and prepares students for real-life problems they’re expected to solve.

DataCamp, on the other hand, offers only certificates of completion for their courses. The only requirement to receive them is to go through all the lessons and exercises—giving the certificates less job-market value.

But Data Camp has recently addressed this issue by releasing its DataCamp Certifications, which require students to go through timed examinations and projects to earn a certificate. Once students register for one of four certifications (Data Science Associate, Data Analytics Associate, Data Science Professional, and Data Analytics Professional), they have only 30 days to complete all requirements.

This deadline can be helpful to some who need that extra push but could cause problems for students who live busy lives and juggle between work, studies, and personal life.

365 Data Science offers best-in-class personalized customer support, addressing students’ specific questions. This is critical for beginners and an excellent workaround for students needing expert tutoring. All 365 Data Science instructors are involved in Q&A support, ensuring the most coherent experience possible for each student.

DataCamp does not offer Q&A support services, and students cannot contact instructors—at least not through the platform. But it does provide access to the DataCamp Slack community, where you’re more likely to get peer help than instructor support.

Both DataCamp and 365 Data Science have positive reviews on G2. But DataCamp has more reviews, with a 4.6/5 rating from 125 reviews, while 365 Data Science boasts 4.8/5 from four reviews.

On Trustpilot, DataCamp reviews are 234 and scores 4.6/5, with many positive reviews about its outstanding customer support.

365 Data Science features an impressive 4.9/5 from 669 reviews, with positive reviews on its course structure and beginner friendliness.

• Extensive library of courses on different topics
• More extensive library of projects and case studies

• Lack of graded exams
• Some outdated courses
• No instructor feedback/help
• No downloadable resources

• Industry-recognized certificates
• Beginner-friendly
• Comprehensive career tracks
• Plenty of learning resources
• Gamified platform

• Fewer practical case studies
• Fewer projects

• Free subscription: Each first chapter is free
• Premium: $12/month billed annually or $15/month

• Free subscription: Access to the first lessons of every course
• Premium: $36/month or $29/month billed annually