As the demand for programming skills continues to grow, there are numerous online platforms to help you learn to code. DataCamp and Codecademy are two of the most popular online learning platforms that offer a range of free courses for beginners and professionals alike.
If you would like to learn to program and want to learn data science, as well as coding, DataCamp, and Codecademy are two excellent other online learning platforms to help you do so. With these, you can study in your own time on your own terms to fit it around work or school.
While both platforms are focused on teaching programming skills, which is better Datacamp or Codecademy? They have unique features and differences that set them apart. In today’s article, we will explore the similarities and differences between DataCamp and Codecademy, so you can decide which platform suits your learning needs best.
DataCamp – What Is It?
Founded in 2013, DataCamp has been a popular online learning platform offering courses on programming languages, such as Python and R, and data analysis. Since 2019, Martijn Theuwissen has been the CEO of the company and has overseen its growth in the world of online learning platforms.
Today, over eight million users use DataCamp courses to learn. However, this value is estimated to be the total number of registered users on the platforms, both paid and free, rather than how many who have completed basic courses on the site.
DataCamp also offers programs for businesses looking to offer courses to their employees. Teachers also take advantage of its features to help teach data science in schools, colleges, and universities.
Codecademy – What Is It?
Founded two years before DataCamp in 2011, Codecademy’s founder’s main goal was to learn data skills online and coding accessible to everyone, even those who do not or are unable to attend college or university.
Codecademy has been one of the giants of online learning platforms for many years, with an estimated 45 million using the platform. So much so that the company partnered with the U.S. Government. The then-President Barack Obama wanted to increase the number of entrepreneurs in the country.
With the help of Codecademy, an initiative was started. This led to the platform meeting up with learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to teach them how to code, something they would have never done otherwise.
As for the actual site, there are free and paid lessons available, but it started off as a free resource. Let’s get down to comparing the two and see what suits your needs best.
DataCamp Vs Codecademy: Main Differences
When you first look at the features available with DataCamp and Codecademy, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many differences. Both platforms are similar in many ways.
For instance, they both provide professional content; they both focus on computer science career tracks; they both offer teacher support; they both offer certificates of completion; they both have strong, supportive online communities; they both provide introductory courses for beginners up to advanced learners.
Although similar in multiple aspects, DataCamp and Codecademy differ in some ways. Here are the main differences between the two:
- Topics – Overall, the online learning career path with Codecademy is more diverse than the programs available with DataCamp. Codecademy tends to focus more on coding skills, whereas DataCamp’s focus is more on the actual teaching of data science. Codecademy offers a wider variety of complete interactive courses, teaching a variety of popular coding languages. You can learn anything from web design to graphic design, and, of course, data science.
- Cost – All in all, Codecademy is a little cheaper than DataCamp. DataCamp’s standard free plan is around $6 or so more than Codecademy’s Premium Plan (at the time of writing). Both plans can be paid via a monthly subscription or you can choose an annual payment plan. Whilst you can pause your yearly plan with Codecademy, this is currently not available with DataCamp.
- Learning – Exclusive content is offered by both DataCamp and Codecademy. Much of this content is dynamic and interactive. You can learn from video tutorials, world projects, and other methods of interactive learning to help you on your coding or data science journey. That being said, both platforms have unique learning experiences. For instance, DataCamp does not offer extra content in the manner that Codecademy does. Codecademy provides additional resources such as live stream videos, and blog articles with highly valuable interviews with data professionals and experts, and here are cheat sheets, too.
When considering what both platforms offer, DataCamp is considered the better option for individuals who require more thorough step-by-step guidance as they learn. This is because it provides detailed descriptions and explanations for all career paths. But, Codecademy has more features and is a little cheaper.
Therefore, it is regarded as a better choice for those who are a little more advanced and have more experience in the field they are learning more about.
DataCamp Vs Codecademy – Python Course
DataCamp has gained a reputation for being a go-to platform for those interested in data science, particularly when it comes to learning Python. They offer a range of Python courses that provide a strong foundation for career advancement.
Many students pursuing programming also opt for DataCamp due to its specialization in Python training. Despite its strengths, some students have noted that DataCamp’s Python courses do not delve into data structures as extensively as they would like. This is a critique that has been echoed on other platforms like Codecademy.
DataCamp Vs. Codecademy: SQL Course
Codecademy and DataCamp both have several SQL courses available for users, ranging from basic plans to paid subscriptions. These courses cater to a wide range of skill paths, from beginner to advanced. However, there are some differences between the two platforms.
Codecademy’s SQL courses involve writing the code from scratch, a hands-on approach that is not offered by DataCamp. Additionally, Codecademy provides users with helpful cheat sheets to aid in their learning journey, while this feature is not included on DataCamp.
Generally speaking, DataCamp and Codecademy both offer excellent Python content but have a unique focus. For instance, DataCamp’s programs lean more toward data science, whereas Codecademy courses are directed more toward software engineering.
DataCamp Vs. Codecademy: Topics
As already mentioned, DataCamp mainly focuses on teaching data science. Popular languages are taught, such as Python, SQL, and R, with over 150 courses dedicated to teaching R and around the same number for Python. Other technologies available on DataCamp include:
- Shell
- Scala
- Git
- Tableau
- Power BI
- Spark
- Excel
- Spark
And, many more. Courses focus on a range of topics, such as:
- Programming
- Importing data
- Cleaning data
- Data manipulation
- Data visualization
- Data Engineering
- Machine learning
- Applied finance
- Case studies
For more information on DataCamp’s courses, check out its course catalog here. Codecademy is considered a better option if you want to go beyond learning about Python, R, and SQL. This is because it tends to have a larger selection of languages, such as:
- HTML/CSS
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Ruby
- Python
- Java
- C++
- C#
- Swift
- Kotlin
- Go
- Bash/Shell
Codecademy focuses more on coding so offers a larger range of courses in more languages. Find Codecademy’s course catalog here for further information.
In Summary
Both DataCamp and Codecademy are excellent learning platforms with a wide range of features to help you learn coding, data science, and more. Overall, Codecademy arguably has the most extensive library of lessons and tools to help you get into a career in tech. We recommend trying out both and then making a decision on what you prefer.
