Dataquest vs 365 Data Science: Which is Suitable for You?

Don’t let the data scientist memes that flood the internet discourage you. Data Science is hard, no one is denying that; sugarcoating things never works out in the end.

However, discovering and using the right learning platform will significantly help reduce the hours you spend battling to master data skills.

You have come to the right place to seek answers if you wonder whether Dataquest or 365 Data Science is the best learning platform.

We will discuss the pros and cons of using both in this Dataquest vs 365 Data Science comparison guide. You will not be one of those people who started learning data science joyously and stopped midway thinking you aren’t cut out for this stuff.

I will help you see which platform is the better option, and you will complete your learning journey irrespective of your motivation, goal, or experience level. So, let’s start exploring (To Infinity and Beyond!)

About Dataquest and 365 Data Science

Dataquest and 365 Data Science are popular platforms for acquiring data skills. Both have loyal users who have benefited from their courses. Mastering data skills is daunting; however, these platforms do an amazing job guiding you through it.

You won’t go around pulling out your hair grappling with complex concepts when you pick either online learning platform. Consequently, you won’t be accused of trying to revive Einstein’s hairstyle trend (unofficially dubbed ‘Genius Hair’). I am sure you will rock the mad scientist look but appearing well-groomed is more likely to get you a job.

Comparing Dataquest vs 365 Data Science

Rest assured that we will leave no stone unturned in this 365 Data Science vs Dataquest debate. You will know the similarities and differences between both websites like the back of your hand (did anyone just remember Scotty’s scene from The Final Frontier? I swear you won’t get knocked out like that.). 

Course Offerings

Dataquest has 100+ courses on Gen AI, Python, SQL, Power BI, probability & statistics, Excel, data cleaning & visualization, etc. It offers several career and skill paths, but you can also enroll in individual courses.

Dataquest is suitable for all whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner.

365 Data Science has 70+ courses ranging from Introduction to Data Science to Starting a Career in Data Science: Project Portfolio, Resume, and Interview Process. The platform guides you right from the time you take the first step in learning data science and equips you with every tool you require to land a job.

You can also learn about data cleaning and preprocessing, Power Query (Excel), SQL, Tableau, Python, R, Power BI, TensorFlow, LLMs, etc.

365 Data Science, too, targets all learner levels but is more recognized for its structured content that seamlessly flows from one course to another. This natural progression makes it one of the best for beginners and intermediate learners.

Content Quality

The difference between Dataquest and 365 Data Science is that the former has comparatively better content for advanced learners, whereas the latter excels at teaching the basics. That doesn’t mean beginners won’t get much value from Dataquest or advanced learners will find 365 Data Science lacking. 

After all, both platforms have excellent content for all their lessons. Think of it like this: 365 Data Science and Dataquest are like D’Jok and Micro Ice from Galactik Football. Both play in the same position (strikers) on the same team (Snowkids) but have different styles. Some Snowkids fans love D’Jok’s style, while others prefer Micro Ice’s. 

Apologies for the meandering metaphor, but in short, though the quality of both platforms is on the same level, their styles differ. Therefore, the choice between them depends purely on preference.

Instructors Experience

No pesky instructor will bother you on Dataquest since it follows Codecademy’s self-learning concept. You will learn from written explanations, instructions, and interactive practice exercises. Dataquest gives you hints if you feel stuck. Alternatively, you can get community help or seek assistance from the AI assistant.

365 Data Science has fantastic, experienced instructors who will explain everything clearly. They never assume you know something, which is refreshing after encountering so many instructors who expect you to perform mental gymnastics and connect the dots. 

Hey, we don’t expect Professor Dumbledore to teach us, but can’t we have Professor Flitwick? Fortunately, 365 Data Science instructors are the next best thing you can get. Excellent instructors are crucial, especially for beginners poking in their heads to see if data science is their destiny.

Learning Methods

You learn through in-browser coding exercises and challenges on Dataquest. Remember, video lectures do not exist on this platform. You must carefully read the explanations provided before following the instructions for the coding tasks. Is Dataquest better than 365 Data Science? I prefer Dataquest’s learning methods but that doesn’t mean it’s superior.

Most people will opt for 365 Data Science because of its gripping video lectures, course notes, quizzes, case studies, downloadable files, and practice exercises. And, I love the card collection (you can have fun collecting the 24 cards of pioneers in six fields.).

It motivates you to learn consistently, as each card provides a unique benefit. Sometimes, you get a discount on the subscription plans when you earn a card. Awesome, right? This round goes to 365 Data Science because it encourages you to continue learning and teaches effectively.

Practical Focus

You may ask ‘Is 365 Data Science or Dataquest better for building your portfolio?’. It’s a valid question. However, both platforms have incredible, challenging projects that help you tackle real-world scenarios. So, how do we pick the winner in this round? I am giving this one to Dataquest as it has a separate section for portfolio projects besides guided projects.

Certification Value

Dataquest provides only certificates of completion. You don’t have to pass exams to get them. 365 Data Science provides certificates of achievement. You have to pass the course and career track exams (accessible only when you pass the course exams) to earn the certification. 

Now, this may seem to tip the scales in favor of 365 Data Science, but, in reality, who cares if you passed an exam to get certification? A friend pointed out to me recently that everyone who gets certificates from learning platforms works on projects identical to their fellow learners. Then what is the use of certificates of completion or achievements?

Briefly put, certificates only show you are dedicated and hard-working. You put in effort to earn a certification. Besides that, you gain enough knowledge to answer any question that may be thrown at you during an interview. But, that’s all. So, stop needlessly worrying about whether a certificate can get you a job. Only your originality will land you one.

Customer Support

Dataquest and 365 Data Science provide good customer support. You won’t have any trouble as long as you remember to cancel your subscription if you don’t like the websites or no longer need them. Let’s face it, it’s unfair to rant at the platforms when we forget what online courses we are enrolled in and consequently don’t cancel a subscription.

Pricing and Value for Money

The free basic plan on both websites provides you only limited access. It’s more like a free trial. You have to subscribe to the platforms to fully benefit from them and access the entire course library. Dataquest’s monthly subscription plan costs $49/month. The annual plan costs $24.50/month, and the lifetime plan costs $823.20.

365 Data Science annual premium plan costs $29/month ($36/month if billed monthly). It has no lifetime access plan. Dataquest’s plans are worth it if you are comfortable with its learning methods. 365 Data Science is comparatively more affordable. However, several other platforms are available if you need a more pocket-friendly alternative.

So, is it wise to pay so much for a mere 70+ courses? It depends. Do you need help building your portfolio or beefing up your resume? Then yes, subscribing is worth it. After all, the courses have relevant and updated content and the instructors are efficient.

Community

The Dataquest community is pretty good. I like the clean, separate sections for announcements, Q&As, and sharing. The ‘share’ section has a ‘Better Together’ sub-section for connecting and developing a kinship with fellow learners. The ‘Projects’ sub-section lets you share your projects with others and receive feedback. 

365 Data Science has a Q&A Hub for users to connect with fellow learners and instructors. It may not seem as well-organized as Dataquest’s community forums, but it has a good sort and filter system, making navigation easy.

User Interface

Both platforms have user-friendly interfaces, but I find myself drawn to Dataquest’s UI like a moth to the flame. I can’t quite put my finger on what precisely appeals to me, as I love everything about it. 365 Data Science’s UI isn’t an eyesore, it’s aesthetically pleasing. However, I still prefer Dataquest’s UI; it is also a smidge faster.

User Feedback

People would find Dataquest more agreeable if it reduced its subscription pricing. Adding some video lectures won’t hurt either, but since it is against its self-learning concept, I am willing to look the other way. 365 Data Science must introduce more rigorous courses for advanced learners and provide more practice exercises and projects.

Who Should Use Dataquest?

Dataquest’s career paths are designed to make you job-ready within 3 – 9 months. Therefore, it is the best option if you are in a hurry to master data skills and land a job. It’s also an excellent choice if you want to build on your basic data skills and become more knowledgeable. You will love working on the 700+ practice exercises and projects.

Who Should Use 365 Data Science?

You should pick 365 Data Science if you are a beginner or an intermediate learner, as it does a better job of holding your hands. You must learn to walk before you run and this platform perfectly understands that. Moreover, it’s the right website for you if you feel motivated to learn by earning XPs and climbing the leaderboard.

Alternatives

Unsurprisingly, Codecademy is the best alternative to Dataquest. The learning methods are similar and the subscription plans are more gentle on your savings. DataCamp is a good alternative for 365 Data Science. 

Coursera is a suitable alternative for getting accredited data science certifications, and the capstone projects are amazing because you have to use everything you learned in the courses to complete them.

Udemy is a gold mine for purchasing individual data science courses (who even has the time to complete hundreds of courses in a month?).

Udacity, Pluralsight, edX, and LinkedIn Learning are other appropriate alternatives for learning data skills.

Final Verdict

Dataquest wins the Dataquest vs 365 Data Science battle by a slim margin. However, both platforms offer unique benefits. There is no right or wrong answer to the question ‘Dataquest or 365 Data Science – which is better?’. Therefore, choose Dataquest if you like hassle-free coding in the browser. Pick 365 Data Science if you love video lectures and structured content.

FAQs

1. Is Dataquest better than Coursera?

One platform isn’t superior to the other; it’s more a matter of convenience and preference. Dataquest is suitable for honing your data skills, whereas Coursera is a much better choice for learning about data science and the multiple fields that overlap with it.

2. Does Dataquest have videos?

No, il mio amico. Dataquest doesn’t have boring videos, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and whatnot. You learn by coding with the help of clear instructions (and the AI assistant when necessary).

3. What is the difference between paid and free versions of Dataquest?

You can only access the first three lessons in each path with the free version (not exactly useful, is it?). The paid version provides you unrestricted access to the entire platform and all its courses.

4. Is the 365 Data Science course worth it?

Yes, it is worth pursuing a course on 365 Data Science. You will gain a clear idea of everything related to data science and get to work on projects.

5. Which is better, 365 Data Science or Datacamp?

Datacamp has subtitles in multiple languages, and it has several interesting projects and competitions. On the other hand, 365 Data Science has more efficient instructors and detailed video lectures. I know this isn’t the answer you’re looking for, but it is you who can decide which platform is better.

6. Why choose 365 Data Science? What does it offer that other platforms don’t?

You learn to set up the necessary tools such as Jupyter Notebook for Python and R, Power BI, etc. to gain experience by working in a real-world environment. It’s a pretty useful thing, as you don’t have to rack your brain when you try installing them. No one will hold your hand when you land a job. So, if you want to test ideas you have to know the installation processes.