Udemy vs DataCamp: Which Courses are Better?

So you think you can conquer data science and AI, huh? Well, be prepared to go through the wringer. Of course, it will all be worth it when you truly master data skills. However, you will likely be lamenting your fate throughout the learning curve. 

Have you read the comic book series Asterix? The Roman army men always grumble ‘Join the army they said, it’s a man’s life they said’. You will be grumbling something along those lines before you become proficient in the skills you develop. Don’t worry though. Choosing a learning platform that meets your learning requirements will help ease the pain a lot.

In this Udemy vs DataCamp debate, we will analyze and nitpick every feature both platforms have to ensure you pick the right website. That way, you will be ready to face anything thrown at you when you face the battlefield (real world). 

About Udemy and DataCamp

Udemy is the go-to website for those who need a vast course library. It has several fantastic courses to choose from no matter what skill you want to learn. Moreover, Udemy is famed for its flash sales, making it one of the most affordable online learning websites. Who doesn’t love getting lifetime access to stellar courses for merely $10 – $15?

DataCamp has a narrower focus. It is a great option for improving your AI and data skills. The greatest strength of DataCamp is that it makes you learn by doing. The courses are easy to understand and the code challenges and competitions are fun. Its 490+ courses are excellent for gaining in-depth knowledge of data science and AI.

Comparing Udemy vs DataCamp

After reading our scintillating analysis, you will know whether DataCamp or Udemy is the right choice. Udemy may be the most popular choice, but that doesn’t mean DataCamp is unworthy of your attention. Let’s see why.

Course Offerings

Udemy beats DataCamp in this round; it can beat any platform pitted against it as it has 210,000+ courses. Some may feel this is unfair as DataCamp only has courses to improve data and AI skills. Therefore, let’s compare only the course categories they have in common. 

So, which one do you think will win in the ‘DataCamp vs Udemy data science’ debate? DataCamp has 61 courses, 86 webinars, 104 podcasts, and 3,260 blogs on data science. It’s a superb collection indeed. Now, let’s see what Udemy has in store for us. You get 3,900+ results when you select the data science sub-category in the development category. 

Do I need to say more? Udemy wins! However, DataCamp does an excellent job of keeping you interested with its multiple content types.

Another significant debate we must address is ‘DataCamp vs Udemy Python’. Python is one of the most popular programming languages. And both websites have a great collection of courses on it.

Udemy has 3,200+ courses on Python. You can filter the results by level, language, features (subtitles, coding exercises, practice tests, quizzes), etc. DataCamp has 163 courses, 76 projects, 1,018 tutorials, and 2,233 blogs on Python. Again, though DataCamp has diverse content types, Udemy has more courses you can choose from.

Content Quality

Most Udemy courses have high-quality content, but a few are bound to have sub-par content. The lack of rigorous quality control measures is the reason for this variation in quality in Udemy. However, you will be fine as long as you carefully read what each course offers and their reviews.

In the DataCamp vs Udemy battle, the former wins because it has consistent high-quality course content. However, some people feel you get only a general knowledge of whatever topic you pick on DataCamp. They think Udemy has better courses for all learner levels. It’s nothing new; people have different perspectives. That’s why you should try using it yourself.

Instructors Experience

DataCamp’s instructors are industry experts and excel at breaking down complex concepts. They are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and efficient. Udemy instructors are a diverse bunch. Some are awe-inspiring and fun, some are mind-blowingly brilliant, and others are downright disappointing. It’s to be expected as almost anyone can publish a course on Udemy.

However, what I like about Udemy is that it shows a helpful list of highly-rated instructors when you search for courses in any category. That way, instead of scouring through the thousands of courses Udemy has, you can simply choose a course developed by a reputable instructor. 

Learning Methods

Udemy courses have video lectures to help improve your skills. On the other hand, DataCamp has videos, blogs, webinars, cheat sheets, podcasts, etc. to enhance your knowledge. It’s awesome because you don’t have to search for supplementary resources to augment what you learn. Moreover, it has an AI assistant to explain the errors you make.

Practical Focus

DataCamp has fantastic projects, coding challenges, code-along, practice exercises, and data-lab contests to help you gain practical experience.  It succeeds in helping you apply what you learn; what more can you ask? Unfortunately, Udemy doesn’t focus much on the practical aspect of learning. 

Except for a few coding exercises, you won’t find anything that helps you understand how to use/apply the knowledge you gained. However, you can always find creative ways to apply your theoretical knowledge by working on personal projects. After all, the originality of your portfolio will make you stand out from the crowd with similar certifications.

Certification Value

A certificate of completion from either website won’t help you much to land a job (though DataCamp’s certificates are more credible than Udemy’s). However, the Data Analyst and Data Scientist certifications provided by DataCamp give you a slight edge over your competitors. 

Bear in mind that these certifications are not accredited and cannot equal the value of an accredited certification. Coursera or edX is a much better choice if accreditation is important to you.

Customer Support

DataCamp provides excellent customer service, and most users are happy with it. On the other hand, Udemy’s customer service received mixed reactions. While some rant about how it isn’t easy to get a refund from Udemy, others feel it is sort of helpful. 

I think Alex (the virtual assistant) is cool and the Help Center has sufficient information to address any issue you may face while using the website. Most refund issues seem to hinge on the fact that users either forget to cancel their subscriptions or (in the case of individual purchases) view most of the course before requesting a refund. That’s not Udemy’s fault.

Pricing and Value for Money

Unlike most websites/online learning platforms, Udemy’s subscription plan has the same price whether billed monthly or annually – $35. However, most people prefer buying individual courses, as they get lifetime access. Never purchase a course when it isn’t on sale. Udemy’s famed (and criticized) Flash Sales are there for a reason.

You can get any course for a fraction of its original price when these frequent sales occur; even those worth paying a fortune for. DataCamp is also an affordable platform. Its Premium plan costs $13/month if billed annually and $29 if charged monthly. You can access all the courses and resources on DataCamp with this plan.

So, are these popular platforms worth subscribing to? Yes. You won’t regret subscribing to either website. However, I prefer purchasing courses on Udemy instead of subscribing because I never complete a course promptly. 

Sometimes, I even forget that I enrolled in a course. So, lifetime access is important to me. What am I going to do with thousands of courses? You can’t purchase courses on DataCamp. So, you are stuck with the subscription plan; tough luck.

Community

Udemy has excellent community forums for instructors – Studio U and Published Instructor Club. The former is for those designing their first course, whereas the latter is for those who have already published a course. Unfortunately, Udemy doesn’t have a community forum for learners to connect and share their learning journey.

DataCamp has a thriving community on Slack where you can always find help. However, remember to be respectful during interactions and provide useful information whenever helping a fellow learner. Community guidelines are similar for most websites; you should adhere to them for a pleasant learning experience.

User Interface

It is tough to pick a winner in this round, as both websites have user-friendly interfaces. Both are visually pleasing and easy to navigate. I favor Udemy because the UI is a tad faster and its design appeals to me. Moreover, Udemy gets brownie points for allowing users to move back and forth between lessons. Its note-taking feature is also helpful.

User Feedback

I love Udemy just the way it is (cue Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel); however, even I can’t deny it needs better quality control tools. And, it would be a huge help if Udemy made it clear what courses are accessible if we subscribe instead of giving a vague answer like ‘you can access 11,000+ top courses’.

DataCamp doesn’t need to change much. People would like it if it added more courses, as they are impressed with the existing ones. Moreover, it should introduce more features because it hasn’t changed much since its debut as a learning platform for developing data skills. After all, innovation is the key to success.

Who Should Use Udemy?

Udemy is an excellent choice if you are looking for courses that have something for all learner levels. It is also the best option if you want lifetime access to the courses you purchase. Some skills are timeless and having helpful courses on them at your fingertips can be handy. Moreover, it is the most pocket-friendly choice.

Who Should Use DataCamp?

DataCamp is a good choice if you are interested in data science and, to a lesser extent, artificial intelligence. It is great for practicing your new-found skills and developing confidence. DataCamp’s thick-as-thieves community is one of its attractive features. You will love the website if you are interested in helping and receiving help from fellow learners.

Alternatives

Coursera is my top pick as an alternative to Udemy and DataCamp. Its course collection is rivaled only by Udemy’s, and its certificates are accredited. Codecademy and The Odin Project are excellent alternatives if you want to master programming languages. MasterClass is the right choice if you are interested in the creative field.

Final Words

As you can see, DataCamp wins most of the rounds in the Udemy Vs DataCamp battle. However, I am going with the controversial opinion that Udemy is better. To those shaking their heads saying it’s highly illogical – yes, Mr. Spock. I know it’s not the logical choice but that doesn’t change my perspective.

Udemy is a valuable learning platform with an impressive arsenal of courses for any skill you wish to master. As for the variation in quality content, you simply need to spend some time searching for the right course. Udemy has several phenomenal courses. In short, pick Udemy if you need affordable courses with lifetime access.

Choose DataCamp if you need more practice to learn a new data skill. Moreover, it is a good choice if you need a career or skill track to show you what courses you must complete and in what order.