CompTIA Data+ vs. Google Data Analytics: Which One Should You Choose?

Quick Definition: CompTIA Data+ is a certification for early-career professionals with some IT or business experience, while Google Data Analytics is a beginner-friendly certificate program designed to help newcomers break into the data field. Choosing the right one depends on your background, learning style, and career goals.

Two of the most popular options available to aspiring data professionals today are the CompTIA Data+ certification and the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. But while their content is similar, their approach is quite different. They’re designed for learners with very different needs, preferences, and career aspirations. 

We'll take a look at some of these distinctions to help you decide which cert is right for you. This chart breaks down some of the key differences, which we'll look at in more detail below. 

CompTIA Data+ vs. Google Data Analytics: Understanding the Key Differences

While both credentials aim to boost your data career, they differ in structure, audience, and outcomes. Let’s break down the key differences to help you choose the right fit.

CompTIA Data+

Recognizing the need for an entry-level data analytics certification, CompTIA introduced Data+ as part of its Plus Series. This certification emphasizes essential skills, including data mining, statistical analysis, visualization, and data governance. It’s designed for early-career professionals working in business, finance, marketing, or IT who want to validate their ability to make data-driven decisions. Data+ is ideal for those looking to grow into roles like data analyst or business intelligence associate.

Google Data Analytics

Unlike CompTIA’s offering, Google's Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is not a certification. Google Data Analytics is an online program from Coursera that includes a series of nine courses. Coursera’s website suggests that it could be completed in less than 6 months by putting in under 10 hours per week—but many finish sooner. The focus is on foundational data analysis skills, and the certificate is awarded upon successful completion rather than through a proctored exam. Google Data Analytics is also a viable option for beginning data professionals.

There are many aspects to a data science career. If you’re interested in data engineering on the cloud, you might want to check out our article What is the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate Certification?

CompTIA Data+ vs. Google Data Analytics: Comparative Analysis

Both of these exams also cover different topics. Here's how those differences break down.

Domain Coverage

The CompTIA Data+ exam (V1) covers the following domains:

Data Concepts and Environments (15%)

This is a general overview of data science, encompassing concepts such as data schemas, data types, and data structures. In preparation for Data+, you’ll learn what they mean by date, numeric, and alphanumeric, and you’ll touch on JavaScript object notation (JSON), extensible markup language (XML), and hypertext markup language (HTML).

Data Mining (25%)

Here you’ll study data acquisition, cleansing, and manipulation. And you’ll become familiar with data queries.

Data Analysis (23%)

This domain deals with statistics and techniques. It discusses topics like p-values, regression, and confidence intervals.

Visualization (23%)

Here’s where the data meets the boardroom. Reports, dashboards, and bar charts are some of the subjects in this domain. 

Data Governance, Quality, and Controls (14%)

In this important domain, you’ll study security, jurisdiction, and quality measurements, among other things.

Google Data Analytics includes the following nine courses:

1. Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere

2. Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions

3. Prepare Data for Exploration

4. Process Data from Dirty to Clean

5. Analyze Data to Answer Questions

6. Share Data Through the Art of Visualization

7. Data Analysis with R Programming

8. Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study

9. Accelerate Your Job Search with AI

Target Audience

While both credentials are aimed at those with little experience in the data science field, there are some nuances in their distinctive target audiences. CompTIA Data+ is designed for early-career professionals. These may be folks in IT, business, or some related field that deals with structured data. 

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, on the other hand, is meant for true beginners. This material would work well for career changers or recent graduates who are starting from scratch in the data world.

The potential job roles for each credential are generally similar. But CompTIA Data+ may be more suitable for those pursuing IT-aligned roles, such as data analyst or operations analyst. 

The Google certificate may be more appropriate for aspiring business data associates or customer insights analysts. These are not hard-and-fast rules, but Data+ may lean more technical, while Google tilts more toward business.

CompTIA Data+ vs. Google Data Analytics: Salary and Career Prospects

Your choice of credential can influence not just your first job—but your long-term earning potential, too. Here's how CompTIA Data+ and Google Data Analytics stack up when it comes to salary and career growth.

CompTIA Data+ Salary Expectations

According to Prepsaret, those holding the CompTIA Data+ certification can expect the following salary ranges:

• Entry-Level: $60,000–$75,000

• Mid-Level: $75,000–$95,000

• Senior Roles: $95,000–$110,000+

These figures reflect the value placed on the comprehensive data skills validated by the CompTIA Data+ certification, particularly in roles requiring a solid understanding of data governance and statistical analysis.

Google Data Analytics Salary Expectations

ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for professionals with a Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is around $82,000 in the US. This can vary from state to state and city to city, of course. The Google certificate can open doors to various entry-level and mid-level data analysis positions.

Factors Influencing Salary Discrepancies

Several elements can lead to differences in earning potential for all holders of either the CompTIA Data+ or Google Data Analytics credentials:

• Depth of Technical Skill

• Industry and Company Size

• Geographic Location

• Additional Skills and Experience

Many CompTIA learners are already knowledgeable in IT through having achieved other certifications, such as A+, Network+, or Security+. And the fact that Data+ is a certification rather than a certificate may carry some weight. Some potential employers may not be so impressed with a candidate who has completed a course rather than passed an exam. Of course, the individual backgrounds and abilities of each learner play an important role.

Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth Potential

The demand for data professionals continues to grow across nearly all industries, ensuring a promising career outlook for individuals with either credential. Continuous learning and specializing in areas like machine learning, big data, or cloud analytics can further enhance career prospects and earning potential.

Of course, salaries for data scientists can vary widely. See our article 25 Honest Data Scientist Salaries to find out more. 

CompTIA Data+ vs. Google Data Analytics: Exam Difficulty and Preparation

CompTIA Data+ is a proctored certification exam (DA0-001) consisting of up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions. It has a 90-minute time limit and requires a passing score of 675 out of 900. Test-taking can be a nerve-racking experience, and if you don’t feel well or didn’t sleep well the night before, that can make for a costly and anxious hour and a half. 

The Google Data Analytics program is much more accessible, especially for beginners. Learners complete a series of nine online courses, each with quizzes, assignments, and a final capstone project. You simply complete each module to earn the credential. You can take as much time as you need to get through it. 

The difficulty will depend on the student and the amount of time and preparation you put in. Google’s plan is a bit more flexible, but Data+ might require a more rigid study discipline. Those with a background in IT or data will undoubtedly have an advantage over those just starting out.

Either way, you can find plenty of resources on CBT Nuggets to help you in your study of data science. Our CompTIA Data+ (DA0-001) Online Training is a good place to start.

Choosing Between CompTIA Data+ and Google Data Analytics

So what would make a person favor one of these options over the other? There are several factors to consider.

Experience Level

If you’re a true beginner—particularly if you're new to the certification game—you may want to pursue the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. It gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the material without the pressures of an exam. But if you already have a few exams under your belt, and maybe some helpdesk or other IT experience, why not go for the Data+?

Career Goals and Interests

It also makes sense to get the Google certificate if you intend to stay on the business side of data. There is plenty of work for data analysts without the requirement to subnet a Class A network. However, if you’re interested in working in a structured corporate or government environment in a more technical field, consider pursuing Data+.

Personal Preference

Consider how you prefer to learn. If you like guided, interactive learning with videos and practice exercises without the pressure of an exam, Google may be the answer. But if you’re fine with a proctored exam, Data+ might be a better fit.

Conclusion: Which is Right for You?

Both CompTIA Data+ and the Google Data Analytics Certificate are valuable, of course. But they serve different purposes. Data+ is a formal, proctored certification that takes a deep dive into technical concepts, like structured environments and statistical analysis. 

Google’s program is a beginner-friendly, project-based certificate that’s ideal for career changers or those new to the workforce. However, you’ll need to decide which option makes the most sense for you. The best thing you can do is to make an informed decision based on career aspirations and industry requirements. And whatever you do, keep on learning.

Start studying for the Data+ today with our CompTIA Data+ (DY0-001) Online Training or explore our other data analysis courses.