
The Best Free Tools & Platforms to Practise Data Science Skills in 2025/26
Data science continues to be one of the most exciting, high-growth career paths in the UK and worldwide. From predicting customer behaviour to detecting fraud and driving healthcare innovations, data scientists are at the forefront of digital transformation. But breaking into the field isn’t just about having a degree. Employers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate practical data science skills — analysing datasets, building machine learning models, and presenting insights that solve real business problems. The best part? You don’t need to spend thousands on premium courses or expensive software. There are dozens of high-quality, free tools and platforms that allow you to practise data science in 2025. This guide explores the best ones to help you learn, experiment, and build portfolio-ready projects.