Is Deep Learning better than Hands-On Machine Learning?

Deep Learning ranks higher in our list of AI and machine learning books (#1 against #6, score 94.5 against 87.0). Deep Learning is best for: foundations of deep learning, free online. Hands-On Machine Learning is best for: building models with scikit-learn and TensorFlow.

Which is cheaper, Deep Learning or Hands-On Machine Learning?

Deep Learning: Full text free online; print copies sold separately. Hands-On Machine Learning: Print editions from O'Reilly; price varies by seller.

Deep Learning vs Hands-On Machine Learning Compared (2026)

94.5
Editorial score
87.0
2
Formats
1
Yes
Free to use
No

Which should you choose?

Choose Deep Learning if you want

Foundations of deep learning, free online.

The canonical free textbook for the foundations of deep learning, with the full text online. It predates transformers, so pair it with a current practical guide for modern architectures.

Choose Hands-On Machine Learning if you want

Building models with scikit-learn and TensorFlow.

Practical code for classical models and neural networks, built on scikit-learn, Keras and TensorFlow. It is paid with no free text, and it goes less deep into theory than the books above it.

The main differences

Deep Learning can be used for free; Hands-On Machine Learning requires payment.

Side by side

	Deep Learning	Hands-On Machine Learning
Score	94.5	87.0
Rank in list	#1 of 13	#6 of 13
Price	FreeFull text free online; print copies sold separately	PaidPrint editions from O'Reilly; price varies by seller
Free to use	Yes	No
Formats	Read online, Print	Print
Author	Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio and Aaron Courville	Aurélien Géron
Level	Advanced	Intermediate
Free to read online	Yes	No
Latest edition	2016, MIT Press	2022, O'Reilly
Math required	Heavy: linear algebra and probability	Light: basic Python and algebra
Best for	Foundations of deep learning, free online	Building models with scikit-learn and TensorFlow
Strengths	Full text free to read on the book's website Covers the mathematics used throughout deep learning Written by three researchers who work on deep learning	Teaches methods through code Covers scikit-learn, Keras and TensorFlow Recent 2022 edition
Limits	Published in 2016, before transformers and large language models Little code; examples are mostly mathematical	Less mathematical depth than the theory texts No free full text online
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Deep Learning vs Hands-On Machine Learning

Is Deep Learning better than Hands-On Machine Learning?: Deep Learning ranks higher in our list of AI and machine learning books (#1 against #6, score 94.5 against 87.0). Deep Learning is best for: foundations of deep learning, free online. Hands-On Machine Learning is best for: building models with scikit-learn and TensorFlow.
Which is cheaper, Deep Learning or Hands-On Machine Learning?: Deep Learning: Full text free online; print copies sold separately. Hands-On Machine Learning: Print editions from O'Reilly; price varies by seller.