LeetCode Alternatives: Top platforms for coding practice

LeetCode is a popular platform for practicing coding problems often asked in technical interviews, but there are other LeetCode alternatives you can explore depending on your learning style, seniority, and the specific skills you want to focus on.

What are LeetCode and LeetCode alternatives good for?

Understanding data structures and algorithms and their applications is fundamental for coding interviews. Platforms like LeetCode provide numerous exercises that require using arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, heaps, and other data structures, ensuring you’re well-practiced in using these effectively. 

By solving multiple problems under timed conditions, you can improve your speed and reduce errors in your code. This practice helps you manage the limited time you might be given during actual technical interviews.

If you’re looking for straightforward coding practice, here’s where to start.

LeetCode

LeetCode offers a comprehensive platform that focuses on improving coding skills through various algorithmic challenges and mock interviews. It’s a go-to resource for tech job seekers aiming to excel in technical interviews.

Who it’s for: It’s ideal for both beginners and experienced programmers who want to refine their coding abilities, understand problem-solving strategies, and prepare rigorously for software engineering interviews.

What it does well: LeetCode excels in providing a wide range of coding problems, from basic to extremely challenging, and mimicking the type of questions asked in interviews at top tech companies. It also offers timed contests and can simulate real interview conditions.

What you’ll be missing: While LeetCode is excellent for coding practice, it doesn't cover other important aspects of tech interviews, such as system design and soft skills, which are crucial for higher-level positions. Additionally, the platform might not adequately prepare candidates for real-world programming tasks involving larger and more integrated software systems.

Price: LeetCode offers a free tier with access to a substantial number of problems. A subscription model, LeetCode Premium, provides additional problems, company-specific questions, and more detailed interview simulations for a monthly or yearly fee, starting at $35 per month.

HackerRank

HackerRank offers a wide range of challenges across different domains, such as algorithms, data structures, artificial intelligence, and databases. It's well-structured for interview prep and hosts competitions to help you test your skills under pressure.

Who it’s for: It's ideal for developers of all skill levels who want a structured path to improve their coding proficiency across a variety of computer science topics.

What it does well: HackerRank offers a broad spectrum of problem sets and real-world scenarios that replicate the challenges given during technical interviews at many tech companies.

What you’ll be missing: While HackerRank offers an extensive range of topics, it might not provide as deep a dive into specific algorithms or system design principles as some other platforms dedicated solely to interview prep.

Price: Free access to basic features with paid subscriptions offering additional premium challenges and interview preparation kits. Paid subscriptions start at $100 per month for one user.

CodeSignal

Known for its standardized assessment platform, CodeSignal provides a gamified experience and is used by many companies as a screening tool. This makes it great for understanding the kinds of challenges used in real job applications.

Who it’s for: Job seekers looking to certify their coding skills and those preparing for coding assessments used by employers during the hiring process.

What it does well: CodeSignal provides a standardized testing environment that helps candidates understand what to expect in real job assessments, with a consistent scoring system and a competitive environment.

What you’ll be missing: CodeSignal’s focus on assessment can mean less emphasis on learning and educational content, which might not suit those looking to build skills from scratch.

Price: Basic challenges are free, but various paid plans are available for in-depth preparation and certification. Paid plans start at $24.99 per month for one user.

AlgoExpert

Created by an ex-Google software engineer, AlgoExpert offers detailed video explanations for over 160 algorithmic questions. It also includes a coding workspace, making it a comprehensive tool for in-depth learning.

Who it’s for: Aspiring software engineers who prefer learning through video content and who need comprehensive explanations of solutions.

What it does well: The platform breaks down complex problems with step-by-step video explanations and provides a dedicated coding workspace for practicing.

What you’ll be missing: It focuses almost exclusively on algorithms and data structures, so those looking for broader topics like system design or front-end coding might need to look elsewhere.

Price: One-time $693 payment for annual access, including all features and updates during the subscription period. Period flash sales bring the price as low as $120.

Codewars

Codewars engages its users through martial arts-themed ranks and kata challenges created and honed by the community. Coders can practice and ascend through the ranks by completing coding tasks.

Who it’s for: SWEs who enjoy a community-driven approach to learning and those who thrive on gradual progression and peer feedback.

What it does well: Codewars extensive programming challenges that increase in difficulty as skills develop are fun and engaging.

What you’ll be missing: Because the platform is community-driven, the quality and clarity of challenges can vary, and it may lack the structured curriculum of other interview prep sites.

Price: Free to use with optional donations to support the platform.

GeeksforGeeks

A computer science portal that offers detailed articles, tutorials, and practice problems on various topics. It’s especially popular for its exhaustive list of interview questions and articles explaining fundamental concepts and algorithms.

Who it’s for: Students, educators, and professionals looking for a comprehensive educational resource to deepen their computer science knowledge.

What it does well: It provides an extensive library of content covering nearly all aspects of computer science and programming, suitable for learning new topics or brushing up on existing skills.

What you’ll be missing: The user interface and experience can be less polished than those of other platforms, and the sheer amount of content can be overwhelming without a clear learning path.

Price: Most resources are free, with premium plans offering more structured courses and advanced material. Live courses are available for purchase at various price points.

Edabit

Edabit offers a learning experience similar to learning a new language, focusing on smaller and more frequent exercises that build proficiency over time. Like Codewars, Edabit provides many challenges that increase in difficulty as you progress. It's designed to transition smoothly from easy to more challenging problems.

Who it’s for: Beginners and those who prefer learning through incremental challenges that offer immediate feedback and validation.

What it does well: Edabit is very user-friendly for beginners, and its challenge-based approach provides a clear sense of progress and accomplishment.

What you’ll be missing: The challenges tend to focus on basic to intermediate coding problems, which might not suffice for more advanced or specific interview preparations.

Price: Free access to basic challenges, with a subscription model for more advanced problems and features, starting at $10 monthly.

Exercism

Exercism focuses on providing developers with mentor-guided exercises across over 50 programming languages, emphasizing good coding practices and feedback.

Who it’s for: Learners of all levels who value personalized feedback and want to improve their coding style and problem-solving skills

What it does well: Offers robust mentorship and community feedback, allowing users to receive constructive critiques that focus on improving their coding techniques.

What you’ll be missing: The learning pace can depend on the availability of mentors, which can vary and might slow progress.

Price: Completely free, operating on a not-for-profit model.

TopCoder

One of the original platforms for competitive programming, TopCoder hosts contests in algorithm and data structures and is used by many to hone their skills for interviews and competitions.

Who it’s for: Competitive programmers and anyone looking to challenge themselves against some of the best coders in the world.

What it does well: It provides a highly competitive environment with complex challenges that can significantly sharpen one's problem-solving abilities.

What you’ll be missing: The learning curve can be steep for beginners, and the focus is more on competition than structured learning or interview preparation.

Price: Free to participate in challenges with opportunities to earn money through competitions.

Should you use LeetCode for advanced interview prep?

Our short answer is no; you shouldn’t rely solely on LeetCode when preparing for an interview at a top-tier tech company. Here’s why.

LeetCode problems are often abstract and focused on algorithms and data structures. While these are crucial for interviews, they sometimes translate differently to the kinds of tasks you might be responsible for in a real job, where software development involves more than solving isolated problems. This can include debugging, working with legacy code, understanding and implementing business logic, and collaborating within a team environment.

For many software engineering roles, especially at senior levels, interviews also cover system design and behavioral aspects. System design questions assess a candidate’s ability to architect software systems on a large scale, and behavioral questions evaluate a candidate's soft skills and cultural fit. LeetCode primarily focuses on coding and algorithms, which means candidates might be underprepared for these other crucial areas. 

Communication skills, teamwork, adaptability, and other interpersonal skills are essential in most tech roles but aren't developed by solving coding challenges alone. That’s why we recommend a holistic interview coaching program to help you during your job search and beyond.

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The Formation Fellowship gives mid-level and senior engineering job seekers everything they need to land their dream roles—including personalized skill brush-ups, unlimited mock interviews with experienced software engineers and hiring managers from top-tier tech companies, career and negotiation support, and more. 

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