All 5 recommendations
Est. prices as of Mar 2, 2026
#1 · HackerRank Inc. · Best Value
HackerRank
$39/month
The actual platform recruiters use to screen candidates before the interview
- ✓ 1000+ curated problems with company tags (Amazon, Google, Microsoft)
- ✓ Certified skill badges actually recognized by employers
- ✓ Interview kits simulate real FAANG question patterns
- ✗ UI feels dated compared to LeetCode
- ✗ Free tier is extremely limited
#2 · Codewars · Hidden Gem
Codewars
$25/month
Gamified problem-solving that actually keeps you engaged when motivation dies
- ✓ Clan system and leaderboards create community accountability
- ✓ Problems range from simple to absurdly hard (keeps growth real)
- ✓ User-created problems mean endless variety
- ✗ Weak explanation of solutions compared to competitors
- ✗ Not explicitly focused on FAANG prep
#3 · Educative · Premium Pick
Educative.io
$59/month
Structured learning paths that actually teach concepts instead of just grinding problems
- ✓ Interactive courses on system design and interview prep
- ✓ Real code walkthroughs with explanations
- ✓ Courses taught by Google/Meta engineers
- ✗ Pricier than alternatives
- ✗ Better for learning theory than pure problem volume
#4 · AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert
$99 one-time
The anti-LeetCode: polished videos and solutions instead of raw problem grinding
- ✓ 100 hand-picked problems with video explanations
- ✓ Lifetime access (no recurring fees)
- ✓ Clean, modern interface built for retention
- ✗ Limited problem pool compared to LeetCode
- ✗ One-time payment means no updates included
- ✗ Overkill for casual practice
#5 · Scaler
InterviewBit
$35/month
Structured interview prep path designed by people who actually failed and got hired elsewhere
- ✓ Clearly mapped interview progression (beginner to hard)
- ✓ Mock interview features with real feedback
- ✓ Placement guarantee for premium tier
- ✗ Feels like a bootcamp upsell machine
- ✗ Community is less active than LeetCode/HackerRank