If you’ve ever searched for ways to practice coding or prep for tech interviews, you’ve probably seen LeetCode mentioned everywhere. But in 2025, is LeetCode free, or do you have to pay to get anything useful out of it? The answer is a bit of both. LeetCode has built a reputation as a go-to spot for both beginners and seasoned programmers. Some folks just want to solve a few coding problems for fun or learning, while others are grinding through hundreds of questions for interviews at big tech companies. In this article, we’ll break down exactly what you can get for free, what’s behind the paywall, and how LeetCode stacks up against other coding platforms.
Key Takeaways
- LeetCode offers a large number of coding problems for free, but some features and questions require a paid subscription.
- The free tier is enough for most people starting out or brushing up on basic coding skills.
- Premium unlocks company-specific interview questions, more detailed analytics, and video explanations.
- LeetCode’s community forums are open to all users and can be really helpful for getting unstuck or learning new approaches.
- If you’re on a tight budget, you can still get a lot of value from LeetCode without paying, but serious interview prep might require Premium.
Understanding LeetCode and Its Core Features
Platform Purpose and Audience
LeetCode is a website where people practice programming challenges and prepare for real-world job interviews. It’s not just for folks chasing tech jobs, either—students, software engineers, and even hiring teams all use it. LeetCode is popular because it focuses on the kinds of questions that tech companies actually ask during interviews. So, if you want to get better at coding or just learn how these interviews work, LeetCode is a solid place to start. Its structured layout helps users find problems by topic, company, or difficulty level. Whether you’re sharpening up for an upcoming job search or just brushing up skills, you’re not alone—there’s a massive crowd working on the same stuff alongside you.
Types of Coding Challenges Available
LeetCode offers a big mix of problems. You’ll bump into everything from simple coding tasks to complex algorithm challenges. Here’s a breakdown of what you might see:
- Data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees)
- Algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming)
- Database and SQL exercises
- System design questions
- Company-tagged problems—pulled from recent interviews at big-name firms like Google, Amazon, and Apple
- Thirty-day challenges that drill down on a language or topic (JavaScript, Python, etc.)
Some companies and recruiters actually use these challenges to test candidates. Others suggest using LeetCode to get a grip on the type of questions you’d face on real assessments (privacy and data regulations sometimes influence which platforms are adopted by employers in various regions).
Example Table: Common Problem Distribution by Category
| Category | % of Total Problems |
|---|---|
| Algorithms | 60% |
| Data Structures | 23% |
| Databases | 10% |
| Shell/Functional | 7% |
Community Engagement and Support
If you ever get stuck, there’s a big community ready to help. On LeetCode, users post solutions, explain answers, argue about the best approaches, and—sometimes—just gripe about difficult questions. You’ll find:
- Discussion forums for each problem
- Community-wide contests
- Peer-to-peer feedback on both solutions and coding style
- Success stories and career advice from users who found jobs thanks to persistent practice
People share real-life tips for interviews, too, making it easier to know what to expect from company assessments. I’ve seen newbies team up with pros, forming study groups or discussing strategies for specific interviewers. This sense of camaraderie keeps the platform active and useful even as the tech landscape shifts every year.
To sum up: LeetCode is more than a pile of code puzzles. It’s a go-to site for anyone wanting to learn practical coding and see how their skills stack up against others aiming for success in tech roles.
Is LeetCode Free? Exploring the Subscription Models
When folks talk about practicing coding problems online, LeetCode pops up right away. But the big question is: can you actually use LeetCode for free, or does it cost money now? Let’s lay out what’s free, what’s not, and how the money side breaks down in 2025.
Access to Free Coding Problems
You don’t have to pay a cent to get started on LeetCode. In fact, there’s a pretty large library of problems you can try for nothing. The free tier includes hundreds of questions covering all the classic topics like data structures, algorithms, and SQL. If you just want to build a daily habit with basic challenges or are starting out, the free set will last you a while.
Here’s what you get without a paid plan:
- A solid set of algorithm and data structure questions
- Community discussions with other users
- Basic code submission and test functionalities
Features Locked Behind the Premium Plan
Of course, things change if you want access to the bigger perks.
Some key features become available only if you have a Premium subscription:
- Exclusive company questions (think Google, Amazon, and Meta problems that have been used in actual tech interviews)
- Extended questions list
- Premium-only contests and challenges
- Detailed video solutions
- Performance stats and analytics
- Better filtering (like grouping questions by frequency at different tech firms)
People getting ready for tough interviews or looking for targeted practice might start to feel limited with just the free tier. If you want to dig into the experience companies use to judge candidates—or you just want to see how you stack up—Premium becomes much more tempting.
How Pricing Has Evolved in 2025
LeetCode’s payment structure hasn’t changed dramatically over the last year, but it’s still worth looking at the numbers closely. Some folks debate whether it’s worth it, especially as other platforms like ByteByteGo offer alternatives with one-time payment options (as explained on 10 practical strategies to find free contributors).
Here’s a quick breakdown of LeetCode’s plans for 2025:
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| Premium | $39 | $299 |
- No free trial for Premium (as of October 2025)
- Annual plan gives you a discount versus monthly
If you’re playing the long game and really want every available feature, it can add up—especially if you’re on the monthly plan. It might be worth thinking about goals and timelines before upgrading. Many users still get plenty of value from the free tier, so don’t feel pressured to go Premium unless you really need those locked features.
All in all, LeetCode is open for everyone, but you’ll need to decide how much those extras really matter for where you’re headed with your coding journey.
What You Get Without Paying: The Free Experience on LeetCode
If you’re thinking about trying LeetCode without spending anything, there’s still a lot you can do on the platform. Here’s a closer look at what’s included when you use LeetCode’s free tier, what’s missing, and which types of users might stick with the free version.
Topics Covered Under Free Tier
LeetCode opens up quite a few coding challenges for free users. Here’s a quick look at common categories you can access:
- Algorithms: Problems testing sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming, and more
- Data Structures: Linked lists, trees, stacks, queues, and similar subjects
- SQL: A solid amount of database and query practice
- Problem Sets: Things like "LeetCode 75"—a well-known curated list of essential questions
You can find hundreds of questions, sorted by difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard), without needing a subscription.
| Topic | Approximate # of Free Questions |
|---|---|
| Algorithms | 500+ |
| Data Structures | 350+ |
| SQL | 120+ |
| LeetCode 75 | 75 |
Note: These numbers are rough estimates for 2025. Actual availability may vary as questions rotate or get updated.
Limitations of the Free Account
While the free features are pretty generous, some things are off-limits unless you pay for LeetCode Premium. Here are the main restrictions:
- No access to company-specific questions (e.g., no “Google” or “Amazon” labeled problems)
- Some advanced topics (like certain system design cases) are locked
- No video explanations or detailed analytics
- Lack of mock interviews and advanced performance tracking
A free account also sometimes has to deal with waiting periods for newly released questions to become available.
Who Benefits Most from Free Access
Free LeetCode isn’t perfect for everyone, but it does fit:
- Beginners trying to practice core programming skills
- College students prepping for entry-level technical interviews
- Anyone curious about coding challenges but not ready to commit to a paid plan
If you’re just looking to get familiar with how coding tests work, or you’re not targeting very competitive roles, the free experience is probably enough. It’s a straightforward way to practice and build habits, even if some bells and whistles are missing.
Worth noting: Many users do just fine landing internships and junior engineering jobs with only the free tier. If you start hitting a wall or really want to focus on a certain company’s questions, that’s when most folks think about Premium.
Unlocking More with LeetCode Premium
When you’re looking to get the most out of your coding practice, LeetCode Premium can feel like a tempting upgrade. Here’s a breakdown of what actually sets it apart, what you’re paying for, and whether it’s worth your money.
Exclusive Premium Features
LeetCode Premium adds a layer of tools and resources designed for folks who want more structure and depth in their prep. These extras aren’t just for show. Here’s what Premium subscribers get access to:
- Solutions written by staff with clear, step-by-step breakdowns.
- Interactive problem discussions with insights straight from top users.
- Career-centric extras like interview simulations and timeline-based question tracking.
Let’s lay it out in a table:
| Feature | Free Tier | Premium Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Explanations | Limited | Detailed |
| Company Question Sets | No | Yes |
| Premium-only Questions | No | Yes |
| Performance Analytics | No | Yes |
| Video Explanations | No | Yes |
The real kick is that some tools, like premium discussion boards and interview modes, can push your prep up a notch, especially if you’ve already gone through the basics or want a leg up in a tight job market.
Access to Company-Specific Questions
One of the best-known features of Premium is the ability to search and filter questions based on company tags. If you’re lining up for a coding assessment at top names, this is a game changer:
- See the exact questions recent candidates faced at Google, Facebook, or Amazon.
- Practice those questions by topic or frequency, not just random ones.
- Track which ones you’ve solved—even separate out by company.
If you’re seriously targeting a dream job, or want your study to feel like actual company challenges, Premium is often the only way you’ll target your practice this closely.
Performance Analytics and Video Explanations
LeetCode Premium also gives you tools for tracking and improvement:
- Advanced analytics show your problem-solving patterns, where you get stuck, and how you stack up to other users.
- Video explanations available for select problems—helpful when you can’t make sense of a written solution.
- Timed modes and test simulations help recreate real-world interview pressure.
A lot of users find these analytics boost their motivation—seeing your consistency stats or streak tracker stay green over weeks feels like progress you can hold onto.
So, while the free version covers a lot of basics, LeetCode Premium is built for folks who want a focused, data-driven prep experience. If company-specific questions, advanced stats, or guided solutions sound like what you need, there’s a good argument for making the jump.
LeetCode for Interview Preparation in 2025
If you’ve got a technical interview coming up in 2025, odds are someone has already told you to practice on LeetCode. There’s a reason for that:
LeetCode has turned into the standard playground for practicing coding questions before a big interview. It’s got a huge problem bank, tracks your progress, and the community is always active. But what’s it really like to prep for interviews now?
Role in Technical Assessment Prep
LeetCode centers its platform on helping people prep for assessments from major tech companies. These days, it’s not just students jumping in before their first job interview—plenty of experienced devs brush up here, too. Here’s what stands out:
- Targeted practice lists based on company and topic
- "LeetCode 75" and other curated problem sets
- Timed assessments to simulate real company tests
- A blend of programming languages supported
You do need basic coding skills to get something out of it. If you’re just starting, it can feel overwhelming, but the forums and discussions help a lot.
High-Frequency and Company Questions
LeetCode keeps collections of questions that have shown up in recent interviews at places like Amazon, Google, and TikTok. Here’s a quick look at typical question focus according to experience level:
| Experience Level | Typical Question Topics | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | Arrays, Strings, Hash Maps | Very High |
| Mid-level | Trees, Dynamic Programming | High |
| Senior/FAANG Prep | System Design, Graphs, Algorithms | Moderate/High |
Most company-specific question sets are behind the paywall, but you can still find some general string permutation problems and similar types for free. Tackling high-frequency questions helps you spot patterns and what interviewers expect.
Recommended Problem-Solving Strategies
To get good at interviews, you need more than just answers. It’s all about method and persistence. Here are some tips that really help:
- Start with easy questions, then slowly move into the medium and hard range.
- For every hard problem, try four mediums before moving up. It keeps the frustration low and learning steady.
- Don’t memorize solutions. Pause to understand why they work—otherwise, you’ll freeze up if the problem changes in the interview.
- Pace yourself: prepping for interviews takes time. Try to start at least 3 months in advance so you can build muscle memory.
- Use LeetCode’s discussion boards to see different approaches and explanations when you’re stuck.
Honestly, on some days, you’ll feel like you’re just banging your head against these problems. And that’s normal. But if you stick with a steady practice plan, it gets easier—patterns start showing up and you stop blanking out during tough questions.
In the end, LeetCode isn’t magic, but it gives you a pretty clear look at what companies want to see. If you work through the right questions, you’ll feel a lot less blindsided on interview day.
Comparing LeetCode with Other Coding Platforms
Tech interview prep in 2025 looks a lot different from a few years back. Everyone still knows about LeetCode, but there are other platforms that keep popping up in conversations, especially when people talk about big company interviews. Here’s a closer look at how LeetCode stacks up against HackerRank and ByteByteGo, along with some tips on picking the right one for your needs.
Key Differences from HackerRank
If you’ve ever tried both LeetCode and HackerRank, you might have noticed they feel pretty different, even though they’re both built for strengthening coding skills. LeetCode centers its problems around interview-style coding challenges, designed to help you practice for the kinds of questions tech companies actually ask. On the flip side, HackerRank is often the platform employers themselves use to screen candidates directly.
Here’s a quick rundown on what sets them apart:
- LeetCode leans toward breaking down problems, focusing on patterns and repetition for interview prep.
- Many companies make applicants use HackerRank for their first-round skills tests, so if you know your target company prefers one, practice there.
- HackerRank offers more pre-built skills assessments (languages, data structures), while LeetCode is known for its huge question bank and handy discussions after each problem.
| Feature | LeetCode | HackerRank |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Focus | Interview-style coding | Skills & interview tests |
| Used by Employers | Sometimes | Very common |
| Discussion Forums | Extensive | Available |
| Number of Problems | 2,500+ | 1,500+ |
ByteByteGo vs. LeetCode for FAANG Prep
ByteByteGo is the "new kid" making a name for itself. Instead of only focusing on coding questions, ByteByteGo tries to teach the patterns behind coding and system design problems. Lots of people prepping for top tech companies talk about finding ByteByteGo’s system design sections useful, especially for senior engineering roles.
Here’s what you get with each:
- LeetCode: Giant catalog of coding problems, company-specific question lists, and vibrant user solutions for each problem.
- ByteByteGo: Guides on system design, OOP principles, and machine learning design problems. More educational—a good fit if you need the logic explained.
- ByteByteGo is even running discounts right now for their lifetime access plan.
If you want a quick comparison table:
| Feature/Focus | LeetCode | ByteByteGo |
|---|---|---|
| Coding Challenges | Yes (thousands) | Yes (smaller set) |
| System Design | Some | Extensive |
| Explanations | Community-driven | Pattern-based lessons |
| FAANG-specific Prep | Company lists available | Pattern-based curriculum |
Choosing the Best Platform Based on Your Goals
Choosing between these tools isn’t just about brand—it really depends on what you need. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you want to ace coding interviews: LeetCode is still the go-to choice for most.
- If you’re practicing for a company using HackerRank for assessments: Get familiar with their environment first, then branch out.
- If you need to build system design skills: ByteByteGo has structured lessons just for this, which helps when company interviews start adding high-level design rounds.
- Prefer community discussions and seeing different ways to solve problems? LeetCode wins there.
- If you’re on a budget but want to cover more than one style of question, try the free tiers first and look up a comparison of ByteByteGo and LeetCode to see which delivers more for your situation.
Each platform fits a different kind of learner. Testing out a few and seeing which one feels most comfortable might actually be the fastest way to boost your odds at your dream job—even if it means switching it up as you go.
Maximizing Value from Free and Paid Content
Optimizing Your Learning Path on a Budget
There’s a lot you can do on LeetCode without ever taking out your credit card. Start by creating a problem-solving schedule that fits your needs.
- Make use of tags to focus on the topics you struggle with most.
- Take advantage of weekly contests—they’re open to everyone and pretty motivating.
- Don’t just solve problems—read solution threads.
- Keep track of your mistakes and try those problems again in a few weeks.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you get for free, compared to paid features:
| Feature | Free Plan | Premium Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Coding Problems | Yes | Yes |
| Company-Specific Sets | No | Yes |
| Premium Problem Explanations | No | Yes |
| Contest Participation | Yes | Yes |
| Video Explanations | No | Yes |
| Interview Simulation | No | Yes |
If you plan carefully and stay disciplined, you’ll squeeze a ton out of the free plan.
Effective Use of Community Forums
Community forums are one of LeetCode’s best assets. They’re not just for asking questions—there’s a goldmine of advice and experiences there.
- Follow threads discussing common interview mistakes and how to fix them.
- Check out posts sharing resume tips, which often spread to platforms like combining keywords and content for job search success.
- Share your solutions and get feedback or tips from peers.
Sometimes, you’ll run into users who’ve recently interviewed at your target company and they spill some surprising details.
When to Consider Upgrading to Premium
Deciding whether to pay for LeetCode Premium comes down to what you need and your timeline.
Think about upgrading if:
- You have interviews lined up at companies that are known to repeat past questions.
- You want to track your progress with more detailed analytics and compare yourself with other candidates.
- You’ve covered most free questions and need a fresh batch, especially those with hard-to-find solutions.
The Premium plan isn’t cheap, but for some people, the time saved justifies the cost. Monthly pricing makes it less daunting if you’re only prepping for a short period. Just remember, with some patience and effort, the free resources can still take you pretty far.
Conclusion
So, is LeetCode free? The short answer is yes, but with some limits. You can solve a good number of problems and join in on discussions without paying a cent. That’s enough for most people just starting out or brushing up on their coding skills. But if you want to unlock company-specific questions, more detailed solutions, or extra features, you’ll need to pay for LeetCode Premium. In the end, whether you stick with the free version or go premium depends on your goals and how deep you want to go. Either way, LeetCode is still one of the best places to practice coding in 2025. Just remember: the most important thing is to keep practicing and learning, no matter which plan you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LeetCode free to use in 2025?
Yes, LeetCode still offers a free version in 2025. You can solve a lot of coding problems without paying. However, some features and extra questions are only available if you buy the Premium plan.
What do I get with a free LeetCode account?
With a free account, you can try many coding challenges in different topics, join the community discussions, and track your progress. But, you won’t get access to company-specific questions, detailed solutions, or video explanations.
How much does LeetCode Premium cost in 2025?
In 2025, LeetCode Premium costs about $39 per month or $299 per year. The price may change, so it’s a good idea to check their website for the latest information.
Is LeetCode good for beginners?
LeetCode can be helpful for beginners who know a little coding already. The platform has easy problems and learning paths, but some questions might be tough if you’re just starting out. It’s best if you know some basic programming first.
Can I prepare for job interviews using only the free version?
Yes, you can use the free version to practice coding and get better at problem-solving. But if you want to practice real questions asked by big tech companies, or need video explanations, you might want to try Premium.
How does LeetCode compare with other coding platforms?
LeetCode is famous for its wide range of problems and active community. Other platforms like HackerRank and ByteByteGo also offer coding practice, but each has its own style and features. For example, ByteByteGo is great for system design, while HackerRank is often used by companies to test new hires.
