If you're preparing for software engineering interviews, you've probably heard of both LeetCode and HackerRank. But which one should you use? The answer depends on your goals, experience level, and target companies.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | LeetCode | HackerRank |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | FAANG interview prep | Learning & certifications |
| Problem Count | 3,000+ | 2,500+ |
| Difficulty Focus | Medium-Hard | Easy-Medium |
| Company Tags | Excellent (Premium) | Limited |
| Free Tier | Good | Excellent |
| Premium Price | $35/month | Free (mostly) |
| Discussion Quality | Excellent | Moderate |
LeetCode: The FAANG Standard
LeetCode has become the de facto standard for FAANG interview preparation. When engineers discuss interview prep, "grinding LeetCode" is practically a meme at this point — but there's a reason for its popularity.
LeetCode Strengths
- ✅ Company-tagged problems: Premium shows which companies asked which questions
- ✅ Discussion forums: Multiple solutions with explanations for every problem
- ✅ Interview-accurate difficulty: Problems match real interview difficulty
- ✅ Weekly contests: Timed competitions to simulate pressure
- ✅ Study plans: Curated paths for different interview types
- ✅ Premium features: Company frequency data, video solutions, mock interviews
LeetCode Weaknesses
- ❌ Premium is expensive: $35/month or $159/year for company tags
- ❌ Can be overwhelming: 3,000+ problems with no clear path
- ❌ Less beginner-friendly: Assumes you know data structures already
- ❌ Limited tutorials: Focus is on practice, not learning
HackerRank: Learn and Get Certified
HackerRank takes a different approach. While it offers interview prep, it's stronger as a learning platform and for obtaining skills certifications. Many companies also use HackerRank for their actual coding assessments.
HackerRank Strengths
- ✅ Free tier is excellent: Most content is completely free
- ✅ Structured learning paths: Tutorials before practice problems
- ✅ Skill certifications: Shareable badges for your resume/LinkedIn
- ✅ Beginner-friendly: Starts from basics with guided tracks
- ✅ Multiple domains: SQL, regex, AI, math — not just algorithms
- ✅ Used by employers: Familiar format if companies use HackerRank tests
HackerRank Weaknesses
- ❌ Less interview-focused: Problems don't always match FAANG style
- ❌ No company tags: Can't filter by company
- ❌ Weaker discussions: Community solutions aren't as detailed
- ❌ Easier problems: May not prepare you for hard interviews
When to Use Each Platform
Use LeetCode if:
- • You're targeting FAANG or top tech companies
- • You already know basic data structures
- • You want company-specific preparation
- • You learn best by diving into hard problems
- • You have an interview in 1-3 months
Use HackerRank if:
- • You're new to coding or data structures
- • You want certifications for your resume
- • Your target company uses HackerRank assessments
- • You prefer structured learning paths
- • You want to practice SQL, regex, or other skills
The Best Strategy: Use Both
Many successful candidates use both platforms strategically:
- 1. Start with HackerRank if you need to learn or refresh fundamentals
- 2. Get HackerRank certifications to add to your resume
- 3. Switch to LeetCode for serious interview prep
- 4. Use LeetCode Premium to focus on your target companies
- 5. Do weekly LeetCode contests to build speed and confidence
Other Alternatives to Consider
- • AlgoExpert: Video explanations + curated 160 problems ($99/year)
- • NeetCode: Free roadmap + video solutions for LeetCode problems
- • Interviewing.io: Mock interviews with real engineers
- • Pramp: Free peer-to-peer mock interviews
Verdict: LeetCode Wins for FAANG Prep
If your goal is to land a job at a top tech company, LeetCode is the better choice. The company tags, discussion quality, and interview-accurate problems make it worth the premium price.
However, HackerRank is better for beginners and for those who want a more structured learning experience. It's also the smarter choice if you're applying to companies that use HackerRank for their assessments.
The ideal approach? Use HackerRank to build foundations, then switch to LeetCode for interview-specific preparation.