LeetCode has become a must-use platform for students preparing for coding interviews and competitive placements. But with so much buzz around LeetCode Premium, many students wonder: Do I really need to pay for it? Or is the free version enough to prepare for internships and jobs?
In this guide, we’ll break down LeetCode Free vs. Premium, compare their features, and help you decide what’s best for your placement journey.
What You Get with LeetCode Free
LeetCode’s free plan already provides a solid foundation for students, especially beginners.
1. Access to Hundreds of Problems
- Around 1,600+ problems are available for free.
- Covers Easy to Medium level problems that match most placement patterns.
- You can practice Data Structures, Algorithms, and system design basics.
2. Coding Environment
- In-browser IDE with multiple languages supported.
- Test cases provided to check correctness.
- Submissions tracked for progress analysis.
3. Contests
- Weekly and bi-weekly coding contests are open for all free users.
- Great way to improve problem-solving speed under time pressure.
4. Community Solutions
- Free users can still view some community solutions and discussions.
- Helps in learning alternative approaches.
If you are in 2nd or 3rd year of engineering, these free features are more than enough to get started for placements.
What’s Behind LeetCode Premium?
LeetCode Premium unlocks features aimed at students targeting top product companies like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft.
1. Company-Specific Problem Sets
- Access to curated lists of questions asked at FAANG and other big tech firms.
- Helps you focus your prep if you’re applying for specific companies.
2. Additional Problems
- Premium users get 300+ extra problems beyond the free pool.
- Many of these are Hard-level questions.
3. Detailed Solutions & Explanations
- While free users rely on community posts, Premium provides editorial solutions with explanations.
- Saves time in understanding complex problems.
4. Mock Interviews & Assessments
- Premium users can simulate interviews with company-specific mock tests.
- Valuable if you want to replicate the real coding round experience.
LeetCode Free vs. Premium: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Problems | ~1,600 | +300 extra (including Hard) |
| Contests | Yes | Yes |
| Company-Specific Sets | No | Yes |
| Editorial Solutions | Limited (community) | Yes (official) |
| Mock Interviews | No | Yes |
Do Students Really Need Premium for Placements?
The answer depends on your career stage:
- Beginner / First Placement Prep: Free is enough. Focus on Easy and Medium problems.
- Targeting Service-based Companies: Free version covers almost all required topics.
- Dreaming of FAANG / Product Roles: Premium can be worth the investment, especially for curated company-wise problems and mock interviews.
Many students have cracked their first internships and jobs with only the free version. Premium is helpful, but not mandatory.
External Resources for Better Preparation
Along with LeetCode, you can explore these free resources to strengthen your prep:
- HackerRank Practice – for coding challenges.
- GeeksforGeeks Interview Questions – for topic-wise interview prep.
- Codeforces Contests – for competitive coding practice.
These platforms, when used with LeetCode Free, can give you well-rounded practice without needing to pay.
When it comes to LeetCode Free vs. Premium, the choice depends on your goals. If you’re just starting placement prep, the free version is sufficient. But if you’re targeting FAANG-level coding interviews, Premium can give you an edge with curated problems and mock tests.
At the end of the day, consistent practice matters more than paid features. Start free, build strong basics, and upgrade later only if necessary.
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