If you’re just starting your coding journey, LeetCode is one of the most powerful platforms to build problem-solving skills. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to pay to get started. With its free features, LeetCode provides everything a beginner needs to practice coding, improve speed, and prepare for placements.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top free LeetCode features every beginner should explore and how they can help you in your career preparation.
1. Large Pool of Free Problems
LeetCode offers 1,600+ coding problems available for free.
- Covers Easy and Medium-level questions that align with most college placement tests.
- Problems are spread across important topics like Arrays, Strings, Linked Lists, Dynamic Programming, and more.
- Each submission is recorded so you can track progress over time.
Tip: Start with Easy problems and slowly move to Medium ones once you’re comfortable.
2. Coding Playground (Built-in IDE)
LeetCode provides a simple, browser-based IDE (Integrated Development Environment) where you can:
- Write code in multiple languages (C++, Java, Python, etc.).
- Run test cases instantly.
- Debug and improve your logic.
This makes it perfect for beginners who don’t want to set up complex environments on their laptops.
3. Weekly and Biweekly Contests
Contests are one of LeetCode’s most exciting features.
- Free users can join weekly and biweekly contests.
- Each contest has timed questions, simulating real placement scenarios.
- Participation improves speed, accuracy, and pressure handling.
Consistently joining contests helps you climb the global ranking leaderboard, which boosts motivation.
4. Community Solutions and Discussions
LeetCode has an active global community.
- You can check discussion forums to learn alternative solutions.
- Beginners often benefit from seeing how experienced coders optimize their logic.
- It also builds familiarity with different coding styles.
Pro Tip: Don’t just copy solutions—try to understand the reasoning behind each approach.
5. Mock Interview Practice (Free Trials)
While the complete Mock Interview feature is part of Premium, free users still get trial access occasionally.
- Simulates coding interview conditions.
- Helps you manage time and pressure better.
- A great way to test your readiness before real placements.
To maximize your preparation, pair LeetCode free features with other trusted platforms:
- HackerRank for basics and beginner challenges.
- GeeksforGeeks for theory-based interview questions.
- Codeforces to build competitive coding skills.
For beginners, the free version of LeetCode is more than enough to get started with coding practice and placement preparation. By exploring its problem sets, contests, community discussions, and coding environment, you can lay a strong foundation without spending a single rupee. Start today with consistent practice, and once you’re confident, you can decide later if LeetCode Premium is worth the upgrade.
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