Educative.io has been a go-to platform for structured, text-based learning—especially for interview preparation. But with hidden paywalls, the original Grokking courses moving to Design Gurus, and rising subscription costs, many developers are looking for alternatives.
Whether you want completely free resources, text-based learning specifically, or the original Grokking content, this guide covers the best options for 2025.
| Platform | Price | Best For | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| NeetCode | Free / $119/yr Pro | Pattern-based interview prep | Video + text |
| Design Gurus | $180/yr or $320+ lifetime | Original Grokking courses | Text + practice |
| LeetCode | Free / $159/yr Premium | Problem practice at scale | Practice problems |
| freeCodeCamp | Free | Beginners, full curriculum | Text + projects |
| The Odin Project | Free | Full-stack web development | Text + projects |
| AlgoExpert | $199/yr | Curated problems + video | Video + practice |
| boot.dev | $49/mo or $348/yr | Backend development | Text-based gamified |
| Codecademy | Free / $20/mo Pro | Interactive basics | Text + in-browser coding |
What it is: A curated collection of coding interview problems organized by pattern, with free video explanations on YouTube and a companion website.
Why it's great:
Website: neetcode.io (roadmap and practice) + YouTube (video explanations)
Best for: Anyone who wants the "Grokking" pattern-based approach for free.
Limitation: No in-browser coding environment—you'll practice on LeetCode alongside.
What it is: The industry-standard platform for coding interview practice with 3,000+ problems.
Why it's great:
Pricing:
Best for: Drilling problems after you've learned patterns elsewhere.
Limitation: Teaches by doing, not by explaining. Pair with a conceptual resource like NeetCode.
Pro tip: Use LeetCopilot for context-aware hints when you're stuck—without spoiling the full solution.
What it is: A free, comprehensive coding curriculum covering everything from HTML to algorithms.
Why it's great:
Best for: Complete beginners who need foundational programming skills before interview prep.
Limitation: Not as focused on interview-specific patterns as Educative or NeetCode.
What it is: A free, open-source curriculum for learning full-stack web development.
Why it's great:
Best for: Aspiring web developers who prefer text over video.
Limitation: Focused on web development, not interview prep specifically.
What it is: A comprehensive resource for data structures, algorithms, and coding interview topics.
Why it's great:
Best for: Quick reference and learning specific algorithms.
Limitation: Can feel overwhelming and scattered. Not a structured course.
What it is: Free tutorials on data structures and algorithms with personalized roadmaps.
Why it's great:
Best for: Structured, free DSA learning with video support.
What it is: The platform created by the original authors of "Grokking the Coding Interview" and "Grokking the System Design Interview."
Why it matters: These courses made Educative famous. The original creators now sell directly on their own platform.
Courses available:
Pricing: Annual or lifetime options
Best for: Anyone who specifically wants the original Grokking methodology.
Advantage over Educative: Lifetime option available. You own the content forever.
What it is: A curated collection of 160+ interview problems with high-quality video explanations.
Why it's great:
Pricing: $199/year
Best for: Video learners who want a curated, no-fluff experience.
Limitation: Smaller problem set than LeetCode. You'll likely need to supplement.
What it is: A gamified, text-based platform focused on backend development.
Why it's great:
Pricing: $49/month or $348/year (~$29/mo)
Best for: Developers who want to learn backend skills in a text-based, game-like environment.
What it is: An interactive learning platform with courses on programming languages and technologies.
Why it's great:
Pricing:
Best for: Beginners who need hands-on practice with immediate feedback.
Limitation: Not interview-focused. Better for learning languages than interview prep.
What it is: A premium bootcamp-style program with live instruction from FAANG engineers.
Pricing: $5,000-$12,000 depending on program
Best for: Experienced engineers targeting senior roles who want live instruction and accountability.
Not recommended if: You're budget-conscious or self-motivated. See our Interview Kickstart review for details.
Here's how to replicate the Educative experience without paying:
Use NeetCode to understand the core patterns:
Watch the free YouTube videos. Take notes on when to apply each pattern.
Use LeetCode to drill problems:
When stuck, use LeetCopilot for hints without spoiling the solution.
For system design:
Use Pramp for free peer mock interviews, or LeetCopilot Interview Mode for AI-powered practice sessions.
Total cost: $0-50 (just the DDIA book)
Where can I find the original Grokking courses?
Design Gurus (designgurus.io). They're the original creators. Educative has their own versions, but they're different from the originals.
Is NeetCode really free?
Yes. The YouTube videos and roadmap are completely free. NeetCode Pro ($119/year, ~$10/mo) adds extra features but isn't required.
Can LeetCode replace Educative?
For practice, yes. But LeetCode doesn't teach concepts—it assumes you already know them. Pair with NeetCode or Design Gurus for theory.
What's the best free text-based option?
The Odin Project for web development, or GeeksforGeeks articles for algorithm explanations. NeetCode is primarily video but has text summaries.
Should I buy Design Gurus or subscribe to Educative?
If you only want Grokking content: Design Gurus (lifetime option available, original creators). If you want access to a broader course library: Educative (subscription).
Is AlgoExpert better than Educative?
Different approaches. AlgoExpert is video-first with curated problems. Educative is text-first with broader coverage. Video learners prefer AlgoExpert; readers prefer Educative.
The trap: Paying for Educative or AlgoExpert before exploring NeetCode and LeetCode.
The fix: Spend 2 weeks with free resources. If you're making progress, you might not need paid platforms.
The trap: Subscribing to Educative, AlgoExpert, AND LeetCode Premium simultaneously.
The reality: You only need one conceptual resource (NeetCode/Design Gurus) + one practice platform (LeetCode). More subscriptions = more distraction.
The trap: Jumping straight into random LeetCode problems without understanding patterns.
The fix: Learn patterns first (NeetCode, Design Gurus), then practice. Creating a study plan around patterns is more efficient than grinding randomly.
The trap: "I prefer text, so Educative is the only option."
The reality: Many learners who think they prefer text actually learn well from NeetCode's videos because they're concise and practical. Try both formats.
For the original Grokking experience: Design Gurus. One-time purchase, original authors.
For free pattern-based prep: NeetCode. Excellent organization, great videos, active community.
For practice volume: LeetCode. The industry standard for drilling problems.
For text-based interactive learning: Codecademy (basics) or boot.dev (backend).
For comprehensive free curriculum: freeCodeCamp or The Odin Project.
Most people don't need Educative.io in 2025. The combination of NeetCode (free) + LeetCode (free) + Design Gurus (if you want Grokking, ~$180/year or ~$320 lifetime) covers everything Educative offers—often better—at a fraction of the cost.
The best resource is the one you'll actually use. Try the free options first. You might be surprised how far they take you.
LeetCopilot is a free browser extension that enhances your LeetCode practice with AI-powered hints, personalized study notes, and realistic mock interviews — all designed to accelerate your coding interview preparation.
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