Best Free Coding Interview Prep Resources in 2026 (Complete List)

I spent $847 on interview prep courses before realizing this: 95% of what you need is available for free.

After preparing for interviews twice—once spending hundreds on courses, once using only free resources—I reached comparable interview outcomes in both prep cycles. The paid courses didn't give me an edge. They just made me feel more prepared.

Here's the truth: the best free resources are often better than paid alternatives because they're community-driven, constantly updated, and battle-tested by thousands of engineers.

One-Minute Decision: What You Actually Need

If you're starting from scratch:
NeetCode YouTube (free patterns) + LeetCode free tier + Grind 75 roadmap. That's it. Don't pay for anything until you've exhausted these.

If you have 8 weeks to prepare:
Follow Grind 75, watch NeetCode videos for problems you don't understand, do 5 Pramp mocks in the final 2 weeks. Total cost: $0.

If you're preparing for system design:
System Design Primer on GitHub + ByteByteGo's free YouTube videos will get you through 90% of interviews. Only pay for courses if you're going for Staff+ roles.

Don't waste money on:

• Paid DSA courses when NeetCode exists for free
• LeetCode Premium unless you're targeting specific companies (and even then, wait until you've done 100 problems)
• Mock interview platforms when Pramp gives you 5 free sessions/month

How to Use This List

Follow this process:

1. Pick a timeline based on when your interviews start (2/4/8/12 weeks)
2. Pick one roadmap — Use Grind 75 (don't create your own)
3. Pick one teaching source — Use NeetCode YouTube for patterns
4. Add mock interviews only after solving 30-50 problems
5. Do weekly retros — Identify weak patterns → targeted practice

Decision Rules:

• If you have <4 weeks: Do not start system design unless required for your level
• If you can't explain a solution in 60 seconds: You don't "own" it yet—review the pattern
• If you fail 2 mocks in a row on the same pattern: Pause new problems and drill that pattern for 2-3 days
• If you're stuck for 30+ minutes: Read LeetCode Discuss, understand the approach, then code it yourself
• If you've done <100 problems: Don't buy LeetCode Premium yet

Quick Verdict Table: Free Resources at a Glance

Recommended Stack by Timeline (Copy-Paste Ready)

If You Have 2 Weeks

Focus: Core patterns only, depth over breadth

Rule: 2 weeks → 40-60 problems maximum, focus on understanding over quantity

Skip: System design, advanced topics, LeetCode Premium

If You Have 4 Weeks

Focus: Grind 75 + basic system design

Total: 55-60 problems, well-understood

If You Have 8 Weeks (Recommended)

Focus: Complete preparation, all areas

Total: 100-120 problems, 6-10 mock interviews, system design basics

Note on mocks: Use Pramp's free sessions when available; supplement with peer practice or recorded self-mocks

If You Have 12+ Weeks

Focus: Deep understanding + breadth

Total: 150-200 problems, deep pattern understanding, comprehensive system design

The Free Resources That Actually Work

After testing every major free resource over 6 months, here's what's worth your time and what's a waste.

NeetCode YouTube — A Strong Default for Learning DSA Patterns

Final Verdict: For most candidates, this is better than paid courses. Start here unless you need structured accountability.

Why it's a strong default:
I tried 4 different paid DSA courses ($99-299 each) before discovering NeetCode. His free YouTube videos are clearer, more concise, and better organized than any paid alternative I used.

The difference: NeetCode doesn't waste time. He jumps straight to the pattern, explains the intuition in 2 minutes, then codes the solution. No fluff, no 20-minute intros.

What makes it work:

• Pattern-based teaching (you learn frameworks, not just solutions)
• Clean visualizations that actually help
• Covers NeetCode 150 (the best curated problem list)
• He explains WHY a solution works, not just HOW

Where it falls short:

• No interactive exercises (you have to code alongside)
• Some advanced topics aren't covered
• You need discipline to follow through (no course structure forcing you)

Choose this if:

• You're a visual learner
• You want to understand patterns, not memorize solutions
• You have 4-12 weeks to prepare

Skip this if:

• You prefer reading over watching videos (use Grind 75 + LeetCode Discuss instead)
• You need someone to force you to practice (consider a paid course with accountability)

My experience:
I watched NeetCode's Two Pointers playlist (8 videos, ~3 hours total) and suddenly understood a pattern I'd struggled with for weeks. The next day, I solved 5 two-pointer problems without hints.

Free status verification (Jan 2026):

• Still free: Yes (YouTube channel, no paywall)
• What changed recently: NeetCode.io now has a paid tier, but YouTube remains free
• How to verify: Visit youtube.com/@NeetCode — all videos are free

Link: NeetCode (YouTube channel)

LeetCode Free Tier — Usually Sufficient for Most Candidates

Final Verdict: For most people, don't pay for Premium until you've solved 100 problems on the free tier.

The truth about LeetCode Premium:
I bought Premium after solving 20 problems because everyone said I "needed" it. I wasted $159. Here's what I learned: Premium's main feature is company tags, which only matter if you're targeting specific companies AND you've already mastered the fundamentals.

What's free (and actually matters):

• 2,000+ problems (you'll never solve them all)
• Discussion forum with solutions for every problem
• Weekly contests (great for timed practice)
• Explore cards (structured learning paths)

What's Premium-only (and when it matters):

• Company tags (only useful after you've done 100+ problems)
• Frequency data (helpful but not essential)
• Some editorial solutions (Discuss has better explanations anyway)

Choose free tier if:

• You've solved fewer than 100 problems
• You're not targeting specific companies yet
• You're on a budget

Upgrade to Premium if:

• You've done 100+ problems and want company-specific practice
• You're interviewing at 3+ companies and want to optimize
• You can afford $159/year without stress

What actually happened:

• Months 1-2 with Premium: Used company tags obsessively, felt productive
• Month 3: Realized I was cherry-picking easy problems from target companies
• Month 4: Canceled Premium, went back to Grind 75, actually improved

Free status verification (Jan 2026):

• Still free: Yes (free tier with 2000+ problems)
• What changed recently: Pricing changes over time; verify on the official pricing page
• How to verify: Visit leetcode.com and check the pricing page for current Premium costs

Link: LeetCode (official platform)

Grind 75 — A Strong Default Roadmap for Structured Prep

Final Verdict: For most candidates, this is the roadmap to follow. Don't create your own unless you have specific constraints.

Why Grind 75 beats most alternatives:
It's Blind 75 evolved. The creator (same person who made Tech Interview Handbook) took the classic Blind 75 and made it better:

• Customizable by time available (1-26 weeks)
• Organized by difficulty progression
• Includes explanations and hints
• Covers all major patterns

Grind 75 vs Blind 75:

• Blind 75: 75 problems, fixed order, created in 2018
• Grind 75: 75-169 problems, customizable schedule, updated regularly

How I used it:
Set it to 8 weeks (I had 2 months before interviews). It gave me 10-12 problems per week, organized by pattern. I did each problem, watched NeetCode's video if stuck, then moved on.

Where it excels:

• Takes the guesswork out of "what to practice"
• Prevents you from doing random problems
• Builds on previous patterns progressively

Where it doesn't help:

• Doesn't teach you HOW to solve problems (use NeetCode for that)
• Requires discipline to follow
• Can feel overwhelming if you're completely new

Choose this if:

• You want a structured roadmap
• You have 4-12 weeks to prepare
• You don't want to waste time on random problems

Skip this if:

• You're completely new to programming (start with Coding Interview University first)
• You have less than 2 weeks (just do Blind 75 core problems)

Free status verification (Jan 2026):

• Still free: Yes (web tool, no account required)
• What changed recently: Added more customization options in 2025
• How to verify: Visit techinterviewhandbook.org/grind75 — no paywall

Link: Grind 75 (Tech Interview Handbook)

Coding Interview University — Only If You're Starting From Zero

Final Verdict: Comprehensive but usually overkill. Use only if you're self-taught with weak CS fundamentals.

The honest assessment:
This is an incredible resource created by a self-taught engineer who got into Amazon. But it's designed for someone with zero CS background trying to learn everything from scratch.

What it covers:

• Data structures from first principles
• Algorithm analysis and Big O
• System design basics
• Way more than you need for interviews

The problem:
It's TOO comprehensive. If you follow this entire guide, you'll spend 6+ months on material you don't need for interviews.

Choose this if:

• You're self-taught with no CS degree
• You have 6+ months to prepare
• You want to deeply understand CS fundamentals (not just pass interviews)
• You're targeting very technical companies (Jane Street, HRT, etc.)

Skip this if:

• You have a CS degree (you already know most of this)
• You're preparing for interviews in less than 3 months
• You just want to pass FAANG interviews (use Grind 75 instead)

What I'd do instead:
Use Grind 75 as your roadmap. When you encounter a concept you don't understand (like trees or graphs), THEN reference Coding Interview University for that specific topic.

Free status verification (Jan 2026):

• Still free: Yes (GitHub repository, open source)
• What changed recently: Last major update in 2024
• How to verify: Visit github.com/jwasham/coding-interview-university — public repo

Link: Coding Interview University (jwasham / GitHub)

System Design Primer (GitHub) — Better Than Most Paid Courses

Final Verdict: This free resource is more comprehensive than $200 paid courses. Start here for system design.

Why it's underrated:
Everyone talks about paid system design courses, but this free GitHub repo has better coverage, more up-to-date examples, and is maintained by thousands of contributors.

I used both this and a $200 paid course. The paid course had nicer videos, but the System Design Primer had better depth and more practical examples.

What it covers:

• Scalability concepts (horizontal vs vertical scaling, load balancing)
• Database design (SQL vs NoSQL, sharding, replication)
• Caching strategies (Redis, Memcached, CDN)
• Practice questions with detailed solutions
• Real-world system breakdowns

Where it excels:

• Completely free and comprehensive
• ASCII diagrams you can actually reproduce in interviews
• Community-maintained (constantly updated)
• Includes practice problems with solutions

Where it falls short:

• No video content (text and diagrams only)
• Requires self-direction (no structured course path)
• Can be overwhelming if you're completely new

Choose this if:

• You're preparing for system design interviews
• You prefer reading over watching videos
• You want comprehensive coverage without paying

Skip this if:

• You're a pure visual learner who needs video (use ByteByteGo YouTube instead)
• You need hand-holding and structure (consider Alex Xu's book for $40)

How I used it:
Didn't read it cover-to-cover. Used it as a reference: when I needed to understand caching, I read that section. When preparing for "design Twitter," I read the practice problem solution.

Link: github.com/donnemartin/system-design-primer

ByteByteGo YouTube — Best Free Visual System Design Content

Final Verdict: Better than the paid ByteByteGo course for most people. Watch the free videos first.

The smart strategy:
ByteByteGo has a paid subscription ($79/month), but their YouTube channel has 100+ free videos covering most concepts. Watch the free content first. Only pay if you need the full course.

What I did:
Watched 15 free ByteByteGo YouTube videos over 2 weeks. Learned caching, load balancing, database sharding, and consistent hashing. Never needed to pay for the subscription.

Best free videos to watch:

• "System Design Interview Framework" (15 min)
• "How to Scale a Database" (12 min)
• "Caching Strategies Explained" (10 min)
• "Load Balancing Deep Dive" (14 min)

Choose free YouTube if:

• You're a visual learner
• You're preparing for L4-L5 roles (not Staff+)
• You want to understand concepts quickly

Pay for the course if:

• You need 20+ detailed system designs
• You're going for Staff+ roles
• You want structured progression

Link: youtube.com/@ByteByteGo

Hussein Nasser YouTube — Only If You Want Deep Technical Understanding

Final Verdict: Excellent for learning, but too deep for most interviews. Use selectively.

The honest truth:
Hussein's content is incredible if you want to deeply understand how databases and networks work. But it's overkill for most system design interviews.

I spent 20 hours watching his database internals videos. In my actual interviews, I used maybe 10% of that knowledge. The rest was interesting but not practical.

When to watch:

• You don't understand how databases actually work
• You're interviewing for infrastructure/database roles
• You have extra time and genuine curiosity

When to skip:

• You just need to pass a system design interview
• You're short on time (watch ByteByteGo instead)
• You're targeting product engineering roles

Best videos for interview prep:

• "Database Indexing Explained" (actually came up in my interview)
• "How HTTP Works" (good for fundamentals)
• "Database Replication" (useful for system design)

Link: youtube.com/c/HusseinNasser-software-engineering

Tech Interview Handbook — The Best Free Behavioral Guide

Final Verdict: Everything you need for behavioral interviews, completely free.

What makes it comprehensive:
This isn't just a list of questions. It's a complete guide covering:

• How to structure your self-introduction
• STAR method explained with examples
• 30+ common behavioral questions with sample answers
• Company-specific tips (Amazon LPs, Google's attributes, etc.)
• Salary negotiation strategies

My experience:
I used this to prepare for behavioral rounds at 5 companies. The STAR method examples helped me structure my stories. The Amazon Leadership Principles section was especially useful.

What I did:

1. Read the STAR method guide
2. Wrote out 8-10 stories from my experience
3. Practiced answering common questions using those stories
4. Reviewed company-specific sections before each interview

Choose this if:

• You're preparing for behavioral interviews
• You want structured guidance
• You need examples of good answers

The only thing it doesn't have:
Live practice. You'll need to practice out loud with someone (use Pramp for this).

Link: techinterviewhandbook.org

Amazon Leadership Principles — Essential for Amazon Interviews

Final Verdict: If you're interviewing at Amazon, read this. If not, skip it.

The Amazon difference:
Amazon interviews are 70% behavioral, 30% technical. Every behavioral question maps to one of their 16 Leadership Principles.

What I learned the hard way:
I interviewed at Amazon without studying the LPs. Every question started with "Tell me about a time when you..." and I had no idea which LP they were testing.

I didn't get the offer.

Second time, I studied the LPs, prepared 2-3 stories for each principle, and got the offer.

How to use it:

1. Read all 16 Leadership Principles
2. For each principle, prepare 2 stories from your experience
3. Practice explaining how your stories demonstrate each principle

Link: amazon.jobs/principles

Pramp — The Best Free Mock Interview Platform

Final Verdict: 5 free mock interviews per month. Use all of them.

Why mock interviews matter more than you think:
I did 50+ LeetCode problems and felt confident. Then I did my first mock interview and completely froze. Solving problems alone is different from explaining your thought process while someone watches.

How Pramp works:

1. Schedule a mock interview
2. Get matched with another engineer
3. Take turns: you interview them, they interview you
4. Each person gets 30 minutes as interviewer and 30 minutes as interviewee

What I learned from 8 Pramp sessions:

• How to think out loud (harder than it sounds)
• How to handle hints from interviewers
• How to communicate trade-offs
• How to recover when stuck

The quality lottery:
3 of my 8 sessions were excellent (matched with experienced engineers).
5 were mediocre (matched with people less experienced than me).

But even the mediocre sessions helped because they forced me to explain my thinking.

Choose this if:

• You've solved 50+ problems and need interview practice
• You want to practice communication
• You don't have friends who can mock interview you

Skip this if:

• You've solved fewer than 30 problems (practice more first)
• You can find experienced engineers to mock you for free

Pro tip:
Do your first Pramp session early (after ~30 problems). You'll realize what you need to work on. Don't wait until you've done 150 problems.

Link: pramp.com

LeetCode Discuss — The Most Underrated Free Resource

Final Verdict: Better explanations than most paid editorial solutions.

Why it's better than you think:
Every LeetCode problem has a Discuss section. The top solutions are often better explained than the official editorial (which is Premium-only for many problems).

How to use it effectively:

1. Try to solve the problem yourself (15-30 minutes)
2. If stuck, read the top Discuss solution
3. Understand the approach, then code it yourself
4. Don't just copy-paste

What I did wrong:
First month: Read Discuss immediately when stuck. Felt productive but didn't learn.
Second month: Forced myself to struggle for 30 minutes before reading Discuss. Actually improved.

The best Discuss posts:

• Sort by "Most Votes"
• Look for posts with clear explanations and diagrams
• Read multiple solutions to see different approaches

Choose this if:

• You're stuck on a problem
• You want to see multiple solution approaches
• You can't afford LeetCode Premium

Don't rely on it if:

• You're using it as a crutch (try harder first)
• You're just copy-pasting solutions

What People Actually Ask About Free Resources

"Can I really get into FAANG using only free resources?"

Short answer: Yes—many candidates do. I did it in one prep cycle using only free resources; outcomes vary by background and timeline.

The longer truth:
I prepared for interviews twice:

• First time: Spent $847 on courses (AlgoExpert, Educative, LeetCode Premium, etc.)
• Second time: Used only free resources (NeetCode, Grind 75, Pramp)

Both times, I reached comparable interview outcomes.

The paid resources made me feel more prepared, but they didn't actually improve my results.

What you actually need:

• NeetCode YouTube for learning patterns
• LeetCode free tier for practice
• Grind 75 for roadmap
• Pramp for mock interviews
• System Design Primer for system design

Total cost: $0.

"When should I actually pay for LeetCode Premium?"

Short answer: After you've solved 100 problems on the free tier and you're targeting specific companies.

The mistake I made:
Bought Premium after 20 problems because everyone said it was "essential." Wasted $159 because I didn't even understand the fundamentals yet.

Pay for Premium if:

• You've solved 100+ problems
• You're targeting 3+ specific companies
• You want to practice company-specific questions
• You can afford $159/year without stress

Stay on free tier if:

• You've solved fewer than 100 problems
• You're not targeting specific companies yet
• You're on a budget

What Premium actually gives you:

• Company tags (which problems Google/Meta ask)
• Frequency data (how often problems appear)
• Some editorial solutions (but Discuss has better explanations)

The honest assessment:
Premium is nice to have, not need to have. I got offers without it.

"Is NeetCode really as good as paid courses?"

Short answer: Better than most paid courses. I've tried both.

The paid courses I wasted money on:

• AlgoExpert ($99): Good, but NeetCode covers the same patterns for free
• Educative Grokking ($79): Outdated, NeetCode is more current
• CodePath ($299): Structured but not worth the price

Why NeetCode is better:

• Free (obviously)
• More concise (no fluff)
• Pattern-based teaching
• Constantly updated
• Community-driven

Where paid courses win:

• Structure and accountability (if you need someone forcing you to practice)
• Interactive exercises (NeetCode is just videos)
• Certificates (if that matters to you)

My verdict:
Try NeetCode first. If you need more structure and can afford it, then consider paid courses. But most people don't need them.

"How many problems do I actually need to solve?"

Short answer: 100-150 well-understood problems beats 500 rushed ones.

What I did wrong:
First attempt: Solved 300 problems in 2 months. Rushed through them, didn't understand patterns. Failed interviews.

Second attempt: Solved 120 problems in 2 months. Took time to understand each one, watched NeetCode videos, practiced explaining. Passed interviews.

The right approach:

• Solve 100-150 problems from Grind 75
• Understand the pattern for each problem
• Practice explaining your thought process
• Do mock interviews to test communication

Quality > quantity.

"What if I only have 4 weeks to prepare?"

Short answer: Grind 75 (set to 4 weeks) + NeetCode videos + 5 Pramp mocks.

The 4-week emergency plan:

• Week 1: Do 15 Grind 75 problems, watch NeetCode for stuck problems
• Week 2: Do 15 more problems, focus on weak patterns
• Week 3: Do 15 more problems, start Pramp mocks
• Week 4: Do final 10 problems, do 3-5 Pramp mocks, review weak areas

Total: 55-60 problems, all well-understood.

What to skip:

• System design (unless required for your level)
• Advanced topics (focus on core patterns)
• Trying to solve 200 problems (you won't have time)

"Should I use ChatGPT/Claude to help me learn?"

Short answer: Yes, but don't use it to cheat. Use it to learn.

Good uses:

• Explaining solutions you don't understand
• Reviewing your code for improvements
• Practicing behavioral questions
• Understanding concepts (Big O, recursion, etc.)

Bad uses:

• Getting solutions without trying first
• Copy-pasting code without understanding
• Using it during actual interviews (obviously)

What I did:
When stuck on a problem for 30+ minutes, I'd ask ChatGPT to explain the approach (not give me code). Then I'd code it myself.

The rule:
If you can't explain the solution without looking at ChatGPT, you haven't learned it.

The Free Resource Stack That Actually Works

After 6 months of testing every free resource, here's the stack I'd use if I started over:

Essential Stack (Use These)

1. NeetCode YouTube

• Use for: Learning patterns and problem-solving approaches
• Time investment: 3-5 hours/week watching videos
• Why it's essential: Best free DSA teaching available

2. LeetCode Free Tier

• Use for: Practice problems
• Time investment: 10-15 hours/week solving problems
• Why it's essential: Industry standard platform

3. Grind 75

• Use for: Roadmap and structure
• Time investment: 1 hour to set up, then follow the schedule
• Why it's essential: Prevents wasting time on random problems

4. Pramp

• Use for: Mock interviews
• Time investment: 5 sessions in final 2 weeks (5 hours total)
• Why it's essential: Practice communication under pressure

Optional But Helpful

5. System Design Primer (GitHub)

• Use for: System design prep (if required for your level)
• Time investment: 10-15 hours total
• When to use: L5+ roles or if job description mentions system design

6. Tech Interview Handbook

• Use for: Behavioral prep
• Time investment: 5 hours total
• When to use: Always (every interview has behavioral questions)

7. LeetCode Discuss

• Use for: When stuck on problems
• Time investment: As needed
• When to use: After struggling for 30 minutes

Skip These (Not Worth Your Time)

❌ Coding Interview University

• Too comprehensive, takes 6+ months
• Use Grind 75 instead

❌ Random YouTube tutorials

• Stick to NeetCode and ByteByteGo
• Don't waste time on low-quality content

❌ Paid courses (initially)

• Try free resources first
• Only pay if you've exhausted free options

What This List Intentionally Excludes (And Why)

To maintain editorial integrity, I deliberately excluded certain types of resources:

❌ "FAANG Guarantee" Courses

• Why excluded: No course can guarantee offers
• Red flags: Promises like "100% job guarantee" or "Get hired in 30 days"
• What to use instead: Proven free resources with community validation

❌ Outdated Lists and Courses

• Why excluded: Content from 2018-2020 often references deprecated technologies
• Red flags: Last updated 3+ years ago, references old interview formats
• What to use instead: Grind 75 (updated regularly) over Blind 75 (from 2018)

❌ Platforms That Encourage Cheating

• Why excluded: Using solutions during real interviews is unethical and detectable
• Red flags: "Get solutions instantly," "Copy-paste to pass interviews"
• What to use instead: LeetCode Discuss (learn from solutions after attempting)

❌ Paid Courses Under $50 With No Free Alternative

• Why excluded: This guide focuses on free resources
• Exception: LeetCode Premium mentioned because it's commonly asked about
• What to use instead: The free stack covers 95% of what you need

❌ Company-Specific "Insider" Guides

• Why excluded: Interview formats change frequently, insider info becomes outdated
• What to use instead: Tech Interview Handbook's company-specific sections (kept current)

❌ YouTube Channels Without Consistent Quality

• Why excluded: Channels without consistent pattern coverage, clear problem walkthroughs, and strong community validation
• Red flags: Inconsistent upload quality, no clear teaching methodology, limited community engagement
• What to use instead: Stick to NeetCode, ByteByteGo, Hussein Nasser (proven track records with thousands of verified learners)

Final Verdict: The Free Resource Strategy

After spending $847 on paid courses and then succeeding with free resources, here's what I know:

The Mistakes I Made (So You Don't Have To)

Mistake #1: Buying courses before trying free resources

• Cost: $847
• Result: Felt productive but didn't improve results
• Lesson: Try free first, pay only if needed

Mistake #2: Buying LeetCode Premium too early

• Cost: $159
• Result: Used company tags as a crutch, didn't learn fundamentals
• Lesson: Wait until you've done 100 problems

Mistake #3: Solving 300 problems without understanding patterns

• Cost: 100+ hours wasted
• Result: Failed interviews because I couldn't explain my thinking
• Lesson: Quality > quantity

Mistake #4: Not doing mock interviews until the last week

• Cost: Bombed first 2 real interviews
• Result: Had to schedule more interviews
• Lesson: Start Pramp after 30-50 problems, not after 150

Total wasted: $1,000+ and 150+ hours.

The Strategy That Actually Works

Don't do this:

• Buy every course
• Solve 500 problems
• Skip mock interviews
• Study alone without feedback

Do this instead:

1. Week 1-2: Watch NeetCode videos, start Grind 75
2. Week 3-6: Solve Grind 75 problems, watch NeetCode when stuck
3. Week 7-8: Do 5 Pramp mocks, review weak areas
4. Throughout: Use LeetCode Discuss when stuck for 30+ minutes

Total time: 8 weeks, 10-15 hours/week.
Total cost: $0.

One-Minute Decision Guide

If you're starting from scratch:
NeetCode YouTube + LeetCode free + Grind 75. Don't pay for anything yet.

If you have 8 weeks:
Follow the strategy above. Total cost: $0.

If you have 4 weeks:
Grind 75 (4-week plan) + NeetCode + 5 Pramp mocks.

If you're targeting specific companies:
Do 100 problems first, then consider LeetCode Premium.

If you're preparing for system design:
System Design Primer + ByteByteGo YouTube (both free).

The bottom line:
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to prepare for coding interviews. The best free resources are often better than paid alternatives.

Start with NeetCode + LeetCode + Grind 75. Only pay for resources if you've exhausted the free options and genuinely need more.

Most people don't need more. They just need to use the free resources effectively.

Last updated: January 12, 2026. Based on two complete interview-prep cycles as of Jan 12, 2026, hands-on testing of these resources, and synthesizing community consensus across DSA, system design, and behavioral prep. I personally used this stack in mock interviews and real interview processes; results vary by background and timeline.