Best Mock Interview Platforms in 2026: Free and Paid Options Compared

I solved 200 LeetCode problems and felt ready. Then I did my first mock interview and completely bombed it.

The problem wasn't my skills—it was that I'd never practiced explaining my thinking while someone watched. Solving problems alone is fundamentally different from solving them in front of an interviewer.

After trying 8 different mock interview platforms over 3 prep cycles, here's what I learned: the best mock practice isn't always the most expensive, but skipping mocks entirely is the most costly mistake you can make.

One-Minute Decision: What You Actually Need

If you have $0 budget:
Use Pramp (free peer-to-peer). Quality varies, but even mediocre mocks teach you to think out loud. Do 5-10 sessions minimum.

If you have $200-500 budget:
Pramp for volume (free) + 2-3 Interviewing.io sessions ($150-225 each) with FAANG engineers for targeted feedback.

If you're targeting specific companies:
Interviewing.io or Exponent for company-specific preparation. Real interviewers from those companies are invaluable.

If you're L5+ / Senior:
Invest in professional coaching. Senior system design and behavioral require expert feedback that peers can't provide.

Don't waste money on:

• Unlimited mock subscriptions if you won't use them
• Very cheap platforms with inexperienced interviewers
• Mock interviews before you've solved 30-50 problems (get fundamentals first)

How to Use This Guide

Step 1: Assess how many mocks you realistically need

• 2-week prep: 2-3 mocks minimum
• 4-week prep: 5-8 mocks
• 8+ week prep: 10-15 mocks

Step 2: Allocate budget across free and paid

• Use free platforms for volume/practice
• Use paid for targeted feedback on weak areas

Step 3: Time your mocks correctly

• Start mocks after 30-50 problems solved
• Increase frequency in final 2 weeks
• Do final mocks 2-3 days before real interviews (not the day before)

Decision Rules:

• If you're failing >50% of easy/medium problems: Don't do mocks yet. Get fundamentals first.
• If you freeze during mocks but solve problems fine alone: You need MORE mocks, not fewer.
• If you're getting inconsistent feedback: Switch to paid platforms with experienced interviewers.
• If you're targeting a specific company: Find interviewers from that company specifically.

Quick Verdict Table: Mock Interview Platforms

Pramp — The Free Platform Everyone Should Use

Final Verdict: Start here. It's free, and even mediocre mocks build the "thinking out loud" muscle you need.

How Pramp works:

1. Schedule a mock interview
2. Get matched with another candidate at your level
3. Take turns: 30 minutes interviewing, 30 minutes being interviewed
4. Give and receive feedback

What I learned from 15 Pramp sessions:

• Sessions 1-3: Froze constantly, couldn't think while talking
• Sessions 4-8: Started narrating my thinking, still slow
• Sessions 9-15: Got comfortable with the format, feedback improved

The quality lottery:
Pramp matches you with whoever is available. My experience:

• 5/15 sessions: Excellent (matched with senior engineers)
• 6/15 sessions: Good (matched with competent peers)
• 4/15 sessions: Mediocre (matched with less experienced candidates)

Even the mediocre sessions helped because they forced me to explain my approach.

Choose Pramp if:

• You're on a $0 budget
• You need high-volume practice
• You're early in your prep (not final polish stage)
• You want to practice interviewing OTHERS (this skill matters)

Skip Pramp if:

• You're in final prep week and need expert feedback
• You want company-specific practice
• You're targeting L5+ and need senior-level system design feedback

The honest assessment:
Pramp won't replace professional mock interviews. But it's free, unlimited, and infinitely better than no mock practice. Use it for volume, then add paid sessions for polish.

Free status verification (Jan 2026):

• Still free: Yes (peer-to-peer model)
• Premium options: They offer paid features, but core mocks are free
• How to verify: Visit pramp.com and create account

Interviewing.io — Best for FAANG Feedback

Final Verdict: The highest-quality feedback I've received. Worth the price if you're in final prep stage or targeting specific companies.

How Interviewing.io works:

1. Book a session with a verified engineer (see their company, level, interview experience)
2. 60-minute mock interview (coding or system design)
3. Detailed feedback and recording
4. Interviewer rates you on hire/no-hire dimensions

Why the quality is higher:

• Interviewers are verified employees at FAANG and top companies
• Many have conducted 100+ real interviews
• They can tell you exactly what their company looks for

My experience with Interviewing.io:
I did 3 sessions ($450 total). Each session identified specific weaknesses:

• Session 1: "You jump to coding too fast. Clarify requirements first."
• Session 2: "Your brute force explanation is good, but you don't articulate trade-offs."
• Session 3: "Strong—would hire. Minor: slow down when explaining time complexity."

Worth every dollar because the feedback was actionable and company-specific.

Pricing (Jan 2026):

• Single session: $150-225 depending on interviewer level
• Packages available for multiple sessions
• System design sessions may cost more than coding

Choose Interviewing.io if:

• You're in final 2 weeks of prep
• You want feedback from someone at your target company
• You can afford $150+ per session
• You've already done Pramp for volume

Skip Interviewing.io if:

• You're still learning fundamentals (waste of money)
• You can't articulate any solution yet (get Pramp practice first)
• Budget is <$150 for mocks

How to verify pricing:
Visit interviewing.io and check current session prices

Exponent — Best for Structured Mock Programs

Final Verdict: Better value than Interviewing.io for those who want structured practice with lessons included. Less a la carte flexibility.

What Exponent offers:

• Mock interview sessions (included in subscription or per-session)
• Video courses on coding, system design, PM, behavioral
• Practice questions with peer matching
• Company-specific content (Amazon, Google, Meta)

Pricing (Jan 2026):

• Individual sessions: $25-50 each
• Subscription: $200-400/year (includes mocks + courses)
• Check current pricing as it changes

Why consider Exponent over Interviewing.io:

• More affordable per session
• Includes video courses (if you want them)
• Structured learning path, not just one-off mocks

Why Interviewing.io may be better:

• Higher-tier interviewers (current FAANG)
• More detailed feedback
• Better for pure mock practice without course content

Choose Exponent if:

• You want mocks + learning content bundled
• You prefer lower-cost per session
• You're also preparing for PM or behavioral
• You're targeting Amazon specifically (strong Amazon content)

Skip Exponent if:

• You only want mocks (not courses)
• You want the absolute highest-quality interviewers
• You're only doing 1-2 mocks (subscription doesn't make sense)

Hello Interview — The AI + Human Hybrid

Final Verdict: Interesting option for unlimited AI practice. Human mocks are good but fewer options than Interviewing.io.

How it works:

• AI-powered practice: Unlimited coding practice with AI interviewer
• Human mocks: Book sessions with engineers
• Combines both approaches

When AI practice makes sense:

• You want unlimited practice without scheduling
• You're early in prep and need repetition
• You're uncomfortable practicing with strangers initially

When AI practice falls short:

• AI can't evaluate communication quality the way humans can
• No rapport/pressure simulation
• Limited system design capability

My assessment:
AI practice is a nice supplement, but doesn't replace human mocks. Use it for warm-up, then do human sessions for real feedback.

Choose Hello Interview if:

• You want a hybrid of AI + human practice
• You're a solo practicer uncomfortable with peer mocks
• You want the convenience of AI practice anytime

Skip if:

• You want pure human feedback
• You're fine with Pramp for volume + Interviewing.io for quality

Meetapro — Best for Budget Professional Coaching

Final Verdict: More affordable than Interviewing.io, but interviewer quality is less consistent. Good for mid-range budget.

How it works:

• Browse profiles of engineers/mentors offering mock interviews
• Book sessions directly with chosen mentor
• Prices set by individual mentors (typically $80-200/session)

The trade-off:

• Cheaper: Average $100-150 vs. $150-225 at Interviewing.io
• Less vetted: Not all mentors have interview experience

How to choose good Meetapro mentors:

• Check for interview experience (conducted real interviews)
• Look for engineers from your target companies
• Read reviews carefully
• Prefer mentors with 10+ reviews

Choose Meetapro if:

• Your budget is $80-150/session (not $200+)
• You want to choose your mentor specifically
• You can evaluate mentor quality from profiles

Skip if:

• You want guaranteed FAANG interviewer quality
• You don't want to vet mentors yourself

Building Your Mock Interview Stack

The $0 Stack (Pramp Only)

What you get:

• Unlimited peer mocks
• Practice thinking out loud
• Experience interviewing others

What you miss:

• Expert feedback
• Company-specific insights
• Senior-level system design evaluation

Who this works for:

• Students or early-career engineers
• Those targeting smaller companies
• Anyone who can self-correct from peer feedback

Recommended approach:
Do 10-15 Pramp sessions. Focus on getting comfortable with the format and narrating your thinking.

The $200-500 Stack (Pramp + Paid)

What you get:

• High-volume practice (Pramp)
• Targeted expert feedback (2-3 paid sessions)
• Company-specific insights

Recommended allocation:

• Pramp: 8-10 sessions (free)
• Interviewing.io: 2-3 sessions ($300-450)

Timing:

• Weeks 1-6: Pramp for volume
• Weeks 7-8: Interviewing.io for polish
• Final week: 1 Interviewing.io for confidence

The $1,000+ Stack (Full Coaching)

What you get:

• High-volume free practice
• Expert paid mocks
• Professional coaching for weak areas

Recommended allocation:

• Pramp: 10 sessions (free)
• Interviewing.io: 4-5 sessions ($600-900)
• Coaching: 1-2 sessions for specific weaknesses ($400-500)

When this is worth it:

• You're targeting L5+ / Staff roles
• You've failed interviews before and need focused help
• The opportunity is worth >$50K salary difference

Common Mock Interview Mistakes

Mistake #1: Doing Mocks Too Early

The trap: "I'll do mocks while I'm learning to test my progress."

The problem: You learn bad habits and destroy confidence.

The fix: Do mocks only after you can solve 50-60% of Medium problems. Mocks test execution, not learning.

Mistake #2: Only Doing Mocks (No Solo Practice)

The trap: "Mocks are the best practice, so I'll only do mocks."

The problem: Mocks are expensive (time or money) and don't build deep understanding.

The fix: Ratio of 4:1 or 5:1 (solo problems : mock sessions). Mocks test what solo practice builds.

Mistake #3: Not Reviewing Mock Recordings

The trap: Getting feedback, nodding, then doing the next session.

The problem: You don't actually internalize the feedback.

The fix: After each mock, write down 3 specific things to improve. Practice those specifically before the next mock.

Mistake #4: Doing a Mock the Day Before Real Interview

The trap: "I'll do one final mock the night before to stay sharp."

The problem: If the mock goes poorly, you enter the real interview with destroyed confidence.

The fix: Final mock should be 2-3 days before. Interview day should be rest and review only.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Mock Interviewer Experience

The trap: All mocks are equal—it doesn't matter who interviews you.

The problem: Feedback from inexperienced interviewers can be misleading or incomplete.

The fix: For your final 2-3 mocks, pay for experienced interviewers. Their feedback is worth more.

What People Actually Ask About Mock Interviews

"How many mock interviews do I actually need?"

Short answer: Minimum 5-8 for most candidates. More if you freeze under pressure.

The breakdown:

• 2-week prep: 2-3 mocks (damage control)
• 4-week prep: 5-8 mocks (solid practice)
• 8+ week prep: 10-15 mocks (comprehensive)

Signal you need more:
If you're still nervous or freezing in mock #5, you need more volume, not less.

"Can I use ChatGPT instead of mock interview platforms?"

Short answer: For practice, yes. For realistic simulation, no.

What ChatGPT is good for:

• Explaining problems
• Reviewing your solutions
• Quick Q&A practice

What ChatGPT can't do:

• Real-time pressure simulation
• Evaluate your communication quality
• Give you the experience of the interview format
• Provide nuanced human feedback

Use ChatGPT as supplement, not replacement.

"Is it worth paying for mock interviews?"

Short answer: Yes, if you're in final prep stage and can afford it.

When worth it:

• You've already done free mocks and need higher-quality feedback
• You're targeting specific companies
• You're senior-level and need expert system design feedback
• The job opportunity is worth $50K+ more than your current role

When not worth it:

• You're still learning fundamentals
• You haven't done any free mocks yet
• Your budget is extremely tight and the role isn't urgent

"What if I keep failing mock interviews?"

Short answer: That's exactly why mock interviews exist—to fail safely.

If you're failing consistently:

1. Identify the pattern (coding skill? communication? time management?)
2. Address that specific gap with solo practice
3. Try again

Common failure patterns:

• Freeze at start: Practice clarifying questions specifically
• Run out of time: Practice time management with hard cutoffs
• Can't explain approach: Practice narrating out loud while solving alone
• Get stuck midway: Practice identifying when to pivot to new approach

"Should I do both coding and system design mocks?"

Short answer: Yes, if your interviews include both.

Allocation by level:

• L3-L4: 70% coding, 30% system design (or skip SD if not in your loop)
• L5: 50% coding, 50% system design
• L6+: 40% coding, 60% system design

Different skills tested:
Coding mocks test problem-solving under pressure.
System design mocks test structured thinking and communication.
Both require practice.

Final Verdict: The Mock Interview Stack That Works

After 3 prep cycles and trying 8 platforms, here's what I know:

The Mistakes I Made

Mistake #1: Skipping mocks entirely in first prep cycle

• Result: Froze in first real interview despite solving 200+ problems
• Lesson: Solving alone ≠ solving in front of someone

Mistake #2: Only using free platforms

• Result: Got mixed feedback, some misleading
• Lesson: Invest in 2-3 quality paid sessions for final polish

Mistake #3: Doing mock the night before interview

• Result: Mock went poorly, entered real interview with low confidence
• Lesson: Final mock 2-3 days before, not the night before

The Stack That Worked

For $0 budget:

• Pramp: 10-15 sessions
• Focus on volume and getting comfortable

For $200-500 budget:

• Pramp: 8-10 sessions (volume)
• Interviewing.io: 2-3 sessions (quality feedback)
• Time paid sessions in final 2 weeks

For L5+ / critical opportunity:

• Pramp: 10 sessions (volume)
• Interviewing.io: 4-5 sessions (quality)
• Consider coaching for specific weaknesses

One-Minute Decision Guide

If you've done 0 mocks:
Start with Pramp today. Volume first.

If you've done 5+ free mocks:
Add 2-3 paid sessions for final polish.

If you're L5+ / Staff:
Invest in expert feedback. System design at this level requires experienced evaluation.

If you freeze under pressure:
More mocks, not fewer. The freeze goes away with repetition.

Last updated: January 12, 2026. Based on three interview prep cycles, trying 8 mock interview platforms, and synthesizing feedback from engineers about what worked. Platform pricing and features change frequently—verify on official sites before purchasing.