Is Pramp Worth It in 2026? My Review After 23 Sessions

You've been grinding LeetCode alone. You can solve problems, but you've never actually practiced explaining your thinking out loud. The idea of doing a mock interview feels terrifying—but also necessary.

Author's Experience: I've completed 23 sessions on Pramp over the last 2 years. My stats: 30% Excellent (great peers), 50% Okay (useful practice), 20% Terrible (no-shows or unprepared peers). Since the Exponent acquisition, the platform has changed slightly but remains the best free option.

Quick Verdict

Enter Pramp—a free platform that matches you with other candidates for peer-to-peer mock interviews. No cost, realistic practice, and the chance to experience both sides of the interview table.

But is it actually worth your time? This is the complete, honest review you need.

TL;DR

If you're trying to decide which tools fit your current preparation stage, our decision guide for coding interview prep tools explains when mock interviews make sense versus when you should focus on other areas first.

• Price: Free (5 sessions/month), unlimited with Exponent subscription (~$79/mo)
• Format: Peer-to-peer mock interviews (you interview each other)
• Interview types: Coding, system design, behavioral, frontend, data science
• Best for: Building confidence, practicing communication, getting comfortable with the format
• Not ideal for: Expert-level calibration, guaranteed high-quality feedback
• Key limitation: Peer quality varies significantly
• Verdict: Excellent free resource. Should be part of your prep—not your only mock interview practice.

What Is Pramp?

Pramp (Practice Makes Perfect) is a free peer-to-peer mock interview platform, now part of Exponent (acquired in 2021).

How it works:

1. Sign up and set your availability
2. Choose interview type (coding, system design, behavioral)
3. Get matched with another candidate at your level
4. Conduct a 60-minute session (30 min each as interviewer/interviewee)
5. Give and receive structured feedback

What you get:

• Live video chat with screen sharing
• Collaborative code editor
• Structured questions provided by Pramp
• Rubric-based feedback forms
• 5 free sessions per month

Pramp Pricing

Pramp is one of the few genuinely free mock interview platforms:

Note: Since Pramp's integration with Exponent (July 2024), sessions are hosted on the Exponent Practice platform, but the free tier still exists.

Bonus: If your scheduled peer doesn't show up, you sometimes receive additional credits.

The Good: Where Pramp Shines

1. It's Actually Free

This is Pramp's biggest advantage. Most mock interview platforms charge $50-$225 per session. Pramp gives you 5 sessions per month at no cost.

For candidates on a budget, this is invaluable. You can practice regularly without financial stress.

2. Realistic Interview Simulation

Pramp closely mimics real interview conditions:

• Live video with another person
• Time pressure (30-minute problem-solving window)
• Need to explain your thinking out loud
• Collaborative coding environment

This is nothing like solving LeetCode alone. The social pressure, verbal communication, and real-time feedback are skills you can only develop through practice.

3. Dual Perspective Learning

You don't just practice being interviewed—you practice interviewing.

Why this matters:

• You see what interviewers look for
• You understand how feedback feels from the other side
• You become better at articulating what makes a good answer
• You learn to give constructive feedback (useful for your own career)

Many candidates report that acting as interviewer helped them improve faster than being interviewed.

4. Structured Questions and Feedback

Pramp provides:

• Well-designed interview questions with hints and solutions
• Rubric-based feedback forms covering communication, problem-solving, and technical skills
• Actionable insights after each session

You're not left guessing what to ask or how to give feedback.

5. Multiple Interview Types

Pramp supports:

• Data Structures & Algorithms: Classic coding problems
• System Design: High-level architecture discussions
• Behavioral: STAR-format situational questions
• Frontend: UI/JavaScript-focused problems
• Data Science: ML and analytics questions

This breadth makes it useful for various role types.

6. Skill-Level Matching

Pramp attempts to match you with peers at similar experience levels, so you're not paired with complete beginners if you're senior—or vice versa.

The Bad: Where Pramp Falls Short

1. Inconsistent Peer Quality

This is Pramp's biggest weakness. Since it's peer-to-peer, your experience depends heavily on who you're matched with.

Good peers:

• Prepared and engaged
• Give thoughtful, specific feedback
• Push you with appropriate hints
• Simulate realistic interview pressure

1. Inconsistent Peer Quality (The 50/30/20 Rule)

Based on my 23 sessions, here's the reality of who you'll match with:

• 30% Excellent: Experienced engineers who pushed me hard, gave actionable feedback on my code structure, and felt like real interviewers.
• 50% Average: Good intentions, but maybe they were passive or struggled to give hints. Useful for practice, but not "expert" feedback.
• 20% Terrible (The "Time Wasters"):
  • My worst experience: I matched with a candidate who hadn't read the question, spent 15 minutes fixing his webcam, and then pasted the solution from LeetCode without explaining it.
  • No-shows: About 1 in 5 sessions ended in a no-show (though Pramp credits you for this).

Pro Tip: I found that scheduling sessions on Tuesday/Thursday evenings (PST) resulted in better matches (working professionals) compared to Saturday mornings (often students).

2. No Expert Calibration

Pramp peers are other job seekers, not experienced interviewers. They can't tell you:

• How you compare to other candidates at your target company
• Whether your answer would get a "hire" or "no-hire" at Google
• Subtle weaknesses in your communication that experienced interviewers notice

For expert-level calibration, you need platforms like Interviewing.io—but those cost $200+ per session.

3. Limited Session Length

Each person gets ~30 minutes, which can feel short for complex problems or system design. Some real interviews run 45-60 minutes per problem.

4. Occasional Technical Issues

Users report occasional:

• Connection problems during video calls
• Code editor glitches
• Matching delays

These aren't dealbreakers, but they can disrupt sessions.

5. No-Shows Happen

Sometimes your scheduled peer doesn't show up. This wastes your time (though you sometimes get bonus credits as compensation).

Who Should Use Pramp?

The Ideal User

Pramp is great if you:

1. Have never done a mock interview: It's the best free way to experience the format
2. Need to practice communication: Explaining your thinking out loud is a skill—Pramp builds it
3. Are on a tight budget: Free beats $200/session
4. Want volume practice: 5 sessions/month adds up
5. Value the interviewer perspective: Learning to give feedback improves your own answers

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Pramp may not be enough if you:

1. Need expert calibration: Peers can't tell you if you'd pass at Google
2. Are targeting senior roles: Need more nuanced system design feedback
3. Have limited time: Can't afford inconsistent session quality
4. Want guaranteed quality: Need every session to be valuable

How to Get the Most from Pramp

Before the Session

1. Prepare like a real interview: Review your DSA fundamentals, practice explaining approaches
2. Test your setup: Camera, microphone, internet connection
3. Review the feedback rubric: Know what you'll be evaluated on

During the Session (As Interviewee)

1. Think out loud constantly: Don't go silent while coding
2. Ask clarifying questions: Treat your peer like a real interviewer
3. Manage your time: Keep an eye on the 30-minute limit
4. Accept hints gracefully: If stuck, ask for a nudge

During the Session (As Interviewer)

1. Read the solution beforehand: Understand the problem fully
2. Give appropriate hints: Not too early, not too late
3. Take notes: You'll need them for specific feedback
4. Simulate realistic pressure: Don't make it too easy

After the Session

1. Write detailed feedback: Be specific, not generic
2. Reflect on your own performance: What would you do differently?
3. Track patterns: If multiple peers mention the same weakness, it's real

Pramp vs. Alternatives

When to use each:

• Pramp: Building confidence, practicing communication, volume
• Interviewing.io: Final polish before target company interviews
• LeetCopilot Interview Mode: Technical practice without scheduling
• Google Interview Warmup: Quick behavioral prep

Pramp + LeetCode: The Free Prep Stack

Here's how to build a complete prep strategy using free resources:

Step 1: Learn Patterns

Use NeetCode YouTube videos to learn core patterns:

• Two Pointers, Sliding Window
• BFS/DFS, Trees, Graphs
• Dynamic Programming

Step 2: Practice Problems

Use LeetCode (free tier):

• Complete NeetCode 150 or Blind 75
• Focus on Medium difficulty
• Use LeetCopilot for hints when stuck

Step 3: Mock Interviews

Use Pramp (free, 5 sessions/month):

• Build communication skills
• Experience interview pressure
• Learn from being an interviewer

Step 4: AI Practice

Use LeetCopilot Interview Mode for:

• Technical interview simulation
• Practicing thinking out loud
• No scheduling required

Total cost: $0

This stack covers pattern learning, problem practice, and mock interview experience—everything you need for most technical interviews.

FAQ

Is Pramp really free?
Yes. You get 5 free sessions per month. Unlimited sessions require an Exponent subscription (~$79/month), but the free tier is genuinely useful.

How does Pramp compare to Interviewing.io?
Pramp is free, peer-to-peer. Interviewing.io is $225+/session with FAANG engineers. Pramp builds volume and confidence; Interviewing.io provides expert calibration. Use Pramp first, then Interviewing.io for final polish.

Can Pramp help me get a job at FAANG?
It can help you prepare, but it's not sufficient alone. Pramp builds communication skills and format familiarity. For FAANG-level calibration, you'll eventually want expert feedback. See our Interviewing.io alternatives for options.

What if my Pramp peer is bad?
It happens. If your peer is unprepared or disengaged, you can:

• End the session early
• Focus on what you can learn anyway
• Schedule more sessions to compensate

This is Pramp's main limitation—peer quality varies.

Is Pramp better than practicing with friends?
Both are valuable. Friends are more flexible and comfortable; Pramp provides structured questions and rubrics. Ideally, use both.

How many Pramp sessions should I do?
Aim for 5-10 before your first real interviews. Use all 5 free monthly sessions if you're actively preparing.

Common Mistakes When Using Pramp

Mistake 1: Not Taking It Seriously

The trap: Treating Pramp like casual practice because it's free.

The fix: Prepare like you would for a real interview. Pramp is your chance to simulate pressure without stakes—take advantage of it.

Mistake 2: Only Being Interviewed

The trap: Rushing through your interviewer turn to focus on your own practice.

The fix: Being the interviewer is equally valuable. You learn what makes good answers, how to give feedback, and what interviewers look for.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Feedback

The trap: Dismissing peer feedback because "they're not experts."

The fix: If multiple peers mention the same issue (e.g., "you went silent while thinking"), it's real. Pay attention to patterns.

Mistake 4: Using Pramp as Your Only Practice

The trap: Relying solely on Pramp for mock interviews.

The fix: Combine with LeetCopilot Interview Mode for technical practice, and consider 1-2 paid expert sessions for calibration before real interviews.

Conclusion: Is Pramp Worth It?

Pramp is absolutely worth using—especially because it's free.

Use Pramp for:

• Building confidence with the interview format
• Practicing communication and thinking out loud
• Volume practice (5 sessions/month adds up)
• Learning from the interviewer's perspective

Supplement Pramp with:

• LeetCopilot Interview Mode for AI-powered technical practice
• 1-2 paid expert sessions for final calibration
• LeetCode for problem practice

The main limitation: Peer quality varies. Not every session will be valuable. But when you get a good peer, the experience is excellent—and it costs nothing.

For most candidates, Pramp should be part of your prep strategy, not your entire mock interview plan. Use it to build the foundation, then add expert feedback when you're ready for your target companies.

Start scheduling sessions now. The practice compounds over time.

About the Author

Alex Wang is a senior software engineer who successfully interviewed at Meta and Google in 2025. He used Pramp for 20+ sessions to build his communication skills before moving to paid mocks.