Is LeetCode for free?

Yes, LeetCode offers a large portion of its content for free, including access to many coding problems, interview preparation resources, and some features of the platform. However, LeetCode Premium is a paid subscription that provides access to additional features and content. Let’s break down what’s free and what’s part of LeetCode Premium.

1. Free Features on LeetCode

a. Access to Problems

• Large Problem Set: LeetCode offers over 1,600 problems for free, ranging in difficulty from Easy to Hard. These problems cover a wide range of data structures, algorithms, and other important coding interview topics like arrays, strings, trees, dynamic programming, and more.

b. Code Submissions

• You can submit your code for free on any problem, get instant feedback, and view whether your solution passes all the test cases or not.

c. Discussion Forums

• LeetCode Discuss: LeetCode has a community forum where users share their experiences, solutions, and insights about coding problems. This is free to use and can be a valuable resource for understanding different approaches to solving problems.

d. Contest Participation

• Weekly and Biweekly Contests: You can participate in LeetCode contests (Weekly Contests and Biweekly Contests) for free, which allows you to compete against other users and improve your ranking.

e. Basic Solutions

• For some problems, users in the community section share their solutions and explanations, which you can access for free.

2. What is Included in LeetCode Premium?

LeetCode Premium is a paid subscription that unlocks additional features. These are particularly useful for users preparing for top-tier coding interviews. Here’s what Premium offers:

a. Company-Specific Problem Sets

• Company Tags: One of the biggest advantages of Premium is access to company-specific problem sets, where you can view problems that have been asked in interviews at companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and others. This feature is incredibly useful for focusing your preparation on problems that are relevant to the companies you’re targeting.

b. Locked Problems

• Access to All Problems: Premium gives access to an additional 300+ locked problems that are not available to free users. These problems provide more practice and often cover less common or more advanced topics.

c. Official Solutions

• Multiple Solutions with Explanations: With Premium, you can view official solutions for problems, which include detailed explanations, multiple approaches, and analysis of time and space complexity. This helps you learn different problem-solving techniques and optimize your code.

d. Interview Simulations

• Mock Interviews: Premium offers an interview simulation tool that lets you practice solving problems in a real-time interview-like environment. This can be particularly helpful in preparing for technical coding interviews.

e. Insights and Analytics

• Progress Tracking: Premium users get access to additional insights, such as performance analytics and metrics that help track progress and identify areas for improvement.

f. Faster Debugging and Insights

• Test Case Analysis: Premium gives you deeper insights into failed test cases, making it easier to understand why your solution didn’t work and helping you debug more efficiently.

3. LeetCode Premium Pricing

• Monthly Plan: $35/month.
• Yearly Plan: $159/year (cheaper if you plan to use it for a long time).

4. Is LeetCode Free Enough for Interview Prep?

a. Free Version

• For most people, the free version of LeetCode is more than sufficient, especially if you're just starting out. The free problems provide plenty of practice in key areas, including data structures and algorithms commonly tested in coding interviews.
• You can use the free version to:
  • Practice problems across different difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard).
  • Participate in contests.
  • Browse community solutions for additional insights.

b. When Premium is Worth It

• Targeting Top Tech Companies: If you're preparing for interviews at companies like Google, Amazon, or Facebook, LeetCode Premium can be extremely helpful. The company-specific problem sets and official solutions give you a more focused approach to your preparation.
• Tight Deadlines: If you're preparing for an interview in a short amount of time and want the most efficient way to practice relevant problems, Premium may be worth the investment.

Conclusion

LeetCode is free, and the free version provides access to a significant number of problems and features that are great for interview preparation and coding practice. However, if you're preparing for top-tier tech interviews and want access to additional company-specific problems and official solutions, LeetCode Premium can be a worthwhile investment.