Programming jobs are among the top-paying jobs in the world currently. Big companies, including Google, Meta, Apple, and others, are always on the lookout for the next tech talent to hire.
You need all the preparations you can get if you’re a programmer who hopes to work with these big companies. The good news is that many online platforms are available for you to use.
With a quick search, you’ll find AlgoExpert and LeetCode among the top platforms for programming learning and interview preparation.
However, since you only need one, this article provides an in-depth review and side-by-side comparison of AlgoExpert vs LeetCode.
After reading, you’ll find the answer you need.
Let’s get started.
What Is AlgoExpert?
AlgoExpert provides a resource for programmers who want to prepare for coding interviews. It’s a freemium platform. So, while you can access some resources for free, most require a subscription.
What you get with AlgoExpert includes hand-picked interview questions and their answers, video explanations, courses, an intuitive workspace, and assessments, to name only a few.
In particular, the platform supports multiple programming languages. So you have many options and can prepare for various coding interviews.
Furthermore, there are different sections for coding interviews, system design interviews, machine learning interviews, and front-end interviews.
As mentioned earlier, AlgoExpert is one of the top platforms for programming learning and interview preparation. The platform boasts customers from companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Bloomberg to demonstrate this.
What Is LeetCode?
LeetCode promises a new way to learn for all programmers – beginners and experts. It’s a platform you can rely on to learn new programming languages, sharpen your existing skills, and ace technical interviews.
LeetCode isn’t all about individual programmers. You can also use the platform if you’re a business.
With this platform, you can identify the best programmers to hire as a business. You can conduct programming training, assessments, and even contests. Subsequently, you choose the best-performing programmers.
For this reason, LeetCode is popular among some of the world’s top companies. Stripe, Meta, Uber, Apple, Intel, Bank of America, and Cisco are only a few of the companies that use LeetCode.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of AlgoExpert vs LeetCode. This simple comparison will help you clearly define the better platform.
Getting Started
AlgoExpert
With AlgoExpert, you can only sign up using third-party accounts. This includes Google, GitHub, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Whichever you use, you can log in with a single click.
That’s all. You get access to the questions, videos explanation, and others and can begin practicing immediately.
However, you may need to pay a premium subscription from the onset to access some content. In fact, you’ll find the “Buy” button on each page you visit after you log in.
AlgoExpert lets you pay subscription via three methods – card payment, PayPal, or digital wallet. The supported digital wallets include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Microsoft Pay.
LeetCode
Typically, to begin using LeetCode, you have to create an account. You can create an account by entering a username, password, and email address.
Alternatively, you can sign in using your Google, Facebook, or GitHub account. This is a more straightforward option to use. After you sign up, you have to choose whether you’re a student or a professional programmer.
If you’re a student, you must select the course duration, your major(s), and your desired job after graduation. On the other hand, professionals are to select their years of experience and programming roles.
Afterward, you select your interview prep time, and you’ll be redirected to your dashboard.
Verdict
Sign-up is easier with AlgoExpert than LeetCode. However, the LeetCode signup process is more comprehensive.
Supported Programming Languages
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert lets you practice nine programming languages. These include C++, JavaScript, C#, Swift, Kotlin, TypeScript, Python, Java, and Go.
The above-listed programming languages are currently the most popular, each targeting a specific role.
With JavaScript, you can practice front-end development, while TypeScript is if you want a simple JavaScript alternative.
Python, which has many applications, is limited to data science on AlgoExpert, while Swift is for iOS programming. On the other hand, Kotlin is for Android programming, and C# is for Microsoft programming.
If you want to practice old programming languages, you can go for C++ and Java. Kids are not left out, as they can get started with Go.
LeetCode
With LeetCode, you can practice up to twenty programming languages and protocols. These include C++, Java, Python, Python3, C, C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, and Swift.
Others include Go, Bash, Scala, Kotlin, Rust, PHP, Racket, Elixir, Dart, and Erlang. Hence, no matter what type of programming job you desire, you can prepare for it with LeetCode.
Notable among the supported programming languages are Rust, Racket, and Dart. Rust is one of the most popular low-level programming languages. It works for programming operation systems or microcontroller applications.
With Racket, you can build commercial projects and web applications. Meanwhile, Dart lets you develop multi-platform apps.
Verdict
The winner here is LeetCode, without question. It supports up to twenty programming languages and protocols, while AlgoExpert supports nine.
Workspace
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert features a comprehensive workspace, which consists of four sections. In the first section, you can access coding prompts, a scratchpad, solutions, and video explanations.
The second section displays your own coding solutions, while the third features test cases and a sandbox. You can view the output of your codes from the fourth section.
You can quickly select the programming language you want to work with from the top menu of the workspace. In addition, you can navigate through the questions list and access the data structure visualizer.
However, one standout feature of the workspace is the Timer & Stopwatch. It’s helpful if you want to improve your programming speed.
LeetCode
The LeetCode workspace – known as playground – is relatively simple. It only features two sections – one to input your codes and another to display the output.
When you launch the playground, you can give the session a name from the top bar. Otherwise, the default name is “Untitled.”
Also, you can select the programming language you want to work with – out of the over twenty – and customize the theme.
Theme customization makes the LeetCode workspace unique. The available themes include GitHub, Xcode, TextMate, Eclipse, BlackBoard, and Monokai, among others.
When you select the GitHub theme, for example, you get to practice as if you are on the GitHub platform and not LeetCode.
Verdict
The winner here depends on what you need. If you need a simple, clutter-free workspace, LeetCode wins. But if you need something more all-inclusive, AlgoExpert wins.
Interview Questions
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert features at least 160 interview questions. The questions range from over fifteen categories and multiple difficulty levels.
In particular, there are 25 easy interview questions, 55 medium-difficulty interview questions, 46 hard interview questions, and 34 very hard interview questions. You can quickly identify the different levels by their color code – green, blue, red, and black, respectively.
The categories include famous algorithms, graphs, binary search trees, heaps, dynamic programming, linked lists, sorting, recursion, arrays, and a few more.
Each interview question has multiple solutions, test cases, video explanations, and output. You access all of these from the AlgoExpert workspace.
LeetCode
As a LeetCode user, you can access up to 2,500 interview questions spanning over 70 programming categories.
The most popular interview category on LeetCode is Array, with over 1,200 questions. Next is String with 575, and then Hash Table with 422. Note that these questions are updated from time to time. Some questions get removed and new ones are added, so the count is not static.
Other popular categories on LeetCode include Dynamic Programming, Database, Matrix, Binary Search, and Simulation, to name a few.
Interestingly, you can sort interview questions by company. LeetCode features hundreds and thousands of Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple interview questions, among others.
Verdict
With only 160 interview questions, AlgoExpert is far below LeetCode, which has over 2,500. Hence, LeetCode wins.
Assessments
AlgoExpert
You can simulate a real-time coding interview using AlgoExpert’s coding interview assessments. The platform features four of these assessments.
All AlgoExpert assessments are difficult. Hence, it would help if you thoroughly practiced the interview questions before moving on to the assessments.
You should cover at least 75 percent of the interview questions. Besides, the assessments are only available to paid subscribers.
When taking the assessments, you should take your time. You can complete a set in four hours – an hour and thirty minutes for two questions and an hour break in between. You can do this daily and finish the four assessments in four days.
LeetCode
LeetCode gives you access to 27 assessment sets. This includes an online assessment, a phone interview, an onsite assessment, and 24 assessments from top tech companies.
The online assessment, phone interview, and onsite assessment are free. On the other hand, the assessments from top tech companies are premium.
The companies in question are Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Bloomberg, Adobe, Apple, and Uber. In particular, you get three assessment sets from each of these companies.
From your dashboard, you get an overview of your assessment performance. You can compare your score to the average score of employees companies hire at a glance.
Verdict
AlgoExpert has four assessment sets. Meanwhile, LeetCode has twenty-seven. Once again, LeetCode wins.
Video Explanations
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert promises over 100 hours of video content, and the platform delivers. You get video explanations of each interview question from the first section in the workspace.
You get two types of video explanations on AlgoExpert. The first gives you a conceptual overview of the programming concept. You learn how to approach, implement, and optimize the algorithm.
On the other hand, the second is precisely to answer interview questions. The videos are more or less a step-by-step walkthrough on implementing the algorithm. However, note that these videos are only available for Python.
The videos are of good quality, up to 1080p for most of them, and the audio is impressive as well.
LeetCode
LeetCode has a Learn section where you can access video explanations. The Learn section features video explanations of 22 programming concepts.
You get at least 20 hours of video for each concept, which means you get a total of 440 hours of video.
However, note that the videos in the Learn section form parts of LeetCode courses. Most of these courses have individual and relatively expensive prices, costing at least $60 each.
For others without an individual price, you can only access them with a regular premium subscription.
Nevertheless, video explanations are not only what you get when you pay for LeetCode courses. You also access text resources, case studies, and exclusive practice problems.
Verdict
Although LeetCode has more, AlgoExpert wins here as the video explanations are specific.
Contests
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert presents contests from time to time. These are known as the AlgoExpert SWE Project Contests. You should expect them at least twice a year – during Summer-Fall and Winter.
For these projects, you usually need to complete a software engineering project. It’s open to all premium AlgoExpert users, so the competition is relatively high.
If you come out as one of the top programmers in the contest, you get special recognition on the project page. You can easily share your performance on third-party platforms, especially GitHub, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
LeetCode
As a LeetCode user, you can test your programming skills against other users by partaking in the contests. These contests occur weekly and biweekly, and anyone can sponsor them.
The contests always have a deadline, and you must register before the start date to participate. You win rewards if you rank between the top 20 when the contest is over.
You can win stuff like a LeetCode Big O Notebook, a water bottle, a backpack, a gaming mouse, and even an Apple HomePod Mini.
You’ll find a real-time global ranking of all contestants on the contest page. The more contests you complete, the higher your rating and position in the ranks.
Furthermore, businesses sponsor most of the contests on LeetCode. Hence, when you partake in them, you have a high chance of getting hired.
Verdict
You get more contests with LeetCode than with AlgoExpert. Therefore, LeetCode wins.
Community & Discussions
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert doesn’t have an onsite community and forum. On the website, you can only read reviews of other users and submit yours as well.
Nevertheless, you can use GitHub if you wish to get in touch with other programmers who use AlgoExpert. Many of AlgoExpert’s users are on GitHub, so you’ll find many topics to explore.
You can join the Facebook community if you don’t join the GitHub community. About 2,000 AlgoExpert users follow the page on Facebook, not to mention the many unofficial groups.
LeetCode
LeetCode has an onsite community forum where you can meet other users and discuss. The forum has thousands of topics and comments about using LeetCode and programming in general.
You can sort the topics by interview questions, experience, career, study guide, support & feedback, and general discussion.
So long as you’re signed in, you can post a new topic without restriction as a new user. In addition, you can post a topic anonymously if you don’t want other users to know who you are.
However, note that LeetCode has community rules. If you create a topic violating the rules, your account can get deactivated.
Verdict
Without an onsite community & discussion forum, AlgoExpert once again falls behind LeetCode.
Customer Support
AlgoExpert
If you have any issues using AlgoExpert, your first stop should be the Help Center. In the Help Center, you’ll find helpful articles on using the platform, common problems, making purchases, and others.
If you prefer to reach the support team directly, you must first log in. Then, you can complete and submit a contact form. However, this isn’t always reliable.
AlgoExpert admins admit that they can’t guarantee to get back to each user because they get a high volume of messages.
Hence, if you can’t find a solution in the Help Center, you may wait a long time before getting one.
LeetCode
You have two mediums for getting support as a LeetCode user – the Help Center or Contact Form.
The Help Center has articles on managing your account, billing, subscribing, and accessing content and tutorials. Notably, it also features answers to technical questions.
If you opt to submit a contact form, you can still select the particular type of issue you have – account, technical, billing, and others.
LeetCode admins promise that a member of the support staff will respond to submitted tickets as soon as possible. Hence, you can expect a reply within hours.
Verdict
You can expect a faster reply when you submit a contact form with LeetCode than with AlgoExpert.
AlgoExpert vs LeetCode: Pricing
AlgoExpert
AlgoExpert premium costs only $36 per year. However, this is just one of the many pricing plans you’ll find if you want to switch to a premium account.
The platform has separate plans for different coding sections. Hence, in addition, to the AlgoExpert plan, the following plans are also available:
- Tech Interview Bundle: $58 per year
- SystemsExpert Plan: $36 per year
- FrontEndExpert Plan: $36 per year
- Frontend Interview Bundle: $58 per year
- Fullstack Interview Bundle: $81 per year
- MLExpert Plan: $36 per year
- Algo & ML Bundle: $58 per year
- ML Interview Bundle 1: $81 per year
LeetCode
LeetCode offers just two pricing plans – a monthly plan and a yearly plan. Check them out below:
- Monthly Plan: $35 per month
- Yearly Plan: $159 per year
Notably, LeetCode has more straightforward pricing plans than AlgoExpert, although not more affordable.
LeetCode vs AlgoExpert: Pros And Cons
AlgoExpert Pros
- One-click registration
- Supports nine programming languages
- Comprehensive workspace
- Interview questions with different difficulties
- Real-time interview assessments
- Up to 100 hours of video explanations
- Multiple annual contests
AlgoExpert Cons
- Separate pricing plans
- Relatively few interview questions
- Poor support
LeetCode Pros
- Comprehensive setup
- Supports up to twenty programming languages and protocols
- Intuitive workspace
- Up to 2,500 interview questions
- 27 Mock assessment sets
- 23 video explanation sections with over 440 hours of video
- Weekly and biweekly contests
- Onsite community forum
LeetCode Cons
- Video explanation courses are expensive
AlgoExpert vs LeetCode: Similarities And Differences
Similarities
- Both platforms feature programming interview questions and answers.
- You can use both for free, and they feature premium plans.
- With either LeetCode or AlgoExpert, you get support for popular programming languages like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Kotlin, C++, and Java.
- Both AlgoExpert and LeetCode feature a workspace.
- Both platforms feature mock interview assessments.
- Both platforms feature programming contests.
- Both LeetCode and AlgoExpert feature video explanations.
- Both have similar support channels.
Differences
- LeetCode focuses more on programming learning, while AlgoExpert focuses more on coding interviews.
- AlgoExpert supports nine programming languages, while LeetCode supports up to twenty different programming languages and protocols.
- LeetCode’s workspace is more intuitive than that of AlgoExpert.
- AlgoExpert’s workspace has more sections and options than that of LeetCode.
- LeetCode has up to 2,500 interview questions. Meanwhile, AlgoExpert has only around 160 interview questions.
- AlgoExpert features four assessment sets, while LeetCode features 27.
- LeetCode features over 440 hours of video explanations, while AlgoExpert features around 100.
- LeetCode has more programming contests compared to AlgoExpert.
- AlgoExpert doesn’t have an onsite community and discussion forum, but LeetCode does.
Conclusion
In summary, I found LeetCode the better platform for three main reasons.
First, it supports more programming languages than AlgoExpert. Second, it has far more interview questions and mock assessments, and third, it has a friendlier workspace for coding.
That said, you can also go with AlgoExpert if you like what we discussed about the platform above.
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