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Explore the 10 free resources every software engineer needs to ace coding, system design, and behavioral interviews in 2025—without spending a dime. in 2025. From coding to system design, ace your interviews without spending a dime.
Picture this: you’re one coding challenge away from landing your dream software engineering job at a top tech company, but the pressure is on. The whiteboard looms, the interviewer’s watching, and you need to nail that algorithm or system design question. Sound daunting? It doesn’t have to be. With the right free resources for software engineer interview prep, you can walk into any interview ready to shine. In this 2025 guide, we’ve handpicked the 10 best free coding interview resources to help you master coding, system design, and behavioral interviews—all without spending a penny.
With FAANG companies receiving over 2 million applications annually (Glassdoor, 2023), standing out demands smart preparation. From free coding interview practice platforms to free system design interview resources, this blog offers actionable strategies, real-world examples, and insider tips to boost your confidence. Whether you’re a fresh grad or a seasoned engineer, these tools will pave your path to success.
Tech interviews are no walk in the park. FAANG companies grill candidates on algorithms, data structures, system design, and behavioral fit, with acceptance rates as low as 1-2% (Glassdoor, 2023). The good news? Free resources for software engineer interview prep have democratized access to top-tier preparation. These platforms, guides, and communities offer realistic practice, structured learning, and peer support, helping you compete without breaking the bank.
Statistic: A 2024 LeetCode survey found that candidates using free mock interview platforms were 60% more likely to pass FAANG coding interviews.
By tapping into these tools, you can simulate real interview conditions, get feedback, and build confidence—all for free. Let’s explore the top 10 resources to get you there.
LeetCode is a cornerstone of free coding interview practice platforms, offering thousands of problems tagged by company (e.g., “Amazon Top 50”) and difficulty level.
HackerRank provides a robust library of coding challenges and free mock interview websites for engineers, with timed challenges that mimic real interview pressure.
Pramp mock interviews offer peer-to-peer practice for coding, system design, and behavioral interviews, with users alternating between interviewer and interviewee roles.
The Blind 75 coding questions list, curated by a former FAANG engineer, covers 75 essential problems for data structures and algorithms.
Grind 75 interview prep is a customizable version of Blind 75, letting you tailor problems to your skill level and time constraints.
The Tech Interview Handbook is a free, open-source guide with comprehensive advice on coding, system design, and behavioral interview prep free.
Anonymous Coding & Technical Interview Prep for Software Engineers | Interviewing.io offers free, anonymous mock interviews with FAANG engineers.
FreeCodeCamp delivers free coding interview practice platforms and tutorials, including front-end challenges and project-based learning.
The System Design Primer is an open-source GitHub repo with free system design interview resources on concepts like load balancing and caching.
NeetCode provides free video tutorials and a curated problem list, complementing Blind 75 and Grind 75 for coding interviews.
Beyond the top 10, these resources offer additional value for software engineer interview prep. Each provides unique tools or perspectives to round out your preparation.
| # | Resource Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CS50 by Harvard (edX) | Foundational computer science course with free access to lectures and problem sets, ideal for building a strong technical base. |
| 2 | Exercism.io | Free coding practice with mentorship, offering exercises in 50+ languages and community feedback for skill improvement. |
| 3 | TechMockInterview | Mock interview platform with peer-to-peer sessions, focusing on coding and system design practice for realistic prep. |
| 4 | Glassdoor | Company reviews and interview questions shared by real candidates, offering insights into company-specific processes. |
| 5 | Reddit – r/cscareerquestions & r/leetcode | Community-driven advice and insights from engineers, with tips, success stories, and problem-solving discussions. |
| 6 | GeeksforGeeks | Coding tutorials and interview prep resources, covering algorithms, data structures, and company-specific questions. |
| 7 | AlgoMonster (Free Tier) | Algorithm-focused interview prep with free problem sets and patterns, designed for efficient FAANG prep. |
| 8 | Frontend Interview Handbook | Frontend-specific interview guide with free resources for JavaScript, CSS, and React interview questions. |
| 9 | Tech Interview Best Practices & Techniques | General strategy and soft skills guide, offering free advice on communication, resume building, and behavioral prep. |
Pro Tip: Use Glassdoor to research company-specific questions and Reddit for real-time community tips to stay updated on 2025 interview trends.
A strategic mix of software engineer interview preparation tools ensures well-rounded prep. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using free resources:
Case Study: Raj, a mid-level engineer, combined LeetCode, Pramp, and System Design Primer over 8 weeks. He landed a senior role at Netflix by excelling in both coding and system design interviews.
Pro Tip: Track progress in a spreadsheet, noting problems solved, feedback received, and areas to improve.
Even the best free coding interview resources can fall short if misused. Here are pitfalls to avoid:
Statistic: A 2025 Reddit thread noted that 40% of candidates failed FAANG interviews due to poor time management during prep.
Top picks include LeetCode, HackerRank, Pramp, Blind 75, Grind 75, Tech Interview Handbook, Interviewing.io, FreeCodeCamp, System Design Primer, and NeetCode.
Free mock interview websites for engineers like Pramp, Interviewing.io, and TechMockInterview cover coding, system design, and behavioral questions.
Blind 75 coding questions is a curated list of 75 problems covering key FAANG topics, praised for its focus and efficiency.
Tech Interview Handbook and Tech Interview Best Practices & Techniques offer free behavioral guides, while Pramp provides behavioral interview prep free.
Use LeetCode, HackerRank, Exercism.io, or free coding interview practice platforms like FreeCodeCamp for problems and Pramp for live practice.
Customize Grind 75 interview prep problem sets based on your skill level, solving 5-10 problems weekly to build momentum.
Pramp mock interviews pair you with peers for 60-minute sessions, alternating roles, with a shared code editor and rubric-based feedback.
Use peer-to-peer coding interviews on Pramp or Interviewing.io’s free sessions for detailed, actionable feedback.
Yes, combining free system design interview resources and coding platforms like LeetCode can prepare you for FAANG interviews.
Use multiple resources strategically (e.g., LeetCode for coding, Pramp for mocks, System Design Primer for design) for balanced prep.
Yes, Interviewing.io offers anonymous, free mock interviews, though limited sessions are available without a paid plan.
Free system design practice from System Design Primer is sufficient for foundational prep but may need supplementation for senior roles.
The 10 free resources for software engineer interview prep in this 2025 guide—plus the bonus mentions like CS50 by Harvard, GeeksforGeeks, and Frontend Interview Handbook—equip you with everything needed to ace your interviews without spending a dime. From coding interview cheat sheets to free system design practice, these tools deliver realistic practice and actionable insights.
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