Cracking a FAANG interview—whether at Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, or Google—feels like chasing a dream job through a maze of coding challenges, system design questions, and behavioral interviews. For students or self-taught coders on a budget, the cost of premium prep courses can feel like a roadblock. But here’s the exciting part: there are Hidden Gems: Lesser-Known Free Tools for Tech Interview among FAANG prep free tools that can help you succeed without spending a penny. This exploratory blog uncovers lesser-known, budget-friendly FAANG interview resources, offering a detailed guide to FAANG interview preparation on a budget. With practical tips, real-world examples, and a structured roadmap, you’ll discover how to leverage these tools to ace your tech interviews.
Why Lesser-Known FAANG Prep Tools Matter
FAANG interviews are notoriously tough, testing candidates on coding, system design, and behavioral skills. According to a 2024 Levels.fyi report, 70% of FAANG candidates rely on free or low-cost resources to prepare, yet many overlook lesser-known platforms in favor of mainstream ones like LeetCode. These best free FAANG prep tools offer unique features, such as gamified challenges, niche tutorials, or peer-to-peer practice, making them ideal for student budget FAANG prep.
These budget-friendly FAANG interview resources are especially valuable for those who can’t afford premium subscriptions costing $200–$500. By exploring these hidden gems, you can access free coding interview tools for FAANG, build confidence, and compete with candidates using paid courses. Let’s dive into the lesser-known tools that can transform your prep.
Top Lesser-Known Free FAANG Prep Tools
While platforms like LeetCode and HackerRank dominate the spotlight, these lesser-known top free coding platforms for FAANG offer unique advantages. Here’s a curated list, ranked for usability and alignment with FAANG interview needs.
InterviewBit
Why It’s a Gem: InterviewBit offers a free platform with a structured curriculum tailored for FAANG interviews, including coding problems and mock interviews.
Features:
- Curated Tracks: Focused paths for data structures, algorithms, and system design.
- Mock Interviews: Free coding and system design practice with peers.
- FAANG-Specific Problems: Questions tagged by company (e.g., Amazon, Google).
- Progress Tracker: Monitor your improvement with free analytics.
Tips for Students:
- Start with the “Programming” track to master arrays and strings.
- Use the free mock interview feature to practice under time constraints.
- Review solutions to learn optimal approaches.
Stats: A 2024 survey on X found that 65% of InterviewBit users reported improved problem-solving skills after one month.
CoderPad (Free Sandbox)
Why It’s a Gem: CoderPad’s free sandbox mode lets you practice coding in a real-time environment, mimicking FAANG interview setups.
Features:
- Real-Time Coding: Practice in a browser-based IDE with multiple languages.
- FAANG-Style Questions: Free problem sets aligned with tech interviews.
- Collaboration Tools: Pair with peers for mock interviews.
Tips for Students:
- Use the sandbox to simulate timed coding sessions.
- Practice explaining your code aloud to prepare for interviews.
- Explore free problem sets tagged for FAANG companies.
Example: A self-taught coder used CoderPad’s sandbox to practice Amazon’s Online Assessment problems, improving their speed by 30% in two weeks.
GeeksforGeeks (Free Resources)
Why It’s a Gem: GeeksforGeeks provides a vast library of free tutorials, articles, and practice problems, perfect for FAANG coding practice sites for students.
Features:
- Tutorials: Free guides on algorithms, data structures, and system design.
- Practice Problems: Thousands of free coding challenges.
- Company-Specific Coop: Articles on FAANG interview questions.
Tips for Students:
- Read articles on dynamic programming and graph algorithms.
- Solve 10–15 problems weekly from the “Practice” section.
- Use the free “Company Prep” section for FAANG-specific questions.
DesignGurus.io (Free Content)
Why It’s a Gem: DesignGurus.io offers free system design and coding resources, ideal for affordable FAANG interview prep.
Features:
- Free System Design Guides: Learn about load balancing, caching, and more.
- Coding Challenges: Free problems with detailed solutions.
- Blog Posts: Insights on FAANG interview strategies.
Tips for Students:
- Study the free “System Design Fundamentals” section.
- Practice designing systems like a URL shortener or messaging app.
- Use free blog posts to understand FAANG interview patterns.
Case Study: A 2024 Reddit thread shared how a student used DesignGurus.io’s free resources to ace a Google system design interview.
Codewars
Why It’s a Gem: Codewars offers gamified coding challenges, making free coding interview tools for FAANG fun and engaging.
Features:
- Kata Challenges: Problems ranging from beginner to advanced.
- Community Solutions: Learn from peer-submitted solutions.
- Language Variety: Practice in Python, Java, C++, and more.
Tips for Students:
- Solve 2–3 katas daily to build problem-solving skills.
- Focus on challenges tagged with “algorithms” or “data structures”.
- Join Codewars’ community forums for tips and feedback.
Free Tools for System Design and Behavioral Prep
FAANG interviews go beyond coding, requiring strong system design and behavioral skills. Here are lesser-known free tools for system design and behavioral interview prep.
System Design Prep
- Excalidraw: A free, collaborative diagramming tool for practicing system design mock-ups. Create diagrams for systems like Netflix’s streaming service or Amazon’s e-commerce platform.
- Tech Interview Handbook (Free Guides): Offers free system design tutorials, covering scalability and database design.
- YouTube Channels (e.g., System Design Interview): Free videos on designing scalable systems, with FAANG-specific examples.
Tips:
- Use Excalidraw to sketch system designs during study sessions.
- Watch System Design Interview’s video on “Design a Rate Limiter” for Amazon prep.
- Practice explaining designs aloud to simulate interviews.
Behavioral Interview Prep
- CareerCup: Free access to FAANG behavioral questions and candidate experiences.
- Big Interview (Free Guides): Free videos and articles on crafting STAR responses.
- Reddit (r/cscareerquestions): Free community insights on FAANG behavioral interviews.
Tips:
- Prepare STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses for questions like “Tell me about a time you failed.”
- Practice answers with a friend or record yourself for feedback.
- Browse CareerCup for company-specific behavioral questions.
Stats: A 2023 Blind survey found that 80% of FAANG candidates used free behavioral prep resources like CareerCup to prepare.
How to Structure Your FAANG Prep with Free Tools
A step-by-step FAANG prep guide for students on a budget ensures you cover all bases. Here’s a 12-week roadmap using free FAANG coding interview question banks for students:
- Weeks 1–3: Foundational Coding
- Learn Python or Java using freeCodeCamp’s free courses.
- Solve 30–40 easy problems on InterviewBit and GeeksforGeeks.
- Study basic algorithms (e.g., sorting, searching) via YouTube tutorials.
- Weeks 4–6: Intermediate Coding
- Tackle 20–30 medium problems on Codewars and CoderPad.
- Practice dynamic programming and graph algorithms.
- Join Codewars’ weekly challenges for timed practice.
- Weeks 7–9: System Design and Advanced Coding
- Study system design basics on DesignGurus.io and Tech Interview Handbook.
- Solve 15–20 hard problems on InterviewBit.
- Create system design diagrams using Excalidraw.
- Weeks 10–12: Mock Interviews and Behavioral Prep
- Schedule 5–7 mock interviews on InterviewBit or CoderPad.
- Prepare STAR responses using CareerCup and Big Interview.
- Review weak areas with GeeksforGeeks’ solutions.
Example: A computer science student used this roadmap, combining InterviewBit for coding and Excalidraw for system design, to land an Amazon internship in 2024.
Tip: Track progress with free apps like Notion or Trello to stay organized.
FAQs
What Are the Top-Rated Free Platforms for FAANG Interview Practice?
InterviewBit, CoderPad, GeeksforGeeks, DesignGurus.io, and Codewars are excellent for coding, system design, and mock interviews. They offer FAANG-aligned content and community support.
How Do I Create a FAANG Prep Schedule Using Only Free Resources?
- Daily: Solve 2–3 coding problems on InterviewBit or Codewars.
- Weekly: Study 1–2 system design topics on DesignGurus.io and practice one mock interview.
- Monthly: Review progress and adjust focus to weak areas.
Can I Get Feedback on My Coding Interviews for Free?
Yes, InterviewBit and CoderPad offer free peer feedback. Join Reddit’s r/cscareerquestions or Codewars’ forums for community insights.
Are There Free Tools for System Design and Behavioral Interview Prep?
Excalidraw and Tech Interview Handbook cover system design, while CareerCup and Big Interview provide free behavioral prep resources.
What’s the Best Way to Track My FAANG Prep Progress Using Free Apps?
Use Notion or Trello to log problems solved, mock interviews, and study hours. Create a checklist for motivation.
Conclusion
The journey to a FAANG job doesn’t require a hefty budget—just the right tools and a solid plan. These hidden gems among FAANG prep free tools—InterviewBit, CoderPad, GeeksforGeeks, DesignGurus.io, and Codewars—offer everything you need to succeed. By following a structured FAANG interview preparation on a budget, practicing consistently, and tapping into free communities, you can turn your dream job into reality. Start exploring these tools today, stay focused, and watch your skills shine in your next tech interview.
