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.
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.
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.
Why It’s a Gem: InterviewBit offers a free platform with a structured curriculum tailored for FAANG interviews, including coding problems and mock interviews.
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Stats: A 2024 survey on X found that 65% of InterviewBit users reported improved problem-solving skills after one month.
Why It’s a Gem: CoderPad’s free sandbox mode lets you practice coding in a real-time environment, mimicking FAANG interview setups.
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Example: A self-taught coder used CoderPad’s sandbox to practice Amazon’s Online Assessment problems, improving their speed by 30% in two weeks.
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.
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Why It’s a Gem: DesignGurus.io offers free system design and coding resources, ideal for affordable FAANG interview prep.
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Case Study: A 2024 Reddit thread shared how a student used DesignGurus.io’s free resources to ace a Google system design interview.
Why It’s a Gem: Codewars offers gamified coding challenges, making free coding interview tools for FAANG fun and engaging.
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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.
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Stats: A 2023 Blind survey found that 80% of FAANG candidates used free behavioral prep resources like CareerCup to prepare.
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:
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.
InterviewBit, CoderPad, GeeksforGeeks, DesignGurus.io, and Codewars are excellent for coding, system design, and mock interviews. They offer FAANG-aligned content and community support.
Yes, InterviewBit and CoderPad offer free peer feedback. Join Reddit’s r/cscareerquestions or Codewars’ forums for community insights.
Excalidraw and Tech Interview Handbook cover system design, while CareerCup and Big Interview provide free behavioral prep resources.
Use Notion or Trello to log problems solved, mock interviews, and study hours. Create a checklist for motivation.
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.
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