In this technologically competitive world, LeetCode is the most hyped software for system designs and is undoubtedly a good choice. But what about the best Leetcode alternatives, offering outstanding features and enabling you to practice system design problems, data structures, and algorithms in the way of LeetCode? LeetCode has certain limitations like limited SQL questions, confined video guides, and step-wise tutorials. The software doesn't seem novice-friendly and lacks person-to-person imitating interviews to boost your comprehension skills in a genuine interview. Being a software engineer, website developer, and data scientist, these limitations are not ignorable. That's why people are forced to switch to LeetCode alternatives available in the market.

What is LeetCode?

LeetCode presents several exercises including linked lists, graphs, data structures, piles, and arrays to prepare you fully for efficient performance in actual tasks. The real-like interviews and numerous algorithmic dares refine your coding skills, particularly important for technical persons seeking for job. A specific time limit practice in this platform makes you fully prepared to solve multiple problems in a given time and boosts your speed. Undoubtedly, LeetCode is the best choice for coding practice, but calling it best for other aspects like system design is not justified. Because the app cannot prepare tech persons in programming fields and complex software systems.

What LeetCode Misses?

LeetCode doesn't mimic actual-like coding scenarios. Users claim that coding questions in LeetCode vary from real-world coding. If talk about real experience, a lot of documentation, libraries, and other knowledge-based resources are accessible to software developers that are missing in problems presented by LeetCode. The platform cannot compete with these resources that are crucial for system design practice. The software targets only the learning approach and is deficient in promoting problem-solving skills. The problems portrayed on the site are solved with a particular solution and don't brainstorm the users.

In short, the questions are not out of the box and this scenario sometimes fails to work in real-life interviews. The engineers are required to solve unique problems that can't be solved with a standard solution. Secondly, LeetCode doesn't have appropriate stuff relevant to system design interviews. System design includes some extent of coding questions but varies from coding interviews in several ways. These include a range of designing skills along with teamwork and problem-solving approach. The software doesn’t prioritize these skills, which are necessary to achieve success in real system design interviews.

LeetCode Alternatives for System Design [2024]

1: Codemia [Recommended]

Codemia.io is the latest website that specializes in training system design problems in LeetCode style. The budget-friendly people can take advantage of its free version. However, a paid version with superb features is also available to practice system design problems. It comes up with over 120 system design queries, and most of them are derived from previous interviews like designing a communication app like WhatsApp, a video-streaming app like YouTube, or a music-streaming app like Spotify. In addition, it includes questions related to designing a URL Shortener such as TinyURL.

Most importantly, Codemia covers you with a structure through which you can have access to System design problems like API Design, database design, back of envelop estimation, and component designs. The main thing about Codemia is its AI-driven capability, so quick evaluation, and a more motivating environment for correction and learning results. How does AI help users? Tech persons select a problem and solve this problem in a given structure that includes several key steps. As a result, Artificial Intelligence gives feedback and allows users to share solutions for receiving further feedback. This feedback sequel makes the learning environment more engaging and rewarding.

This site has got your back involving Object-Oriented Design and Machine Learning System design, which are too resembled to system designs. AI-generated chatbot integration ensures the simplification of complicated and conceptual questions. Plus, users get a wide range of lectures covering standard and complex perspectives of system design. The customizable display of the site delivers a smooth experience. Overall, this platform is a collective unit of guidelines, practice, quick AI-based feedback, and an abundance of learning content.

2: Codewars:

Codewars is an educational-purposed platform to train software engineers and developers with the help of programming-relevant queries called Kata. On the site, the challenge sequence is gamified. This means users can earn ranks on completion of Kata, participating in Kata, and solving problems with quality solutions. Codewars is designed with actual-like programming exercises to train the tech persons in numerous programming languages like Java. To solve these queries, an integrated development environment is created on the site.

Codewars takes attention because it's free to play but is ad-supported. But the premium version is paid to experience ad-free access and quicker execution of your code. The beginner-friendly entry without any requirement for installation and no start-up before approaching the programming series is a good thing about Codewars. You just need to browse the site and it's compatible with a variety of programming languages. A learning environment is generated when you can see other people's answers or solutions.

This aspect makes it easier for you to research the stuff you weren't focused on doing. In this way, your programming knowledge is optimized. Undoubtedly, it's a good decision to rely on Codewars for programming skills but it lacks the organized curriculum like other sites, and the quality and clarity of challenges are also doubtful. Most importantly, it misses the system design relevant learning environment.

3: Edabit:

Edabit targets shorter and more frequent challenges to boost efficiency with time. The site delivers a learning experience in the same way as we learn a new language. It's designed to proceed the users from simpler to complex tasks. The platform is suitable for novice and experienced users, looking forward to learning via step-by-step challenges along with instant feedback. Users can access standard challenges free of cost but a subscription is required to access advanced challenges at $10 per month in the start.

Its beginner-friendly interface provides a seamless transition from basic to advanced problems. Edabit is specifically used by engineers to gain new skills in data structures, algorithms, logic, and coding challenges. It's the learning opportunity to learn different coding languages like PHP and Ruby. The platform also presents basic challenges for people without an engineering backdrop.

But what's missing on Edabit is essential to know. The engineers find this site deficient in complex challenges that are necessary to succeed in real-world interviews. Edabit only focuses on the standard to intermediate coding challenges and lacks system design queries like designing a particular social media application. But you can look forward to other LeetCode alternatives like Codemia, specifically designed to train in system design along with coding.

4: Codecademy:

Codecademy is an online platform targeting self-guided courses to practice real-world coding. Codecademy Bootcamp is an online learning platform displaying exercises, quizzes, and projects for novices and professionals seeking to upgrade their programming knowledge. The platform's "career paths" play a crucial role in training engineering students in the technological industry.

These paths include multiple perspectives like data science, web development, and front- or back-end engineering. On completion of the career path, users are awarded professional certification. If talk about subscription charges, it offers some free individual courses but a paid membership is a must to access career paths and advanced skills. Codecademy courses include descriptions and guidelines that sometimes fail to replace the one-on-one interaction.

Secondly, it lacks instructor support along with costly subscription charges The Plus plan costs $29.99 per month and the Pro plan costs $39.99 per month. It also lacks some important steps creating hurdles in the smooth transition to a system design career.

5: Exercism:

Exercism delivers instructor-guided exercises in almost 50 programming languages to promote better coding practices and immediate feedback. Persons who value individualized feedback and upgrading problem-solving skills and coding practices prefer this platform. It is specifically designed to improve coding techniques and provide strong mentorship.
It is completely free as it works on a non-profitable strategy. It simplifies the process of learning programming languages. Embarking on a journey to learn a new language is challenging, but it eases that transition. But it requires you to create your account first. Once you submit your solution, automated checks are performed. On completing the exercises, you can compare your solutions with others.

However, the site has some drawbacks like the unavailability of mentors at the moment and the learning pace needing constant mentorship. It focuses on learning languages but not craftsmanship. Keep in mind that learning a language is not enough to appear as a good programmer.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, LeetCode has got a name as a learning coding skills platform but lacks the system design-related questions, and users suffer through certain limitations. That's why users are compelled to approach LeetCode Alternatives, introduced in the technologically evolved world. This article has discussed the best LeetCode alternatives like Codemia, the top-rated and most affordable learning platform including basic and integrated system design problems. Opt for the LeetCode alternative promoting the skills, necessary to succeed in real-world system design interviews.