12 Best Free Coding Practice Sites for Beginners in 2025

Top free online coding practice sites for beginners include LeetCode, HackerRank, GeeksforGeeks, Codeforces, and Codewars. This guide covers pros/cons for each site.

Mentor

Blog

β€˜Where can I practice coding for free?’

This is one of the most searched questions by new programmers on Google. If you're just starting your coding journey, you probably feel lost about where to practice and improve your skills.

The best sites offer everything from beginner-friendly tutorials to advanced algorithm challenges that prepare you for tech interviews. βœ…

So, if you're wondering, 'Which coding site should I start with?' We've got you covered!

We've researched and tested various platforms to find the ones that actually help you improve your programming skills fast. For each platform, we've covered the pros and cons, plus what type of programmer it's best for, so you can make the right choice.

Let's explore the top 12 coding practice websites that can help you enhance your coding skills and crack tech interviews. πŸ‘‡

Top 12 Coding Websites to Improve Your Coding Skills

1. LeetCode

LeetCode

LeetCode is the most popular coding platform used by millions of programmers worldwide. It focuses on algorithm and data structure problems that companies ask in job interviews.

Pros:

  • Over 3,000+ coding problems to solve
    • Problems are sorted by difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard)
      • Free access to many problems
        • Great discussion section with solutions

          Cons:

          • Can be too hard for complete beginners
            • Premium features cost money
              • Focus mainly on interview-style problems

                πŸ“Œ Best for: Students preparing for coding interviews and intermediate programmers who want to sharpen their problem-solving skills.

                πŸ’‘ Pro Tip: To get the most out of LeetCode, try this FREE AI Coding Mentor chrome extension. This tool works directly on LeetCode and other coding platforms, giving you real-time feedback as you solve problems.

                It helps optimise your time/space complexity, points out edge cases you might miss, and even has an interview mode where you get 20 minutes to solve problems just like in real interviews.

                Think of it as having a coding mentor right beside you while you practice! βœ…

                2. HackerRank

                HackerRank

                HackerRank is one of the best websites to practice coding with a focus on both learning and competing. It offers coding challenges in many programming languages.

                Pros:

                • Beginner-friendly interface
                  • Certificates you can add to your resume
                    • Covers many programming languages
                      • Company challenges and competitions
                        • Good for beginners to advanced coders

                          Cons:

                          • Some advanced features require payment
                            • Limited explanation for solutions
                              • Can be overwhelming with too many options

                                πŸ“Œ Best for: Beginners who want structured learning and professionals looking to showcase their skills to employers.

                                3. GeeksforGeeks

                                GeeksforGeeks

                                GeeksforGeeks is one of the most popular coding practice sites among computer science students and professionals, offering everything from basic tutorials to advanced algorithm problems.

                                Pros:

                                • Huge collection of coding problems and tutorials
                                  • Excellent explanations with examples
                                    • Covers all computer science topics
                                      • Free access to most content
                                        • Great for interview preparation
                                          • Strong focus on Data Structures and Algorithms

                                            Cons:

                                            • Website design can feel outdated
                                              • Can be overwhelming for complete beginners
                                                • Premium subscription required for some features

                                                  πŸ“Œ Best for: Computer science students and professionals who want comprehensive coding practice with detailed explanations.

                                                  πŸ’‘Pro Tip: GeeksforGeeks has tons of problems, but getting feedback on your solutions can be tricky.

                                                  Our free AI Coding Mentor will watch your code as you solve and give instant feedback on mistakes, helping you learn faster without switching tabs.

                                                  4. Codeforces

                                                  Codeforces

                                                  Codeforces is one of the most respected competitive programming platforms in the world, hosting regular contests and maintaining a large community of skilled programmers.

                                                  Pros:

                                                  • High-quality competitive programming problems
                                                    • Regular contests (2-3 times per week)
                                                      • Strong rating system to track progress
                                                        • Excellent community and discussions
                                                          • Problems are well-tested and challenging

                                                            Cons:

                                                            • Very difficult for beginners
                                                              • Requires good math and algorithm knowledge
                                                                • Contest time pressure can be stressful
                                                                  • Limited beginner tutorials

                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Intermediate to advanced programmers who want to excel in competitive programming and algorithmic problem-solving.

                                                                    5. Codewars

                                                                    Codewars

                                                                    Codewars turns coding practice into a fun game where you solve "kata" (coding challenges) to level up your skills.

                                                                    Pros:

                                                                    • Gamified learning experience
                                                                      • Community-created challenges
                                                                        • Multiple programming languages supported
                                                                          • You can see other people's solutions after solving
                                                                            • Free to use

                                                                              Cons:

                                                                              • Some challenges can be confusing for beginners
                                                                                • Quality of problems varies
                                                                                  • Limited learning resources or tutorials

                                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Programmers who like competitive coding and want to practice problem-solving in a fun way.

                                                                                    πŸ‘‰ Recommending reading: Top 50 DSA Questions to Practice in 2025

                                                                                    6. Edabit

                                                                                    Edabit

                                                                                    Edabit offers bite-sized coding challenges that are perfect for daily practice sessions.

                                                                                    Pros:

                                                                                    • Challenges are short and focused
                                                                                      • Great for daily coding practice
                                                                                        • Clear difficulty progression
                                                                                          • Good for multiple programming languages
                                                                                            • Active community discussions

                                                                                              Cons:

                                                                                              • Limited advanced topics
                                                                                                • Fewer features than larger platforms
                                                                                                  • Some challenges might be too simple

                                                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Beginners who want quick daily coding practice and prefer shorter challenges over long projects.

                                                                                                    7. freeCodeCamp

                                                                                                    freeCodeCamp

                                                                                                    freeCodeCamp is a completely free coding practice site that teaches you to build real projects while learning.

                                                                                                    Pros:

                                                                                                    • 100% free forever
                                                                                                      • Learn by building actual projects
                                                                                                        • Strong community support
                                                                                                          • Certificates for completing courses
                                                                                                            • Covers full-stack web development

                                                                                                              Cons:

                                                                                                              • Can take a long time to complete courses
                                                                                                                • Self-paced learning requires discipline
                                                                                                                  • Limited interactive features compared to paid platforms

                                                                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Beginners who want to learn web development for free and build a portfolio of real projects.

                                                                                                                    8. Codecademy

                                                                                                                    Codecademy

                                                                                                                    Codecademy makes coding practice for beginners super easy with interactive lessons that feel like games.

                                                                                                                    Pros:

                                                                                                                    • Very beginner-friendly
                                                                                                                      • Interactive coding environment
                                                                                                                        • No setup required - code directly in the browser
                                                                                                                          • Clear explanations and hints
                                                                                                                            • Covers web development, Python, JavaScript, and more

                                                                                                                              Cons:

                                                                                                                              • Many courses require a paid subscription
                                                                                                                                • Limited advanced topics in the free version
                                                                                                                                  • Less focus on problem-solving challenges

                                                                                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Complete beginners who want to learn programming languages step-by-step with guided lessons.

                                                                                                                                    9. TopCoder

                                                                                                                                    TopCoder

                                                                                                                                    TopCoder is one of the oldest competitive programming platforms where coders compete in contests to win prizes.

                                                                                                                                    Pros:

                                                                                                                                    • Regular programming contests
                                                                                                                                      • Cash prizes for winners
                                                                                                                                        • Strong community of expert programmers
                                                                                                                                          • Good for algorithm practice
                                                                                                                                            • Real-world problem-solving

                                                                                                                                              Cons:

                                                                                                                                              • Very challenging for beginners
                                                                                                                                                • Competitive environment can be stressful
                                                                                                                                                  • Limited beginner-friendly resources

                                                                                                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Advanced programmers who want to compete and test their skills against the best coders worldwide.

                                                                                                                                                    10. AtCoder

                                                                                                                                                    AtCoder

                                                                                                                                                    AtCoder is a Japanese competitive programming platform known for high-quality algorithm problems.

                                                                                                                                                    Pros:

                                                                                                                                                    • Well-designed algorithm problems
                                                                                                                                                      • Regular contests every weekend
                                                                                                                                                        • Good editorial explanations
                                                                                                                                                          • Clean and simple interface
                                                                                                                                                            • Growing international community

                                                                                                                                                              Cons:

                                                                                                                                                              • Mainly focused on competitive programming
                                                                                                                                                                • Can be too difficult for beginners
                                                                                                                                                                  • Less variety in programming languages

                                                                                                                                                                    πŸ“Œ Best for: Programmers interested in algorithms and competitive programming with well-crafted problems.

                                                                                                                                                                    11. InterviewBit

                                                                                                                                                                    InterviewBit

                                                                                                                                                                    InterviewBit is specifically designed for coding interview preparation, offering structured courses and problems used by top tech companies.

                                                                                                                                                                    Pros:

                                                                                                                                                                    • Focused on interview preparation
                                                                                                                                                                      • Structured learning paths for different topics
                                                                                                                                                                        • Problems categorized by company and difficulty
                                                                                                                                                                          • Mock interviews and time-based challenges
                                                                                                                                                                            • Good explanations and hints

                                                                                                                                                                              Cons:

                                                                                                                                                                              • Limited free content
                                                                                                                                                                                • Less variety compared to general practice sites
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Mainly focused on interview prep, not general learning
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Can be repetitive for advanced users

                                                                                                                                                                                      πŸ“Œ Best for: Students and professionals preparing for coding interviews at tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

                                                                                                                                                                                      12. SPOJ (Sphere Online Judge)

                                                                                                                                                                                      SPOJ

                                                                                                                                                                                      SPOJ is one of the oldest and largest online judge platforms with over 20,000 coding problems from around the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                      Pros:

                                                                                                                                                                                      • Huge collection of problems (20,000+)
                                                                                                                                                                                        • Supports 40+ programming languages
                                                                                                                                                                                          • Problems from various programming contests
                                                                                                                                                                                            • Free to use with no restrictions
                                                                                                                                                                                              • Good for practising diverse problem types

                                                                                                                                                                                                Cons:

                                                                                                                                                                                                • Old-fashioned interface
                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Problems vary in quality
                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Limited explanations or tutorials
                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Can be overwhelming for beginners

                                                                                                                                                                                                        πŸ“Œ Best for: Experienced programmers who want access to a vast collection of programming problems from contests worldwide.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Wrapping it Up

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Starting your coding journey can feel overwhelming, but these 12 coding practice sites make learning fun and structured.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        For complete beginners, we recommend starting with GeeksforGeeks or freeCodeCamp to learn the basics, then moving to HackerRank or LeetCode for problem-solving practice.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Here's your step-by-step plan:

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Week 1-4: Start with GeeksforGeeks or freeCodeCamp to learn your first programming language
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Week 5-8: Practice daily on Codewars or HackerRank to build problem-solving skills
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Week 9+: Challenge yourself with LeetCode and Codeforces problems

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Remember, the best website to practice coding is the one you'll actually use consistently. Pick 2-3 platforms that match your learning style and stick with them. Most successful programmers spend at least 30 minutes daily on these free coding practice sites.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Now, no matter which coding practice sites you choose, you'll face a common challenge: you have coding problems, but no one to tell you if your approach is right or give you hints without spoiling the solution.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Most beginners end up looking at solutions too early or getting stuck without real-time guidance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              This is where our free AI Coding Mentor extension can be a game-changer. It works across all these platforms - LeetCode, HackerRank, GeeksforGeeks, Codeforces, and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              It acts as your personal coding companion, watching your code as you type and giving real-time feedback on your approach. 🧠

                                                                                                                                                                                                              It helps you optimise your solutions, points out potential issues, and gives hints to keep you moving forward - all without spoiling the answer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Plus, it simulates real interview conditions with timed practice sessions. It's like having an experienced programmer guide you through every problem!

                                                                                                                                                                                                              The key is consistency, not perfection. Start today, practice daily with AI Coding Mentor, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your coding skills improve! πŸš€

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Frequently Asked Questions

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 1: Which coding practice site is best for complete beginners?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              GeeksforGeeks and freeCodeCamp are the best for complete beginners because they offer step-by-step lessons with clear explanations and no prior coding experience required.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 2: Are these coding practice websites really free?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Yes, most websites to practice coding offer considerable free content. Platforms like freeCodeCamp, Codewars, and basic LeetCode are completely free, while others offer free tiers with optional paid upgrades.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 3: How much time should I spend on coding practice daily?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Start with 30 minutes daily on programming practice websites. As you get comfortable, you can increase to 1-2 hours. Consistency matters more than long practice sessions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 4: Should I focus on one coding platform or use multiple sites?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Use 2-3 coding practice sites maximum. Start with one beginner-friendly platform, then add a problem-solving site like HackerRank. Too many platforms can be overwhelming and slow your progress.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 5: How can I get feedback on my coding solutions while practising?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Use the AI Coding Mentor Chrome extension (it's free!) - it works on all major coding platforms and gives real-time feedback on your code.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              It even has an interview mode to simulate real coding interviews with detailed feedback reports.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 6: Which programming language should I start with on these sites?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Python is the best first language for beginners because it's easy to read and write. Most coding platforms support Python, and it's widely used in the tech industry.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q 7: How do I know if I'm ready for LeetCode?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              You're ready for LeetCode when you can solve basic programming problems involving loops, arrays, and functions. If you can complete beginner challenges on HackerRank or Codewars, you can start with LeetCode Easy problems.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              -----------------------

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Also read:

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Top 100 Coding Interview Questions for 2025: Java, Python, DSA

                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Ultimate Leetcode Solving Strategy for Coding Interviews