Is AlgoExpert Worth It?

When preparing for coding interviews, many aspiring software engineers turn to AlgoExpert—a platform designed to help you master data structures, algorithms, and system design. But is it worth the investment?

In this article, we will explore whether AlgoExpert is worth your money by analyzing its features, pricing, pros & cons, and comparing it to other platforms.

1. What is AlgoExpert?

AlgoExpert is an interview preparation platform created by Clément Mihailescu, a former Google and Facebook software engineer. It offers 160+ handpicked coding problems with video explanations, coding solutions, and mock interview features.

Unlike LeetCode or HackerRank, which provide thousands of problems, AlgoExpert focuses on quality over quantity, ensuring that users understand core problem-solving techniques.

2. Key Features of AlgoExpert

✅ 1. Curated 160+ Coding Problems

AlgoExpert offers 160+ handpicked coding questions categorized by difficulty:

Easy: Basic algorithmic problems.
Medium: Standard interview problems.
Hard: Advanced problems requiring deep knowledge.

The problems cover essential data structures and algorithm topics, including:

Arrays, Strings, Linked Lists
Recursion, Trees, Graphs
Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms

✅ 2. High-Quality Video Explanations

Each problem has a detailed video explanation by Clément Mihailescu himself. He breaks down problem-solving techniques step-by-step, making it easy for learners to understand.

This is one of AlgoExpert’s biggest advantages over LeetCode or CodeSignal, which lack video explanations.

✅ 3. Multiple Programming Languages

You can solve problems in 9 programming languages, including:

Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, Swift, Go, C#, Kotlin, TypeScript

This makes AlgoExpert accessible to programmers from different backgrounds.

✅ 4. Interactive Coding Environment

AlgoExpert provides a built-in coding environment where users can write and test their code directly on the platform.

However, the coding environment is not as advanced as LeetCode (which has more debugging features).

✅ 5. Behavioral Interview Prep

AlgoExpert includes a behavioral interview section, which helps you prepare for questions like:

“Tell me about yourself.”
“Describe a time you solved a difficult problem.”

This is helpful for first-time job seekers but less useful for experienced developers.

✅ 6. System Design & Database Expert (Add-ons)

For senior developers, AlgoExpert offers SystemExpert and DatabaseExpert as separate paid add-ons.

SystemExpert: Covers system design concepts like scalability, caching, and distributed systems.
DatabaseExpert: Focuses on SQL, NoSQL, indexing, and database optimizations.

These are useful for FAANG interviews, but cost extra ($49 each).

3. Pricing: Is AlgoExpert Affordable?

Plan	Price
AlgoExpert (160+ questions)	$99/year
AlgoExpert + SystemExpert	$149/year
AlgoExpert + SystemExpert + DatabaseExpert	$189/year

💡 Is AlgoExpert expensive?
Compared to LeetCode Premium ($159/year), AlgoExpert is cheaper. However, it has fewer problems (160 vs. 2,700+ on LeetCode).

4. Pros & Cons of AlgoExpert

✅ Pros (Why AlgoExpert is Worth It)

✔ Structured Learning Path → No need to guess what to study.
✔ Video Explanations → Better than reading long text explanations.
✔ Good for Beginners → Helps understand coding concepts.
✔ Cheaper Than LeetCode Premium → One-time $99/year payment.
✔ Covers Behavioral Interviews → Useful for first-time job seekers.

❌ Cons (Why AlgoExpert Might NOT Be Worth It)

❌ Only 160+ Problems → Less variety compared to LeetCode.
❌ No Real Company Questions → Unlike LeetCode, it doesn’t show FAANG-specific problems.
❌ No Free Version → You can’t try before buying.
❌ Coding Environment is Basic → Limited debugging features.

5. How Does AlgoExpert Compare to Other Platforms?

AlgoExpert vs. LeetCode

Feature	AlgoExpert	LeetCode
Total Questions	160+	2,700+
Video Explanations	✅ Yes	❌ No
Structured Learning	✅ Yes	❌ No
Mock Interviews	❌ No	✅ Yes
Company-Specific Questions	❌ No	✅ Yes
Pricing	$99/year	$159/year

💡 Which One Should You Pick?

Choose AlgoExpert if you need structured learning & video explanations.
Choose LeetCode if you want real FAANG questions & mock interviews.

AlgoExpert vs. CodeSignal

Feature	AlgoExpert	CodeSignal
Coding Challenges	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Video Explanations	✅ Yes	❌ No
Real FAANG Questions	❌ No	✅ Yes
Free Version	❌ No	✅ Yes
Pricing	$99/year	Free & Paid Plans

💡 Which One Should You Pick?

AlgoExpert is better for learning & video-based explanations.
CodeSignal is better for real-world coding tests & job assessments.

6. Who Should Buy AlgoExpert?

AlgoExpert is Worth It If:

✔ You are a beginner and need structured learning.
✔ You learn best through video explanations.
✔ You want affordable interview prep ($99/year vs. $159 for LeetCode Premium).
✔ You struggle with coding problem-solving techniques.

AlgoExpert is NOT Worth It If:

❌ You want real FAANG interview questions.
❌ You prefer free coding platforms like LeetCode Free or CodeSignal.
❌ You are already an experienced coder who only needs practice.

7. Final Verdict: Is AlgoExpert Worth It?

💡 Yes, AlgoExpert is worth it if you are a beginner or intermediate developer who wants structured learning with video explanations.

However, if you want thousands of practice problems, real company questions, and mock interviews, then LeetCode is a better choice.

8. Best Strategy: How to Use AlgoExpert Effectively

🔹 Step 1: Use AlgoExpert to learn problem-solving concepts.
🔹 Step 2: Once you complete the 160 problems, switch to LeetCode for more practice.
🔹 Step 3: Use LeetCode mock interviews to simulate real interview conditions.

By combining AlgoExpert’s structured learning with LeetCode’s vast problem set, you get the best of both worlds. 🚀

Final Recommendation

👉 AlgoExpert is a great investment for beginners and those who prefer video explanations.
👉 If you already have strong coding skills, you’re better off with LeetCode or CodeSignal.

ApexDelight