LeetCode Interview Strategy: Blind 75 vs NeetCode 150 in 2026 - Which Should You Practice?

You've decided to prepare for coding interviews.

You open LeetCode. 2,900+ problems stare back at you.

Where do you even start?

You google "best LeetCode problems" and find two popular lists:

• Blind 75 (curated in 2018)
• NeetCode 150 (updated version from 2022)

Which one should you study?

The answer isn't simple. Both lists have strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the wrong one could waste weeks of your time.

In this guide, I'll break down both lists, compare them head-to-head, and give you a clear roadmap for 2026.

Let's end the confusion.

The LeetCode Problem: Too Many Choices, Too Little Time

Here's the brutal truth about LeetCode:

• 2,900+ problems on the platform
• New problems added weekly
• Unlimited possible interview questions
• Limited time to prepare (most people have 4-12 weeks)

You can't solve them all.

You need a curated list that covers the most important patterns with the fewest problems.

That's where Blind 75 and NeetCode 150 come in.

What is Blind 75?

Blind 75 is a list of 75 LeetCode problems curated by a Facebook engineer in 2018.

Goal: Cover all essential coding patterns in the minimum number of problems.

Origin: Posted on the Blind app (anonymous tech employee forum) by user "teamblind"

Why it's popular:

• ✅ Only 75 problems (doable in 4-8 weeks)
• ✅ Covers all major patterns
• ✅ High-quality problems that appear in real interviews
• ✅ Endorsed by FAANG engineers

The breakdown:

Category	# Problems
Array	9
Binary	2
Dynamic Programming	11
Graph	6
Interval	2
Linked List	6
Matrix	2
String	9
Tree	11
Heap	3

Total: 75 problems

Link: Blind 75 on NeetCode

What is NeetCode 150?

NeetCode 150 is an expanded version of Blind 75, created by NeetCode (popular coding interview YouTuber) in 2022.

Goal: Cover MORE patterns and edge cases while staying manageable.

Why it exists:

• Blind 75 has some gaps (missing important patterns)
• Some categories only have 2-3 problems (not enough practice)
• Hiring standards have increased since 2018

The breakdown:

Category	# Problems
Arrays & Hashing	9
Two Pointers	5
Sliding Window	6
Stack	7
Binary Search	7
Linked List	11
Trees	15
Tries	3
Heap / Priority Queue	3
Backtracking	9
Graphs	13
Advanced Graphs	6
1-D Dynamic Programming	12
2-D Dynamic Programming	11
Greedy	8
Intervals	6
Math & Geometry	8
Bit Manipulation	7

Total: 150 problems

Link: NeetCode 150 on NeetCode

Blind 75 vs NeetCode 150: Head-to-Head Comparison

Let's compare them across 8 key dimensions.

1. Coverage of Patterns

Blind 75:

• Covers 10 major patterns
• Some patterns only have 2-3 problems
• Missing: Sliding Window, Backtracking, Greedy, Trie, Advanced Graphs

NeetCode 150:

• Covers 17 patterns
• Each pattern has 5-15 problems
• Includes modern patterns asked in 2024-2026 interviews

Winner: NeetCode 150 ✅

If you're interviewing at top companies in 2026, you WILL be asked Sliding Window, Backtracking, and Greedy problems. Blind 75 doesn't prepare you for these.

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2. Time Commitment

Blind 75:

• 75 problems
• Average 1-2 hours per problem (including review)
• Total: 75-150 hours (4-8 weeks at 3 hours/day)

NeetCode 150:

• 150 problems
• Average 1-2 hours per problem
• Total: 150-300 hours (8-16 weeks at 3 hours/day)

Winner: Blind 75 ✅

If you only have 4-6 weeks, Blind 75 is more realistic.

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3. Difficulty Distribution

Blind 75:

• 25% Easy
• 50% Medium
• 25% Hard

NeetCode 150:

• 20% Easy
• 60% Medium
• 20% Hard

Winner: Tie

Both lists are medium-heavy, which reflects real interview difficulty.

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4. Pattern Depth (Practice Per Pattern)

Blind 75:

• Dynamic Programming: 11 problems ✅
• Trees: 11 problems ✅
• Arrays: 9 problems ✅
• Graphs: 6 problems ⚠️
• Linked List: 6 problems ⚠️
• Intervals: 2 problems ❌ (too few)
• Matrix: 2 problems ❌ (too few)

NeetCode 150:

• Every category has 5+ problems ✅
• 1-D DP: 12 problems ✅
• 2-D DP: 11 problems ✅
• Graphs: 13 problems ✅
• Advanced Graphs: 6 problems ✅
• Backtracking: 9 problems ✅

Winner: NeetCode 150 ✅

More problems per pattern = better pattern recognition and mastery.

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5. Relevance to 2026 Interviews

Blind 75:

• Created in 2018 (6 years old)
• Based on 2015-2018 interview trends
• Doesn't include newer patterns like:
  • Monotonic Stack
  • Union Find
  • Topological Sort
  • Bit Manipulation (only 2 problems)

NeetCode 150:

• Updated in 2022, actively maintained
• Includes modern patterns commonly asked in 2024-2026:
  • Sliding Window (6 problems)
  • Backtracking (9 problems)
  • Greedy (8 problems)
  • Advanced Graphs (Union Find, Topological Sort)

Winner: NeetCode 150 ✅

Interviews evolve. Blind 75 is showing its age.

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6. Learning Resources

Blind 75:

• No official video solutions
• Community-created solutions on YouTube (hit or miss quality)
• LeetCode Discuss section
• Various blog posts

NeetCode 150:

• Official video explanations for ALL 150 problems by NeetCode (on YouTube)
• Consistent quality, clear explanations
• Step-by-step walkthroughs
• Time/space complexity analysis

Winner: NeetCode 150 ✅

Having consistent, high-quality video explanations for every problem is a HUGE advantage.

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7. Community & Accountability

Blind 75:

• Older list, established community
• Many people have completed it
• Easy to find study buddies
• Less active discussion (older content)

NeetCode 150:

• Newer, growing community
• Active Discord server
• NeetCode actively responds to comments
• More current discussion threads

Winner: NeetCode 150 ✅

Active community = better support when you're stuck.

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8. Beginner-Friendliness

Blind 75:

• Jumps into medium problems quickly
• Less scaffolding for beginners
• Assumes some CS fundamentals

NeetCode 150:

• More gradual difficulty curve
• Better organized by pattern
• NeetCode's roadmap guides you through order

Winner: NeetCode 150 ✅

If you're new to LeetCode, NeetCode 150's structure is more beginner-friendly.

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The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Here's my recommendation based on your situation:

Choose Blind 75 if:

✅ You have 4-6 weeks to prepare (not more) ✅ You're experienced with algorithms and just need a refresh ✅ You've done LeetCode before and know the basics ✅ You're interviewing soon and need the essentials fast ✅ You prefer self-study without video guides

Best for: Time-crunched, experienced engineers

---

Choose NeetCode 150 if:

✅ You have 8+ weeks to prepare ✅ You're targeting top companies (FAANG, unicorns) ✅ You want deeper pattern mastery ✅ You prefer video explanations for every problem ✅ You're new to LeetCode or rusty on algorithms ✅ You want coverage of modern interview patterns (Sliding Window, Backtracking, etc.)

Best for: Thorough preparation, beginners to intermediate

---

My Personal Recommendation for 2026:

Do Blind 75 first (4-6 weeks), then add NeetCode extras (2-4 weeks).

This hybrid approach gives you:

1. Core patterns covered quickly (Blind 75)
2. Deeper mastery and modern patterns (NeetCode extras)
3. Flexibility to stop after Blind 75 if time is short

Total time: 6-10 weeks

The Complete Study Plan: How to Use These Lists Effectively

Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1-2) - Easy Problems

Goal: Build confidence and learn basic patterns.

What to do:

• Start with ALL easy problems from both lists
• Focus on understanding solutions, not speed
• Watch NeetCode videos for every problem
• Implement solutions from scratch (no copy-paste)

Daily routine:

• 2-3 problems per day
• 1-2 hours total

Patterns to cover:

• Arrays & Hashing
• Two Pointers
• Binary Search (easy ones)

---

Phase 2: Core Patterns (Week 3-6) - Blind 75 Mediums

Goal: Master the essential patterns.

What to do:

• Complete all Blind 75 medium problems
• Group by pattern (do all Trees together, all DP together)
• Review problems you struggled with
• Start timing yourself (aim for 30-40 min per problem)

Daily routine:

• 2-3 problems per day
• 2-3 hours total
• Review 1 old problem daily

Patterns to cover:

• Linked Lists
• Trees
• Graphs
• Dynamic Programming (1-D)
• Sliding Window

---

Phase 3: Pattern Depth (Week 7-10) - NeetCode Extras

Goal: Fill gaps and master advanced patterns.

What to do:

• Add NeetCode 150 problems that aren't in Blind 75
• Focus on weak areas (track which patterns you struggle with)
• Do all Hard problems (save for this phase)

Daily routine:

• 2-3 problems per day
• 3-4 hours total
• Review 2-3 old problems daily

Patterns to cover:

• Backtracking
• Greedy
• 2-D Dynamic Programming
• Advanced Graphs (Topological Sort, Union Find)
• Tries
• Heap / Priority Queue

---

Phase 4: Review & Mock Interviews (Week 11-12)

Goal: Solidify knowledge and build interview stamina.

What to do:

• Stop solving new problems
• Review ALL problems you've solved (skim solutions)
• Identify your top 20 weak problems and redo them
• Do timed mock interviews (90 minutes, 2 problems)
• Practice explaining solutions out loud

Daily routine:

• 1-2 new mock interviews
• Review 5-10 old problems
• Practice whiteboarding

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The Pattern-First Study Strategy

Don't do problems randomly. Study by pattern.

Why?

Because interviews test pattern recognition, not memorization.

How to study by pattern:

1. Pick a pattern (e.g., Sliding Window)
2. Watch NeetCode's pattern overview video
3. Solve ALL problems in that pattern (6-10 problems)
4. Review the pattern (what's the template? when do you use it?)
5. Move to next pattern

This builds muscle memory. After solving 10 Sliding Window problems, you'll instantly recognize new ones in interviews.

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How to Track Your Progress

Use a spreadsheet to track:

Problem	Pattern	Difficulty	1st Attempt	2nd Attempt	3rd Attempt	Notes
Two Sum	Array	Easy	✅ (20 min)	✅ (10 min)	✅ (5 min)	Hash map approach
Best Time to Buy/Sell Stock	Array	Easy	❌ (gave up)	✅ (25 min)	✅ (12 min)	Track min price

Why this matters:

• You can see which patterns you struggle with
• You can prioritize weak areas
• You can measure improvement over time
• You'll know when you're ready (all ✅ on 2nd attempt = you're close)

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Doing Problems Randomly

❌ Don't: Jump around between unrelated problems

✅ Do: Study by pattern (all Sliding Window, then all DP, etc.)

Why: Pattern recognition is key to interview success.

---

Mistake #2: Moving On Too Fast

❌ Don't: Solve a problem once and never review it

✅ Do: Solve each problem 2-3 times over several weeks

Why: Spaced repetition = long-term retention.

---

Mistake #3: Looking at Solutions Too Soon

❌ Don't: Give up after 10 minutes and watch the solution

✅ Do: Struggle for 30-45 minutes before checking hints

Why: The struggle is where learning happens.

---

Mistake #4: Not Timing Yourself

❌ Don't: Take unlimited time to solve problems

✅ Do: Set a 30-40 minute timer (real interview pressure)

Why: Time management is critical in real interviews.

---

Mistake #5: Ignoring Time/Space Complexity

❌ Don't: Get the problem accepted and move on

✅ Do: Analyze time/space complexity, discuss trade-offs

Why: Interviewers ALWAYS ask about complexity.

---

Mistake #6: Not Practicing Out Loud

❌ Don't: Solve problems silently in your IDE

✅ Do: Explain your approach out loud while coding

Why: Interviews require clear communication.

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Should You Do Both Lists?

If you have 10+ weeks: Yes.

Do Blind 75 first (weeks 1-6), then add NeetCode extras (weeks 7-10).

If you have 4-6 weeks: No.

Stick with Blind 75 and go deep. Better to master 75 problems than rush through 150.

If you have 12+ weeks: Yes, but go beyond.

Do NeetCode 150, then add company-specific problems (e.g., Google tagged questions).

---

Alternative Study Paths

Option 1: Grind 75

• Similar to Blind 75 but updated for 2023-2024
• Includes 169 problems split by week
• Good for structured study plan

Link: Grind 75 on TechInterviewHandbook

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Option 2: Company-Specific Lists

If you're interviewing at a specific company, filter LeetCode by company tags:

• Google: 600+ tagged problems
• Meta: 500+ tagged problems
• Amazon: 400+ tagged problems

Strategy: Do Blind 75, then add 20-30 company-specific problems.

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Option 3: AlgoExpert

• Paid platform ($99-$149)
• 160 curated problems
• Video explanations + coding environment
• Good for visual learners

Link: AlgoExpert

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How Many Problems is "Enough"?

Minimum: 75-100 problems (Blind 75 level) Comfortable: 150-200 problems (NeetCode 150 level) Overkill: 300+ problems (diminishing returns)

Quality > Quantity.

It's better to deeply understand 75 problems than to rush through 300.

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How to Practice Coding Interviews (Beyond LeetCode)

LeetCode is only half the battle. You also need to practice:

1. System Design (for mid-senior roles)

• Study scalability patterns
• Learn about databases, caching, load balancing
• Practice designing Twitter, Instagram, URL shortener

Resources:

• System Design Primer
• Grokking the System Design Interview
• Our System Design Guide

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2. Behavioral Interviews

• Prepare STAR method stories
• Practice "Tell me about yourself"
• Prepare for "Why should we hire you?"

Resources:

• How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself"
• Why Should We Hire You?
• Top 10 Behavioral Questions

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3. Mock Interviews

• Practice with peers on Pramp
• Use Interviewing.io for anonymous practice
• Schedule mock interviews with friends

Pro tip: Record yourself doing mock interviews. Watch it back. You'll notice nervous habits you didn't know you had.

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Using AI to Practice Coding Interviews

Interview Whisper now supports coding interview practice with real-time feedback.

How it works:

• Practice behavioral AND technical questions
• Get instant AI feedback on your explanations
• Improve your communication skills (not just coding)

Why it helps:

• You can practice 24/7 without scheduling
• AI gives objective feedback (friends might be too nice)
• Track your improvement over time

Try Interview Whisper Free → Available for Windows and macOS

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Final Recommendations: Your 2026 LeetCode Strategy

Here's my recommended path based on preparation time:

If you have 4-6 weeks:

1. Weeks 1-2: Easy problems from Blind 75
2. Weeks 3-5: Medium problems from Blind 75
3. Week 6: Review + mock interviews

Total: 75 problems

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If you have 8-10 weeks:

1. Weeks 1-2: Easy problems from NeetCode 150
2. Weeks 3-6: Blind 75 medium problems
3. Weeks 7-9: NeetCode extras (focus on Sliding Window, Backtracking, Greedy)
4. Week 10: Review + mock interviews

Total: 120-150 problems

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If you have 12+ weeks:

1. Weeks 1-2: Easy problems from NeetCode 150
2. Weeks 3-8: All NeetCode 150 problems
3. Weeks 9-10: Company-specific problems (20-30)
4. Weeks 11-12: Review + daily mock interviews

Total: 180-200 problems

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Key Takeaways

Blind 75 vs NeetCode 150:

Factor	Blind 75	NeetCode 150
Time	4-6 weeks	8-10 weeks
Problems	75	150
Pattern Coverage	10 patterns	17 patterns
Video Solutions	No official	Yes (all 150)
Relevance (2026)	Good	Better
Beginner-Friendly	Medium	High
Best For	Experienced, time-crunched	Thorough prep, beginners

My recommendation for most people in 2026:

Do Blind 75 first, then add NeetCode extras.

This gives you:

• Core patterns covered fast
• Deeper mastery if you have time
• Flexibility to stop early if needed

Remember:

• Quality > Quantity
• Study by pattern, not randomly
• Review old problems (spaced repetition)
• Practice explaining solutions out loud
• Time yourself (interview pressure)

You don't need to solve 1,000 problems. You need to master 100-150 the RIGHT way.

Good luck! 🚀

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Related Articles:

• Mock Interview Guide: How to Practice and Land Your Dream Job
• FAANG Interview Preparation Guide 2026
• System Design Interview 2026 Guide
• Algorithm Problem-Solving Patterns
• Common Coding Interview Mistakes
• STAR Method Interview: Complete Guide with Examples
• AI Interview Practice Platforms: Complete Guide