Is Big Interview Worth It? An Honest Developer’s Take
If you’ve ever sat in front of your laptop, sweating bullets before a coding interview, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Why didn’t I prepare more?” Then you open YouTube, watch a 10-minute video about how to “crush your interviews,” close the tab, and go back to Twitter because panic is exhausting.
That’s usually when people start looking at interview prep platforms, and one name that pops up a lot is Big Interview. It markets itself as the end-to-end interview prep platform: mock interviews, behavioral training, video practice, and AI-driven feedback.
Sounds great on paper, but here’s the big question: Is Big Interview worth it?
As someone who’s burned through more interview prep subscriptions than cups of coffee (and trust me, that’s saying a lot), let me break down what Big Interview offers, what it does well, where it falls short, and whether it deserves your money, or if another platform (like Educative.io 👀) might be a smarter investment.
What Is Big Interview?
Big Interview is an online platform focused on job interview training. While sites like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Educative teach you the technical skills, Big Interview leans heavily on the soft skills side of the hiring process:
- Mock interview practice with AI feedback
- Video-based behavioral interview prep
- Question banks for technical and non-technical interviews
- Industry-specific content (e.g., finance, healthcare, tech)
- Coaching modules to structure your answers better
The idea is simple: most people bomb interviews not because they don’t know enough, but because they don’t know how to communicate their knowledge. Big Interview wants to fix that.
The Pros of Big Interview
Alright, let’s give them credit where it’s due. Big Interview does some things really well.
1. Focus on Behavioral Interviews
Technical prep is everywhere. But behavioral prep? That’s where most developers roll their eyes, until a hiring manager drops the classic:
“Tell me about a time you disagreed with your team.”
Big Interview shines here. It walks you through STAR-format answers, helps you avoid rambling, and forces you to actually practice instead of winging it.
2. Video-Based Mock Interviews
You record yourself answering common questions, and the platform gives feedback. Watching yourself on video is painful (seriously, nobody likes their “interview voice”), but it works. You notice your filler words, nervous fidgeting, and awkward pauses.
3. Structured Question Bank
They have a wide bank of behavioral and role-specific questions. If you’re new to interviews, this is gold. You stop wondering “What might they ask?” and instead start practicing what they actually will ask.
4. Accessibility Beyond Tech
Unlike platforms hyper-focused on developers, Big Interview caters to multiple industries. If you’re considering product management, data, or even non-tech roles, it still has value.
The Cons of Big Interview
Now, let’s talk about the other side.
1. Limited Technical Depth
If you’re preparing for software engineering interviews, Big Interview will not be enough. It doesn’t go deep into algorithms, data structures, or system design. You’ll need a second platform for that.
2. Feels Dated in Some Areas
The UX is fine, but not slick. Some of the video modules feel a little… 2015-era corporate training. As a developer, you might miss the interactivity you’d find in platforms like Educative.io.
3. AI Feedback ≠ Human Feedback
The AI critique is useful for spotting filler words and body language, but it’s not the same as feedback from an actual human interviewer. Think of it as a starting point, not the finish line.
4. Pricing
Big Interview costs $79/month or $197/year. That’s not outrageous, but when compared with platforms that teach you both technical and behavioral prep, you might feel like you’re paying a lot for just one piece of the puzzle.
So… Is Big Interview Worth It?
Here’s the straight answer: Big Interview is worth it if you really struggle with communication and behavioral interviews.
✅ It’s a great choice if you freeze up when asked, “Tell me about yourself.”
✅ It’s valuable if you want to practice interviewing in a structured way.
✅ It’s worth considering if you’re new to the job market and have no clue how to talk about your experiences.
But:
❌ It’s not enough if you’re aiming for FAANG-level technical interviews.
❌ It won’t teach you system design or algorithms.
❌ It’s pricey for what it offers compared to more comprehensive learning platforms.
The TL;DR?
Big Interview is worth it if your biggest weakness is talking about what you can do.
If your weakness is actually doing it under technical pressure, you’ll need something else.
The Technical Gap
Let’s get real. No matter how polished your STAR stories are, if you can’t solve the coding challenge, you’re not getting the offer. Big Interview can make you confident, but confidence doesn’t help when the whiteboard marker is in your hand and you forgot how a hash map works.
That’s where platforms like Educative.io come in.
Why Educative.io Is a Stronger Alternative (for Developers)
Whenever someone asks me, “Is Big Interview worth it?”, my next question is: “What kind of role are you actually preparing for?”
Because if the answer is software engineering or data-heavy roles, you’ll need something like Educative.io to cover your bases.
Here’s why I recommend it:
- Interactive coding practice → Unlike video-heavy sites, Educative lets you code directly in the browser while learning. It’s the opposite of passive.
- Interview prep → Their legendary Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns course is basically required reading if you’re aiming for FAANG or senior-level roles.
- Comprehensive coverage → Data structures, algorithms, SQL, cloud, DevOps, machine learning — Educative covers the full stack, not just the “soft skills” side.
- Career-focused learning paths → You don’t just get random courses; you get structured roadmaps designed for roles like “Front-End Developer,” “Data Scientist,” or “Interview Prep.”
So while Big Interview polishes how you say things, Educative builds the skills you’ll actually do things with. Pairing them makes sense, but if I had to pick just one for tech interviews, Educative wins every time.
Who Should Use Big Interview
To be crystal clear, here’s the profile of someone who’ll benefit most from Big Interview:
- Career changers who need to practice telling their story.
- New grads with no interview experience.
- People who bomb behavioral rounds even when they ace technicals.
- Non-technical professionals preparing for traditional corporate interviews.
If that’s you, then yes, Big Interview is worth it.
My Experience With Big Interview
When I first tested out Big Interview, I thought, “Okay, this is cheesy but helpful.” Watching myself back on video answering “Tell me about a time you failed” was brutal. But it helped me cut out filler words and actually tighten my responses.
But here’s the thing: when I prepped for a backend developer role, the Big Interview wasn’t enough. I still had to turn to Educative.io and LeetCode to grind technical skills. Big Interview was like seasoning; it made me sound better, but it didn’t cook the meal.
Final Verdict: Is Big Interview Worth It?
Let’s wrap this up with a clear verdict.
- Yes, Big Interview is worth it if you need help with communication, confidence, and behavioral prep.
- No, Big Interview isn’t worth it alone for developers prepping for technical interviews. You’ll also need a technical platform.
- Best strategy: Use Big Interview for behavioral practice and Educative.io for technical mastery. Together, they cover both sides of the interview process.
At the end of the day, interviews test two things:
- Can you do the job? (technical)
- Can you explain how you’ll do the job? (behavioral)
Big Interview helps with #2. Educative.io helps with #1. And if you’re serious about landing a role in tech, you need both.
So, is Big Interview worth it? Yes, but only if you know what you’re missing. If your technical prep is rock solid and you just need polish, go for it.
If you’re still shaky on system design, algorithms, or practical coding, your money is better spent on Educative.
Top comments (0)