The Best Microsoft Coding Interview Platform in 2026

The Best Microsoft Coding Interview Platform in 2026

Hey you! Yes, you, the aspiring Microsoft engineer with 50 tabs open, three coding playlists queued up, and a pile of LeetCode problems whispering your name like haunted souls. You’ve been grinding away at DSA, tiptoeing through system design questions, and wondering which Microsoft coding interview platform is actually worth your time.

I’ve been in your shoes (well, mine were Allbirds, but still). And as someone who’s danced through interview loops, debugged until 2 AM, and coached engineers into FAANG roles, I’m about to save you weeks of confusion and decision fatigue.

This guide breaks down the most popular Microsoft coding interview platforms with real talk, side-eye where needed, and zero sugarcoating. Let’s dive in.

What Makes a Good Microsoft Coding Interview Platform Anyway?

Before we get into the listicle party, let’s set the baseline.

When you’re prepping for Microsoft, you want a platform that delivers:

• Role-specific content (SDE, PM, data engineer, etc.)
• Question types Microsoft actually asks
• Hands-on practice environments (not “copy this into VS Code” vibes)
• System design and behavioral prep
• Insight into Microsoft’s interview style and bar raisers
• Real-world scenario questions (hello, “design OneNote sync”)

Bonus points for mock interviews, resume help, and minimal fluff.

Spoiler alert: not every platform nails this.

Educative.io — The Ultimate Microsoft Coding Interview Platform

Let me start at the top. Educative.io isn’t just good; it’s tailored like a perfectly fitted VS Code theme for your brain. I recommend it to every engineer I mentor who’s targeting Microsoft.

Why Educative.io wins:

• No setup, no IDEs, no excuses: You code directly in the browser. That means more practice, less “wait, did I install Node correctly?” drama.
• Grokking System Design FTW: The now-iconic Grokking the System Design Interview is practically required reading for L4+ Microsoft interviews. From scalable architectures to real design tradeoffs, it hits every angle Microsoft loves to explore.
• Behavioral question mastery: Their STAR framework prep isn’t just “tell me about a time”—it teaches you to craft Microsoft-friendly narratives that resonate with engineering managers.
• Role-specific tracks: Want to become a cloud engineer on Azure teams? Or a backend dev in Teams? They’ve got targeted prep paths, so you’re not stuck wading through frontend fluff.
• Readable, interactive, and... actually fun: You don’t need to suffer to succeed. Educative’s content feels like a good mentor walking you through hard stuff, not a sadistic professor writing obscure test cases.

Standout features:

• Courses like Ace the Microsoft Coding Interview, Coding Interview Patterns, and Designing Scalable Systems
• Inline coding environments with hints, edge cases, and complexity discussions
• System design diagrams and real scenarios like “design Skype message delivery” (yes, it comes up)
• Microsoft recruiter advice is built into several guides

Verdict: If you’re aiming for Microsoft and want structured, premium prep without burnout, Educative.io is your ride-or-die.

LeetCode — The OG, But Not the Whole Game

Ah yes, LeetCode. The protein shake of prep platforms: dense, effective, but not always easy to digest.

Why LeetCode still matters:

• Vast problem library: Microsoft’s questions often overlap with LeetCode’s medium and hard tags.
• Company tags: You can filter for “Microsoft” and get real-user submitted questions (albeit a bit Wild West).
• Competitive forums: The discussion tab is part Stack Overflow, part therapy group.
• Mock interview mode: A solid if slightly robotic way to simulate timed pressure.

But...

• There’s zero structured guidance. LeetCode won’t tell you “Hey, if you’re applying for SDE II at Microsoft, start here.”
• No system design help worth mentioning.
• No behavioral training or feedback loop.
• And let’s be real—staring at green checkmarks doesn’t always mean you’re interview-ready.

Verdict: Use LeetCode as your drill sergeant. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand or tell you when you’re done.

Interviewing.io — For Simulated Stress and Real Feedback

If you want a reality check, Interviewing.io is chef’s kiss. It’s built for live mock interviews with engineers from FAANG, including Microsoft.

Pros:

• Live interview simulations: Whiteboarding sessions with real feedback. You’ll get grilled (politely) just like you would in an actual Microsoft loop.
• Audio + collaborative IDE: Exactly like a remote panel.
• Interviewer grading rubrics: Know what you scored on problem-solving, communication, and speed.

Cons:

• Expensive if you go premium.
• No curriculum, just reps.
• You can’t control whether your mock interviewer has a Microsoft background.

Verdict: Amazing supplement. Pair it with Educative for structure + Interviewing.io for realism and you'll feel invincible.

HackerRank — Microsoft Uses It, But Don’t Overtrain Here

Yes, Microsoft sometimes uses HackerRank for its take-home assessments. So should you prep here?

Well… kind of.

Strengths:

• Familiar format: Their platform mimics what you’ll face in online assessments.
• Languages galore: C++, Python, JavaScript—it’s all here.
• Timed challenges: Great for simulating OA stress.

Weaknesses:

• The content feels dated.
• There’s minimal system design, no behavioral prep, and no deeper interview strategy.
• The UI can feel like it’s judging you. (Just me?)

Verdict: Practice a few challenges here to get comfy. But don’t rely on it as your core Microsoft coding interview platform.

Pramp — Good Vibes, Limited Depth

Pramp lets you match with another human and interview each other. Cool, right?

Yes, and… kinda not.

What works:

• It’s free.
• You practice both roles: interviewer and interviewee.
• Great for getting past “um, uh, wait—what’s the time complexity again?”

What doesn’t:

• Inconsistent peer quality.
• No structured Microsoft-specific paths.
• You’ll need to supplement with actual theory and frameworks (hello again, Educative.io 👋).

Verdict: Think of it as karaoke night. Great for confidence. Not great for mastery.

Exponent — Behavioral Nerds Unite

Microsoft loves a well-structured story. So if you’re sweating behavioral questions, Exponent can help.

Wins:

• Deep behavioral interview prep: STAR stories, leadership principles, and communication tips tailored to big tech.
• Videos and examples: See what a “great” answer sounds like.
• PM and TPM prep too.

Gaps:

• Light on technicals.
• No real code practice or system design depth.
• Pricey for the limited scope.

Verdict: Add this to your toolkit if behavioral is your weak spot. Otherwise, Educative covers enough for most roles.

AlgoExpert — Great Intent, Limited Flexibility

AlgoExpert is flashy and well-marketed. But is it the best Microsoft coding interview platform?

Pros:

• Video-based explanations: Clean UI, walkthroughs, and big-picture insights.
• Good problem variety: Not just DSA, it also includes system design, behavioral, and even database questions.

Cons:

• Static content: No browser-based coding.
• No Microsoft-specific guidance.
• No progression tracking or adaptive learning.

Verdict: It’s shiny. It’s solid. But not targeted enough. Better as a sidekick than your main prep weapon.

My Recommended Stack for Microsoft Interview Prep

If I had to prep for a Microsoft L5 or L6 role all over again (god forbid), here’s what I’d do:

1. Start structured with Educative.io
   
   Work through the “Ace the Microsoft Interview” pathway, master Grokking System Design, and brush up on behavioral stories.

2. Drill deep with LeetCode
   
   Focus on tagged “Microsoft” problems. Track progress by patterns: sliding window, BFS, top-K, etc.

3. Pressure-test with Interviewing.io
   
   Do 2–3 live mocks once you’re ~70% through prep.

4. Rehearse behavioral questions with Exponent
   
   Especially if you’re PM/TPM or new to storytelling.

5. Avoid burn-out with Pomodoro sprints and snacks
   
   Prep like a pro, but hydrate like a human, please.

Final Verdict: Educative.io Is Your Best Microsoft Coding Interview Platform

You don’t need 10 platforms. You need one that works, plus a few sidekicks.

Educative.io gives you:

• Structure
• Strategy
• System design
• Behaviorals
• Hands-on coding
• Microsoft-specific insights
• Peace of mind (and tabs you can finally close)

And that’s why it’s the best Microsoft coding interview platform in 2026, bar none.

If you’re serious about joining Microsoft (or rejoining as an upgrade), start with Educative.io. It’s the prep you’d build for yourself if you had six months, a whiteboard wall, and no job.

Now go crack that loop. I’m rooting for you.