Advent of Code
Free annual Advent calendar of programming puzzles that you can solve in any language.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Is Advent of Code free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from Advent of Code to
All 4
CodinGameFree
LeetCodeCompareFree plan + paid
GeeksforGeeksFree plan + paid
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Advent of Code
Advent of Code is a yearly event run by Eric Wastl since 2015. Each December a new two-part programming puzzle unlocks every day, wrapped in a light story, and you solve it with whatever language and tools you like on your own computer, then submit just the answer. Each player gets their own puzzle input, and every problem is designed to run quickly even on old hardware. People use it for interview prep, learning a new language, team training or friendly races on private leaderboards; the global leaderboard was removed after ten years. Past events stay online, so you can work through the archive at any time of year. It's free to play, supported by sponsors and optional AoC++ donations. It suits programmers who enjoy puzzles; the trade-off is that it runs only once a year and offers no hints, editor or test runner on the site.
Best for: Programmers who like puzzles and want seasonal practice in any language.
Advent of Code pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Advent of Code's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Nov 8, 2026 | adventofcode.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Completely free, with every past year's puzzles still available
- Use any language and your own tools
- Private leaderboards make it easy to compete with friends or colleagues
Why people leave
- New puzzles only appear in December
- No global leaderboard any more
- No in-site editor, hints or test runner
Advent of Code vs CodinGame, LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Advent of Code | CodinGame | LeetCode | GeeksforGeeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Android, iOS |
Top Advent of Code alternatives
See all 4- 1CodinGame68.8
Year-round puzzles and bot contests with an in-browser editor and leagues.
- 2LeetCode62.6
Large always-available problem bank with an online judge, aimed at interviews.
- 3GeeksforGeeks61.8
Daily practice problems plus tutorials explaining the algorithms behind them.
- 4
Kaggle51.2Ongoing competitions if your interest is data science rather than algorithms.
Why people left Advent of Code
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Advent of Code: common questions
What is Advent of Code?
Advent of Code: Free annual Advent calendar of programming puzzles that you can solve in any language. Best for programmers who like puzzles and want seasonal practice in any language. Available for Web.
Is Advent of Code free?
Yes, Advent of Code is free to use.
How much does Advent of Code cost?
Advent of Code is free to use. Price: Free. Checked on Advent of Code's own site, November 2026.
Is Advent of Code open source?
No, Advent of Code is not open source.
What platforms does Advent of Code run on?
Advent of Code is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to Advent of Code?
The highest-ranked Advent of Code alternatives right now are CodinGame, LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Advent of Code vs CodinGame: what's the difference?
Both Advent of Code and CodinGame are free to use. Both run on Web.