CodeChef
Coding practice and contest site with DSA courses, an online compiler and weekly contests.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Is CodeChef free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
Switch from CodeChef to
All 8
LeetCodeCompareFree plan + paid
GeeksforGeeksCompareFree plan + paid
NeetCodeLifetime price: $297 one-time
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 8
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About CodeChef
CodeChef is a coding practice platform from India that combines competitive programming contests with structured courses. Learners follow paths in Python, Java, C++, C, SQL, React and data structures and algorithms, each built from short lessons and hundreds of practice problems, and can earn certificates. Its weekly contests are rated with a star system, and a built-in browser compiler lets you code, test and debug without installing anything; an AI mentor helps when you're stuck. Practice problems and contests are free, and a Pro subscription unlocks premium courses and extra help, with a free trial of premium content. The site says over 5 million developers use it. It sits between Codeforces, which is purely contest-focused, and course sites like Codecademy, so it suits students moving from learning a language to their first contests; experienced competitors often find its top contests less active than Codeforces.
Best for: Students moving from learning to code into competitive programming.
CodeChef pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from CodeChef's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium trial | Try premium courses free | Nov 8, 2026 | codechef.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Courses and contests on one platform
- In-browser compiler with no setup
- Free practice problems and rated contests
- AI mentor for hints
Why people leave
- Premium courses need a Pro subscription
- Top-level contests draw fewer elite competitors than Codeforces
- Upsell prompts throughout the site
CodeChef vs LeetCode, GeeksforGeeks and NeetCode
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | CodeChef | LeetCode | GeeksforGeeks | NeetCode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | — | — | $297 one-time |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Android, iOS | Web |
Full CodeChef vs LeetCode comparisonFull CodeChef vs GeeksforGeeks comparison
Top CodeChef alternatives
See all 8- 1LeetCode66.5
The main place to practise interview-style problems, with weekly contests and company-tagged questions.
- 2GeeksforGeeks61.8
Huge library of data structures and algorithms tutorials, with practice problems and contests tied to them.
- 3NeetCode61.8
A tighter, curated problem roadmap with video walkthroughs if contests aren't the goal.
- 4
CodinGame59.4Turns coding practice into games and bot battles, with puzzles in dozens of languages.
- 5
AlgoExpert59.4A smaller hand-picked question set with video explanations, aimed squarely at interviews.
Why people left CodeChef
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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CodeChef: common questions
What is CodeChef?
CodeChef: Coding practice and contest site with DSA courses, an online compiler and weekly contests. Best for students moving from learning to code into competitive programming. Available for Web.
Is CodeChef free?
CodeChef has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does CodeChef cost?
CodeChef is free with paid plans. Premium trial: Try premium courses free. Checked on CodeChef's own site, November 2026.
Does CodeChef have a free trial or refund?
Premium trial: Try premium courses free. Source: CodeChef's own site.
Is CodeChef open source?
No, CodeChef is not open source.
What platforms does CodeChef run on?
CodeChef is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to CodeChef?
The highest-ranked CodeChef alternatives right now are LeetCode, GeeksforGeeks and NeetCode. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
CodeChef vs LeetCode: what's the difference?
Both CodeChef and LeetCode are free with paid plans. Only LeetCode runs on iOS and Android.