NeetCode 150 vs. LeetCode patterns: Which is better for Google?

You’ve put in the hours preparing for your Google coding interview. You’ve worked through NeetCode 150, one problem after another. Then the big moment comes: you’re in the interview, the clock is ticking, and the problem on the screen looks nothing like what you practiced. The interviewer is watching closely, waiting to see how you respond.

Do you try to force-fit it into something you vaguely remember? Or do you step back and search for the deeper strategy hiding underneath?

This is the real dilemma. With limited prep time, is grinding through NeetCode 150 (built for MAANG) enough to prepare you for Google, or do you need to understand the underlying LeetCode patterns?

In this blog, I’ll compare NeetCode 150 and Google’s Top 150 against the LeetCode Patterns from “Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns.” We’ll explore the data, highlight where each approach delivers and falls short, and outline a Google-ready preparation roadmap that maximizes your chances at achieving success.

A sneak peek into how we tested Google coding interview roadmaps#

It all starts with ‘How do we know if a prep strategy is actually working?’ To answer that, I used the 1–2–1 rubric and a scoring method introduced in the first blog of this series, NeetCode 150 vs. LeetCode Patterns, which turns vague preparation into something measurable.

So, a pattern counts as fully covered when you solve 1 easy problem (1 point), 2 medium problems (4 points each), and 1 hard problem (6 points). That adds up to 15 points per pattern. With 28 patterns, the complete benchmark comes to 420 points.

With the rubric in hand, I compared NeetCode 150 against Google’s Top 100 coding interview questions.

The score chart above provides an early look at how each Google interview prep strategy performs, showing which approach contributes more toward the 420-point benchmark. You might be wondering what this Google-focused roadmap is, and why it outperforms both NeetCode 150 and Google’s Top 150. This is exactly what we will explore in this blog.

The scores, however, are only part of the story. In the full analysis, I will show how much coverage each pattern actually gets, which gaps remain, and how a structured roadmap can take you closer to complete readiness for Google coding interviews.

Quick recap: NeetCode 150, Google Top 150, and LeetCode patterns#

NeetCode 150 is a curated list of 150 coding interview problems covering Arrays, Strings, Trees, Graphs, Dynamic Programming, and more. It’s designed to give broad coverage in a structured way.

Google Top 150 is a list of the most frequently asked coding questions in Google interviews. It reflects the company’s style and problem focus, giving candidates a sharper view of what to expect.

LeetCode patterns are the 28 fundamental problem-solving strategies that show up across interview questions. These include techniques like Sliding Window, Two Pointers, Backtracking, and Dynamic Programming, which serve as the building blocks for tackling new problems.

Is NeetCode 150 enough to crack Google interviews?#

NeetCode 150 was created years ago, and while many problems still show up, the interview landscape keeps evolving. Google interviewers regularly introduce fresh variations, twist familiar problems, or design entirely new ones to test how well you can adapt. Additionally, almost every serious candidate is already grinding NeetCode 150. If you stop there, you risk blending in with everyone else. It’s important to remember, however, that Google is looking for candidates who can think independently, not just repeat what they’ve practiced.

That’s the core limitation of a static list: it prepares you for what has already been asked, not necessarily what will be asked. You might solve all 150 problems, but if the interviewer throws something unfamiliar, memorization won’t carry you through. Google isn’t just testing recall; they’re evaluating how you think, how you break down problems, and how you communicate trade-offs under time pressure.

So while NeetCode 150 can give you a broad foundation, cracking Google interviews requires more than grinding through a fixed checklist. 

Are LeetCode patterns the key to cracking Google interviews?#

LeetCode patterns shift the focus from memorizing problems to mastering strategies. Instead of asking, “Have I seen this problem before?”, you train yourself to ask, “What pattern does this problem follow?” That shift is critical for Google interviews, where questions are often unfamiliar or deliberately twisted to see how well you adapt.

Patterns act like a toolkit. Sliding Window helps when you’re working with contiguous sequences. Two Pointers simplifies many string and array problems. Backtracking guides you through complex search spaces. Dynamic Programming equips you to optimize recursive solutions. The specific problem may be new, but the underlying strategy is usually one of these building blocks.

This adaptability is exactly what Google tests. Interviewers want to see how you break down a problem, recognize structure, and apply the right technique under pressure. With patterns in your back pocket, you can calmly map a new problem to a known strategy and start building a solution instead of freezing.

That’s why LeetCode patterns don’t just prepare you for questions you’ve already practiced. They prepare you for the ones you’ve never seen before.

A quick overview of LeetCode patterns for Google interviews#

As there are 28 LeetCode patterns, it can feel overwhelming at first. To make them easier to understand, I’ve grouped the patterns into four categories.

• Must-knows: These are the patterns that show up frequently in Google interviews. 

• Very common, high value: These patterns are often used when Google interviewers want to push beyond a working solution. They test whether you can refine your approach into something more efficient, scalable, and well-reasoned.

• Solid but situational: These don’t appear as often, but when they do, they expose whether you can think flexibly and handle less familiar challenges. Performing well here can set you apart from the average candidate.

• Finishing line helpers: These patterns rarely dominate, but they complete your preparation. Even if they surface only once, being ready shows range and prevents you from being caught off guard.

Even if Google has been focusing on certain patterns more, complete prep means practicing, and gaining proficiency in all 28.

A strategic prep roadmap for Google to cover all 28 patterns#

What matters isn’t doing more problems, it’s choosing the right ones in the right sequence to cover all 28 patterns effectively. Here’s a four-step Google coding interview prep plan I recommend.

1. Start with the NeetCode-Google overlap: Begin with problems that appear in both NeetCode 150 and Google’s Top 150. These give you the strongest return on time, since they build coverage while staying directly relevant to Google interviews.

2. Add Google-specific problems: Next, work through the questions unique to Google’s Top 150. These highlight the company’s emphasis on certain areas, such as Recursion, Graph Algorithms, and Dynamic Programming.

3. Tackle the remaining NeetCode problems: Move on to the NeetCode 150 questions not included in the Google set. These expand your breadth and ensure you don’t miss common problem types that build adaptability.

4. Fill the gaps with patterns: Finally, apply the 1–2–1 rubric (one easy, two medium, one hard per pattern) to check your coverage across all 28 patterns. Add targeted practice until every pattern is represented.

Complement this prep plan with the 1–2–1 rubric and scoring method I introduced earlier in the series to keep your prep balanced. Solve one easy, two medium, and one hard problem for each pattern. With a scoring system of 1 point for the easy, 4 points for medium, and 6 points for the hard, every pattern totals to about 15 points. Across 28 patterns, that gives you a goal of 420.

Reaching 420 means you are no longer just practicing problems, you are demonstrating depth across every pattern. For Google, this balance is critical as it shows you can tackle new problems with confidence, and not just repeat ones you have already seen.

What’s the value of starting with the NeetCode-Google overlap?#

Starting with the overlap between NeetCode 150 and Google’s Top 150 gives you the highest return on your time. Every problem you solve here counts twice: it builds your pattern coverage while also aligning directly with the types of questions Google interviewers are known to ask.

Let’s look at the problems that NeetCode and Google have in common.

The list above shows that 61 out of 150 problems overlap. This is an amazing milestone.

The list above shows that 61 out of the 150 problems overlap between NeetCode 150 and Google’s Top 150. That’s about 41%, which is a strong starting point. It means nearly half of your NeetCode practice is directly relevant to Google interviews, giving you an efficient base to build on.

Now, let’s see how these problems contribute to the pattern coverage as per the 1–2–1 rubric and scores (2 points for easy, 4 for medium, and 6 for hard). In the bar chart below, each bar represents a pattern. The length of the bar shows what percent of the full 15 points you’ve earned for that pattern, while the label highlights how many easy, medium, and hard problems went into that score.  

The bar chart shows that you get introduced to 23 out of 28 patterns, which is about 82%. Only 3 patterns were fully covered, giving you a strong but narrow base. Some fundamentals are solid, but most patterns are still underrepresented and need your attention.

The good news is that you’ve already unlocked exposure to the majority of patterns. From here, you can use the 1–2–1 rubric to steadily complete their coverage and move them toward full readiness.

Why tackle Google-specific questions next?#

The Google-only set captures the company’s unique emphasis in interviews. These questions reflect the problem types Google relies on to test adaptability and depth of thinking. By practicing them early on, you align your prep with what Google interviewers actually prioritize, building confidence in areas that matter most for their interview process.

Let’s see what new patterns are introduced by Google-specific questions.

The Google-only questions unlock 2 new patterns, taking the total to 25 out of 28, which is about 89%. That’s a major milestone and shows how much value this set adds to your prep. In addition to introducing new patterns, this stage reinforces coverage of the ones you covered earlier.

Now, let’s look at how well the patterns in this stage are covered according to the 1–2–1 rubric. The bar chart below highlights the newly covered patterns in green on the y-axis.

The bar chart above shows that with the Google-specific problems added, the number of well-covered patterns increases significantly. More core strategies cross the 90% mark, showing how much Google’s own list contributes to well-rounded coverage. 

A couple of patterns stay partially covered, close to tipping into green. The number of underrepresented patterns goes down, but it has not disappeared. The real value here is exposure, because getting introduced to a pattern is the first and most important step.

Why should you complete the rest of NeetCode 150?#

The remaining NeetCode problems broaden your prep. They cover problem types that may not appear as often in Google interviews, but still build adaptability. Completing them ensures you are not overfitting to one company,  strengthening your foundation for any variation.

Let’s look at the new patterns that the rest of the NeetCode problems unlock.

The list above shows that you get introduced to 2 new patterns, bringing the total to 27 out of 28, which is about 96%. This is a solid milestone that brings you closer to full completion.

Now let’s see how well the patterns in this stage are covered using the 1–2–1 rubric.

The chart above shows that adding the remaining NeetCode problems push the coverage much further. By this stage, a large cluster of patterns turn green (well covered), and even several yellows gain enough depth to be nearly complete. 

Only a few patterns stay underrepresented, reminding us they still need focused attention. At this point, the roadmap has brought you closer to full coverage.

Is your Google prep complete now?#

Let’s look at the following bar chart to get an overall picture of how well you’ve covered each of the 28 patterns. It also highlights which areas still need your focus based on this smart study plan.

The overall coverage is strong. Out of 28 patterns, 14 are well covered (half of them). That is a solid achievement and shows real depth across core problem types.

At the same time, 14 patterns remain incomplete. Most of these are already in yellow, and need just one hard or medium problem each to tip into green. A smaller group is still in red, and with a few targeted problems, they can also be brought up.

The most important finding is that one pattern, Sort and Search, has not been covered at all. Addressing this pattern directly is the fastest way to move from strong coverage to complete readiness. Here are a few problems you can practice:

Patterns recap#

Let’s see how each stage of the Google-focused roadmap contributes to overall pattern coverage. 

The common patterns between NeetCode and Google contribute the most, covering 82% on their own and giving you a strong foundation to build on.

The Google-only set adds another 7%, introducing new patterns and deepening the coverage in areas Google emphasizes. The NeetCode-only set contributes a further 7%, expanding breadth and ensuring you are not overfitting only to Google’s list. Finally, the remaining pattern, Sort and Search, accounts for just 3.6%.

Together, these stages show that while the overlap contributes the most, the other sets are essential for closing gaps and ensuring you reach complete coverage across all 28 patterns.

What’s your Google interview prep score so far?#

Let’s look at the score chart below to see the steady growth at each stage, moving from the overlap to Google-only, then NeetCode-only, and finally the overall coverage.

Starting with the NeetCode-Google overlap contributed 165 points, offering a strong foundation right away. Adding Google-only problems added another 58 points, sharpening coverage in areas Google emphasizes. The remaining NeetCode questions boosted the score by 89 points, rounding out the fundamentals. 

Together, these stages push the total to 312 out of 420, leaving just 108 points to be filled by directly targeting underrepresented patterns. This can be achieved by applying the 1–2–1 rubric, and practicing the specific problems that strengthen those patterns.

Wrapping up: NeetCode or LeetCode?#

If your goal is to prepare for Google interviews, the answer is not about choosing between NeetCode 150 or LeetCode patterns. It is about how you use them together. NeetCode 150 gives you breadth and structure, while Google’s Top 150 makes your prep company-specific. However, it is the LeetCode patterns that give you adaptability and the ability to handle new problems with confidence rather than relying on recall.

By following the roadmap, you cover what matters most for Google, expand into the rest of NeetCode for breadth, and then use the 1–2–1 rubric to close any remaining gaps. This ensures that you not only reach full coverage of all 28 patterns, but also prepare in a way that mirrors what Google truly tests: problem-solving depth, clarity of thought, and adaptability under pressure.

In the end, it is not about memorizing more problems, it is about building skills that transfer to any problem Google might put in front of you. That is the kind of prep that truly sets you apart.

Recommended resources to level up your interview prep#

While this blog gives you a data-driven way to measure and close your prep gaps, the right learning tools can accelerate your progress even further. Here are two highly effective resources to complement your study plan.

• Educative’s Personalized Interview Prep: It’s your tailored prep companion that adapts to your skill level and focuses on the 28 essential LeetCode patterns we’ve been discussing. You can work on the patterns that need the most attention, track progress with clear metrics, and know exactly what to tackle next. Whether it’s adding an easy problem to build confidence or a hard one to push for mastery, you’ll always be working on the right problems at the right time.

• Educative’s Mock Interviews: Practicing is not just about solving problems. It is also about handling real interview pressure. Educative’s AI mock interviews let you simulate actual interview conditions, get actionable feedback, and improve in areas like problem-solving speed. This way, you are not only technically prepared, but also confident and ready to perform under time constraints.