NeetCode 150 vs. LeetCode patterns: What works best for Netflix?

Netflix has redefined how we watch movies and shows. Now, it’s part of our everyday, streaming content to millions of members across nearly every corner of the globe. Behind every personalized recommendation, seamless stream, and real-time system is a culture that values clarity, adaptability, and innovation. The experience on that scale demands algorithms for caching, recommendations, and distributed systems that operate seamlessly under enormous load. Netflix engineers solve problems far messier than anything you’ll find in a textbook coding question.

If you want to be part of this team, you need to stand out. And standing out comes from preparing smartly, in a way that shows that you can adapt to new challenges and think beyond the obvious.

That raises an important question for candidates: Is grinding through carefully curated lists like Blind 75 or NeetCode 150 enough to prepare you for such interviews, or do you need the adaptability that LeetCode patterns promise?

In this blog, we’ll explore both approaches and see which one better aligns with Netflix’s interview style.

In this blog, I’ll compare NeetCode 150 and Netflix’s Top 37 against the LeetCode coding patterns from “Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns.” We’ll break down the data, reveal where each approach shines or falls short, and build a Netflix-focused preparation roadmap to set you up for success.

A sneak peek into how we evaluated Netflix coding interview roadmaps#

With so many coding interview prep lists and resources available, it is not enough to rely on popularity or anecdotal reviews. To bring objectivity to Netflix coding interviews, I applied the 1–2–1 scoring rubric introduced in the first blog, NeetCode 150 vs. LeetCode patterns for coding interview prep, of this series.

Under this rubric, a coding interview pattern is considered adequately covered when you solve 1 easy problem (1 point), 2 medium problems (4 points each), and 1 hard problem (6 points). That gives 15 points per pattern, and with 28 core patterns the preparation benchmark totals 420 points.

Based on the 420-point benchmark, I compared NeetCode 150 against Netflix’s Top 37 interview questions.

The score chart above provides an early look at how each Netflix interview prep strategy performs, showing which approach contributes more toward the 420-point benchmark. You might be wondering what this Netflix-focused roadmap is, and why it outperforms both NeetCode 150 and Netflix’s Top 37. This is exactly what we’ll explore in this blog.

The scores are only the starting point. In the full analysis, I will show how much each pattern is actually covered, where the key gaps remain, and how a structured roadmap can guide you toward complete readiness for Netflix coding interviews.

Quick recap: NeetCode 150, Netflix Top 37, and LeetCode patterns#

NeetCode 150 is one of the most popular curated LeetCode problem sets for coding interview prep. It covers a wide range of important topics such as Arrays, Linked Lists, Strings, Graphs, and more, giving candidates structured exposure to the most common interview questions.

Netflix Top 37 is a collection of LeetCode problems that align more closely with Netflix’s interview style. These questions reflect the types of challenges candidates are likely to encounter when interviewing at Netflix, making this list more targeted. 

LeetCode patterns are 28 foundational problem-solving strategies that show up repeatedly across coding interviews. Examples include Sliding Window, Two Pointers, Backtracking, and Dynamic Programming. By mastering these patterns, you equip yourself with reusable frameworks that can be applied across hundreds of different problems.

Does finishing NeetCode 150 mean you’re Netflix-ready?#

Netflix reinvented how we consume entertainment, moving from DVDs to streaming to original content. Their interviews mirror this culture of reinvention; they’re less about rehearsed answers and more about how you adapt, rethink, and solve problems in new ways. That’s why a static list like NeetCode 150, created years ago, is not enough on its own. 

Additionally, almost every candidate practices NeetCode 150. If you stop there, you risk blending in with everyone else, when Netflix is looking for people who stand out. NeetCode 150 prepares you well for the basics, but doesn’t completely cover the depth and range Netflix expects.

How do LeetCode patterns prepare you for Netflix interviews?#

Netflix interviews are designed to test how you think, and not really how well you memorize. A problem may look familiar at first, but then take a turn that forces you to reason through it in a new way. This is exactly where LeetCode patterns give you an edge.

Patterns are reusable strategies that appear across hundreds of different problems. Once you understand Sliding Window, Two Pointers, or Backtracking, you can adapt them to countless variations. Instead of panicking when the problem doesn’t match something you’ve seen in NeetCode 150, you can fall back on the pattern that fits best and build your solution from there.

This flexibility is what Netflix looks for. Their interviews often involve open-ended statements, tricky edge cases, or problems that don’t neatly fit into a “classic” template. By thinking in terms of patterns, you can approach any problem systematically and demonstrate clarity, adaptability, and creativity. These are exactly the qualities Netflix values in its engineers.

LeetCode patterns overview for Netflix interviews#

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with 28 coding patterns and no clear starting point. To make it easier, I’ve grouped them by how often they tend to show up in Netflix interviews.

• Must-knows: The core set you’ll see in almost every interview round. These are your non-negotiables.

• Very common, high value: Patterns that show up frequently in Netflix-style variations and are worth extra practice.

• Solid but situational: Patterns that aren’t always asked but can give you an edge when they do appear.

• Finishing-line helpers: Niche or advanced patterns that round out your prep and ensure you’re not caught off guard.

Netflix might emphasize some patterns more than others, but it’s still better to practice all 28. This way, you won’t be surprised if a less common pattern shows up, and you’ll have the confidence that nothing is out of your scope.

A smart Netflix-focused roadmap to cover all 28 patterns#

The goal is simple: reach full pattern coverage without exhausting yourself. Instead of trying to brute-force hundreds of random problems, this roadmap moves in stages. Each stage builds on the previous one, steadily expanding your coverage until you’ve seen every pattern at least once and practiced them to depth. Here’s how it works.

1. Start with the NeetCode-Netflix overlap: Begin with the problems that appear in both sets. These give you the strongest return on time and quickly build momentum.

2. Add Netflix-only problems: Next, work through the questions unique to Netflix. They reveal what the company emphasizes and fill in important gaps.

3. Finish the rest of NeetCode 150: Then, move on to the remaining NeetCode questions. This step broadens your coverage and builds adaptability.

4. Close gaps with targeted practice: Finally, apply the 1—2—1 rubric to make sure all 28 patterns are well represented. Add focused practice until the full set is complete.

As you move through this roadmap, keep the rubric and scoring method that I introduced earlier in the series, in mind. The goal is not to simply finish lists, but to build real depth with each pattern. A practical way to do this is to cover one easy, two medium, and one hard problem per pattern. Using the scoring framework, you earn 1 point for the easy problem, 4 points for each medium, and 6 points for the hard, totaling to about 15 points per pattern.

Across all 28 patterns, this adds up to a perfect score of 420. Reaching that benchmark means you have practiced each pattern at multiple levels of difficulty. At that stage, you are not only ready for Netflix’s common questions but also prepared for the variations and surprises that often appear in their interviews.

What makes the overlap the best point to begin?#

The overlap is where efficiency meets relevance. By tackling these problems first, you cut out guesswork and know that every hour you spend working on them pushes you forward. This shows up on both fronts: strengthening your fundamentals and aligning directly with Netflix’s interview style. It also gives you quick wins early on, which makes the rest of your prep feel a lot more manageable.

Let’s see how many problems overlap between NeetCode 150 and Netflix’s Top 37.

The list above shows that 21 problems are common to both NeetCode 150 and Netflix 37. This is a strong starting point. Let’s see which patterns these problems introduce and how well they are covered under 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 chart above shows that the first stage introduces a wide range of patterns, covering 14 out of 28 (50%). This includes important patterns such as Graphs, Merge Intervals, Dynamic Programming, and Matrices. While none of these patterns are fully covered yet, the groundwork is clearly in place. With the 1—2—1 rubric in hand, a few well-chosen problems can strengthen these areas and move them closer to full coverage.

What makes Netflix-only problems so valuable to your prep?#

Working through Netflix-only problems helps you see the company’s unique style of questions. They highlight the areas Netflix likes to test more deeply and push you beyond the overlap set. By practicing them, you sharpen your ability to handle the twists and variations that make Netflix interviews challenging, while also filling important gaps in your overall coverage.

Let’s see which patterns are introduced by Netflix-specific problems:

The list above shows that the Netflix-only set introduces 6 new patterns, bringing the total to 20 out of 28 (about 71%). This is a significant jump and shows the value of covering Netflix-specific problems.

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 chart above shows that the Netflix-specific set adds meaningful depth. Sliding Window and Stacks become better, and Custom Data Structures also rise to partial coverage. Additionally, this stage unlocks new patterns like Cyclic Sort, Sort and Search, Two Pointers, and Trie. This shows how Netflix’s unique questions bring diversity to your prep, and help fill gaps left by the overlap.

Why shouldn’t you skip the rest of NeetCode 150?#

The remaining NeetCode problems may not be part of Netflix’s top list, but they build the breadth you need to stay adaptable. They expose you to problem types and variations that often appear in coding interviews across the industry. By finishing them, you round out your prep, strengthen weak spots, and avoid being thrown off by an unfamiliar question.

Let’s see which patterns the remaining NeetCode problems cover.

The list above shows that the remaining NeetCode 150 problems introduce 8 new patterns, taking the total to a full 28 out of 28. That means 100% coverage, which is an excellent milestone.

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

The chart above shows that the final stage pulls the plan together. Patterns such as Two Pointers, Backtracking, Cyclic Sort, and Hash Maps reach full coverage, and in total 12 patterns (almost half of them) are now in the green zone (well covered). That is a huge milestone. 

Other patterns like Tree DFS, Union Find, and Heaps climb solidly into the 60–73% range. What began as scattered progress has now become confident capability. There are still some patterns that need your attention.

So, are you Netflix-ready now?#

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

The overall picture looks strong. Almost a dozen patterns have reached the green zone, with several at full 100% coverage and others close behind at 93%. This shows that the staged roadmap has done its job in steadily building toward depth, and readiness.

At the same time, a handful of patterns still need focused attention. Around 8 patterns remain in the yellow zone (partially covered), and 8 patterns are in the red zone with less than 60% completion. To bring everything to the finish line, most of these underrepresented patterns only need 2 carefully chosen problems following the 1—2—1 rubric. In particular, areas like Heaps, Union Find, Cyclic Sort, Sort and Search, and Fast and Slow Pointers need deliberate practice. 

The good part is that no pattern is missing.

Patterns recap#

Let’s analyze how the pattern coverage grows across each stage of the roadmap.

The pie chart makes it clear that half of the patterns (50%) come directly from the overlap between NeetCode and Netflix, which shows just how much ground you cover right at the start. Another 21% of patterns are introduced through Netflix-only problems, highlighting the value of tackling company-specific questions. Finally, the remaining 29% come from NeetCode-only problems, which expand the breadth and ensure no important category is left behind.

Together, these three stages take you to full coverage of all 28 patterns. The overlap gives you efficiency, Netflix-specific problems add depth, and the rest of NeetCode 150 rounds things out with adaptability. This steady progression is what makes the staged roadmap both complete and effective.

How close does this strategy get you to 420 points?#

Let’s look at how the score builds up across each stage of the Netflix-focused roadmap.

The score progression shows steady growth at each stage of the roadmap. Starting with the NeetCode-Netflix overlap, you secure 77 points right away. Adding Netflix-only problems takes you further, adding another 40 points. The biggest gain comes from the remaining NeetCode 150, which contributes 189 points on its own.

Together, these stages bring the total to 306 out of the ideal 420. That leaves just 114 points to be earned through targeted practice using the 1—2—1 rubric. This gap is manageable, and it shows how following the staged approach gets you most of the way there with minimal wasted effort.

What matters most for Netflix interviews: NeetCode 150 or LeetCode patterns?#

If there is one lesson I want you to take away, it is this: learning patterns is crucial. Netflix interviewers rarely repeat problems word for word, but they almost always rely on underlying strategies. If you can recognize the right approach quickly, you can handle any twist they throw at you.

That does not mean NeetCode 150 has no place in your prep. Far from it, actually. The list gives you structure, saves you from decision fatigue, and ensures you practice the most proven problems. What it cannot do on its own is prepare you for the unexpected. That is where pattern-based prep steps in.

The best strategy is not either-or, but a blend. Start with the NeetCode-Netflix overlap to get the best of both and build quick momentum. Add Netflix-only problems to capture the company’s unique focus. Work through the rest of NeetCode 150 to strengthen your breadth. Finally, apply the 1—2—1 rubric to close gaps and reach the 420-point benchmark. This staged approach keeps you on track without tiring you out, and ensures every pattern is practiced at multiple levels of difficulty. With that, you walk into Netflix interviews ready for whatever variation comes your way.

Recommended resources to level up your interview prep#

While this blog offers 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.