Is NeetCode 150 better than Blind 75?

Neither is better in the abstract - they answer different questions. Blind 75 asks 'what is the minimum set that covers every pattern?' NeetCode 150 asks 'how many reps per pattern do I need to recognise it cold?' If you have under four weeks, do Blind 75. If you have six weeks or more, do NeetCode 150. NeetCode 150 contains nearly every Blind 75 problem, so starting with Blind 75 and continuing into NeetCode 150 wastes almost nothing.

How long does it take to do NeetCode 150?

At a sustainable 3 problems per day it takes about 7 weeks; at 5 per day, about 4 weeks. Those figures assume you are solving problems you have already studied the pattern for. Budget roughly 30 to 45 minutes per medium if you are attempting it cold first, which is the more useful way to practise but roughly doubles the calendar time.

Does NeetCode 150 include Blind 75?

In practice yes. NeetCode 150 was built as an expansion of Blind 75, and nearly every Blind 75 problem appears in it, usually under the same name. The extra problems in NeetCode 150 are additional repetitions within patterns Blind 75 covers only once or twice, plus broader coverage of intervals, tries, and advanced graph problems.

Should I do Blind 75 twice or move on to NeetCode 150?

Move on. A second pass through Blind 75 tests recall of problems you have already seen, which is not the skill an interview measures. The additional NeetCode 150 problems give you fresh problems inside patterns you already know, which is what builds pattern recognition rather than memory.

NeetCode 150 vs Blind 75 - Which to Choose

⏱️ 7 min read

The two most-recommended coding interview lists. They overlap heavily, which makes choosing between them confusing. Here is the actual difference.

The Short Answer

You have	Do this
Under 4 weeks	Blind 75 — it is the minimum viable pattern coverage
4 to 6 weeks	Blind 75, then extend into NeetCode 150 in your weakest patterns
6 weeks or more	NeetCode 150 — the extra reps are what build recognition
Already did Blind 75	Continue into NeetCode 150; don’t repeat Blind 75

They are not competing lists. NeetCode 150 was built as an expansion of Blind 75, and nearly every Blind 75 problem appears in it. Starting with one and continuing into the other wastes almost nothing.

What Each List Actually Optimises For

Blind 75 answers: what is the smallest set of problems that touches every pattern an interviewer might use?

It originated as a post on Blind and became the default “I have a month” list. Each pattern appears once or twice. That breadth is the point, and it is also the limitation — one sliding-window problem teaches you the template, but it does not teach you to recognise sliding window in a problem that does not look like one.

NeetCode 150 answers: how many repetitions per pattern do I need before I can spot it cold?

The additional problems are mostly extra reps inside patterns Blind 75 already covers, plus wider coverage of intervals, tries, and the harder graph material. It is grouped by category so you work a pattern to completion rather than jumping between them.

💡 This is the real distinction. Blind 75 gets you pattern coverage. NeetCode 150 gets you pattern recognition. Coverage is enough to follow a solution; recognition is what you need when the problem is new.

Side by Side

	Blind 75	NeetCode 150
Problems	75	150
Solvable in-browser here	65	130
Patterns covered	All core patterns	Same, plus intervals, tries, advanced graphs
Reps per pattern	1 to 2	3 to 6
Organised by	Pattern	Category, worked to completion
Realistic timeline	3 to 4 weeks	6 to 7 weeks
Best for	A deadline	Building durable recognition

The “solvable in-browser” row is from this site’s own tables — the remaining problems link out to LeetCode because there is no local judge for them yet.

How Long Each Actually Takes

Arithmetic, not a promise. Assuming you have already studied the pattern before attempting its problems:

Pace	Blind 75	NeetCode 150
3 problems/day	~4 weeks	~7 weeks
5 problems/day	~3 weeks	~4 weeks

Two things people underestimate. First, attempting a problem cold before reading the approach roughly doubles the time per problem — and it is the more valuable way to practise, so budget for it rather than optimising it away. Second, neither list is finished when you have submitted 75 or 150 accepted solutions. It is finished when you can take an unseen medium and name the pattern within a minute.

Which One If You Are Starting From Zero

Do neither first.

Both lists assume you already know what a sliding window or a monotonic stack is. If you do not, working through a list becomes 150 sessions of reading someone else’s solution, which builds recall of specific problems and very little else.

Learn the pattern template first, then use the list as the drill:

Study one pattern until you can write its template from memory
Solve 5 problems from that pattern in a row
Solve 2 to 3 where the pattern is not obvious from the problem statement — this is the step that builds recognition
Move to the next pattern

The DSA Fundamentals pages are organised for exactly this: template first, then the problems that drill it.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why it costs you
Doing Blind 75 twice	The second pass tests memory of specific problems, not the skill interviews measure
Starting a list before learning the patterns	Turns practice into solution-reading
Chasing problem count	150 accepted submissions with no recognition loses to 75 with it
Skipping the “pattern is hidden” problems	These are the only ones that train recognition
Never solving under a timer	Interviews are timed; untimed practice does not transfer

Just Give Me the Lists

Blind 75 — 75 problems by pattern, with a progress tracker
NeetCode 150 — 150 problems by category, with a progress tracker
DSA Fundamentals — the 16 pattern templates both lists assume you know
All 390 problems — filter by pattern or company, in-browser judge

Both trackers sync across devices if you sign in, so you can switch lists without losing progress.

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NeetCode 150 vs Blind 75