Brandwave

HackerRank vs LeetCode:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, LeetCode had more branded searches than HackerRank among coding challenge brands worldwide. LeetCode had about 3.4 million branded searches, while HackerRank had 823,000. LeetCode made up 67.5% of all coding challenge brand searches we track, and HackerRank accounted for 16.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about coding challenge brands, HackerRank appeared in all five answers and LeetCode in four. LeetCode was mentioned before HackerRank in three out of five answers.

Among coding challenge brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

LeetCode, about 4 searches for every 1 for HackerRank

LeetCode 3.4M searchesHackerRank 823K searches

Who does AI mention more?

HackerRank, mentioned in every answer we collected

HackerRank in 5 of 5LeetCode in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

LeetCode, named ahead of HackerRank in 3 of 5 answers

LeetCode first in 3HackerRank first in 2

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Top coding challenge brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HackerRank appeared in all five answers. LeetCode was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. LeetCode was listed before HackerRank in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. HackerRank1st
  2. LeetCode2nd
  3. CodeSignal3rd
  4. Codewars4th
  5. Codeforces5th
  6. Exercism6th
  7. CoderPad7th
  8. HackerEarth8th
  9. Codility9th
  10. Project Euler10th
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • HackerRank5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • LeetCode4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Codeforces3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Codewars3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Exercism3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CodeSignal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • HackerEarth2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CoderPad2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Project Euler2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Codility1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about coding challenge brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is HackerRank or LeetCode more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for HackerRank and LeetCode by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 coding challenge brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

HackerRank and LeetCode among coding challenge brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for LeetCode, HackerRank. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLeetCodeHackerRankCodeforcesCodewarsExercismHackerEarthHireVueCoderPadCodeSignalProject EulerCodility
Oct 202555.1%20.2%13.5%3.3%1.8%1.2%1.2%1%1.2%0.81%0.55%
Nov 202559.4%17.8%11.9%3.6%1.6%1.3%1.1%0.88%1.1%0.72%0.59%
Dec 202560.1%18%12.1%2.9%1.3%1.6%0.89%0.73%1.1%0.73%0.49%
Jan 202662.7%15.4%12.6%3.1%1.4%1.1%0.93%0.76%0.93%0.62%0.51%
Feb 202662.6%15.4%12.6%2.5%1.7%1.7%0.92%0.76%0.92%0.62%0.41%
Mar 202663.2%15.5%10.4%2.5%2.1%2.1%1.1%0.93%0.93%0.63%0.51%
Apr 202659.7%17.9%12%2.9%2%1.6%1.1%0.88%0.88%0.59%0.48%
May 202665.6%13.2%10.8%3.2%1.8%1.4%0.97%0.97%0.97%0.65%0.43%
Jun 202668.5%13.7%9.2%2.3%1.8%1.2%0.83%0.83%0.68%0.55%0.37%
Jul 202667.6%16.6%9.1%1.8%1.5%0.82%0.67%0.67%0.55%0.45%0.3%
Aug 202667.3%16.5%9%1.8%1.5%0.99%0.81%0.66%0.66%0.45%0.3%
Sep 202667.5%16.6%9.1%1.8%1.2%0.82%0.82%0.67%0.67%0.55%0.3%

How has the HackerRank and LeetCode comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • LeetCode was ahead of HackerRank in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HackerRank’s share of searches among coding challenge brands worldwide moved from 20.2% to 16.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LeetCode’s share of searches among coding challenge brands worldwide moved from 55.1% to 67.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2M to 3.4M.

How did search popularity change for coding challenge brands worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for LeetCode worldwide rose 49.6% over 12 measured months, from 2.2M to 3.4M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HackerRank’s and LeetCode’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

HackerRank

1 branded search term

  • hackerrank

LeetCode

1 branded search term

  • leetcode

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among coding challenge brands

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