Top 10 Competitive Programming Platforms 2026 | Generated by AI

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Question: What are the most popular and active competitive programming platforms right now? Please give the top 10 choices, including Codeforces, LeetCode, AtCoder, etc.

Answer:

Here are the top 10 most popular and active competitive programming platforms as of early 2026, based on contest frequency, community size, activity level (participation in rated contests), and overall recognition in the CP and interview-prep communities:

  1. Codeforces
    The most active pure competitive programming platform with almost daily contests (Div. 1–4, Educational, Global Rounds), huge rating system, and very large global community. It remains the #1 choice for serious CP enthusiasts.

  2. LeetCode
    Extremely popular for technical interview preparation at big tech companies. Weekly + bi-weekly contests, massive problem library, and high activity from job seekers. Often the first choice for interview-focused coding.

  3. AtCoder
    Very active Japanese platform with clean problems and regular contests (ABC, ARC, AGC). Highly respected for high-quality tasks and growing international participation.

  4. CodeChef
    Very active especially in India and among students. Frequent monthly Long Challenges, Starters, Cook-Offs, and LunchTime contests. Strong community and good editorials.

  5. HackerRank
    Popular for both practice and company hiring contests. Active domain-specific challenges, certifications, and interview kits. Still widely used in recruitment.

  6. TopCoder
    Classic platform with a long history. Single Round Matches (SRMs) and high-level algorithmic challenges. Remains active among veteran competitive programmers.

  7. Codewars
    Gamified kata-based training with a large community creating challenges. Very active daily solving and ranking system, great for fun short practices.

  8. SPOJ (Sphere Online Judge)
    Classic archive with 20,000+ problems. Still active for practice, especially for advanced users and old-school CP training.

  9. GeeksforGeeks (GFG) Practice / Contests
    Very popular in India for learning + contests. Weekly contests, large problem set, and strong interview preparation material. High student activity.

  10. CodinGame
    Unique gamified platform with multiplayer clashes, bot programming, and optimization games. Active community and fun competitive elements.

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