I Tried 30+ Udemy Courses to Learn DSA: Here Are My Top 5 Recommendations for 2026

My favorite Udemy courses to learn DSA and also prepare for Coding interviews

I Tried 30+ Udemy Courses to Learn DSA: Here Are My Top 5 Recommendations

Hello guys, I’ve spent the last 8 years systematically going through every major DSA course on Udemy. I‘ have taken ’30+ courses across Java, Python, JavaScript, and C++ in last 8 years.

I’ve sat through lectures, solved problems, taken notes, and studied instructor approaches.

And honestly? Most of them are mediocre. Some are outdated. Many waste your time with unnecessary theory before getting to the practical stuff.

But a handful stand out. These are the courses that actually teach you DSA in a way that sticks. These are the ones that prepare you for real coding interviews.

These are the ones I recommend when someone asks: “Which Udemy DSA course should I take?”

Let me walk you through them.

Why I Tried 30+ Courses

Before I give you my recommendations, you need to understand my selection criteria.

I wasn’t looking for popular courses. I was looking for courses that:

  1. Actually teach DSA deeply — Not superficial coverage. Real understanding.
  2. Prepare you for coding interviews — Real FAANG questions, real strategies.
  3. Have hands-on coding exercises — You don’t learn DSA by watching videos.
  4. Are well-structured — Clear progression from basics to advanced.
  5. Have active communities — Good support when you get stuck.
  6. Stand the test of time — Still relevant in 2026, not outdated in 2 years.
  7. Teach multiple languages — Or teach one language really well.

I tested all of these criteria against every major DSA course on Udemy. Most failed multiple criteria. A few passed all of them.

5 Best Udemy Courses to learn Data Structures and Algorithms in 2026

Without any further ado, here are the top Udemy courses you can take to learn Data structures and algorithms better as well as prepare for coding interviews in 2026

1. Master the Coding Interview: Data Structures + Algorithms by Andrei Neagoie

This course has over 250,000 students for a reason. Andrei Neagoie doesn’t just teach DSA — he teaches you how to think like an interviewer.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Complete DSA fundamentals (arrays, linked lists, trees, hash tables, graphs)
  • Big O notation and complexity analysis
  • Problem-solving patterns and strategies
  • 5-step approach to solving ANY difficult coding problem
  • Real FAANG coding interview questions
  • How to get more interviews and negotiate offers

Why It Works: Andrei doesn’t waste time. He shows you what matters: the concepts that appear in 90% of coding interviews. The course is modular — you can skip around based on your needs.

But here’s the real magic: Andrei teaches you frameworks for solving problems. It’s not just “here’s a linked list.” It’s “here’s how you approach any linked list problem.” That framework carries across every problem type.

The course also includes sections on how to conduct yourself in interviews, handle rejections, and negotiate salaries. That’s rare and incredibly valuable.

Best For: Anyone preparing for FAANG interviews. Career changers. Developers switching to senior roles.

Time Commitment: 20–25 hours of core content

Student Rating: 4.7/5 (280,000+ reviews)

Here is the link to join this course — Master the Coding Interview on Udemy

Pair With: Zero to Mastery Academy if you want all of Andrei’s courses. Use code FRIENDS10 for 10% off. Or grab just this course on Udemy.

2. JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Masterclass by Colt Steele

If you’re a JavaScript developer, this course is non-negotiable. Colt Steele teaches algorithms and data structures in a way that feels native to JavaScript.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Big O notation and complexity analysis
  • Recursion and backtracking
  • Sorting algorithms (bubble, selection, insertion, quick, merge, radix)
  • Searching and binary search
  • Dynamic programming (proper explanations, not hand-wavy)
  • Data structures: linked lists, trees, heaps, hash tables, graphs
  • Graph algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra’s shortest path
  • Problem-solving patterns (sliding window, divide and conquer, etc.)

Why It Works: Colt teaches DSA in JavaScript without making it feel clunky. The animations are excellent. The explanations are clear. The problem-solving patterns section is worth the course price alone.

Most courses teach algorithms as abstract concepts then implement them. Colt shows you JavaScript idioms while teaching the concepts. That’s crucial because you need to write actual JavaScript in interviews, not pseudocode.

The course has 165,000+ students because it actually works.

Best For: Frontend developers, full-stack developers, or anyone comfortable with JavaScript.

Time Commitment: 24 hours of content

Student Rating: 4.8/5 (170,000+ reviews)

Here is the link to get this course — JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Masterclass

3. Data Structures & Algorithms, Level-up for Coding Interviews by Prateek Narang

The Google Engineer’s Masterclass

Prateek Narang is a Senior Software Engineer at Google. This course is what he wishes he’d had when preparing for interviews.

What You’ll Learn:

  • 150+ coding interview problems
  • Arrays, strings, vectors
  • Hashing (maps, sets, unordered maps)
  • Stacks, queues, linked lists
  • Binary trees, BSTs, heaps
  • Graphs, tries, and advanced concepts
  • Problem-solving strategies specific to each data structure
  • Brute force to optimization techniques
  • Sliding window algorithms
  • Binary search variations
  • Dynamic programming fundamentals
  • Graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, shortest paths)

Why It Works: This course takes the “brute force first, then optimize” approach. You see the obvious solution, understand why it’s inefficient, then learn optimizations. That mirrors real interviews.

The course is 25+ hours and covers everything you need. The problem selection is deliberate — each problem teaches specific patterns.

Prateek codes in C++ for demonstrations, but the logic translates to any language. If you know any programming language, you can follow along.

Best For: Developers serious about FAANG interviews. Anyone wanting to master problem-solving patterns.

Time Commitment: 25+ hours

Student Rating: 4.7/5

Here is the link to join this course — Data Structures & Algorithms, Level-up for Coding Interviews

4. Python Data Structures & Algorithms + LEETCODE Exercises by Scott Barrett

The Hands-On Python Approach

If Python is your language, this is your course. Scott Barrett’s approach is practical and interview-focused.

What You’ll Learn:

  • All essential data structures (linked lists, trees, heaps, graphs, etc.)
  • Sorting and searching algorithms
  • Time and space complexity analysis
  • 100+ coding exercises with solutions
  • Recursion and dynamic programming
  • LeetCode problem-solving strategies
  • Animated examples for complex concepts

Why It Works: Scott’s strength is making complex ideas simple. The animations help you visualize what’s happening. The 100+ exercises are hand-picked to teach patterns, not just random problems.

The course is beginner-friendly but doesn’t talk down to you. By the end, you’re ready for real interviews.

Most importantly: you solve problems as you learn. Theory isn’t separated from practice — they happen together.

Best For: Python developers preparing for interviews. Beginners wanting to learn DSA properly.

Time Commitment: 20–25 hours

Student Rating: 4.7/5 (93,000+ reviews)

Here is the link to join this course — Python Data Structures & Algorithms + LEETCODE Exercises

5. Mastering Data Structures & Algorithms using C and C++ by Abdul Bari

The Foundational Classic

Abdul Bari’s course is a legend. 229,000+ students have taken it. There’s a reason.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Complete DSA from scratch
  • Arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists
  • Trees (binary, BSTs, AVL, heaps)
  • Sorting algorithms (with complexity analysis)
  • Graph algorithms
  • Searching algorithms
  • Dynamic programming
  • String algorithms

Why It Works: Abdul explains concepts in a way that sticks. He doesn’t rush. Each concept gets proper time. The visualizations are clear. The explanations are thorough.

This course is foundation-building, not interview-cramming. By the end, you don’t just know DSA — you understand it deeply.

The C/C++ implementations are clean and educational. You see exactly how data structures work under the hood. That knowledge transfers to any language.

Best For: Developers wanting deep DSA understanding. C/C++ programmers. Anyone wanting foundations, not just interview tricks.

Time Commitment: 40+ hours (comprehensive)

Student Rating: 4.5/5 (229,000+ reviews)

Here is the link to join this course — Mastering Data Structures & Algorithms using C and C++

My Recommended Learning Path

If you have 1 month:

  1. Week 1–2: Take Master the Coding Interview
  • Get the patterns and frameworks you need for interviews

2. Week 3–4: Take your language-specific course (JavaScript, Python, C++, etc.)

  • Apply the frameworks in your language of choice

If you have 2–3 months:

  1. Start with Master the Coding Interview (interview patterns)
  2. Add Abdul Bari’s C/C++ course or your preferred language course (deep understanding)
  3. Practice LeetCode problems while studying

If you want everything:

Take all five courses, rotating between interview-focused (Andrei, Prateek) and foundation-building (Abdul Bari) courses. Mix in practical coding each day.

Why These 5 Stand Out From the Other 25+

I tested 30+ courses. These five won because:

Andrei’s course — Best overall. Best for interviews. Best frameworks.

Colt’s course — Best for JavaScript developers. Best animations. Best explanation of problem-solving patterns.

Prateek’s course — Best problem selection. Best optimization strategies. Best for mastering patterns.

Scott’s course — Best Python course. Best for beginners. Best LeetCode integration. He also have a Java DSA course which is worth taking if you are a Java developer.

Abdul’s course — Best for foundations. Best explanations. Best for understanding how DSA works at a deep level.

The other 25+ courses? Some were decent. Most were repetitive, boring, or covered outdated material. None were as effective as these five. If you want to see all the courses I have tried, you can see my previous articles.

The Investment That Pays Off

These courses cost $10–50 each on Udemy (especially during sales). Compare that to:

  • A coding bootcamp: $10,000–20,000
  • A single failed interview: Lost salary increase, lost opportunity
  • Months of self-study with no guidance: Wasted time

Quality DSA education is one of the cheapest investments that pays the biggest dividends.

Bonus: Udemy Personal Plan

If you want to take multiple courses, check out Udemy Personal Plan. It’s $30/month and gives you access to 11,000+ Udemy courses.

You can try it free for 7 days to see if it’s worth it for you.

Or grab individual courses during Udemy flash sales (they happen constantly). Prices drop to $10–15 regularly.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to take 30+ DSA courses like I did. You need to take the right one.

For interviews: Master the Coding Interview by Andrei Neagoie

For JavaScript: JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Masterclass by Colt Steele

For patterns: Data Structures & Algorithms, Level-up by Prateek Narang

For Python: Python Data Structures & Algorithms + LEETCODE by Scott Barrett

For foundations: Mastering Data Structures & Algorithms using C and C++ by Abdul Bari

Pick one based on your goals. Commit fully. Actually solve the problems. Don’t just watch passively.

In 2026, DSA knowledge is non-negotiable for serious developers. These courses are your shortcut to mastery.

Start today. Your interview performance in 6 months will thank you.

Other System Design and Coding Interview and Resources you may like

All the best for your DSA learning journey and Coding Interviews, if you have any doubts or questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

P. S. — If you need an alternative of Udemy for coding interviews then I suggest you to join ByteByteGo and practice coding interviews you will thank me later. It’s one of the most comprehensive resource for not just coding interview but also for senior engineers to get better at their work. They are also offering 50% Discount now.

System Design · Coding · Behavioral · Machine Learning Interviews

I Tried 30+ Udemy Courses to Learn DSA: Here Are My Top 5 Recommendations for 2026 was originally published in Javarevisited on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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