Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

HackerRank VS Select Star SQL

Compare HackerRank VS Select Star SQL and see what are their differences

HackerRank logo HackerRank

HackerRank is a platform that allows companies to conduct interviews remotely to hire developers and for technical assessment purposes.

Select Star SQL logo Select Star SQL

Education & Reference
  • HackerRank Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • Select Star SQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-05-03

HackerRank features and specs

  • Skill Assessment
    HackerRank provides a structured way to assess coding skills through a wide range of programming challenges and problems.
  • Wide Range of Languages
    Supports numerous programming languages, making it versatile for users with different preferences and expertise.
  • Interview Preparation
    Offers various interview preparation kits and company-specific challenges to help candidates prepare for job interviews.
  • Community and Collaboration
    A community of coders where users can discuss problems, share solutions, and collaborate on coding projects.
  • Company Recruitments
    Many companies use HackerRank for recruitment, and performing well on the platform can lead to job opportunities.
  • Leaderboard and Gamification
    Features like leaderboards and gamification elements motivate users to improve their rankings and skills continuously.
  • Educational Resources
    Provides tutorials and explanations that help users understand algorithms and data structures better.

Possible disadvantages of HackerRank

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Beginners may find some problems too challenging, which can be discouraging if they lack foundational knowledge.
  • Potential Focus on Competitive Programming
    The platform may emphasize competitive programming skills, which are not always directly applicable to all real-world software development scenarios.
  • Quality Variance in Problems
    The quality and difficulty of problems can vary, which may affect the consistency of the learning experience.
  • Limited Real-World Project Experience
    The focus on algorithms and coding challenges means there's less emphasis on full-scale project development experience.
  • Limited Feedback
    Automated grading provides limited feedback, which may not be enough for users to understand their mistakes fully.
  • Subscription Costs
    Access to some premium content and features requires a subscription, which may not be affordable for all users.
  • Network Dependency
    Requires a good internet connection to participate in coding challenges and access resources, which may be a limitation for some users.

Select Star SQL features and specs

  • Completely Free
    Select Star SQL is entirely free to use with no paywalls, subscriptions, or hidden costs. This makes it accessible to anyone who wants to learn SQL regardless of their financial situation.
  • Interactive Hands-On Learning
    The platform provides an interactive SQL environment directly in the browser where learners can write and execute real SQL queries against actual datasets, reinforcing concepts through practice rather than passive reading.
  • Real-World Dataset
    The course uses a compelling real-world dataset about Texas death row executions, which makes the learning experience more engaging and meaningful compared to abstract or contrived examples.
  • Well-Structured Progressive Curriculum
    The course is organized in a logical progression from basic SELECT statements to more advanced concepts like aggregations, joins, and subqueries, allowing learners to build knowledge incrementally without feeling overwhelmed.
  • No Setup Required
    There is no need to install any software, set up a database, or configure an environment. Learners can start writing SQL queries immediately in their web browser, removing a significant barrier to entry for beginners.

Possible disadvantages of Select Star SQL

  • Limited Scope
    The course covers only fundamental SQL concepts and does not address more advanced topics like window functions, CTEs, indexing, database design, or performance optimization, which are essential for professional SQL usage.
  • Single Database Dialect
    The platform teaches SQL using SQLite, and does not cover syntax differences or features specific to other popular database systems like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle, which learners may encounter in real jobs.
  • No Certificate or Credential
    Completing the course does not provide any formal certificate, badge, or credential that learners could use to demonstrate their SQL skills to potential employers or on professional profiles.
  • Limited Practice Exercises
    While the course includes some exercises, the total number of practice problems is relatively small compared to dedicated SQL practice platforms, which may not be sufficient for learners who need extensive repetition to solidify their skills.
  • Single Dataset Can Feel Restrictive
    Using only one dataset throughout the entire course means learners do not get experience working with diverse data schemas, table relationships, or different types of data, which limits exposure to varied real-world scenarios.

Analysis of HackerRank

Overall verdict

  • Yes, HackerRank is generally considered a good platform for improving coding skills and preparing for technical interviews. It is widely used by developers to hone their coding abilities and by companies to assess candidates' coding proficiency.

Why this product is good

  • HackerRank is a popular platform for coding enthusiasts, offering a wide range of programming challenges and competitions. It stands out for its extensive problem library, which is beneficial for practice and learning. The platform supports multiple programming languages and provides detailed feedback on submissions, making it a valuable tool for both beginners and experienced programmers.

Recommended for

    HackerRank is recommended for students, individual learners, and job seekers looking to improve their coding skills, as well as for companies seeking an efficient way to evaluate candidates' technical abilities during the hiring process.

Analysis of Select Star SQL

Overall verdict

  • Select Star SQL is an excellent free, interactive online book for learning SQL, praised for its engaging, hands-on approach that lets you write and run queries directly in the browser while working through a compelling real-world dataset.

Why this product is good

  • It's completely free and accessible online with no signup required
  • Features an interactive interface where you can write and execute SQL queries directly in the browser
  • Uses a compelling, thought-provoking dataset (Texas death row executions) that keeps learners engaged
  • Teaches SQL through active problem-solving rather than passive reading
  • Progresses logically from basic concepts to more advanced topics like window functions and self-joins
  • Includes exercises with solutions to reinforce learning
  • Well-written and clearly explained, making complex concepts approachable for beginners

Recommended for

  • Complete beginners who want to learn SQL from scratch
  • Self-taught learners who prefer hands-on, interactive practice
  • Students and professionals looking to build a solid foundation in querying databases
  • Aspiring data analysts and data scientists
  • Anyone wanting a free alternative to paid SQL courses
  • People who learn best by doing rather than just reading theory

HackerRank videos

Is HackerRank A Good Idea?

More videos:

  • Review - LeetCode vs HackerRank
  • Review - Difference between HackerRank, LeetCode, topcoder and Codeforces

Select Star SQL videos

No Select Star SQL videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to HackerRank and Select Star SQL)
Hiring And Recruitment
100 100%
0% 0
Online Education
94 94%
6% 6
Online Learning
95 95%
5% 5
Online Courses
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare HackerRank and Select Star SQL

HackerRank Reviews

LeetCode Alternatives: Top platforms for coding practice
What are LeetCode and LeetCode alternatives good for?LeetCode💡Interested in leveling up your career? Apply to the Formation Fellowship today!ApplyHackerRankCodeSignalAlgoExpertCodewarsGeeksforGeeksEdabitExercismTopCoderShould you use LeetCode for advanced interview prep?Get holistic interview prep with Formation
Source: formation.dev
Top 10 Developer Communities You Should Explore
HackerRank’s challenges cover a wide range of topics and difficulty levels, allowing developers to enhance their problem-solving skills and learn new algorithms and data structures. The competitive nature of HackerRank challenges adds a fun element to the learning process. Developers can track their progress, compete with others, and participate in company-sponsored coding...
Source: www.qodo.ai
Discover the Top Leetcode Alternatives
HackerRank offers a wide array of challenges across various domains such as algorithms, mathematics, SQL, and functional programming. Its interface is user-friendly, and the platform provides detailed feedback on submissions, which is ideal for beginners and experienced coders alike.
Source: codenquest.com
Best Alternatives to LeetCode For Data Science
HackerRank is another valuable alternative to LeetCode. They're not very "niche" but I had to include them on this list because they're a great resource for data science practice. On HackerRank, you can learn and test your competitive programming skills. If you have basic knowledge of Python and SQL and you're looking to sharpen your skills for an interview, then this...
15 Best LeetCode Alternatives 2023
HackerRank is a platform that matches developers with companies. The platform has two options. The first one is for companies looking to hire developers. The second option is for job seekers looking to improve their coding skills, prepare for interviews, and get hired.

Select Star SQL Reviews

We have no reviews of Select Star SQL yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, HackerRank seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 67 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

HackerRank mentions (67)

  • How to Stop Getting Lost in Endless Resources and Stay Focused as a Developer
    This way, you transfer what you already know (problem-solving) but only change the syntax. Platforms like Hackerrank are also great to solve the same problem in different languages and learn from other people’s solutions. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Pick up new languages faster this way!
    Firstly, solve some common data structure problems with it. Implement some data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, etc. You can check common problems on LeetCode, Hackerank or some other resources. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Offline alternative of hackerrank.com to practice coding offline
    I don't have a consecutive internet connection and I can't keep up learning process so I started practicing in hackerrank.com I have started some challenges in python and c++ there. Thus I have no internet connection so I cannot practice if anyone know any alternative that works like Working: Gives a challange User sumbits code and it test into testcases. Source: over 2 years ago
  • 6 Key Tips for Beginners Learning JavaScript
    An effective way to improve your JavaScript skills is working through coding challenges and exercises. Sites like ReviewNPrep, FreeCodeCamp, and HackerRank have tons of challenges that allow you to practice JavaScript concepts by building mini-projects and solving problems. These hands-on challenges force you to apply what you learn. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Help needed for selecting Colleges.
    I'm 18M Indian. Growing up I've always been a daydreamer, if you may. Since 8th grade - I'm fascinated by programming. And I'm good at it too. But I'm not cocky too. I wouldn't say I'm at an advanced level, but I can most probably solve any problem - in time - with my skills. I also keep my skills brushed by solving problems on Hacker Rank (every day or alternate days) and try my best to contribute on... Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Select Star SQL mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Select Star SQL yet. Tracking of Select Star SQL recommendations started around May 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing HackerRank and Select Star SQL, you can also consider the following products

LeetCode - Practice and level up your development skills and prepare for technical interviews.

SQLBolt - SQLBolt provides a set of interactive lessons and exercises to help you learn SQL

Codility - Codility provides a SaaS platform with advanced validation, security and protection features to evaluate the skills of software engineers.

SQLZOO - SQLZoo includes tutorials and reference to support people learning SQL. It features:

CodeSignal - CodeSignal is the leading assessment platform for technical hiring.

PostgreSQL Exercises - Education & Reference