If you’re preparing for a Big Tech job, you’ve probably asked yourself: Is the Google interview tougher than Amazon? The Google vs Amazon interview debate is a hot topic among engineers. Some say Google is harder due to its algorithm-heavy focus, while others argue Amazon’s behavioral interviews add an extra challenge.
So, which one is truly tougher? Let’s break it down.
Google Interview: A Test of Pure Problem-Solving
Google’s technical interviews are all about algorithms and data structures. They expect candidates to think deeply about efficiency and scalability. Here’s what to expect:
- 4-5 technical rounds, primarily coding-focused.
- Leetcode Medium-Hard problems—often requiring deep knowledge of graphs, recursion, and dynamic programming.
- A strong emphasis on time complexity, edge cases, and optimal solutions.
- System design rounds at the Senior Engineer (L5+) level and beyond.
If you love solving pure algorithmic challenges, Google’s interview might feel like a rewarding puzzle. But if coding is not your strongest skill, it can be tough.
Amazon Interview: Leadership and Practicality Matter
Amazon’s hiring process is structured differently. While coding is still important, behavioral questions play a huge role. Amazon wants engineers who can think like leaders and make practical decisions. Their process includes:
- Coding rounds with mostly Leetcode Medium problems.
- System design interviews starting at L5 (Senior Engineer).
- Behavioral rounds—Amazon’s Leadership Principles are at the core of hiring decisions.
- Bar raisers—a final interviewer ensures that you meet Amazon’s hiring bar.
At Amazon, technical skills alone won’t land you the job. You need to demonstrate ownership, leadership, and real-world problem-solving.
Google vs Amazon Interview: Key Differences
| Aspect | Amazon | |
| Coding Difficulty | Harder (Medium-Hard Leetcode) | Easier (Mostly Medium) |
| System Design | L5+ (More theoretical) | L5+ (More practical) |
| Behavioral Interviews | Less structured | Highly structured |
| Time Complexity Focus | Extremely high | Moderate |
| Hiring Bar | Generally higher | More role-dependent |
Which One Is Tougher?
It depends on your strengths:
- If you love complex algorithms and efficiency, Google’s process will be a challenge worth tackling.
- If you excel at real-world problem-solving and leadership, Amazon’s process might be more approachable.
- If behavioral interviews stress you out, Amazon will feel harder.
- If coding isn’t your strongest skill, Google will be a bigger hurdle.
For raw coding challenges, Google is harder. For behavioral and leadership tests, Amazon is more demanding.
How to Prepare for Google and Amazon
Want to maximize your chances? Here’s where to focus:
- For Google:
- Master Leetcode Medium-Hard—especially recursion, graphs, and DP.
- Get comfortable with big-O complexity analysis—Google values efficiency.
- Practice mock coding interviews—speed and accuracy matter.
- For Amazon:
- Study Leadership Principles—they come up in every behavioral round.
- System design is critical—focus on scalability and trade-offs.
- Be ready for real-world problem-solving—Amazon favors practical solutions.
Final Thoughts
The Google vs Amazon interview difficulty depends on your strengths. Google demands deep algorithmic skills, while Amazon evaluates leadership and real-world decision-making. The best approach? Know what each company values and prepare accordingly.
Which one do you think is tougher? Let’s discuss!
