Best SQL Practice Platforms and Websites (Updated for 2025)

If you’re preparing for SQL interviews or want to sharpen your database skills, you need the right platform to practice. In 2025, SQL practice tools range from free tutorials to interactive, job-ready simulators like Interview Query and LeetCode. Here’s a breakdown of the best platforms — whether you’re a beginner or aiming for data analyst interviews.

What are the Best Platforms for Different SQL Goals (2025)?

• For Interview Prep: Interview Query, LeetCode, HackerRank
• For Beginners: SQLBolt, SQLZoo, W3Schools
• For Real-World Data Practice: Kaggle, DataQuest
• For Testing and Debugging: DB Fiddle, StrataScratch

Interview Query is a SQL practice platform built for people preparing for real data interviews. Its main strength lies in its focus on interview-style SQL questions and business-driven scenarios, helping users move beyond syntax and into job-ready problem-solving.

Rather than teaching SQL in isolation, it trains you to think like a data analyst or data scientist — interpreting data, structuring queries, and explaining insights the way interviewers expect.

What makes Interview Query stand out

• SQL problems based on real interview questions from top companies
• Questions grounded in real business use cases (e-commerce, healthcare, tech, finance)
• Clear, step-by-step explanations that show both logic and strategy
• Difficulty ranges from beginner concepts to advanced, multi-layered queries
• Strong emphasis on analytical thinking, not just query writing

All questions can be viewed for free, while detailed solutions and premium features are available via subscription.

Learning Experience

You learn through hands-on problem solving in a fully browser-based environment. The platform encourages self-paced learning, allowing users to revisit problems and refine their approach. Many challenges simulate real workplace situations, helping build both SQL confidence and interview readiness.

The included AI Interviewer also allows users to practice SQL-related interviews in a realistic setting.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

If your goal is to pass SQL interviews and perform confidently in real data roles, Interview Query is one of the most effective platforms available. It’s best paired with a basic SQL tutorial if you’re completely new, then used as your primary tool for interview preparation and advanced practice.

LeetCode is one of the most popular platforms for technical interview preparation, with a strong SQL section aimed at users preparing for data engineering, analytics, and software development roles. It is most suitable for intermediate to advanced learners who already understand SQL basics and want to sharpen their problem-solving speed and accuracy.

Rather than teaching SQL concepts step-by-step, LeetCode focuses on repetitive practice through structured challenges — making it ideal for refining skills under interview-like conditions.

What makes LeetCode stand out

• Large collection of SQL problems categorized by difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard)
• Real SQL execution environment for testing live queries
• Company-tagged questions inspired by interviews at major tech firms
• Clear problem statements with sample inputs and outputs
• Access to official solutions and explanations through LeetCode Premium

Learning Experience

LeetCode uses a problem-first approach. You’re expected to already know SQL fundamentals and improve by solving increasingly complex queries. There are no structured tutorials or guided lessons, so it functions best as a practice and assessment platform rather than a learning one.

The platform encourages consistency through streaks and leaderboard rankings, helping users stay motivated.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

LeetCode is an excellent SQL practice platform if your primary goal is to simulate real technical interviews and improve query performance under pressure. It works best for users who already know SQL basics and want to strengthen their speed, logic, and accuracy before interviews.

For complete beginners, it’s best used alongside a tutorial-based platform before relying on it as your main practice tool.

HackerRank is a widely used coding platform with a dedicated SQL domain designed for both practice and assessment. It’s suitable for beginners learning core SQL concepts as well as advanced users preparing for technical interviews. Because many companies use HackerRank for screening tests, its SQL challenges closely reflect real interview and job scenarios.

It stands out for its structured progression, interactive environment, and certification options — making it a strong choice for users who want both learning and validation.

What makes HackerRank stand out

• Well-structured SQL tracks covering Basic SELECT to advanced analytics queries
• Built-in SQL editor for writing, running, and debugging queries
• Problems organized by topic and difficulty for systematic learning
• SQL certifications to showcase skills on your resume
• Ranked competitions and challenges to test your skills globally

Most SQL challenges are free, while certifications and some advanced features may require payment.

Learning Experience

HackerRank supports a gradual learning curve. Beginners benefit from guided, tutorial-like challenges, while advanced users can move into complex JOINs, subqueries, and optimization-based problems. The platform is fully self-paced, allowing users to practice whenever they choose and revisit challenges for mastery.

Many questions simulate real workplace scenarios such as customer analysis, sales reporting, and data filtering — helping users build practical SQL skills.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

HackerRank is an excellent all-around SQL practice platform for users who want structured learning plus real interview-style challenges. It’s especially valuable for beginners and intermediate learners who want to progress systematically while building credentials through certifications.

For those focused purely on advanced, real-business SQL case problems, it works best when paired with a more interview-focused platform like Interview Query or LeetCode.

SQLZoo is a beginner-friendly platform designed to teach SQL through interactive tutorials and hands-on practice. It’s best for users who are just starting out and want a simple, no-frills way to learn SQL without installing anything or creating an account.

The platform prioritizes clarity and ease of use, making it an ideal first step before moving on to more advanced SQL practice or interview-focused tools.

What makes SQLZoo stand out

• Interactive tutorials that let you write and run SQL directly in the browser
• Step-by-step lessons that build from basic queries to more complex syntax
• Covers core SQL concepts like SELECT, JOIN, aggregation, subqueries, and window functions
• Instant feedback so you can quickly see if your query works
• Supports multiple SQL dialects, exposing you to real-world variations

SQLZoo is completely free and requires no setup or registration.

Learning Experience

SQLZoo follows a guided, beginner-first approach. Concepts are introduced in simple language alongside exercises, encouraging active practice instead of passive reading. Each section ends with small challenges to reinforce learning and help users build confidence gradually.

While it’s excellent for fundamentals, it offers limited advanced content compared to interview-focused platforms.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

SQLZoo is an excellent starting point if you’re completely new to SQL and want a simple way to understand core concepts through practice. It’s best used as a foundation tool before transitioning to more advanced platforms like Interview Query, HackerRank, or LeetCode for deeper practice and interview preparation.

W3Schools SQL Tutorial is a free, beginner-friendly resource for learning the fundamentals of SQL. It’s ideal for users who want clear explanations, simple examples, and a low-pressure way to understand how SQL works before moving on to more advanced practice platforms.

It’s widely known for its simplicity and accessibility, making it a solid entry point for absolute beginners.

What makes W3Schools stand out

• Clear, easy-to-follow explanations of SQL concepts
• “Try It Yourself” editor for running queries directly in the browser
• Covers core commands like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, JOINs, and subqueries
• Step-by-step examples paired with quick practice exercises
• No sign-up or installation required

Everything is completely free and accessible online.

Learning Experience

W3Schools focuses on concept understanding first. Each topic is explained in straightforward language, followed by examples you can modify and run instantly. It’s designed for self-paced learning and encourages experimentation, making it approachable even for non-technical users.

However, its exercises are more instructional than challenging, so it works best as a foundation tool rather than a primary SQL practice platform.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

W3Schools is one of the easiest ways to get started with SQL. It’s perfect for building foundational knowledge and understanding syntax, but it should be paired with a practice-focused platform like SQLZoo, HackerRank, or Interview Query when you’re ready for deeper problem-solving and interview-style questions.

DB Fiddle is an online SQL playground designed for quickly writing, testing, and sharing SQL queries. Unlike structured learning platforms, it functions as a sandbox for experimentation, making it ideal for debugging queries, exploring edge cases, and validating SQL logic across different database systems.

It’s best suited for users who already have basic SQL knowledge and want a fast, no-friction way to test ideas in a real SQL environment.

What makes DB Fiddle stand out

• Supports multiple SQL dialects (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server)
• Instant query execution for quick testing and debugging
• Shareable links for collaboration and troubleshooting
• Import and export of SQL scripts and CSV files
• Clean, distraction-free interface focused purely on SQL

DB Fiddle is completely free and runs entirely in the browser.

Learning Experience

DB Fiddle is not a teaching platform. There are no tutorials, guided lessons, or problem sets. Instead, it’s a flexible tool where users experiment with their own SQL queries, refine logic, and test how queries behave across different database engines.

It’s especially useful for validating solutions from other platforms or trying out complex SQL concepts in real time.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

DB Fiddle is an excellent tool for testing and debugging SQL queries in a real environment without setup. While it’s not ideal for learning SQL from scratch, it’s a valuable companion for more structured platforms like Interview Query, LeetCode, or HackerRank when you need a quick place to experiment and validate your queries.

Kaggle is a leading data science platform known for its massive dataset library, cloud notebooks, and global competitions. While it isn’t a dedicated SQL practice platform, it allows users to apply SQL in real-world data analysis scenarios, making it ideal for practicing SQL alongside broader data science workflows.

It’s especially valuable for users who want to use SQL on large, realistic datasets rather than isolated practice questions.

What makes Kaggle stand out

• Access to thousands of real-world datasets across industries
• Cloud-based notebooks where you can run SQL alongside Python and R
• SQL practice within real analytical and machine learning projects
• Community-created SQL tutorials and example notebooks
• Competitions where SQL is often used for data cleaning and preparation

Kaggle is free to use and entirely browser-based.

Learning Experience

Kaggle follows a project-driven learning style. Instead of structured SQL lessons, users explore datasets, write queries, and solve real business or analytical problems. This makes it better suited for learners who already understand SQL basics and want to apply them in practical data science contexts.

While there are SQL-specific notebooks, most learning is self-directed and shaped by the datasets or projects you choose.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

Kaggle is best for users who want to apply SQL in real data projects and build practical experience working with complex datasets. While it’s not ideal for learning SQL from scratch or preparing for interview-style questions, it’s an excellent complementary tool for developing real-world SQL and analytics skills alongside platforms like Interview Query or HackerRank.

SQLBolt is a free, interactive platform designed to teach SQL from the ground up. It walks users through core SQL concepts using short lessons paired with immediate hands-on exercises, making it one of the easiest ways for beginners to get started with SQL.

Its simple structure and no-setup approach make it ideal for learners who want a guided, step-by-step introduction without distractions.

What makes SQLBolt stand out

• Interactive lessons that explain concepts then let you practice instantly
• Real-time query execution directly in the browser
• Clean, distraction-free interface focused on learning
• Progressive difficulty from basic SQL to more complex queries
• No account or installation required

Everything is free and accessible directly through the browser.

Learning Experience

SQLBolt follows a lesson-first approach. Each concept is introduced clearly, followed by exercises that reinforce what you just learned. The pace is gradual, making it easy for beginners to build confidence while understanding how SQL works in practical scenarios.

While excellent for fundamentals, SQLBolt is more structured and linear, with fewer diverse challenge types compared to interview-focused platforms.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

SQLBolt is an excellent starting point for anyone new to SQL who wants a structured, no-friction way to learn the basics. It’s best used as a foundation before moving on to more advanced practice or interview-focused platforms like HackerRank, LeetCode, or Interview Query.

DataQuest is an interactive learning platform that teaches SQL as part of a broader data science curriculum. It focuses on project-based learning, allowing users to practice SQL using real-world datasets while building skills relevant to data analyst and data science roles.

It’s ideal for learners who want structured guidance and practical experience, rather than just standalone SQL drills.

What makes DataQuest stand out

• Project-based SQL learning using real business datasets
• Integrated coding environment with real-time feedback
• Structured learning paths for data analysis, SQL, and machine learning
• Practical challenges that mirror real analyst workflows
• Certificates that validate completed skills and projects

Most introductory content is free, but full access requires a paid subscription.

Learning Experience

DataQuest follows a guided, project-first approach. After each lesson, learners apply concepts to real-world scenarios such as analyzing customer behavior or business trends. This creates a strong connection between SQL theory and practical application.

The experience is fully self-paced, with progressive difficulty from beginner queries to advanced JOINs, aggregations, and complex data manipulation.

Best Fit Summary

Pros & Cons

Final Takeaway

DataQuest is best suited for learners who want to combine SQL with real data analysis projects and follow a structured learning path. It’s a strong choice for aspiring data analysts and data scientists, but those focused purely on interview preparation may prefer pairing it with platforms like Interview Query or LeetCode for targeted SQL practice.

What is the best free platform to practice SQL in 2025?

For completely free options, Interview Query, SQLZoo, and W3Schools are great for beginners, while HackerRank and Kaggle are better once you’re comfortable with basic SELECT and JOIN queries.

Which SQL practice platform is best for interviews?

If your goal is data interview prep, Interview Query, LeetCode, HackerRank, and StrataScratch stand out. They provide timed questions, real company problems, and SQL challenges that feel similar to what you’ll see in interviews.

Are SQL assessment platforms good for beginners?

Assessment platforms are ideal once you understand core concepts like SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, and GROUP BY. Beginners should start with guided tutorials (e.g., SQLBolt, SQLZoo) and then move into assessments like Interview Query or HackerRank when they’re ready to be tested under time pressure.

Do I need to install software to practice SQL?

Not necessarily. Many platforms — including Interview Query, LeetCode, SQLBolt, and Kaggle — run entirely in the browser. These no-install environments are perfect if you’re practicing on a work laptop or don’t want to configure a local database.

Each of these SQL platforms offers something different — from beginner-friendly lessons to advanced interview challenges. To accelerate your prep, explore Interview Query’s curated SQL Interview Question Set and practice the same problems used by top companies.

Keep an open mind as you learn and practice SQL, and remember that consistent effort and curiosity are the keys to mastering it. All the best!