Hackathons are different!. The good ones pull you in, stretch your thinking, and leave you with something real—regardless of the outcome. The problem is choice. It’s hard to find the right one! Too many hackathons. Too many formats. And too much noise.
So this list is built with that in mind. Instead out outlining Hackathons that might expire any minute, it lists the top 10 places where you can look for Hackathons depending upon your requirement—money, name, game. Pick the one that best suits your interests.
Table of contents
1. For the Popular Hackathons
Devpost | Creativity-first, competitive building
Devpost hackathons reward creativity as much as code. You’re not just optimizing models. You’re building something that makes sense, works end to end, and on a platform building for the show.
What does it offer?
- Exposure to Top Hackathons
- Team-based creativity
- Demo-focused outcomes
Great for experienced builders who like shipping and storytelling on a scale.
Bonus: The Gemini 3 Hackathon offered by Google Deepmind and managed by Devpost, is the perfect combo of money, name, and game, for the aspirants. With a massive prize pool of $100k, and over 13k participants, this is the go-to for Hackathon enthusiasts to partake in.
2. For the Competition
Kaggle Competitions | Self-paced, leaderboard-driven learning
If you enjoy thinking deeply without distractions, Kaggle feels right. No kickoff calls. No demos. Just a problem, a dataset, and a leaderboard that keeps you honest. You compete at your own pace and learn by refining small details over time.
What does it offer?
- Self-paced participation
- Strong focus on fundamentals
- Learn a lot by failing publicly
Great for learners who like improving quietly at their own pace.
3. For Diverse Challenges
AICrowd | Research-oriented, methodical competitions
AIcrowd feels academic in a good way. Clear problem statements. Thoughtful baselines. Communities that care about how you got the result, not just the score. Ideal if you enjoy reading papers and testing ideas methodically.
What does it offer?
- Research-style problems
- Well-documented challenges
- Strong technical depth
Great for learners who like research-backed, methodical problem solving.
4. For Career Focused Challenges
Analytics Vidhya | Structured, career-oriented hackathons
This is where many people experience their first “real” hackathon flow. Clear timelines, well-designed problems, and a massive learning community. Competitive, but not overwhelming. With an immediate exposure to recruiters, further highlighting skilled individuals.
What does it offer?
- Beginner-friendly structure
- Recruitment Exposure
- High-quality problem statements
Great for hackathon participants who wants a mix of challenge with reward. Checkout the Data Analyst skilltest by Analytics Vidhya to earn rewards and get a chance to interview for the job role!
5. For AI Hackathons
LabLab.ai | Real-world problems with regional context
These hackathons move fast and feel alive. With emphasis on AI, the hackathons offered delve into the immediate problems of the time. This should be the choice for AI enthusiasts who are seeking practical challenges.
What does it offer?
- AI-focused hackathons
- Strong community and mentor presence
- Emphasis on demos and real products
Great for builders who enjoy AI development in fast-paced, collaborative sprints.
6. For Practical Problem Solving
Hackerearth | Clear rules, prototype focus
These are straightforward. You get a problem-solve it-submit it. No theatrics. If you like clarity and clean evaluation, this format stays out of your way.
What does it offer?
- Clear evaluation metrics
- Time-bound challenges
- Strong fundamentals focus
Great for practicing core skills under clear constraints.
7. For Social Impact
Drivendata | AI competitions for social good
Here, the problems matter beyond the leaderboard. Public health, education, climate, infrastructure. You’re applying ML where it can actually help. This should be those who are seeking a output for their efforts for a just cause.
What does it offer?
- Real-world impact
- Interpretable models matter
- Purpose-driven learning
Great for learners motivated by real-world impact.
8. For in-depth Challenges
Codelabs | Quiet, research-first problem solving
This is the quiet corner of hackathons. Research-oriented challenges where you iterate carefully and learn deeply. No demo pressure. Just thoughtful experimentation. The choice for those looking for peculiar problem solving.
What does it offer?
- Research-first mindset
- Self-paced participation
- Ideal for careful problem solvers
Great for thinkers who prefer depth over demos.
9. For Diverse Challenges
Major League Hacking | High-energy, student-friendly hackathons
This is the tech version of Major League. These hackathons are loud, fast, and social. You build quickly, meet people, learn from mentors, and demo something scrappy but real by the end.
What does it offer?
- Vast range of hackathons to choose from
- High mentorship availability
- Strong networking opportunities
Great for students and early-career hackers seeking energy and mentorship.
10. For Portfolio
GitHub | Build in public visibly, for a greater good
Not all hackathons have deadlines. Some are ongoing contribution drives where you work on real codebases, solve real issues, and leave a public trail of work behind. These are at the center of community contribution across the world.
What does it offer?
- Real-world codebases
- Long-term learning
- Strong proof of work
Great for disciplined learners who want to build in public.
The Choice!
Even though hackathons are essentially problem solving, they serve different purposes for different individuals. Your current skill level, time commitment, and working style matter more than following a fixed hackathon formula.
If you’re just starting out, beginner-friendly and well-structured hackathons by Analytics Vidhya would ease you in. If you’re already comfortable with the basics, competitive or research-oriented challenges, then Hackathons by Google and Kaggle would help further your understanding. And if you’re hacking for career growth, then GitHub offers visibility and credibility that will serve you best.
The idea isn’t to participate in everything. It’s to pick the hackathon that fits you and helps progress you further in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do I need to be an expert to participate in these hackathons?
A. No. Many hackathons are beginner-friendly and designed to help you learn by building, not by already knowing everything.
Q2. Can I participate in more than one hackathon at the same time?
A. You can, but it’s better to commit to one that fits your schedule and goals so you actually finish and learn from it.
Q3. Are hackathons useful even if I don’t win?
A. Yes. The real value comes from problem-solving, learning new tools, and building projects you can talk about later.
I specialize in reviewing and refining AI-driven research, technical documentation, and content related to emerging AI technologies. My experience spans AI model training, data analysis, and information retrieval, allowing me to craft content that is both technically accurate and accessible.
