Prep Provider Comparison
C3RT vs The Infinite Actuary
The Infinite Actuary made its Exam P and FM video seminars free, a genuinely generous move, and we say so plainly. But free lectures and a complete prep system are different things. Lectures teach you the theory once; passing P and FM is won by solving thousands of problems fast under time pressure, and TIA’s free tier includes about a tenth of the practice volume C3RT ships, covers two exams where C3RT covers three, and includes none of the flashcard, formula-reference, or drill tooling that daily practice actually runs on.
The Bottom Line
On the practice side of prep (volume, multi-exam scope including FAM, drilling formats, and offline native apps), C3RT leads even TIA’s excellent free tier. Watch TIA’s free lectures, they are excellent teaching and cost nothing. Then be clear-eyed about what they are: 850–1,200 practice problems across P and FM, video-first, browser-and-video-app delivery, and nothing beyond the first two prelims. C3RT’s Actuary app is the complete practice system TIA’s free tier is not: 13,485 questions across P, FM, and FAM, ten times the drilling volume, plus 348 searchable formulas accessible mid-quiz, 627 spaced-repetition flashcards, concept cards, full-length mocks in the official format, and automatic weak-area drills, fully offline and native on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, all in one bundled subscription at $99.99/year (plans from $19.99/month), well under half of a single exam registration fee. Free gets you taught; C3RT gets you to exam speed, and it is the only one of the two that goes with you to FAM.
C3RT vs The Infinite Actuary: At a Glance
| Detail | C3RT | The Infinite Actuary |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Native practice app: 13,485 questions, mocks, flashcards, formula sheets | Full video seminars: 50–80+ lessons per exam, sample exams with video solutions, instructor forums |
| Practice volume | 13,485 questions across P, FM, and FAM | Exam P: 850+ problems; Exam FM: 1,200+ solved problems |
| Platforms | Native iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps, fully offline | Web plus the TIA Study app (iOS/Android) with offline video; no Mac app |
| Published pricing | $19.99/month, $49.99/3 months, $69.99/6 months, or $99.99/year, everything included | Exam P and FM courses: FREE, permanently (formerly $495 each), as of July 2026 |
| Scope | P, FM, and FAM in one subscription | Free tier covers P and FM; upper-level exams (FAM and beyond) are paid seminars |
The Infinite Actuary details based on publicly available information as of July 2026 and may change, verify current offerings on their website.
An Honest Comparison
What The Infinite Actuary does well
- •It is free, TIA’s complete P and FM seminars, the same courses sold for ~20 years, cost nothing and include instructor forum support.
- •Genuine teaching from named, credentialed instructors (a Cornell math PhD on P; an FSA on FM).
- •Sample exams with full video solutions, watching an expert work a problem is a real learning mode.
- •A solid mobile app (TIA Study) with offline video and 2x playback.
- •Active forums with thousands of instructor-answered questions per exam.
Where C3RT differs
- •Ten times the practice: 13,485 questions versus TIA’s 850–1,200 per exam, after finishing TIA’s problem sets, C3RT keeps serving fresh questions.
- •FAM included: C3RT’s subscription covers Exam FAM alongside P and FM; TIA’s free tier stops at the first two prelims.
- •Exam-day tools: 348 searchable formulas with mid-quiz formula-sheet access, and 627 spaced-repetition flashcards.
- •Fully offline native apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, TIA’s offline support covers video in its mobile app.
- •Weak Drill automatically targets your lowest-mastery syllabus areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Infinite Actuary really free for Exams P and FM?
Yes, TIA states the P and FM seminars are free permanently ("not a limited-time promotion"), with a free account and no payment details required, and that they are the same full courses previously sold at $495. It is a genuine gift to the profession and we recommend taking it.
Why pay for C3RT if TIA is free?
Because lectures don’t sit the exam, you do, against a clock. TIA’s free tier is teaching: videos, worked solutions, forums, for P and FM only. C3RT is the practice system: ten times the question volume, three exams including FAM, mid-quiz formula sheets, spaced-repetition flashcards, mocks, and weak-area drills, offline on every Apple device, one bundled $99.99/year subscription, well under half of a single exam registration. Watch TIA for free; do your five hundred hours of actual solving in C3RT.
Does TIA cover Exam FAM?
TIA sells paid seminars for upper-level exams; its free tier covers P and FM only. C3RT’s Actuary app includes FAM content alongside P and FM under the same subscription.
Try the C3RT App
Actuary Exam Prep: P FM FAM
Native actuarial prep for SOA Exams P, FM, and FAM
C3RT is not affiliated with The Infinite Actuary. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners; comparisons are based on each provider's publicly available information as of July 2026. Pricing, question counts, and features change, always verify details with the provider before purchasing. Read how we compare → Exam names and trademarks belong to their respective certification bodies, which do not endorse either product.