You can prep for the ACT on a tight budget by stacking free official practice, this blog's guides, and daily drills—then adding one or two low-cost books only where your diagnostic shows a clear gap. Expensive courses and tutors are optional, not step one.
Start with what costs nothing
The ACT publishes free sample questions and at least one full practice form on act.org. Many schools and libraries lend prep books or offer platform access—ask your counselor. Our strategy guides cover format, timing, and section tactics at no charge; start with how to study for the ACT and free ACT practice tests.
thirty-six Basic (free)
The free tier is enough to diagnose weak spots and drill between official full-lengths—no credit card required:
- 1 free quiz per concept
- English and maths lessons
- Quiz & practice test timer
Use it for short daily practice and to see which topics need work. Compare plans when you want more depth.
Free websites worth knowing
Beyond act.org, some third-party sites offer free online question banks and section drills (similar to Varsity Tutors or Ivy Global). They can supplement review, but unofficial questions vary in quality—prioritize official material for full-length scoring. See official vs third-party ACT tests and alternatives when official tests run out.
Khan Academy: useful, but not ACT prep
Khan Academy is excellent for math and reading foundations, and it is the official SAT partner—but it offers no dedicated ACT program. Use it to fill algebra or grammar gaps, not as your whole ACT plan.
Low-cost buys that actually help
If you buy one book, make it the Official ACT Prep Guide (~$25–30). It is currently the main source of multiple enhanced full-length tests beyond the free act.org form. Check the edition matches the format in what changed on the enhanced ACT. Library and used copies work fine. More book guidance in best ACT prep books.
Add section books only after a diagnostic shows one section lagging:
- English: Erica Meltzer's The Complete Guide to ACT English (~$25–32)—grammar and rhetoric drills with clear rule explanations. Pair with how to improve your ACT English score and ACT English grammar rules.
- Math: College Panda's The College Panda's ACT Math for core review and The College Panda's ACT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook for harder questions (~$20–30 each). Pair with ACT Math topics and how to improve your ACT Math score.
Skip generic all-in-one "complete prep" bundles unless you want a cheap overview—section books plus official tests usually beat them on a budget.
Cut registration costs too
Fee waivers cover the test fee (and sometimes more) for eligible students. See how much the ACT costs and how to get a fee waiver.
A realistic $0–$50 budget stack
- Take a free official diagnostic under real timing.
- Drill weak topics daily (thirty-six Basic + blog guides on those sections).
- Take 2–4 timed full tests over your prep window—see how many ACT practice tests to take.
- Review every miss with how to review ACT practice tests.
- Buy the Official ACT Prep Guide if you need more full-lengths; add Meltzer or College Panda only for a clear section bottleneck.
thirty-six Premium ($20/month)
When free quizzes run out or you want structured depth without a $400 course or $100+/hr tutoring, Premium is a low-cost upgrade:
- 3,000+ practice questions
- English and maths lessons
- Quiz & practice test timer
- 20 full-length English practice tests
- Weekly study reminders
- Unlimited progress tracking
- Personalized study plan
- Leaderboard
Yearly billing is also available. You do not need Premium on day one—upgrade when the free tier stops matching your study volume. Compare plans.
When to spend more elsewhere
Paid courses and private tutors make sense after a free stack plateaus, when accountability at home is hard, or when you need expert content teaching in one section. They are not required for a strong score if you review deeply and stay consistent.
Start practicing
Start with a free diagnostic, then drill your weak spots with 15-question quizzes and track how you're doing across Reading, English, and Math. Compare plans whenever you're ready to go further.
This article offers general ACT prep guidance. The ACT can change from year to year, including its format, scoring, policies, test dates, and fees, so always confirm the latest details on the official ACT website at act.org before you make decisions. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. thirty-six is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT.