Comparison

Ground School vs Boldmethod

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ground School

Prepare for your FAA written test and become a safer pilot with this comprehensive training app. It combines expert instruction, engaging videos, and interactive practice tests to ensure you gain the knowledge needed to fly your best.

Highlights
  • Expert FAA flight instructor knowledge
  • Engaging educational videos
  • Pilot perspective flight footage
  • Over 1,000 practice test questions
  • CG animations for concept illustration
  • Pilot Proficiency dashboard
  • FAA Knowledge Test endorsement
Features
Read full description

Featuring expert knowledge from an award-winning FAA flight instructor, Ground School will teach budding pilots everything they need to know for their FAA written test and beyond. By combining years of teaching know-how with cutting edge CG animation, informative video demonstrations, and more, Ground School is more than an app that teaches you how to fly — its gives you the knowledge you need to Fly Your Best, whether you're a complete novice or more experienced pilot. By following this FAA pilot knowledge course, you'll learn much more than is needed to pass an FAA written test. In fact, we guarantee you will pass that test and go on to be a better, safer pilot, too. Ground School users can look forward to: ・ Engaging videos that show you the things you need to know, perfect for visual learners. ・ Get the Pilot Perspective — Every video is filmed as if you are the one flying so there are no surprises when you're in the cockpit. ・ More than 1,000 questions that form unlimited practice tests so you know exactly what to expect when taking your FAA exam. ・ Cutting edge CG animations that help illustrate concepts that will help you understand the material in front of you. ・ The Pilot Proficiency dashboard that distills all of your interactions with Ground School into a single screen showing areas where you are strong as well as others that need work. ・ Get your endorsement to take the FAA Knowledge Test directly within Ground School. ・ And much more! Ground School is in active development and is always improving to give you the very best shot at not only passing exams, but being safe in the skies, too. Terms of Service: https://www.learnthefinerpoints.com/ground-school/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.learnthefinerpoints.com/ground-school/privacy

About

Boldmethod

Enhance your aviation knowledge with extensive video training and online courses. Practice with quizzes and master essential piloting skills like takeoffs, landings, airspace navigation, and weather interpretation. Prepare for checkrides and improve your flying proficiency.

Highlights
  • Extensive video training library
  • Online aviation courses
  • Pilot knowledge quizzes
  • Master takeoffs and landings
  • National Airspace System training
  • Aviation weather interpretation
  • VFR charts and publications
Read full description

Want to improve your piloting skills? Then the Boldmethod app is for you. With over 50 hours of videos and online training courses, you'll walk away with the knowledge that makes you a better pilot. Access your Boldmethod training courses in one app, watch the latest training videos, and test your knowledge with quizzes. What's new? The Feed and Challenges tabs are the place to start learning or to brush up on your aviation knowledge. When you're ready to take the next step, sign up for courses to truly master your pilot knowledge. MASTERING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS Do you have a perfect landing every time? Neither do we. This video course helps you master your takeoffs and landings. Whether you're trying to stop floating past your landing point or trying to smooth out your touchdown, you'll learn how to fix any of your takeoff and landing problems with this simple-to-use online course. The course breaks down takeoffs and landings into sections: Normal Takeoffs Traffic Patterns Normal Landings Crosswind Takeoffs and Landings Short Field Takeoffs and Landings Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings Non-Standard Takeoffs and Landings Night Takeoffs and Landings NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM Our airspace course covers everything you need to know about the National Airspace System, including Class A-G airspace, Special Use Airspace, and Other Airspace. It's an excellent way to prepare for your private pilot checkride and keep your flying skills sharp. The course breaks down airspace into sections: Class A airspace Class B airspace Class C airspace Class D airspace Class E airspace Class G airspace Special use airspace Other airspace AVIATION WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS Our weather course covers everything you need to know about aviation weather, including METARs, TAFs, Pilot Reports, Graphical Forecasts For Aviation, Winds Aloft Forecasts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs. It's an excellent way to prepare for your private pilot checkride and keep your flying skills sharp. The course breaks down aviation weather into sections: METARs TAFs PIREPs Graphical Forecasts For Aviation Winds Aloft Forecasts AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs VFR CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS Our charts course covers everything you need to know about VFR charts and publications, including sectional charts, terminal area charts, the Digital Chart Supplement, and NOTAMs. The course breaks down publications into sections: Sectional Charts Terminal Area Charts Digital Chart Supplement NOTAMs MOUNTAIN WEATHER Do you want to feel more comfortable flying around the high country? Boldmethod's Mountain Weather course helps make that happen. You'll learn how to evaluate mountain weather during your planning and while you're in flight. You'll also learn how terrain generates updrafts, downdrafts, turbulence, and storms, and changes the direction of the wind throughout the day. The course breaks down weather into sections: Mountain Waves Strong Surface Winds Updrafts, Downdrafts, And Turbulence Convergence Zones Coastal Mountain Wind Systems The North American Monsoon Daily (Diurnal) Winds In Valleys Mountain Thunderstorms

Screenshots

Ground School4 screens
Boldmethod4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Ground School at none against Boldmethod's shown. Ground School also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). Boldmethod's advantage is review sentiment (97% vs 88%) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ground School sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per month and Boldmethod sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Ground School against 4.9 for Boldmethod. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 823 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Ground School's written reviews are positive against 97% of Boldmethod's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ground School ships an update every 8 days, Boldmethod every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Ground School versus Boldmethod: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGround SchoolBoldmethod
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.7K ratings)4.9 (823 ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.1% of reviews97.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better823
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size212 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOn The Flight Line Productions LLCBoldMethod, LLC

Customer experience

Ground School

All ratings1,715 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews135 reviews
Positive88.1%
Neutral5.2%
Negative6.7%

Boldmethod

All ratings823 ratings
Positive98.4%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive97.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative0.0%

User reviews

Ground School

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent ground school app
  • 👍 Comprehensive and well-presented content
  • 🎓 Helpful for passing written exams
  • 👍 Great for both new and experienced pilots
  • 🎓 Useful for CFIs to stay sharp

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Syncing issues between devices
  • 🔍 Lack of desktop version
  • 🔍 Limited flashcard and spaced-repetition features
  • 🔍 Need for more interactive chart/sectional practice
  • 🐛 Some questions have outdated or incorrect answers

Boldmethod

From 823 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great training with visual aids
  • 👍 Thorough and logically presented
  • 👍 Easy to understand and engaging instruction
  • 👍 Comprehensive and full of practical advice
  • 👍 Exceptional quality and polished presentation

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Lack of explanation for wrong answers in quizzes
  • 🐛 Occasional crashing or freezing issues

Bugs and requests

Ground School

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Syncing issues between iPhone and iPad
  • Some questions have incorrect or outdated answers

Requested features

4 requests
  • Desktop version of the app
  • More robust flashcard and spaced-repetition system
  • Deeper interactive practice with sectional charts
  • Expansion to commercial and ATP levels

Boldmethod

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashing or freezing issues
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Provide explanations for incorrect answers in quizzes
  • Improve navigation and progress tracking through courses

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Ground School

Subscriptions10
  • All-Access – Monthly Plan2 variants$49.991 Month
  • All-Access – Monthly Plan3 Days trial$49.991 Month
  • All-Access – Monthly Plan14 Days trial$49.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • All-Access – 3-Month Plan$149.993 Months
  • All-Access – 3-Month Plan3 Days trial$149.993 Months
  • All-Access – 3-Month Plan (Sale)3 Days trial$149.993 Months
  • All-Access – Annual Plan$299.991 Year
  • All-Access – Annual Plan3 Days trial$299.991 Year
  • All Access – Annual Plan (Sale)3 Days trial$299.991 Year
  • All-Access – Annual Plan14 Days trial$299.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$299.99
9 purchases

Boldmethod

One-time9
  • Aviation Weather Products$19.99
  • National Airspace System$19.99
  • VFR Charts$19.99
Show 6 more
  • National Airspace System$24.99
  • Aviation Weather Products$24.99
  • VFR Charts and Publications$24.99
  • Mastering Takeoffs & Landings$139.99
  • Mountain Weather$299.99
  • Instrument Procedures$499.99

Questions

Is Ground School free?
Ground School is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Boldmethod free?
Boldmethod is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ground School or Boldmethod?
Boldmethod is rated higher. Ground School averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Boldmethod averages 4.9 from 823 ratings.
Do Ground School or Boldmethod have ads?
Boldmethod shows ads; Ground School does not.
Which is updated more often, Ground School or Boldmethod?
Ground School ships an update every 8 days, and Boldmethod every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ground School was updated on September 23, 2026 and Boldmethod on September 17, 2026.

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