# Ground School vs Pocket Pilot

Ground School and Pocket Pilot are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Ground School sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per month and Pocket Pilot sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ground School | Pocket Pilot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ground-school/id1444387206/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 88.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 215 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [On The Flight Line Productions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/328833131) | [Matthew Lynam](https://appshunter.io/developer/6779283747) |

## What reviewers say

### Ground School

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ground-school/id1444387206)

This app provides comprehensive FAA test preparation for aspiring pilots. It combines expert instruction with engaging videos, CG animations, and practice tests to ensure users pass their written exams and become safer pilots.

**Highlights:** Expert FAA flight instructor knowledge, Engaging video demonstrations, Cutting-edge CG animations, Over 1,000 practice questions, Pilot Perspective filming, Pilot Proficiency dashboard, FAA Knowledge Test endorsement

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All-Access – Monthly Plan | $49.99 | per month |
| All-Access – Monthly Plan | $49.99 | per month |
| All-Access – Monthly Plan | $49.99 | per month |
| All-Access – 3-Month Plan | $149.99 | per 3 months |
| All-Access – 3-Month Plan (Sale) | $149.99 | per 3 months |
| All-Access – Annual Plan | $299.99 | per year |
| All-Access – Annual Plan | $299.99 | per year |
| All Access – Annual Plan (Sale) | $299.99 | per year |
| All-Access – Annual Plan | $299.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Pocket Pilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-pilot-ground-school/id6779283745)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Pilot Pro (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Pocket Pilot Pro (Annual) | $24.99 | per year |
| Pocket Pilot Pro (Lifetime) | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ground School free?

Ground School is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pocket Pilot free?

Pocket Pilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Ground School or Pocket Pilot have ads?

Neither Ground School nor Pocket Pilot shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ground School or Pocket Pilot?

Ground School ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pocket Pilot every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ground School was updated on November 11, 2026 and Pocket Pilot on November 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*