Comparison

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep vs Comms

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

Head to head
About

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep

Prepare for your FAA Inspection Authorization Knowledge Test with a comprehensive question bank. This app offers quiz, test, and study modes to track your progress and familiarize you with exam-style questions. It requires no internet connection for offline study.

Highlights
  • Extensive question bank for IA exam
  • Quiz, Test, and Study modes
  • Progress tracking with scores and dates
  • Randomized questions and answers
  • Offline functionality
  • Optional sound and vibration feedback
Read full description

The Inspection Authorization Knowledge Test Prep app is a great resource to test yourself on the hundreds of possible IA specific questions that you may see on your FAA Knowledge Test. Our goal is to provide you with the largest, most current, pool of IA questions. Give yourself every possible advantage! Remember, the actual exam will also test you on skills you would have learned as an A&P mechanic so its also recommended to review our General, Airframe and Powerplant Knowledge Test Prep Apps. The questions from the IA exam is will refer you to excerpts of selected advisory circulars, airworthiness directives, Code of Federal Regulations, type certificate data sheets, aircraft specifications, FAA orders, and forms. Since these documents are provided for free in PDF format from the FAA, they are not included to keep the app’s file size as small as possible. The Computer Testing Supplement for Inspection Authorization is available at https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/supplements/media/FAA-CT-8080-8D.pdf. Features: • Simple to use interface. • Scores, the date and time taken for quizzes and tests are saved to keep track of your progress. • Questions and answer choices are random. • Optional sound effects for selected answers in Quiz Mode. • Shocks for iPhone. Answer incorrectly and feel your iPhone vibrate! (This can be turned on and off.) • No internet connection required. Modes: Quiz Mode - While taking a quiz, correct answers you choose are shown in green while incorrect ones are shown in red. Test Mode - Simulates the test you are going to take at a FAA Knowledge Test Center. In this mode, you are asked 50 questions that are pulled from the question bank. Study Mode - Here you can read all the questions with only the associated correct answers!

About

Comms

Practice realistic air traffic control radio communications using AI and speech recognition. Build confidence with over 35 scenarios, from basic taxi instructions to complex airspace transitions. Get instant feedback on your phraseology and accuracy.

Highlights
  • AI-powered speech recognition
  • Realistic ATC scenarios
  • Instant feedback on phraseology
  • Transcript review
  • Practice anytime, anywhere
  • Guided responses
Features
Read full description

Master Your Radio Skills. Fly with Confidence. Practice real ATC conversations by speaking into your phone. Comms uses AI and speech recognition to simulate realistic radio exchanges — so you can build confidence before keying the mic in the cockpit. Whether you're preparing for your first solo or sharpening your skills before a checkride, Comms helps you sound like you've been on frequency for years. 35+ Realistic ATC Scenarios - Taxi clearances, progressive taxi, and runway crossings - Takeoff, pattern work, and departures from towered and non-towered fields - VFR flight following — requesting, canceling, and handoffs - Class Bravo and Charlie airspace clearances and transitions - CRAFT clearances, IFR pop-ups, and holding instructions - Approaches, go-arounds, and missed approach procedures - Landing at towered and non-towered airports - Filing PIREPs, opening/closing flight plans, and requesting diversions - VFR into IMC emergency scenarios How It Works - Listen to ATC instructions with realistic controller audio - Respond by speaking your readback out loud - Get instant feedback on accuracy and phraseology - Review your full transcript after each session Built for Student Pilots - Designed for the calls that make new pilots nervous - Practice anytime — no airplane, no instructor, no pressure - Progress from basic taxi calls to complex airspace scenarios - Guided responses help you learn correct phraseology Perfect For - Student pilots preparing for solo or checkride - Private pilot candidates building radio confidence - Flight instructors looking for a training aid - Rusty pilots getting back on frequency Download Comms and take the stress out of talking to ATC. Focus on what matters most — flying the airplane. Terms of use - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep4 screens
Comms4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Comms at Free against FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep's $9.99. Comms also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.0) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 14 months). FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). On ads and device support 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

Comms is free to download; FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep costs $9.99 up front. Comms sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Comms holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Comms has 299 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 36% of Comms's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep ships an update every 14 months, Comms every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep versus Comms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFAA IA Knowledge Test PrepComms
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.0 (3 ratings)4.3 (299 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.1% of reviews35.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3299 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBravo Zulu Apps LLCKHV Digital LLC

Customer experience

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral22.2%
Negative66.7%

Comms

All ratings299 ratings
Positive79.6%
Neutral4.7%
Negative15.7%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive35.8%
Neutral13.4%
Negative50.7%

Bugs and requests

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Comms

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and becomes unusable after account setup
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • Provides incorrect information that goes against FAA guidelines

Requested features

3 requests
  • More detailed and comprehensive pilot scenarios
  • Improved voice recognition and speech-to-text accuracy
  • Better alignment with FAA instructions and procedures

In-app purchases

None

FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Comms

Subscriptions4
  • Comms Premium Weekly2 variants$6.997 Days
  • Comms Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
  • Comms Premium Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Comms Premium Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time6
  • Study Guide Private Pilot w/Premium$9.99
  • 25 Scan Credits$9.99
  • Pro - Unlock All Comms$12.99
Show 3 more
  • Study Guide Commercial Pilot$14.99
  • 50 Scan Credits$14.99
  • Study Guide Private Pilot$19.99

Questions

Is FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep free?
FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Comms free?
Comms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep or Comms?
Comms is rated higher. FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep averages 2.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Comms averages 4.3 from 299 ratings.
Do FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep or Comms have ads?
Neither FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep nor Comms shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep or Comms?
FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep ships an update every 14 months, and Comms every 9 days. Most recently, FAA IA Knowledge Test Prep was updated on October 21, 2026 and Comms on October 23, 2026.

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