Comparison

Ground School vs Aviate

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 pilot license exams with comprehensive ground school courses and mock tests. Covers syllabi for NPL, PPL, CPL, and various ratings, featuring detailed explanations and continuously updated question banks.

Highlights
  • Ground school courses for pilot licenses
  • Mock exams for NPL, PPL, CPL
  • Covers Restricted Radio, General Radio, Night Rating, Instrument Rating
  • Detailed diagrams and examples
  • Thousands of mock questions with explanations
  • Continuously updated content
Features
Read full description

Ground School provides ground school courses and mock exams for the theoretical subjects to receive a pilot's license for licenses under the SACAA and EASA jurisdictions. With Ground School, you can pass the written exams the first time. The content covers the NPL, PPL and CPL syllabi as well as supporting exams such as Restricted Radio, General Radio, Night Rating and Instrument Rating. There are also mock exams for the Flight Instructor Rating. The courses have been developed to be in line with the respective syllabus the exam is for. They include detailed diagrams and examples to help students to fully understand a topic. Ground School also has thousands of mock questions with explanations. The database is continuously updated with new questions and improvements to the current questions based on feedback from students.

About

Aviate

Features
Read full description

Learn to fly with confidence! Aviate is a digital flight training companion built for New Zealand student pilots. Study in short sessions, practise realistic radio calls, revise aviation theory and prepare for your next flight or flight test. Whether you're working towards your PPL or keeping your knowledge sharp between flights, Aviate makes it easier to learn a little and often. **DAILY FLIGHT** Build your aviation knowledge with short, structured lessons that fit into your day. Each lesson combines clear explanations with interactive questions to help you understand and remember key concepts. Free users can complete up to three Daily Flights each day. Aviate Pro unlocks unlimited Daily Flights, so you can keep learning at your own pace. **FLIGHT RADIO TRAINING** Build confidence making radio calls before you step into the aircraft. Work through realistic New Zealand radio scenarios, listen to example transmissions and practise your own calls with recording and feedback. **COMPASS TURNS** Practise compass turning calculations with interactive PPL and CPL exercises. Work out the direction of turn and compass rollout heading, then receive instant feedback to develop your accuracy and confidence. **PRACTICE ROUND** Test your knowledge with quick question rounds covering New Zealand PPL topics. Identify gaps in your understanding and reinforce what you've learned through regular practice. Free users can practise every day, while Aviate Pro unlocks unlimited Practice Rounds. **FLIGHT TEST GROUNDWORK** Get ready for the ground component of your flight test. Work through larger question sets designed to test your knowledge, identify areas for revision and build confidence before your assessment. Aviate Pro unlocks unlimited Groundwork practice. **LESSON LIBRARY** Need to revise something specific? Aviate Pro lets you jump straight to any published lesson in your selected topic. Revisit key concepts, prepare for an upcoming flight or revise before an exam without affecting your normal learning progression. **ADVANCED CIRCUIT** Take your learning further with additional scenario-based challenges that reinforce important concepts and develop your understanding. Advanced Circuit is available with Aviate Pro. **BUILT FOR NEW ZEALAND PILOTS** Aviate has been developed specifically for New Zealand aviation training, using relevant terminology, procedures and radio phraseology. Created by a New Zealand commercial pilot and flight instructor, Aviate combines practical flying experience with a focus on clear, engaging learning. **START FREE. LEARN MORE WITH PRO.** Get started with free daily learning and practice. Aviate Pro unlocks unlimited Daily Flights, Practice Rounds and Groundwork, access to the full Lesson Library, and additional training exercises. Whether you're studying at home, waiting for the weather to improve or preparing for a flight, Aviate helps you make every spare moment count. Learn smarter. Fly with confidence. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Ground School4 screens
Aviate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ground School at none against Aviate's 1. Ground School also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0.0). Aviate's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Aviate sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per month. Ground School asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ground School ships an update every 2 months, Aviate every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Ground School versus Aviate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGround SchoolAviate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (18 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings18 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMorz Group (Pty) LtdNICHOLAS HOWARD

In-app purchases

None

Ground School

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Aviate

Subscriptions1
  • Aviate Pro$6.991 Month

Questions

Is Ground School free?
Ground School is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Aviate free?
Aviate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ground School or Aviate have ads?
Neither Ground School nor Aviate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ground School or Aviate?
Ground School ships an update every 2 months, and Aviate every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ground School was updated on November 2, 2026 and Aviate on November 9, 2026.

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