Comparison

Instrument Test Prep vs TBM Boldface

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

Head to head
About

Instrument Test Prep

Prepare for your FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test with a comprehensive question bank and detailed explanations. Customize study sessions, take simulated exams, and track your progress. An optional upgrade unlocks full ground school lessons and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Over 900 FAA questions with explanations
  • Customizable study sessions
  • Simulated FAA exams
  • Review missed questions
  • Track progress across devices
  • Study resources library
Read full description

Over 900 FAA questions and explanations to help prepare for the FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test. Upgrade to the complete ground school course to unlock lessons, additional questions, statistics, and more (free trial available). ▸ Create custom study sessions based on topics, session size, and your overall mastery. Filters allow you to include or exclude questions that require the use of figures or an E6B. Some advanced filtering options require Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade. ▸ View most often missed FAA questions across all FlightReady users (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Quickly identify and create study sessions focusing on your weakest topic (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Create practice sessions from missed questions after a completed practice or exam session. ▸ Review missed questions after a practice or exam session. ▸ Take simulated FAA exams administered under the same rules and time constraints as the actual Instrument Rating exam. Unlike other test prep apps, our exams present the correct proportion of questions from each knowledge area per the ACS. ▸ Sync your data and course progress across on all of your iOS devices (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Access a library of study resources for the Instrument Rating - Airplane ▸ Question bank covers all areas of the FAA Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards to ensure thorough preparation for the knowledge test. ▸ Detailed explanations and references for all questions, including the text of the regulation where applicable.

About

TBM Boldface

Features
Read full description

TBM Boldface is a free training aid for Daher TBM pilots. Study and test Section 3 memory items for your airplane — 700 A/B through 980 — filtered by serial and MOD. Daher does not print the word boldface. They print memory items (grey box in the 900–940 books, bold type in the 960 and 980). We treat those as boldface. Study shows every step on one page so you can chair-fly. Test is write the whole procedure on paper (or recite), then reveal. One card a day, plus Keep going for the rest of the pack. Optional daily reminder at a time you choose. Quick Ref covers Section 2 limits, V-speeds at MTOW/MLW, and engine exceedance thresholds for 700–940. Progress stays on your device and iCloud. No account besides your Apple ID. This is not a substitute for your serial-specific PIM, AFM, or POH. We do not ship the manual. If a step or number does not match your book, trust the book. Brought to you by PlaneWX.

Screenshots

Instrument Test Prep4 screens
TBM Boldface4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TBM Boldface at none against Instrument Test Prep's 4. TBM Boldface also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Instrument Test Prep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. TBM Boldface asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instrument Test Prep ships an update fortnightly, TBM Boldface every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Instrument Test Prep versus TBM Boldface: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstrument Test PrepTBM Boldface
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (155 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings155 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.117.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size122 MB4 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperAeroapps TechnologyMARK WALLACE WOLFGANG

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Instrument Test Prep

One-time4
  • Instrument Ground School TrialFree
  • Instrument Rating Test Prep$49.99
  • Upgrade to Ground School$129.99
Show 1 more
  • Instrument Ground School$179.99
None

TBM Boldface

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Instrument Test Prep free?
Instrument Test Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TBM Boldface free?
TBM Boldface is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Instrument Test Prep or TBM Boldface have ads?
Neither Instrument Test Prep nor TBM Boldface shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instrument Test Prep or TBM Boldface?
Instrument Test Prep ships an update fortnightly, and TBM Boldface every 5 days. Most recently, Instrument Test Prep was updated on October 13, 2026 and TBM Boldface on October 10, 2026.

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