Boldmethod vs Autopilot Trainer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Autopilot Trainer
Simulate the interface and logic of a general aviation autopilot. Practice engaging the system, flying headings, climbing, and executing various approaches before real-world flight. Designed for pilots to understand autopilot functions beyond just button presses.
- Autopilot interface simulation
- Practice single-engine logic
- Fly headings and climb
- Capture ILS/GS
- Execute RNP and visual approaches
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The autopilot trainer allows you to experience the autopilot panel interface. Practise single-engine general aviation autopilot logic before you ever touch the aircraft. Modeled on the modern GA flight deck, familiar to pilots flying aircraft retrofitted with current-generation digital autopilots. Built for pilots who want to understand what the autopilot is actually doing, not just which button to press. Practise basic features like engaging the autopilot, fly headings and climb with IAS. More complex features like capturing ILS/GS, flying an RNP approach or a visual approach are also possible.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Boldmethod at 4.9 against Autopilot Trainer's 1.0. Boldmethod also leads on ratings volume (823 vs 1) and device support (5 vs 2). Autopilot Trainer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Boldmethod sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Autopilot Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Boldmethod holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Boldmethod has 823 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Boldmethod ships an update every 3 weeks, Autopilot Trainer every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Boldmethod | Autopilot Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (823 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 97.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 823 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BoldMethod, LLC | Opti Orbit |
Customer experience
Boldmethod
Autopilot Trainer
Bugs and requests
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
Autopilot Trainer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Boldmethod
- Aviation Weather Products$19.99
- National Airspace System$19.99
- VFR Charts$19.99
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- 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
Autopilot Trainer
- Lifetime Unlock$29.99
Questions
Is Boldmethod free?
Is Autopilot Trainer free?
Which has better reviews, Boldmethod or Autopilot Trainer?
Do Boldmethod or Autopilot Trainer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Boldmethod or Autopilot Trainer?
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