# Prepware Private Pilot vs Garmin GTN Trainer

The clearest difference is price: Garmin GTN Trainer at Free against Prepware Private Pilot's $9.99. Garmin GTN Trainer also leads on iOS requirement (13 vs 15.0). Prepware Private Pilot's advantage is review sentiment (61% vs 30%) and rating (3.9 vs 3.5). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Garmin GTN Trainer is free to download; Prepware Private Pilot costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Prepware Private Pilot holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Prepware Private Pilot has 138 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Prepware Private Pilot's written reviews are positive against 30% of Garmin GTN Trainer's.

Prepware Private Pilot ships an update every 4 months, Garmin GTN Trainer every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Prepware Private Pilot | Garmin GTN Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.9 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prepware-private-pilot/id334278376/reviews)** | [3.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-gtn-trainer/id479670018/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **138** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **60.8% of reviews** | 29.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#14** | — |
| Size | 60 MB | 2.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/334278379) | [Garmin DCI](https://appshunter.io/developer/309920282) |

## What reviewers say

### Prepware Private Pilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prepware-private-pilot/id334278376)

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Paid · Education, #181 Top Paid (US App Store)

Prepare for your FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Exam with this comprehensive study and test tool. It offers flashcard-style review of questions, answers, and explanations, allowing you to study by subject or take realistic practice tests.

**Highlights:** Flashcard-style review, Questions, answers, and explanations, Study by subject, Practice tests, FAA Knowledge Exam preparation

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 High scores achieved
- 📚 Great practice for harder questions
- 📱 Convenient for studying on the go
- ✅ Questions similar to real exam
- 💡 Detailed explanations provided

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❓ Powered flight questions for glider pilots
- 📱 Small screen issues for plotting/maps
- 🤷 Missing essential questions
- ⚠️ Not a sole reliance tool
- 🤔 Questions worded differently

**Reported bugs**

- Powered flight questions appearing for glider pilots
- Small screen makes chart plotting difficult
- Missing essential questions for the written exam
- Some answers are incorrect
- Macbook app not working properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/create a bank of difficult questions
- Scramble answer choices for realism
- Improve UI for newer devices (iPhone X/Xs/Xr, iPad Pro)
- Add Apple Watch support
- Vary the length of test modules


### Garmin GTN Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-gtn-trainer/id479670018)

Learn the basic operation of Garmin avionics with a simulated on-the-ground training environment. Practice using the pilot interface with realistic multi-touch controls, flight plan editing, and access to detailed airport information, approach charts, and weather data.

**Highlights:** Simulated multi-touch and drag interface, Garmin SafeTaxi airport information, Garmin FliteCharts approach charts, Worldwide terrain and aviation databases, Obstacle databases with powerline alerting, Simulated weather and traffic data

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great training tool
- 👍 Authentic functionality
- 👍 Useful for learning
- 👍 Good for practice
- 👍 Handy portable version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Blank/black screen
- 🐛 Unit does not turn on
- 🐛 App is broken/unusable
- 🐛 Outdated database

**Reported bugs**

- VNAV function does not work
- Airplane starts on the other side of the country
- GTN 750XI app crashes when start button is pushed
- GTN 650 closes out and stops when going to find frequency, recent
- App starts with a blank black screen on display

**Requested features**

- Integrate GFC 500 AP
- Integrate GFC 600/700 AP
- Add autopilot controller head
- Add annunciation display showing AP, HDG, ALT status
- Add fields for actual IAS and ALT of simulated airplane


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Prepware Private Pilot free?

Prepware Private Pilot costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Garmin GTN Trainer free?

Garmin GTN Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Prepware Private Pilot or Garmin GTN Trainer?

Prepware Private Pilot is rated higher. Prepware Private Pilot averages 3.9 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while Garmin GTN Trainer averages 3.5 from 10 ratings.

### Do Prepware Private Pilot or Garmin GTN Trainer have ads?

Neither Prepware Private Pilot nor Garmin GTN Trainer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Prepware Private Pilot or Garmin GTN Trainer?

Prepware Private Pilot ships an update every 4 months, and Garmin GTN Trainer every 7 months. Most recently, Prepware Private Pilot was updated on October 26, 2026 and Garmin GTN Trainer on October 23, 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.*