Comparison

Prepware Private Pilot vs Instrument Pilot Checkride

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

Head to head
About

Prepware Private Pilot

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
Currently charting
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Comprehensive preparation, study and test tool for the FAA Knowledge Exam. Flashcard style review of questions, answers and explanations included for you to study by subject or with a true-to-form practice test.

About

Instrument Pilot Checkride

This app prepares aspiring pilots for their instrument rating practical exam by providing over 700 likely examiner questions and succinct answers. It covers all essential topics, follows Airman Certification Standards, and helps identify knowledge gaps for efficient study.

Highlights
  • Over 700 questions and answers
  • Covers all instrument rating topics
  • Based on Airman Certification Standards
  • Flag questions for further study
  • Includes CFII specific chapter
  • Researched using FAA documents
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Using a question-and-answer format, Instrument Pilot Checkride lists the questions most likely to be asked by examiners during the last step in the pilot certification process – the Practical Exam – and provides succinct, ready responses. Pilots will find this App an indispensable tool in both planning for what to expect during the instrument rating checkride, and mastering the subject matter. Instructors rate them as excellent preparation for students, as well as preps for Instrument Proficiency Checks (IPC), aircraft transitions, and as general refresher material. Effective preparation for tests issued under the guidance of the Airman Certification Standards. This Instrument Pilot Checkride app is based on the popular Instrument Oral Exam Guide Eleventh Edition book by Jason Blair. It is designed for pilots training for the Instrument Rating or the Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) certificate. More than 700 questions and responses ensure all the subjects an Instrument Rating candidate will be tested on during checkrides and IPCs are covered. Organization follows the Airman Certification Standards and topics include: preflight, departure, en route, arrival, and scenario-based training. A separate chapter is provided for Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) applicants. Answers and explanations were researched using FAA documents (which are identified so pilots know where to go for further study) as well as interviewing FAA examiners. Questions include the ACS code and can be marked for further study from any subject to build your own collection of flashcards. An Applicant Practical Test Checklist and Instrument Proficiency Check Guidance document are also included. Compatible with iOS phones and tablets, this app teaches applicants not only what to expect, but also how to exhibit subject mastery and confidence when under the examiner’s scrutiny. It identifies candidates’ strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in their aeronautical knowledge, which increases study efficiency. App features: • More than 700 questions are included with succinct, ready responses. • Questions from any subject can be flagged for further study into a separate group. • Includes all the questions and answers from the popular book, Instrument Oral Exam Guide Eleventh Edition, by Jason Blair. • Brought to you by a trusted resource in aviation training and publishing, Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).

Screenshots

Prepware Private Pilot4 screens
Instrument Pilot Checkride4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Prepware Private Pilot at 63% against Instrument Pilot Checkride's 0%. Prepware Private Pilot also leads on rating (3.9 vs 2.4) and monetization model (free vs paid). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Prepware Private Pilot costs $9.99 and Instrument Pilot Checkride $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Prepware Private Pilot holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Prepware Private Pilot has 137 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Prepware Private Pilot's written reviews are positive against 0% of Instrument Pilot Checkride's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Prepware Private Pilot ships an update every 4 months, Instrument Pilot Checkride every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Prepware Private Pilot versus Instrument Pilot Checkride: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrepware Private PilotInstrument Pilot Checkride
Price$9.99$9.99
Rating3.9 (137 ratings) — better2.4 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings137 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 25 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#8 — better#190
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASAASA

Customer experience

Prepware Private Pilot

All ratings137 ratings
Positive68.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative21.9%
Written reviews72 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral16.7%
Negative20.8%

Instrument Pilot Checkride

All ratings9 ratings
Positive22.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Prepware Private Pilot

Reported bugs

24 issues
  • 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
Show 19 more
  • Dark mode has contrast issues, making text unreadable
  • Status bar bug with black text on black background
  • Right answers not highlighted after getting a question wrong
  • Study portion allows pushing through without selecting the right option, leading to false 100% scores
  • Questions cut off at the end
  • Save and exit function does not save progress
  • App resets to homepage after a short period or if not actively used
  • Quiz shuffles questions, preventing picking up where left off
  • Errors in questions referencing sectional charts
  • Sections on charts not available when referenced
  • New update degraded the app interface
  • White lettering on light background makes questions unreadable
  • Dark mode compatibility issues with white text on gray background
  • Questions in rotorcraft sections refer to fixed-wing regulations
  • Irrelevant gyrocopter and fixed-wing questions in rotorcraft section
  • Dark theme not displaying correct/incorrect answers properly
  • App not compatible with iPhone X screen
  • No way to systematically study, questions are random
  • Questions that reference a chart or diagram are cumbersome to view

Requested features

14 requests
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • Allow studying more than one section at a time
  • Add better reference information in explanations (page/section numbers)
  • Allow resizing of figures on iPhone
  • Show explanation immediately after wrong answer
  • Fix grading to allow for incorrect answers without immediate correction
  • Make questions more compatible with dark mode
  • Fix contrast issues in dark mode
  • Add a feature to stop showing questions already known
  • Allow review of only missed items

Instrument Pilot Checkride

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Prepware Private Pilot

No in-app purchases

None

Instrument Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Prepware Private Pilot free?
Prepware Private Pilot costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Instrument Pilot Checkride free?
Instrument Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Prepware Private Pilot or Instrument Pilot Checkride?
Prepware Private Pilot is rated higher. Prepware Private Pilot averages 3.9 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while Instrument Pilot Checkride averages 2.4 from 9 ratings.
Do Prepware Private Pilot or Instrument Pilot Checkride have ads?
Neither Prepware Private Pilot nor Instrument Pilot Checkride shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Prepware Private Pilot or Instrument Pilot Checkride?
Prepware Private Pilot ships an update every 4 months, and Instrument Pilot Checkride every 25 months. Most recently, Prepware Private Pilot was updated on September 27, 2026 and Instrument Pilot Checkride on August 26, 2026.
Which is more popular, Prepware Private Pilot or Instrument Pilot Checkride?
Prepware Private Pilot currently peaks at #8 in the App Store charts, and Instrument Pilot Checkride at #190. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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