# Prepware Instrument Pilot vs Garmin GTN Trainer

The clearest difference is price: Garmin GTN Trainer at Free against Prepware Instrument Pilot's $9.99. Garmin GTN Trainer also leads on rating (3.5 vs 2.6) and iOS requirement (13 vs 15.0). Prepware Instrument Pilot's advantage is chart position (#155 vs unranked) and ratings volume (45 vs 10). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Garmin GTN Trainer holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 10 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Prepware Instrument Pilot's written reviews are positive against 30% of Garmin GTN Trainer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Prepware Instrument Pilot ships an update every 4 months, Garmin GTN Trainer every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Prepware Instrument Pilot | Garmin GTN Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.6 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prepware-instrument-pilot/id338887882/reviews) | **[3.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-gtn-trainer/id479670018/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **37.8% 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 | **#155** | — |
| Size | 36 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 Instrument Pilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prepware-instrument-pilot/id338887882)

**Currently charting:** #155 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Prepare for your FAA Knowledge Exam with flashcard-style reviews and practice tests. Study by subject or take a full practice exam to gauge your readiness.

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

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good value for money
- 👍 Offline functionality
- 👍 Helpful for passing written exams
- 👍 Simple interface
- 👍 Explanations provided

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Outdated question bank
- 👎 Inaccurate questions/answers
- 👎 Missing core features
- 👎 Poor optimization for iPad
- 👎 Formatting issues

**Reported bugs**

- Text frequently cut off
- App cannot dynamically scale text
- Some questions missing figures
- Figures have nothing to do with the question
- Correct answers no longer shown in green

**Requested features**

- Ability to focus on previously incorrect answers
- Major update for functionality and display bugs
- Ensure all software is up to date with FAA question banks
- Add timer and number of questions selection
- Ability to eliminate questions already known


### 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 Instrument Pilot free?

Prepware Instrument 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 Instrument Pilot or Garmin GTN Trainer?

Garmin GTN Trainer is rated higher. Prepware Instrument Pilot averages 2.6 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Garmin GTN Trainer averages 3.5 from 10 ratings.

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

Neither Prepware Instrument Pilot nor Garmin GTN Trainer shows ads.

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

Prepware Instrument Pilot ships an update every 4 months, and Garmin GTN Trainer every 7 months. Most recently, Prepware Instrument Pilot was updated on October 30, 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.*