Comparison

Prepware CFI vs Garmin TXi Trainer

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

Head to head
About

Prepware CFI

Prepare for the FAA 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
  • Comprehensive preparation tool
Features
Read full description

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

Garmin TXi Trainer

Virtually explore Garmin's G500/G600 TXi flight displays and engine information systems on your iPad. Familiarize yourself with touch interfaces, various configurations, and simulated system information before flying with the actual hardware.

Highlights
  • Simulated touch and bezel interface
  • TXi EIS (Engine Instrumentation System)
  • Multiple display configurations
  • Aviation databases
  • SafeTaxi and FliteCharts
  • Simulated system information
Read full description

The Garmin G500 TXi, G600 TXi and TXi EIS Trainer provides an on-the-ground environment to experience these products virtually anywhere you can take an iPad. Easily familiarize yourself with these flight displays and engine information systems prior to flying behind them. The Trainer includes: - Simulated touch and bezel interface – interact with the primary flight and multi-function displays, become familiarized with the new HSI Map one-touch zoom gesture, full- and split-screen PFD/MFD modes, on-screen autopilot controls, and much more - TXi EIS (Engine Instrumentation System) – demonstrates common engine gauge layouts for single-engine piston, multi-engine piston, and single-engine turboprop aircraft - Selection between 10", 7" Portrait, and 7" Landscape configurations for multiple aircraft types - explore the broad range of options available in the TXi series - Garmin North America and Jeppesen Worldwide/Americas aviation databases are available – go to Settings > More to select the database used. - Garmin SafeTaxi and FliteCharts – view detailed airport information and published approach charts on the moving map - High resolution worldwide terrain and obstacle databases, including powerline alerting - Simulated system information for: - ADS-B and TCAS Traffic with TargetTrend™ Relative Motion - FIS-B and SiriusXM Weather - Garmin GWX 75 Weather Radar - Stormscope Lightning Detection * Note: The Trainer is currently only supported on iPads with an A7 Chip or newer, including iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, and later. * This app contains simulated data and does not receive data from or interact with real Garmin avionics. Content may differ slightly from actual hardware for demonstration purposes or be out-of-date with respect to the latest airborne software and database cycles. This app should not be used for navigation purposes. * Some functionality that requires a navigator or other products, e.g., flight plans from GTN, may be unavailable in this standalone Trainer. * Visit Garmin's web site for additional GTN/TXi Trainer options, TXi flight familiarization and tutorial videos, and to explore our fully-featured training programs.

Screenshots

Prepware CFI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Garmin TXi Trainer at Free against Prepware CFI's $9.99. Prepware CFI's advantage is rating (2.4 vs 1.9) and review sentiment (31% vs 16%). On update cadence, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Prepware CFI holds the better App Store score, 2.4 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Prepware CFI has 38 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Prepware CFI's written reviews are positive against 16% of Garmin TXi Trainer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Prepware CFI ships an update every 4 months, Garmin TXi Trainer every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Prepware CFI versus Garmin TXi Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrepware CFIGarmin TXi Trainer
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.4 (38 ratings) — better1.9 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews31.3% of reviews — better16.2% of reviews
Number of ratings38 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.014 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB2.5 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASAGarmin DCI

Customer experience

Prepware CFI

All ratings38 ratings
Positive23.7%
Neutral26.3%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive31.3%
Neutral23.9%
Negative44.8%

Garmin TXi Trainer

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive16.2%
Neutral16.2%
Negative67.6%

In-app purchases

None

Prepware CFI

No in-app purchases

None

Garmin TXi Trainer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Prepware CFI free?
Prepware CFI costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Garmin TXi Trainer free?
Garmin TXi Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Prepware CFI or Garmin TXi Trainer?
Prepware CFI is rated higher. Prepware CFI averages 2.4 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Garmin TXi Trainer averages 1.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Prepware CFI or Garmin TXi Trainer have ads?
Neither Prepware CFI nor Garmin TXi Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Prepware CFI or Garmin TXi Trainer?
Prepware CFI ships an update every 4 months, and Garmin TXi Trainer every 8 months. Most recently, Prepware CFI was updated on October 30, 2026 and Garmin TXi Trainer on October 26, 2026.

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