Prepware CFI vs Garmin TXi Trainer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Flashcard-style review
- Questions, answers, and explanations
- Study by subject
- Practice tests
- Comprehensive preparation tool
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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.
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.
- Simulated touch and bezel interface
- TXi EIS (Engine Instrumentation System)
- Multiple display configurations
- Aviation databases
- SafeTaxi and FliteCharts
- Simulated system information
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Prepware CFI | Garmin TXi Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.4 (38 ratings) — better | 1.9 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews — better | 16.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 2.5 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ASA | Garmin DCI |
Customer experience
Prepware CFI
Garmin TXi Trainer
In-app purchases
Prepware CFI
No in-app purchases
Garmin TXi Trainer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Prepware CFI free?
Is Garmin TXi Trainer free?
Which has better reviews, Prepware CFI or Garmin TXi Trainer?
Do Prepware CFI or Garmin TXi Trainer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Prepware CFI or Garmin TXi Trainer?
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