Prepware CFI vs Garmin GTN 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 GTN Trainer
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.
- 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
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The Garmin GTN 650 / 750 Trainer allows you to experience the pilot interface and provides an on-the-ground environment to learn the basic operation of the avionics. Train like it's the real thing! The GTN 650 / 750 Trainer includes: • Simulated multi-touch and drag interface – allows you to interact with the system, graphically edit flight plans and much more • Garmin SafeTaxi – allows you to view detailed airport information on the moving map • Garmin FliteCharts – allows you to view published approach charts • High resolution worldwide terrain maps and aviation databases • High resolution obstacle databases including powerline alerting • Simulated interfaces and data including: Garmin GDL 88 ADS-B and TCAS Traffic with TargetTrend™ Relative Motion Garmin GDL 88 FIS-B Weather Garmin GDL 69 with SiriusXM Weather Garmin GWX 70 Weather Radar L-3 Avionics WX-500 Stormscope Lightning Detection Garmin GMA Series Audio Panel Control Garmin GTX Series Mode S Transponder Simulation * Notes: The GTN 650 / 750 Trainer runs on Apple iPad 2 and newer. Supports 32 and 64-Bit Devices. * This app contains simulated data and does not receive data from or interact with real Garmin avionics. This app should not be used for actual navigation purposes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Garmin GTN Trainer at Free against Prepware CFI's $9.99. Garmin GTN Trainer also leads on rating (3.5 vs 2.4) and iOS requirement (13 vs 15.0). Prepware CFI's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and ratings volume (38 vs 10). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 GTN 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.
Garmin GTN Trainer holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 10 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 31% of Prepware CFI'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 CFI 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.
| Parameter | Prepware CFI | Garmin GTN Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.4 (38 ratings) | 3.5 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews — better | 29.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 2.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ASA | Garmin DCI |
Customer experience
Prepware CFI
Garmin GTN Trainer
Bugs and requests
Prepware CFI
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Garmin GTN Trainer
Reported bugs
75 issues- 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
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- 750 screen is black on startup
- 650 just gets a spinning circle
- Nothing comes on the screen
- Loads but will not turn on
- No button or toggle to turn on the app
- Shows an off GPS
- Screen is all black
- Screen won't turn on when loading up
- GPS Screen Blank/Black
- Nothing loads on the display
- App does not load anymore
- Loads, but leaves you on a black screen with no functionality
- App seems to be broken for the iPad
- App doesn’t show anything on the simulated screen
- Loads to black screen
- Unit does not power on
- Doesn’t work with iPadOS 17.4.1
- GPS screen doesn’t turn on
- Controller loads but has zero functionality
- Garmin unit does not power on
- App is broken
- Slow and doesn't work
- GTN screens are black and nothing works
- GPS is just a black screen
- App is unusable
- Newest iPad version seems to have broken the entire software
- Apps are not kept up to date
- Simulator freezes
- App constantly crashes
- Airplane doesn’t start flying the route when you add airspeed and altitude
- Airplane’s starting location can’t be moved
- Manual doesn’t explain how to do things
- Graphically Edit Flight Plan Mode does not seem to operate correctly
- Jeppesen data is 2018
- Approaches don’t exist or are hamstrung
- GTN 650 starts at 51K in CA
- Cannot permanently delete initial fix
- No updated procedures for Europe
- RNAV approaches not updated
- ILS will not descend on autopilot
- Manual does not work
- Database with Europe seems to have gone away
- Needs 6.5x update
- Needs 6.50 or 6.51 update
- GTN 750 looks old fashioned
- Needs update for latest software version
- Won’t download or install
- Unsupported app
- Database age
- Missing X-Plane integration
- Does not recognize purchase
- Trial period expired
- Not recognizing paid purchase
- Does not agree with PC trainer
- Some utilities missing
- Layout is different
- Sync with X-Plane needed
- App is a trial
- Reinitializes anytime you switch away
- Loses flight plan and all inputs
- Starts all over with initialization
- Current session/flight/function is forever lost
- Expensive for limited functionality
- Crashes when opening app
- Does not work with OS 11
- App does not recognize paid purchase after upgrade
- App switched to subscription without tracking previous payments
- App turned paid app into a trial
- App reinitializes when switching away
- App loses place if you switch out of it
Requested features
25 requests- 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
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- Add second radio option to audio panel
- Add start-up field for 'Starting Location'
- Update Jeppesen database
- Update European procedures
- Add linked/synchronized G5 HSI simulator
- Add VNAV support to iPad version
- Update app to actual current version
- Add support for X-Plane integration over WiFi
- Add support for Lockheeds Martin Prepar3D flight simulation
- Add ability to sync with X-Plane
- Add Turboprop icon
- Add High-Wing Prop icon
- Allow two iPads connected over WiFi/Bluetooth
- Run GTN trainer on MacOS
- Add dark mode option
- Add advanced analytics dashboard
- Add vertical (Portrait mode) or Horizontal display mode support
- Update to GTN ver. 5.0 with HTAWS
- Make it like the $25 CD version
- Add support for GNS430 WAAS
In-app purchases
Prepware CFI
No in-app purchases
Garmin GTN Trainer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Prepware CFI free?
Is Garmin GTN Trainer free?
Which has better reviews, Prepware CFI or Garmin GTN Trainer?
Do Prepware CFI or Garmin GTN Trainer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Prepware CFI or Garmin GTN Trainer?
Other comparisons
