FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep vs Embry
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep
Prepare for your FAA Instrument Rating (IFR) knowledge test with a comprehensive database of actual, up-to-date questions and illustrated explanations. Study flexibly with multiple modes and ensure you're ready for your exam.
- Actual FAA questions
- Up-to-date content
- Illustrated explanations
- Flexible study modes
- Compatible with FAA ACS
- Free updates
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Spend less time studying and more time flying! This is the FAA Instrument Rating (IFR) version of GroundSchool, our FAA knowledge (written) test preparation featuring up-to-date questions, free updates, and illustrated explanations written by a professional team of pilot examiners and instructors. GroundSchool is fully compatible with FAA ACS (Airman Certification Standards) and our editorial team is working to keep it so as ACS continues to evolve. Don't be fooled by imitators! Competing apps herein the AppStore use only the limited set of questions that the FAA publicly releases via its website - that is not enough to adequately prepare you for your test! Our GroundSchool app, on the other hand, features a much more comprehensive database (typically about 2-4 times the size of the demo FAA public one) of actual and current FAA questions that you likely can and will be asked on the actual test! This along with our detailed, professional explanations and easy to use interface are major reasons why pilots have come to trust GroundSchool. Study actual, up-to-date FAA questions and then ACE your FAA Instrument Rating (and/or Instrument Ground/Flight Instructor) knowledge (written) test the easy way with GroundSchool FAA Knowledge Test Preparation software by Dauntless Aviation, the trusted leader in FAA written test preparation. Features: * Actual FAA Questions Current and Valid for Right Now. As soon as you install the software, use the 'update' feature and the software will connect to our servers, grab the latest questions, images, figures, and explanation content, and you'll be good to go. * Detailed Explanations written by an experienced editorial team of examiner and instructor pilots. * All Charts and Figures Included * Several flexible study modes - fits the way you want to study! * Compatible with all FAA "ground school" classroom-based courses This IFR version of GroundSchool will prepare you for any or all of the following tests: * IRA - Instrument Rating Airplane * IFP - Instrument Rating Foreign Pilot * IGI - Ground Instructor Instrument * IRH - Instrument Rating Helicopter * FII - Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane * FIH - Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter * AIF - Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane (added rating) * HIF - Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter (added rating) * Canadian Instrument Rating to USA FAA Conversion With Dauntless Aviation's GroundSchool, you don't need to worry: * Our material is UP TO DATE. No matter what date is listed here in regarding the 'Release date', this date refers to the program itself only. Once you get the program on your device, use the built-in update feature and it will connect to our servers and download the latest and greatest version of the test prep content and our explanations that we have available. To learn more about this, please visit our website. * Furthermore, you are welcome to update the material as often as you like. This means that even if you don't take your test soon, when do you, GroundSchool will be ready for you. Compare this to books or DVDs (which are going out of date from the moment they are printed). * We pride ourselves on the quality of our explanations. This is not some idle boast - our explanations are more detailed and more illustrated than that of ANY other FAA knowledge test provider, period. * Tens of thousands of people have used our products to prepare for their FAA knowledge tests. Ours is a system that works. Good luck on your test!
Embry
Manage your academic life and connect with your university community. Stay organized with event and class calendars, receive important notifications, and access campus resources. Discover events, join groups, and find your way around campus.
- Event and class calendar
- Academic tools access
- Deadline notifications
- Campus community interaction
- Campus map and services
- Group and club involvement
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The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University App brings campus to your fingertips and enables you to connect with the Embry-Riddle community: Stay on top of your events, classes, and assignments with the built in calendar function, and get notified of important dates, deadlines & security announcements. Make friends, ask questions, and access campus resources at any time! Some other exciting features include: + ACADEMICS: real-time access to all of the critical academic tools. + DEADLINES: Stay on top of multiple deadlines with push-notifications, students receive reminders, alerts and critical notifications. + CLASSES: Manage classes, create to-dos & reminders, and stay on top of assignments. + EVENTS: Discover campus events, set reminders, and track your attendance + FEATURED ACTIVITIES: Orientation, Homecoming, etc. + CAMPUS COMMUNITY: Meet friends, ask questions, and keep up with what's happening on the campus wall. + GROUPS & CLUBS: Get involved with campus organizations and meet people with similar interests + CAMPUS SERVICES: Learn about services offered, such as Academic Advising, Financial Aid & Counselling. + PUSH NOTIFICATIONS: Receive important campus notifications and emergency alerts. + CAMPUS MAP: Find the quickest route to classes, events, and offices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Embry at Free against FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep's $64.99. Embry also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ads 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
Embry is free to download; FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep costs $64.99 up front. FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Embry asks for nothing beyond the download.
Embry holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Embry has 456 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 72% and 73% positive.
FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep ships an update every 3 weeks, Embry every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep | Embry |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (41 ratings) | 4.7 (456 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | 72.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 41 | 456 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 445 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Dauntless Software | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc. |
Customer experience
FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep
Embry
User reviews
FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep
From 41 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📚 Comprehensive question bank
- 💡 Detailed explanations for answers
- ✅ Helps learn material, not just memorize
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Efficient study methods (e.g., question stacks)
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- ❌ Some questions not on the test
- ❓ Questions worded differently than the actual test
- 🖥️ Outdated GUI/interface
- 🔗 Links to wrong figures
Embry
From 456 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to navigate and user-friendly interface
- 📚 Comprehensive access to class schedules and course information
- 🎓 Strong engineering and aeronautical programs with real-world focus
- 🏫 State-of-the-art labs and facilities
- 💼 Excellent industry connections and internship opportunities
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and performance issues
- ⏱️ Slow loading times and sluggish performance
- 🔐 Login and authentication problems
- 📍 Limited campus map functionality
- ⚠️ Incomplete feature set compared to full website
Bugs and requests
FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep
Reported bugs
9 issues- App crashes frequently, especially after updates
- Blank questions displayed
- Lost progress after app crashes or closing
- Question buckets/flags not saving correctly
- Links to incorrect figures
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- Outdated FAA plates
- App not opening
- Issues with multi-tasking
- Inconsistent GUI elements
Requested features
7 requests- Add a scratchpad feature for calculations
- Improve iPad optimization and graphics
- Allow selection of specific number of questions for practice tests
- Implement a search function for questions
- Make app compatible with Apple Watch
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Add dark mode option
- Improve server availability for cloud features
Embry
Reported bugs
10 issues- App crashes when selecting courses
- Login credentials not recognized
- Campus selection screen freezes
- Discussion tab shows no responses despite posting
- Classes fail to load or display current year courses
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- App icon white border partially cut off
- Modules and videos inaccessible through app
- Grades feature doesn't show all submissions
- Poor synchronization between app and Canvas
- App freezes and requires reinstall to reset
Requested features
10 requests- Building number search in campus map
- Satellite view for campus map
- Room number display in daily schedule
- Calendar export to Apple Calendar and Android
- Email link integration
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Module and video access for non-graded content
- Social feed featured on home page
- Discussion tab improvements
- Better event thumbnails and calendar controls
- ERNIE integration into app
In-app purchases
FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep
- Audio Review$19.99
Embry
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep free?
Is Embry free?
Which has better reviews, FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep or Embry?
Do FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep or Embry have ads?
Which is updated more often, FAA IFR Instrument Rating Prep or Embry?
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