Comparison

Private Pilot Checkride vs Instrument Test Prep

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

Head to head
About

Private Pilot Checkride

Prepare for your private pilot practical exam with over 900 questions and answers based on FAA standards. This app helps identify knowledge gaps and build confidence for your checkride, covering all essential aviation topics.

Highlights
  • Over 900 exam-style questions and answers
  • Aligned with FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS)
  • Answers with FAA references and ACS codes
  • Flag questions for custom study sets
  • Includes Applicant Practical Test Checklist
  • Covers all essential private pilot topics
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Using a question-and-answer format, Private Pilot Checkride lists the questions most likely to be asked by examiners during the last step in the pilot certification process – the Practical Exam – and provides succinct, ready responses. Pilots will find this App an indispensable tool in both planning for what to expect during the airplane checkride and mastering the subject matter. Instructors rate them as excellent preparation for students, as well as preps for Flight Reviews, aircraft transitions, and as general refresher material. This Private Pilot Checkride app is based on the popular Private Oral Exam Guide book by Jason Blair and aligns with the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS). It is designed for student pilots training for the Private Pilot Certificate with an airplane rating. More than 900 questions and responses ensure all the subjects a Private Pilot candidate will be tested on during a checkride and review flight are covered. Topics include: pilot qualifications and limitations, aircraft airworthiness requirements, preflight procedures, postflight procedures, human factors, performance and limitations, airport operations, national airspace system, weather information, cross-country flight planning, night operations, emergency equipment and survival gear, and scenario-based training. Answers and explanations were researched using FAA documents (which are identified so pilots know where to go for further study) as well as interviewing FAA examiners and include the corresponding ACS code. Questions can be marked for further study from any subject to build your own collection of flashcards. An Applicant Practical Test Checklist and quick-reference to the Private Pilot maneuvers and tolerances (as defined in the Airman Certification Standards) are also included. Compatible with iOS phones and tablets, this app teaches applicants not only what to expect, but also how to exhibit subject mastery and confidence when under the examiner’s scrutiny. It identifies candidates’ strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in their aeronautical knowledge, which increases study efficiency. App features: • More than 800 questions are included with succinct, ready responses. • Questions from any subject can be flagged for further study into a separate group. • Includes all the questions and answers from the popular book, Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide by Jason Blair. • Answers supported with FAA references and ACS codes. • Brought to you by a trusted resource in aviation training and publishing, Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).

About

Instrument Test Prep

Prepare for your FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test with a comprehensive question bank and detailed explanations. Customize study sessions, take simulated exams, and track your progress. An optional upgrade unlocks full ground school lessons and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Over 900 FAA questions with explanations
  • Customizable study sessions
  • Simulated FAA exams
  • Review missed questions
  • Track progress across devices
  • Study resources library
Read full description

Over 900 FAA questions and explanations to help prepare for the FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test. Upgrade to the complete ground school course to unlock lessons, additional questions, statistics, and more (free trial available). ▸ Create custom study sessions based on topics, session size, and your overall mastery. Filters allow you to include or exclude questions that require the use of figures or an E6B. Some advanced filtering options require Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade. ▸ View most often missed FAA questions across all FlightReady users (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Quickly identify and create study sessions focusing on your weakest topic (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Create practice sessions from missed questions after a completed practice or exam session. ▸ Review missed questions after a practice or exam session. ▸ Take simulated FAA exams administered under the same rules and time constraints as the actual Instrument Rating exam. Unlike other test prep apps, our exams present the correct proportion of questions from each knowledge area per the ACS. ▸ Sync your data and course progress across on all of your iOS devices (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Access a library of study resources for the Instrument Rating - Airplane ▸ Question bank covers all areas of the FAA Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards to ensure thorough preparation for the knowledge test. ▸ Detailed explanations and references for all questions, including the text of the regulation where applicable.

Screenshots

Private Pilot Checkride4 screens
Instrument Test Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Instrument Test Prep at Free against Private Pilot Checkride's $9.99. Instrument Test Prep also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.3) and review sentiment (88% vs 52%). Private Pilot Checkride's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#160 vs unranked). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Instrument Test Prep is free to download; Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99 up front. Instrument Test Prep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Private Pilot Checkride asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Instrument Test Prep holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instrument Test Prep has 155 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Private Pilot Checkride's written reviews are positive against 88% of Instrument Test Prep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, Instrument Test Prep fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Private Pilot Checkride versus Instrument Test Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Pilot CheckrideInstrument Test Prep
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (20 ratings)4.9 (155 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20155 — better
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#160 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.1
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB122 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperASAAeroapps Technology

Customer experience

Private Pilot Checkride

All ratings20 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative30.0%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive52.2%
Neutral17.4%
Negative30.4%

Instrument Test Prep

All ratings155 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.6%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

None

Private Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Instrument Test Prep

One-time4
  • Instrument Ground School TrialFree
  • Instrument Rating Test Prep$49.99
  • Upgrade to Ground School$129.99
Show 1 more
  • Instrument Ground School$179.99

Questions

Is Private Pilot Checkride free?
Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Instrument Test Prep free?
Instrument Test Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Checkride or Instrument Test Prep?
Instrument Test Prep is rated higher. Private Pilot Checkride averages 3.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Instrument Test Prep averages 4.9 from 155 ratings.
Do Private Pilot Checkride or Instrument Test Prep have ads?
Neither Private Pilot Checkride nor Instrument Test Prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Checkride or Instrument Test Prep?
Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, and Instrument Test Prep fortnightly. Most recently, Private Pilot Checkride was updated on October 13, 2026 and Instrument Test Prep on October 13, 2026.

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