Comparison

Private Pilot Checkride vs Boldmethod

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

Boldmethod

Enhance your aviation knowledge with extensive video training and online courses. Practice with quizzes and master essential piloting skills like takeoffs, landings, airspace navigation, and weather interpretation. Prepare for checkrides and improve your flying proficiency.

Highlights
  • Extensive video training library
  • Online aviation courses
  • Pilot knowledge quizzes
  • Master takeoffs and landings
  • National Airspace System training
  • Aviation weather interpretation
  • VFR charts and publications
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Want to improve your piloting skills? Then the Boldmethod app is for you. With over 50 hours of videos and online training courses, you'll walk away with the knowledge that makes you a better pilot. Access your Boldmethod training courses in one app, watch the latest training videos, and test your knowledge with quizzes. What's new? The Feed and Challenges tabs are the place to start learning or to brush up on your aviation knowledge. When you're ready to take the next step, sign up for courses to truly master your pilot knowledge. MASTERING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS Do you have a perfect landing every time? Neither do we. This video course helps you master your takeoffs and landings. Whether you're trying to stop floating past your landing point or trying to smooth out your touchdown, you'll learn how to fix any of your takeoff and landing problems with this simple-to-use online course. The course breaks down takeoffs and landings into sections: Normal Takeoffs Traffic Patterns Normal Landings Crosswind Takeoffs and Landings Short Field Takeoffs and Landings Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings Non-Standard Takeoffs and Landings Night Takeoffs and Landings NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM Our airspace course covers everything you need to know about the National Airspace System, including Class A-G airspace, Special Use Airspace, and Other Airspace. It's an excellent way to prepare for your private pilot checkride and keep your flying skills sharp. The course breaks down airspace into sections: Class A airspace Class B airspace Class C airspace Class D airspace Class E airspace Class G airspace Special use airspace Other airspace AVIATION WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS Our weather course covers everything you need to know about aviation weather, including METARs, TAFs, Pilot Reports, Graphical Forecasts For Aviation, Winds Aloft Forecasts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs. It's an excellent way to prepare for your private pilot checkride and keep your flying skills sharp. The course breaks down aviation weather into sections: METARs TAFs PIREPs Graphical Forecasts For Aviation Winds Aloft Forecasts AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs VFR CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS Our charts course covers everything you need to know about VFR charts and publications, including sectional charts, terminal area charts, the Digital Chart Supplement, and NOTAMs. The course breaks down publications into sections: Sectional Charts Terminal Area Charts Digital Chart Supplement NOTAMs MOUNTAIN WEATHER Do you want to feel more comfortable flying around the high country? Boldmethod's Mountain Weather course helps make that happen. You'll learn how to evaluate mountain weather during your planning and while you're in flight. You'll also learn how terrain generates updrafts, downdrafts, turbulence, and storms, and changes the direction of the wind throughout the day. The course breaks down weather into sections: Mountain Waves Strong Surface Winds Updrafts, Downdrafts, And Turbulence Convergence Zones Coastal Mountain Wind Systems The North American Monsoon Daily (Diurnal) Winds In Valleys Mountain Thunderstorms

Screenshots

Private Pilot Checkride4 screens
Boldmethod4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Boldmethod at 97% against Private Pilot Checkride's 52%. Boldmethod also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and rating (4.9 vs 3.3). Private Pilot Checkride's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and ads (none vs shown). On iOS requirement 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

Boldmethod is free to download; Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99 up front. Boldmethod sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Private Pilot Checkride asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Boldmethod holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Boldmethod has 823 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 97% of Boldmethod's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, Boldmethod every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Private Pilot Checkride versus Boldmethod: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Pilot CheckrideBoldmethod
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (20 ratings)4.9 (823 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews97.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20823 — better
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#103 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASABoldMethod, LLC

Customer experience

Private Pilot Checkride

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

Boldmethod

All ratings823 ratings
Positive98.4%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive97.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Private Pilot Checkride

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Boldmethod

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashing or freezing issues
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Provide explanations for incorrect answers in quizzes
  • Improve navigation and progress tracking through courses

In-app purchases

None

Private Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Boldmethod

One-time9
  • Aviation Weather Products$19.99
  • National Airspace System$19.99
  • VFR Charts$19.99
Show 6 more
  • National Airspace System$24.99
  • Aviation Weather Products$24.99
  • VFR Charts and Publications$24.99
  • Mastering Takeoffs & Landings$139.99
  • Mountain Weather$299.99
  • Instrument Procedures$499.99

Questions

Is Private Pilot Checkride free?
Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Boldmethod free?
Boldmethod is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Checkride or Boldmethod?
Boldmethod is rated higher. Private Pilot Checkride averages 3.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Boldmethod averages 4.9 from 823 ratings.
Do Private Pilot Checkride or Boldmethod have ads?
Boldmethod shows ads; Private Pilot Checkride does not.
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Checkride or Boldmethod?
Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, and Boldmethod every 3 weeks. Most recently, Private Pilot Checkride was updated on October 13, 2026 and Boldmethod on October 13, 2026.

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