Comparison

Private Pilot Checkride vs Private Pilot FAA 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

Private Pilot FAA test prep

Prepare for your private pilot written exam with a comprehensive question bank and realistic exam simulations. This ad-free application allows you to mark and review your favorite questions, ensuring you cover all necessary topics for the 2026 PPL training exam.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive Q&A
  • Access to all question blocks
  • Realistic exam simulation
  • Mark and review favorites
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Features: - Comprehensive Q&A for all topics - Access to all question blocks - Realistic exam mode simulation - Mark and review your favorites - Completely ad-free experience

Screenshots

Private Pilot Checkride4 screens
Private Pilot FAA test prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Private Pilot FAA test prep at Free against Private Pilot Checkride's $9.99. Private Pilot FAA test prep also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 19 months). Private Pilot Checkride's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#172 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, device support and 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

Private Pilot FAA test prep is free to download; Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99 up front. Private Pilot FAA test prep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Private Pilot Checkride asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Private Pilot FAA test prep holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 66 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Private Pilot Checkride's written reviews are positive against 58% of Private Pilot FAA test prep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, Private Pilot FAA test prep every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Private Pilot Checkride versus Private Pilot FAA test prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Pilot CheckridePrivate Pilot FAA test prep
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (20 ratings)4.6 (66 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews58.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2066 — better
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#172 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASADanila Danilenko

Customer experience

Private Pilot Checkride

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

Private Pilot FAA test prep

All ratings66 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Private Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Private Pilot FAA test prep

One-time1
  • Full access$16.99

Questions

Is Private Pilot Checkride free?
Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Private Pilot FAA test prep free?
Private Pilot FAA test prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot FAA test prep?
Private Pilot FAA test prep is rated higher. Private Pilot Checkride averages 3.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Private Pilot FAA test prep averages 4.6 from 66 ratings.
Do Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot FAA test prep have ads?
Neither Private Pilot Checkride nor Private Pilot FAA test prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot FAA test prep?
Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, and Private Pilot FAA test prep every 4 months. Most recently, Private Pilot Checkride was updated on November 7, 2026 and Private Pilot FAA test prep on November 3, 2026.

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