Comparison

Private Pilot Checkride vs Private Pilot 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 Test Prep

Prepare for your FAA written test with this comprehensive study tool. It offers three modes: study questions by topic with detailed explanations, review using flashcards, and take full-length practice tests. Track your progress with detailed reports.

Highlights
  • Study questions by topic
  • Custom review sessions
  • Detailed answer explanations
  • Flashcard review mode
  • Simulated practice tests
  • Progress reports
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Sporty's Study Buddy will prepare you for the FAA written test like no other study tool available with three modes of operation. Test material is expertly organized into categories based on subject matter and includes, questions, answers, correct answers, and detailed explanations. • STUDY QUESTIONS BY TOPIC • Learning Mode allows you to create custom review sessions by selecting exactly which categories you want to review. Each session randomly generates the question order, and provides instant feedback based on your answer selection. Each question also provides a detailed description as to why each answer is right or wrong. These explanations were developed by Sporty’s team of Master CFI’s, based on their experience preparing students for the Private Pilot certificate • REVIEW QUESTION FLASHCARDS • Flashcard mode tests your knowledge by allowing you to only see the question without the answer choices. After answering the question mentally, you can then select to show the correct answer, and self-grade your progress along the way. This is a great feature that keeps you from being distracted by incorrect answers! • TAKE PRACTICE TESTS • Test mode randomly generates a 60-question session from the entire database of published FAA test questions, simulating the real Private Pilot test. After answering all the questions, you’ll be given instant results, and have the option to review either all the questions, or just missed questions. Included in the review session are the same detailed explanations for why each answer is right or wrong. •PROGRESS REPORTS• After completing each test your results are saved in the app's Progress Report section, where you can review previous scores and and a detailed history of each question and answer selection. You can also pause a partially-completed session, and resume it at a later time here.

Screenshots

Private Pilot Checkride4 screens
Private Pilot Test Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Private Pilot Test Prep at 4.3 against Private Pilot Checkride's 3.3. Private Pilot Test Prep also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 52%) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 19 months). Private Pilot Checkride's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $14.99). On ads, in-app purchases, 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 Checkride costs $9.99 and Private Pilot Test Prep $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Private Pilot Test Prep holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Pilot Test Prep has 115 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 82% of Private Pilot Test Prep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, Private Pilot Test Prep every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Private Pilot Checkride versus Private Pilot Test Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Pilot CheckridePrivate Pilot Test Prep
Price$9.99 — better$14.99
Rating3.3 (20 ratings)4.3 (115 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews81.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20115 — better
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#71#21 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASASporty's Pilot Shop

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 Test Prep

All ratings115 ratings
Positive81.7%
Neutral5.2%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive81.5%
Neutral6.2%
Negative12.3%

Bugs and requests

Private Pilot Checkride

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Private Pilot Test Prep

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes in test mode
  • Progress not saved on phone
  • Blackout bug when viewing figures or rotating screen
  • Crashes after deleting test sessions
  • Not updated for iPhone X
Show 1 more
  • Save function issues

Requested features

9 requests
  • Ability to save flagged questions across sessions
  • Randomized questions in test mode
  • Improved cross-device progress syncing (iCloud)
  • Interactive map features for practice
  • Search functionality for specific questions
Show 4 more
  • Dark mode option
  • Compatibility with iPhone X
  • More sample test questions from FAA
  • Bundle option for instrument written prep

In-app purchases

None

Private Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

None

Private Pilot Test Prep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Private Pilot Checkride free?
Private Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Private Pilot Test Prep free?
Private Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot Test Prep?
Private Pilot Test Prep is rated higher. Private Pilot Checkride averages 3.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Private Pilot Test Prep averages 4.3 from 115 ratings.
Do Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot Test Prep have ads?
Neither Private Pilot Checkride nor Private Pilot Test Prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot Test Prep?
Private Pilot Checkride ships an update every 19 months, and Private Pilot Test Prep every 4 months. Most recently, Private Pilot Checkride was updated on September 25, 2026 and Private Pilot Test Prep on September 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Private Pilot Checkride or Private Pilot Test Prep?
Private Pilot Checkride currently peaks at #71 in the App Store charts, and Private Pilot Test Prep at #21. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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