# Private Pilot Test Prep vs Garmin GTN Trainer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Private Pilot Test Prep at 82% against Garmin GTN Trainer's 30%. Private Pilot Test Prep also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (116 vs 10). Garmin GTN Trainer's advantage is price (Free vs $14.99) and iOS requirement (13 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Garmin GTN Trainer is free to download; Private Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Private Pilot Test Prep holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Pilot Test Prep has 116 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Private Pilot Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 30% of Garmin GTN Trainer's.

Private Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 5 months, Garmin GTN Trainer every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Pilot Test Prep | Garmin GTN Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (116 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-pilot-test-prep/id414141811/reviews)** | [3.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-gtn-trainer/id479670018/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **116** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 29.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#20** | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 2.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sporty's Pilot Shop](https://appshunter.io/developer/371817958) | [Garmin DCI](https://appshunter.io/developer/309920282) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Pilot Test Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-pilot-test-prep/id414141811)

**Currently charting:** #20 Top Paid · Education, #191 Top Paid (US App Store)

Prepare for your FAA Private Pilot knowledge test with study questions, flashcards, and practice tests. Features explanations from experienced instructors and offline access to all figures. Designed for iPhone and iPad.

**Highlights:** Study questions by topic, Flashcard review mode, Randomized practice tests, Offline figure access, Progress saving and history, Explanations for answers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Excellent for exam prep
- 💯 Questions are verbatim/similar
- 💡 Affordable and valuable
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 📚 Good explanations

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Some questions outdated/inaccurate
- 📉 Not all questions match real exam
- 😵 Repeat questions in test mode
- 📱 Difficult to use on small screens
- 🤔 Explanations not always perfect

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Garmin GTN Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-gtn-trainer/id479670018)

Learn the basic operation of Garmin avionics with a simulated on-the-ground training environment. Practice using the pilot interface with realistic multi-touch controls, flight plan editing, and access to detailed airport information, approach charts, and weather data.

**Highlights:** Simulated multi-touch and drag interface, Garmin SafeTaxi airport information, Garmin FliteCharts approach charts, Worldwide terrain and aviation databases, Obstacle databases with powerline alerting, Simulated weather and traffic data

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great training tool
- 👍 Authentic functionality
- 👍 Useful for learning
- 👍 Good for practice
- 👍 Handy portable version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Blank/black screen
- 🐛 Unit does not turn on
- 🐛 App is broken/unusable
- 🐛 Outdated database

**Reported bugs**

- VNAV function does not work
- Airplane starts on the other side of the country
- GTN 750XI app crashes when start button is pushed
- GTN 650 closes out and stops when going to find frequency, recent
- App starts with a blank black screen on display

**Requested features**

- Integrate GFC 500 AP
- Integrate GFC 600/700 AP
- Add autopilot controller head
- Add annunciation display showing AP, HDG, ALT status
- Add fields for actual IAS and ALT of simulated airplane


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Pilot Test Prep free?

Private Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Garmin GTN Trainer free?

Garmin GTN Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Test Prep or Garmin GTN Trainer?

Private Pilot Test Prep is rated higher. Private Pilot Test Prep averages 4.3 out of 5 from 116 ratings, while Garmin GTN Trainer averages 3.5 from 10 ratings.

### Do Private Pilot Test Prep or Garmin GTN Trainer have ads?

Neither Private Pilot Test Prep nor Garmin GTN Trainer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Test Prep or Garmin GTN Trainer?

Private Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 5 months, and Garmin GTN Trainer every 7 months. Most recently, Private Pilot Test Prep was updated on November 10, 2026 and Garmin GTN Trainer on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*