Private Pilot Test Prep vs Private Pilot Course
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Study questions by topic
- Custom review sessions
- Detailed answer explanations
- Flashcard review mode
- Simulated practice tests
- Progress reports
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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.
Private Pilot Course
This app provides comprehensive HD video instruction and detailed animations for essential flight maneuvers. It covers takeoffs, landings, and complex maneuvers with explanations of FAA standards and common errors. Ideal for student pilots preparing for lessons or private pilots refreshing their skills.
- In-flight HD video instruction
- Detailed animation of maneuvers
- FAA Private Pilot Practical Test preparation
- Explanation of PTS standards
- Common errors and avoidance
- Includes FAA handbooks and quiz
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The Private Pilot Course (Flight) App gives you two and a half hours of in-flight HD video and detailed animation including an in depth explanation of the takeoffs, landings and maneuvers needed to pass your FAA Private Pilot Practical Test. All Takeoffs, Landings and Maneuvers are flown in a Cessna 172 in San Diego. We filmed each maneuver with multiple cameras and camera angles and provide real HD quality for the best learning experience. All video and animations are designed to help you understand how to perform everything correctly. We use no fillers that waste your time. Just what you need to know and how to do it right. It's the perfect way for student pilots to prepare for every flight lesson or private pilots for your flight review. AOPA PILOT magazine called our Apps "solid and reliable" in it's Dec 2011 issue. The Private Pilot Course - Flight App contains: •Normal and Crosswind Take Off •Short Field and Soft Field Take Off •Normal and Crosswind Landings •Short Field and Soft Field Landings •Rectangular Course •Turns Around a Point •S-Turns •Slow Flight •Power On Stall •Power Off Stall •Emergency Descents •Emergency Approach and Landing •Steeps Turns •Go Arounds •Explanation of PTS standards for each maneuver •Common errors (and how to avoid them) for each maneuver Due to HD video, this App is 1.2GB. Please make sure you have enough space on your device. Includes FAA Private Pilot PTS and Airplane Flying Handbook as well as a challenging quiz to test what you've learned Visit www.flighttrainingapps.com for a free preview and information on our 100% money back satisfaction guarantee.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Private Pilot Test Prep at $14.99 against Private Pilot Course's $59.99. Private Pilot Test Prep also leads on ratings volume (115 vs 4) and chart position (#20 vs #180). Private Pilot Course's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (92% vs 82%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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
Private Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99 and Private Pilot Course $59.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Private Pilot Course holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Pilot Test Prep has 115 ratings behind it against 4, 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 92% of Private Pilot Course's.
Private Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 4 months, Private Pilot Course every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Private Pilot Test Prep | Private Pilot Course |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 — better | $59.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (115 ratings) | 4.5 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | 92.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 115 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #20 — better | #180 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 2.1 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sporty's Pilot Shop | Flight Training Apps, Inc. |
Customer experience
Private Pilot Test Prep
Private Pilot Course
Bugs and 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
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- 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 moreShow fewer
- Dark mode option
- Compatibility with iPhone X
- More sample test questions from FAA
- Bundle option for instrument written prep
Private Pilot Course
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Private Pilot Test Prep
No in-app purchases
Private Pilot Course
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Private Pilot Test Prep free?
Is Private Pilot Course free?
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Test Prep or Private Pilot Course?
Do Private Pilot Test Prep or Private Pilot Course have ads?
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Test Prep or Private Pilot Course?
Which is more popular, Private Pilot Test Prep or Private Pilot Course?
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