Private Pilot Test Prep vs CogPilot
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.
CogPilot
Prepare for FAA medical certification tests with realistic simulations of cognitive assessment modules. Reduce test anxiety by familiarizing yourself with computer-based testing mechanics and track your progress with in-depth analytics.
- Realistic cognitive assessment module simulations
- Adaptive difficulty scaling
- Pilot-normed scoring
- In-depth analytics and progress tracking
- Educational resources on cognitive domains and flight safety
- Sync training history across devices
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CogPilot is the official iOS companion app for PilotPrep — the CogScreen AE training platform at faacogscreen.com used by pilots and aspiring pilots to prepare for FAA HIMS evaluations and CogScreen-AE medical certification tests. REDUCE TEST ANXIETY Many pilots find that unfamiliarity with computer-based testing mechanics is the leading cause of stress during medical evaluations. CogPilot bridges that gap by providing a realistic training environment that mirrors FAA guidance and industry research for aviation cognitive assessment standards on your iPhone or iPad. CORE FEATURES 13 High-Fidelity Modules: Replications of Math, Backward Digit Span, Pathfinder (Trail Making), Shifting Attention, and more. Adaptive Difficulty: Experience real-time difficulty scaling that mimics standard clinical protocols. Pilot-Normed Scoring: Compare your performance against established pilot population datasets. In-Depth Analytics: Track your Cognitive Proficiency Index and visualize progress over time. WHO IT IS FOR Student pilots preparing for initial evaluations. Commercial pilots returning to flight status via Special Issuance. Anyone looking to maintain high-level cognitive fitness in an aviation context. SUBSCRIBER ACCESS CogPilot is a free companion app for existing PilotPrep subscribers. Log in with your faacogscreen.com account to sync your training history, analytics, and "Coach's Corner" prescriptions across all devices. EDUCATIONAL CONTENT Access our definitive "Pilot's Guide to CogScreen" and educational resources explaining how cognitive domains like multi-tasking and spatial awareness relate to flight safety. Disclaimer: CogPilot is an educational training tool. It may not be used for clinical or medical testing. Performance on this app does not guarantee medical certification results. This app is developed using public information and research and there no affiliation or endorsement from FAA and the publisher of CogScreen AE test.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: CogPilot at Free against Private Pilot Test Prep's $14.99. CogPilot also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). Private Pilot Test Prep's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (115 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
CogPilot 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 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Pilot Test Prep has 115 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Private Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 4 months, CogPilot every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Private Pilot Test Prep | CogPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (115 ratings) — better | 1.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 115 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #12 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Sporty's Pilot Shop | Siva Darivemula |
Customer experience
Private Pilot Test Prep
CogPilot
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
CogPilot
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Private Pilot Test Prep
No in-app purchases
CogPilot
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Private Pilot Test Prep free?
Is CogPilot free?
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Test Prep or CogPilot?
Do Private Pilot Test Prep or CogPilot have ads?
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Test Prep or CogPilot?
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