Comparison

Instrument Pilot Test Prep vs Flight Test X20

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Instrument Pilot Test Prep

Prepare for your FAA Instrument Pilot written test with a comprehensive study tool. It offers three modes: study questions by topic, review using flashcards, and take simulated practice tests. Detailed explanations and progress reports help you track your learning.

Highlights
  • Study questions by topic
  • Customizable review sessions
  • Flashcard mode for knowledge testing
  • Simulated 60-question practice tests
  • Detailed explanations for answers
  • Progress reports and test history
  • High-resolution FAA figures and legends
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Sporty's Study Buddy will prepare you for the FAA Instrument Pilot 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 Instrument Rating. • 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 Instrument 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. Also includes the new upgraded test prep supplement (figures and legends) from the FAA, with new high-resolution images.

About

Flight Test X20

Prepare for FAA knowledge tests with this comprehensive study platform. It offers top-off preparation for various pilot and aviation professional written exams, including instrument rating and ATP.

Highlights
  • FAA knowledge test preparation
  • Pilot study course
  • Dispatcher study course
  • Instrument rating preparation
  • Instructor written test prep
  • ATP written test prep
Read full description

Flight Test X20 is Sheppard Air's latest student study course learning platform for FAA knowledge tests. It allows those students studying for pilot, dispatcher, instrument rating, instructor, flight engineer, ATP, and interviewee written tests to do their top-off preparation for the final knowledge test.

Screenshots

Instrument Pilot Test Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Flight Test X20 at Free against Instrument Pilot Test Prep's $14.99. Flight Test X20 also leads on rating (3.9 vs 3.1) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). Instrument Pilot Test Prep's advantage is chart position (#193 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Flight Test X20 is free to download; Instrument Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Flight Test X20 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flight Test X20 has 93 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Instrument Pilot Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 60% of Flight Test X20's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instrument Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 5 months, Flight Test X20 every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Instrument Pilot Test Prep versus Flight Test X20: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstrument Pilot Test PrepFlight Test X20
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating3.1 (16 ratings)3.9 (93 ratings) — better
Positive reviews39.3% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1693 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#193 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSporty's Pilot ShopSheppard Air, Inc.

Customer experience

Instrument Pilot Test Prep

All ratings16 ratings
Positive43.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive39.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative46.4%

Flight Test X20

All ratings93 ratings
Positive67.7%
Neutral8.6%
Negative23.7%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative26.7%

In-app purchases

None

Instrument Pilot Test Prep

No in-app purchases

None

Flight Test X20

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Instrument Pilot Test Prep free?
Instrument Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Flight Test X20 free?
Flight Test X20 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Instrument Pilot Test Prep or Flight Test X20?
Flight Test X20 is rated higher. Instrument Pilot Test Prep averages 3.1 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Flight Test X20 averages 3.9 from 93 ratings.
Do Instrument Pilot Test Prep or Flight Test X20 have ads?
Neither Instrument Pilot Test Prep nor Flight Test X20 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instrument Pilot Test Prep or Flight Test X20?
Instrument Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 5 months, and Flight Test X20 every 5 weeks. Most recently, Instrument Pilot Test Prep was updated on October 13, 2026 and Flight Test X20 on October 16, 2026.

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