Comparison

Instrument Pilot Checkride vs Instrument Test Prep

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

Head to head
About

Instrument Pilot Checkride

This app prepares aspiring pilots for their instrument rating practical exam by providing over 700 likely examiner questions and succinct answers. It covers all essential topics, follows Airman Certification Standards, and helps identify knowledge gaps for efficient study.

Highlights
  • Over 700 questions and answers
  • Covers all instrument rating topics
  • Based on Airman Certification Standards
  • Flag questions for further study
  • Includes CFII specific chapter
  • Researched using FAA documents
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Using a question-and-answer format, Instrument 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 instrument rating checkride, and mastering the subject matter. Instructors rate them as excellent preparation for students, as well as preps for Instrument Proficiency Checks (IPC), aircraft transitions, and as general refresher material. Effective preparation for tests issued under the guidance of the Airman Certification Standards. This Instrument Pilot Checkride app is based on the popular Instrument Oral Exam Guide Eleventh Edition book by Jason Blair. It is designed for pilots training for the Instrument Rating or the Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) certificate. More than 700 questions and responses ensure all the subjects an Instrument Rating candidate will be tested on during checkrides and IPCs are covered. Organization follows the Airman Certification Standards and topics include: preflight, departure, en route, arrival, and scenario-based training. A separate chapter is provided for Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) applicants. 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. Questions include the ACS code and can be marked for further study from any subject to build your own collection of flashcards. An Applicant Practical Test Checklist and Instrument Proficiency Check Guidance document 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 700 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, Instrument Oral Exam Guide Eleventh Edition, by Jason Blair. • Brought to you by a trusted resource in aviation training and publishing, Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).

About

Instrument Test Prep

Prepare for your FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test with over 900 questions and detailed explanations. Customize study sessions, track your weakest areas, and take simulated exams that mirror the official test format. An optional upgrade unlocks a full ground school course with additional lessons and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Over 900 FAA questions and explanations
  • Customizable study sessions by topic and size
  • Focus on weakest topics and missed questions
  • Simulated FAA exams with correct question proportions
  • Detailed explanations and regulation references
  • Cross-device data syncing
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Over 900 FAA questions and explanations to help prepare for the FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test. Upgrade to the complete ground school course to unlock lessons, additional questions, statistics, and more (free trial available). ▸ Create custom study sessions based on topics, session size, and your overall mastery. Filters allow you to include or exclude questions that require the use of figures or an E6B. Some advanced filtering options require Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade. ▸ View most often missed FAA questions across all FlightReady users (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Quickly identify and create study sessions focusing on your weakest topic (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Create practice sessions from missed questions after a completed practice or exam session. ▸ Review missed questions after a practice or exam session. ▸ Take simulated FAA exams administered under the same rules and time constraints as the actual Instrument Rating exam. Unlike other test prep apps, our exams present the correct proportion of questions from each knowledge area per the ACS. ▸ Sync your data and course progress across on all of your iOS devices (requires Premium Test Prep or Ground School upgrade). ▸ Access a library of study resources for the Instrument Rating - Airplane ▸ Question bank covers all areas of the FAA Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards to ensure thorough preparation for the knowledge test. ▸ Detailed explanations and references for all questions, including the text of the regulation where applicable.

Screenshots

Instrument Pilot Checkride4 screens
Instrument Test Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Instrument Test Prep at 88% against Instrument Pilot Checkride's 0%. Instrument Test Prep also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and rating (4.9 vs 2.4). Instrument Pilot Checkride's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Instrument Test Prep is free to download; Instrument Pilot Checkride costs $9.99 up front. Instrument Test Prep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Instrument Pilot Checkride asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Instrument Test Prep holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instrument Test Prep has 155 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Instrument Pilot Checkride's written reviews are positive against 88% of Instrument Test Prep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instrument Pilot Checkride ships an update every 25 months, Instrument Test Prep fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Instrument Pilot Checkride versus Instrument Test Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstrument Pilot CheckrideInstrument Test Prep
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.4 (9 ratings)4.9 (155 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9155 — better
Update frequencyEvery 25 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.1
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB122 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperASAAeroapps Technology

Customer experience

Instrument Pilot Checkride

All ratings9 ratings
Positive22.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Instrument Test Prep

All ratings155 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.6%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

None

Instrument Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Instrument Test Prep

One-time4
  • Instrument Ground School TrialFree
  • Instrument Rating Test Prep$49.99
  • Upgrade to Ground School$129.99
Show 1 more
  • Instrument Ground School$179.99

Questions

Is Instrument Pilot Checkride free?
Instrument Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Instrument Test Prep free?
Instrument Test Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Instrument Pilot Checkride or Instrument Test Prep?
Instrument Test Prep is rated higher. Instrument Pilot Checkride averages 2.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Instrument Test Prep averages 4.9 from 155 ratings.
Do Instrument Pilot Checkride or Instrument Test Prep have ads?
Neither Instrument Pilot Checkride nor Instrument Test Prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instrument Pilot Checkride or Instrument Test Prep?
Instrument Pilot Checkride ships an update every 25 months, and Instrument Test Prep fortnightly. Most recently, Instrument Pilot Checkride was updated on October 26, 2026 and Instrument Test Prep on October 29, 2026.

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