Comparison

Instrument Rating Checkride vs InstructDeck

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

Head to head
About

Instrument Rating Checkride

Prepare for your instrument rating checkride with over 700 likely examiner questions and succinct answers. This app covers all essential topics, including preflight, en route, and scenario-based training, based on the popular "Instrument Oral Exam Guide."

Highlights
  • Over 700 examiner questions and answers
  • Covers all checkride topics
  • Based on popular aviation guide
  • Flag questions for further study
  • Includes practical test checklist
  • Researched using FAA documents
Features
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

InstructDeck

Features
Read full description

InstructDeck is a flight instruction workspace built for CFIs who want their lesson notes, endorsements, and student records to become useful training insight, not just another pile of paperwork. Traditional aviation admin tools are great at managing calendars, aircraft, dispatch, and school operations. InstructDeck focuses on the instructor’s side of the workflow: planning lessons, capturing notes, grading ACS tasks, reviewing student progress, preparing debriefs, managing endorsements, and identifying what each student should work on next. Use InstructDeck alongside your existing flight school software to keep instruction organized, data-informed, and centered on student progress. With InstructDeck, instructors can: - Capture structured lesson notes for flight and ground training - Manage student profiles and training records - Grade performance against ACS tasks and training standards - Review progress across lessons, tasks, and weak areas - Prepare focused debriefs after each lesson - Plan future training from real student history - Build oral exam and checkride prep sessions with Check Deck - Create and retain student endorsement records - Use endorsement templates, custom endorsements, or one-time freeform endorsements - Review and digitally sign endorsements with instructor identity and certificate details - Track endorsement expiration dates, renewal needs, and records that need attention - Export printable logbook inserts and proof copies - Preserve endorsement proof with timestamps, record IDs, signature hashes, version history, and audit details - Keep scheduling, notes, review, endorsements, and training context connected InstructDeck includes electronic endorsement workflows designed to support FAA AC 120-78B-aligned electronic signature and recordkeeping practices. Signed endorsement records use digital signature proof, instructor certificate profile details, immutable signed snapshots, audit history, and retained proof records to help CFIs maintain organized endorsement documentation. Instructors remain responsible for ensuring each endorsement, certificate detail, training record, and recordkeeping practice meets applicable FAA requirements, school policies, and operating rules. InstructDeck is designed for the realities of flight instruction: busy schedules, recurring lessons, student-specific trends, ACS expectations, endorsement tracking, and the need to turn every lesson into a clearer next step. Terms of Use: https://www.bluelarkaviation.com/instructdeck/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.bluelarkaviation.com/instructdeck/privacy Support: https://www.bluelarkaviation.com/instructdeck/support

Screenshots

Instrument Rating Checkride4 screens
InstructDeck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: InstructDeck at Free against Instrument Rating Checkride's $9.99. InstructDeck also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 13 months). Instrument Rating Checkride's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). 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

InstructDeck is free to download; Instrument Rating Checkride costs $9.99 up front. InstructDeck sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Instrument Rating Checkride asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instrument Rating Checkride ships an update every 13 months, InstructDeck monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Instrument Rating Checkride versus InstructDeck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstrument Rating CheckrideInstructDeck
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.4 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB109 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperASALuke Ward

In-app purchases

None

Instrument Rating Checkride

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

InstructDeck

Subscriptions4
  • Basic Monthly$24.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly14 Days trial$34.991 Month
  • Basic Yearly$224.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Yearly$314.991 Year

Questions

Is Instrument Rating Checkride free?
Instrument Rating Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is InstructDeck free?
InstructDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Instrument Rating Checkride or InstructDeck have ads?
Neither Instrument Rating Checkride nor InstructDeck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instrument Rating Checkride or InstructDeck?
Instrument Rating Checkride ships an update every 13 months, and InstructDeck monthly. Most recently, Instrument Rating Checkride was updated on November 14, 2026 and InstructDeck on November 13, 2026.

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