Comparison

Private Pilot Test Prep vs IR Prep

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

Head to head
About

Private Pilot Test Prep

Features
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Pass your FAA private pilot written the first time. 900+ practice questions across all nine knowledge areas, timed mock exams in the FAA's published shape, and spaced repetition that brings back exactly the questions you got wrong. Works completely offline, with no account and no sign-up. WHY THIS ONE Every question cites its source. Not "trust us" โ€” a handbook chapter, an AIM paragraph, or the regulation section itself, shown right there with the explanation, so when something surprises you, you can go read the primary text. Every source this app draws on is a work of the U.S. government and therefore public domain, and each one is listed with its official link at the end of this description. THE MATH IS ACTUALLY CHECKED Density altitude. Pressure altitude. Weight and balance. Fuel burn and endurance. Groundspeed and time en route. Crosswind components. Glide distance. Every computable answer in this app is recomputed independently before it ships, so the number you are taught is the number that checks out. Performance and weight-and-balance is where candidates lose the most marks, and it is drilled here rather than skimmed. NINE KNOWLEDGE AREAS Pre-Solo Basics โ€” the pre-solo essentials, spanning every area Regulations โ€” 14 CFR Parts 61, 68 and 91 Airspace & Requirements โ€” Class A through G, minima, equipment Weather & Meteorology โ€” theory, hazards, METARs and TAFs Aircraft Systems & Instruments โ€” powerplant to gyros Performance & Weight-Balance โ€” the calculations, worked Navigation & Flight Planning โ€” pilotage to the wind triangle Procedures & Airport Operations โ€” towered, non-towered, night Human Factors & Aeromedical โ€” aeromedical factors and decision-making HOW IT WORKS Tap an answer and the explanation appears immediately with its source. Get one wrong and spaced repetition schedules it to come back before you forget it. Set your test date and the home screen counts down to it. A readiness score tells you when you are actually ready, built from your own results โ€” never a made-up number. The timed mock runs 60 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes and scores against the FAA's published 70% pass mark, so test day is not the first time you have sat one. TEXT AND COMPUTATION ONLY Every question here is answerable from its own text or by working the numbers. Nothing asks you to read a chart you cannot see. WORKS ANYWHERE No account. No sign-up. No ads. No signal needed โ€” the whole question bank lives on your phone, which matters in a hangar, on a ramp, or in the back of a flight school between lessons. SOURCES โ€” THE COMPLETE LIST Every question is derived from these and no others, all works of the U.S. government in the public domain: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), FAA-H-8083-25: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH), FAA-H-8083-3: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM): https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/ Title 14 CFR Parts 61, 68 and 91: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61 Advisory Circular AC 00-6, Aviation Weather: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards โ€” structure only, never a source of fact This app is an independent study aid. It is not a government entity and does not represent one. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or any flight school, training provider, or course publisher. Exam requirements are set by the FAA โ€” verify current requirements with your instructor or testing center. Completing this app does not grant any certificate, rating, or endorsement, and practice scores are not official results. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ โ€” Privacy Policy: https://kanac.github.io/syanac-legal/

About

IR Prep

Features
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Designed for learners worldwide preparing for the United States FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) knowledge test. Prepare with a complete, structured study system. KEY FEATURES โ€ข 650 study cards: 120 abbreviations, 230 aviation terms, and 300 practice questions โ€ข Realistic Sprint, Half, and Final mock exams, including the official 60-question/120-minute format โ€ข Detailed explanations, trap points, bookmarks, and wrong-answer review โ€ข Weak-area analysis, Leitner spaced repetition, and an exam-date study plan โ€ข Interface and explanations in 7 languages IR PRO โ€” ONE-TIME PURCHASE Unlock all questions, Half and Final mock exams, complete explanations, exam scheduling, unlimited bookmarks, and remove ads. No subscription. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Practice scores do not guarantee a passing result on the official exam.

Screenshots

Private Pilot Test Prep4 screens
IR Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

Private Pilot Test Prep and IR Prep are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Private Pilot Test Prep sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per month and IR Prep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Private Pilot Test Prep versus IR Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Pilot Test PrepIR Prep
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Fortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size40 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnthony ChuiTomocreate, Inc.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Private Pilot Test Prep

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$39.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$119.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$199.99
1 purchases

IR Prep

One-time1
  • IR Pro$29.99

Questions

Is Private Pilot Test Prep free?
Private Pilot Test Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IR Prep free?
IR Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Private Pilot Test Prep or IR Prep have ads?
Neither Private Pilot Test Prep nor IR Prep shows ads.

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