Aviation Exam Prep Compared
Honest side-by-side of every major prep tool for PPL, Part 107, Instrument, Commercial, and ATPL. Pricing, format, and the kind of student each one is actually built for.
We highlight our own row (Rotate Pilot) because we built this comparison. Every other row is presented honestly with what the competitor does better than us.
| Platform | PPL | Part 107 | Instrument | Commercial | ATPL | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotate Pilot | $7.49 first mo / $14.99 mo | $9.99 / 30 days | $7.49 first mo / $14.99 mo | $7.49 first mo / $14.99 mo | $7.49 first mo / $14.99 mo | Web app · Q-bank + mocks + AI tutor + flashcards | Test in next 30 days, want lowest price, prefer question-bank drilling and AI explanations over video lectures. |
| Sporty's Pilot Training | $299 (full course) | $99 | $329 | $349 | Not offered (US-focused) | Video course + Q-bank · DVD/web app | Visual learners with time. Long-form video lectures, CFI-led. Best when bundled with their flight training. Strong brand recognition. |
| King Schools | $279 | $229 | $249 | $349 | Not offered | Video course · 35+ years of CFI-led content | Pilots who want the most thorough video-led teaching from John & Martha King. Lots of hand-holding through each topic. |
| Gleim | $79 | $49-79 | $89 | $99 | Not offered | Book + online Q-bank (Test Prep Online) | Reading-first learners. Strong reference text + Q-bank, no video. Excellent for self-paced learners who want to read deeply. |
| Sheppard Air | Not their focus | Not offered | $90 | $90 | $140 | Pattern memorization software · web/desktop | Pure test-passing focus. Memorize FAA question patterns. Highest pass rate per their public stats. Less learning, more passing. |
| Pilot Institute | $179 | $179 | $179 | $179 | Not offered | Video course + Q-bank · YouTube creator origin | Visual learners who started on Pilot Institute's free YouTube content and want the full structured course. Greg Reverdiau is a known instructor. |
| ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics) | $59 (Prepware) | $59 | $69 | $69 | Not offered | Software + book · Prepware desktop/web | Established reference brand (since 1940). Solid Q-bank with no AI tutor. Many flight schools use ASA as their default text. |
| Aviation Exam (EASA) | Not offered (EASA focus) | Not offered | $89/mo (EASA IR) | $89/mo (EASA CPL) | $89/mo (full ATPL) | EASA Q-bank · 14 subjects · web + iOS/Android | EASA pilots. Best-known ATPL Q-bank in Europe. Subscription model. Used by most major EASA flight schools as a question bank. |
| Bristol Groundschool | Not offered | Not offered | Bundled with ATPL | Bundled with ATPL | £600-2000 (full course) | EASA ATPL distance learning · video + Q-bank + instructor support | Full EASA ATPL theoretical course. Distance learning with structured progression and instructor email support. Used by many EU airline cadet programs. |
Prices accurate as of May 2026 from each vendor's public pricing. FAA test fees ($175 at PSI) are paid separately and not included in any course.
Quick pick by situation
If you test in next 30 days
Rotate Pilot
$9.99-14.99 covers any FAA test with a Q-bank, mocks, and AI tutor. Fastest payback.
If you have months + prefer video
Sporty's or King Schools
Long-form CFI-led video courses. More expensive but more thorough teaching.
If you just want to pass quickly
Sheppard Air
Pattern memorization. Highest pass rate but lowest actual learning.
If you fly EASA
Aviation Exam or Bristol GS
EU-focused, written for EASA standards across all 14 ATPL subjects.
FAQ
Which aviation exam prep is cheapest in 2026?▾
Rotate Pilot is the lowest-priced active option. Single-track one-time access (Part 107, PPL, IR, ATPL, or TAE 2.0) is $9.99 for 30 days. The All-5 Bundle is $39 for 60 days of every track. Annual subscription is $99 for 12 months. Monthly subscription is $7.49 first month / $14.99/mo after. Gleim is next at $49-99 per single-test bundle. ASA Prepware is $59-69 per test. King Schools and Sporty's run $179-349 per course.
Which prep tool has the highest first-time pass rate?▾
Sheppard Air publicly claims the highest pass rate (~99%) on its instrument and ATP test prep through pattern memorization. However, this comes at the cost of deep understanding — you pass the FAA test but may not learn the underlying concepts. For balanced learning + passing, video-led courses (Sporty's, King, Pilot Institute) report 95%+ rates. Question-bank tools (Rotate, Gleim, ASA) depend heavily on hours invested.
What's the best Part 107 prep specifically?▾
Depends on budget and time: Rotate Pilot at $9.99 for 30 days if you have <1 month to test; Pilot Institute at $179 if you want full video course; Gleim at $49-79 for read-first learners. The FAA test itself is $175 at any PSI Testing Center regardless of which prep you use.
Are any of these EASA ATPL? FAA private pilots can ignore most options.▾
EASA-specific tools: Aviation Exam (subscription $89/mo, Q-bank only), Bristol Groundschool (full course £600-2000), CATS, Padpilot. Rotate Pilot covers EASA ATPL questions in its question bank at $7.49 first month. US tools (Sporty's, King, Gleim US, ASA) target FAA standards and are not appropriate for EASA exams.
Do any of these include the FAA test fee?▾
No. The FAA written test costs $175 paid to PSI Testing Centers separately. No prep course includes this fee. Budget for it on top of whichever prep tool you choose.
How was this comparison built?▾
Prices and offerings were pulled from each vendor's public site in May 2026. We list every major US + EASA tool we know about. We highlight Rotate Pilot because it's our product — every other row is presented honestly with what the competitor does better. If you spot an error or a missing tool, email hello@rotatepilot.com and we'll update.
Should I pick the $9.99 single-track, the $39 bundle, or the $99 annual?▾
Pick the $9.99 single-track if you're prepping ONE exam (Part 107, PPL, IR, ATPL, or TAE 2.0) in the next 30 days. Pick the $39 All-5 Bundle if you're prepping 2+ exams in the same 60-day window — it pays for itself by exam #2. Pick the $99 Annual if you're on a multi-year career path (PPL → IR → CPL → ATPL) or you'll use the AI tutor and flashcards for currency review beyond the written exam. The monthly $7.49 first month / $14.99/mo is best if you want to keep flexibility month-to-month with no upfront commitment.
Try Rotate before you commit
Pick the test you're taking. Drill 10 free questions first. If it doesn't click, the other 8 platforms above are honest alternatives.