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Updated July 2026

The 7 Best FAA Written Test Prep Apps & Courses

We ranked the top FAA written exam prep options for 2026 by study method, price, and what happens after the written. One of them is ours. We say so, and we still list everyone's real strengths.

#ToolBest forPriceMethod
1flyCowboysBest overall for PPL and IFR students$29.99/mo or $167.99/yr (both ratings included)Adaptive drills + spaced repetition
2Sheppard AirBest for ATP writtens and fast retakes~$50–$75 per testRote memorization
3Sporty's Pilot TrainingBest legacy video ground school~$249 one-time (PPL course)Video lectures
4Pilot InstituteBest modern video course~$249 one-time (PPL course)Video lectures + quizzes
5King SchoolsBest classic course with famous instructors~$279 one-time (PPL course)Video lectures
6Gleim AviationBest budget question bank~$199 one-time (online ground school)Text + question bank
7ASA PrepwareBest companion to the ASA books~$50–$80 (software or app + book bundles)Question bank
1

flyCowboys

Best overall for PPL and IFR students

$29.99/mo or $167.99/yr (both ratings included) · Adaptive drills + spaced repetition

Full disclosure: flyCowboys is our app. Here is why we put it first anyway.

It is built as an adaptive study system, not a course with quizzes bolted on. Drills find your weak ACS areas and hit them until they are strengths. Every question has a plain-English explanation of why. A readiness score predicts your exam result with 94% accuracy, so you know when to book the test.

It also goes past the written: AI ATC radio practice (Talk to Tower) and a flight logbook are included. PPL and IFR come in one subscription.

Strengths

  • Adaptive engine: no wasted reps on what you already know
  • 3,500+ questions across PPL and IFR, each with a plain-English why
  • Readiness score, AI radio practice, and a flight logbook included
  • 100% pass guarantee (complete 80% of the course)

Weaknesses

  • iPhone only, no Android app yet
  • Subscription pricing instead of a one-time purchase
2

Sheppard Air

Best for ATP writtens and fast retakes

~$50–$75 per test · Rote memorization

Sheppard Air is the name pilots trade in forums when someone needs to pass a written fast. The system is honest about what it is: memorize the question bank, take the test, pass.

For the ATP, where many pilots just need the checkbox, it works. For a student pilot building first-time knowledge, memorized answers fall apart in the oral. The DPE asks you to explain them.

Strengths

  • Proven passing scores, especially for IFR, commercial, and ATP
  • Cheap one-time price per test
  • Famous free study-help phone support

Weaknesses

  • Teaches the answers, not the material
  • Dated software, separate purchase per rating

Read the full flyCowboys vs Sheppard Air comparison →

3

Sporty's Pilot Training

Best legacy video ground school

~$249 one-time (PPL course) · Video lectures

Sporty's is one of the most trusted names in aviation, and their Learn to Fly course is polished and complete. If you want a traditional ground school on video, this is the safe pick.

The tradeoff is the format: hours of passive watching, with practice questions as a side dish rather than the main course.

Strengths

  • Trusted brand with high production quality
  • Triple pass guarantee
  • Covers the full PPL curriculum

Weaknesses

  • Passive video-first learning
  • No adaptive drilling or readiness prediction

Read the full flyCowboys vs Sporty's Pilot Training comparison →

4

Pilot Institute

Best modern video course

~$249 one-time (PPL course) · Video lectures + quizzes

Pilot Institute is the best of the newer video ground schools. The lessons are clear, the instructors are strong, and the community is active.

It is still a video course at heart. You watch first and practice second, and the IFR course is a separate purchase.

Strengths

  • Modern, engaging video production
  • Lifetime access with regular updates
  • Great for complete beginners

Weaknesses

  • Hours of lectures before real practice
  • IFR sold separately

Read the full flyCowboys vs Pilot Institute comparison →

5

King Schools

Best classic course with famous instructors

~$279 one-time (PPL course) · Video lectures

John and Martha King have taught generations of pilots, and their courses follow the FAA standards closely. The teaching style is one of a kind.

The format shows its age: long video lessons, limited mobile experience, and no adaptive practice.

Strengths

  • Decades of proven aviation teaching
  • Thorough, standards-aligned curriculum

Weaknesses

  • Dated, video-heavy format
  • Higher price than most competitors

Read the full flyCowboys vs King Schools comparison →

6

Gleim Aviation

Best budget question bank

~$199 one-time (online ground school) · Text + question bank

Gleim has one of the biggest question banks in the industry with detailed explanations. If you learn well from dense text, it gets the job done for less money.

It reads like a digital textbook, and the interface has not kept up with modern apps.

Strengths

  • Huge question bank with detailed explanations
  • Lower price than the big video courses

Weaknesses

  • Dry, text-heavy experience
  • Dated interface, weak mobile support

Read the full flyCowboys vs Gleim Aviation comparison →

7

ASA Prepware

Best companion to the ASA books

~$50–$80 (software or app + book bundles) · Question bank

ASA's Test Prep books are a student-pilot staple, and Prepware is their digital question bank. It is a solid, cheap way to grind questions if you already study from ASA books.

There is no teaching layer: no adaptive engine, no explanations beyond the book text, and nothing past the written.

Strengths

  • Inexpensive and straightforward
  • Pairs well with ASA's popular books

Weaknesses

  • Question grinding only, with no study plan
  • No modern app features

Common Questions

What is the best FAA written test prep app in 2026?

For PPL and IFR students, flyCowboys is the best overall pick in 2026. It combines adaptive drills, 3,500+ explained questions, a 94%-accurate readiness score, and AI radio practice in one subscription. For ATP pilots who just need a fast passing score, Sheppard Air's memorization system is the popular choice. For video-style learners, Sporty's and Pilot Institute are the strongest courses.

How much does FAA written test prep cost?

Question-bank tools run about $50–$80 one-time (Sheppard Air, ASA Prepware). Full video ground schools run $199–$279 one-time (Gleim, Sporty's, Pilot Institute, King Schools). flyCowboys is $29.99/month or $167.99/year with both PPL and IFR included. In-person ground school costs the most, usually $300–$800.

Is memorizing the question bank enough to pass?

It can be enough to pass the written. That is how rote tools like Sheppard Air work. But your test score report lists your weak areas, and the DPE digs into them during the oral exam. If you memorized answers without understanding, that is where it shows. Prep that teaches the why protects you in both places.

Can I pass the FAA written using only an app?

Yes. The FAA does not require a classroom ground school for the knowledge test. You need an instructor endorsement, and a home-study course can provide it with a completion certificate, or your CFI can sign you off. Thousands of student pilots prepare entirely on their phone. The average flyCowboys student is exam-ready in about 23 days at 15 minutes a day.

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