Honest comparison
Best ATPL question bank: an honest 2026 comparison
"Best ATPL question bank" has no single answer, the right one depends on which EASA edition you are sitting, your budget, and how you like to study. This guide compares seven established EASA ATPL study providers on the criteria that actually matter, so you can choose the bank that fits you rather than the one with the loudest marketing.
A note on transparency: this page is published by SkyStudy, one of the banks compared. We have included ourselves and kept the criteria objective, and every competitor figure below is taken from that provider's own site or store, checked in July 2026. We are not affiliated with any other provider named here.
How to choose an ATPL question bank
Work through these before you subscribe. They matter far more than any single "best" label.
1. The right EASA edition and authority, first
This matters more than any other factor. EASA moved to a new question format (the 2020 / latest edition) alongside the older 2016 edition, and the UK CAA runs its own bank after Brexit. Sitting the wrong edition's questions is wasted revision. Before you pay for anything, confirm the bank covers the exact edition and authority you are examined under, most of the established banks let you select it.
2. Question count, read in context
A bigger number is not automatically better. Banks count different things: some advertise independently authored revision questions, some advertise questions reported from recent exam sittings, and some pool several licences (ATPL, CPL, IR, PPL) into one total. A 15,000-question ATPL(A) bank can give more relevant practice than a 50,000 figure that spans multiple licences and duplicate variants. Treat counts as a rough guide, not a ranking.
3. Explanations you can learn from
The value of a question bank is in why an answer is right. Look for a full written explanation on every question, worked solutions for the calculation-heavy subjects (General Navigation, Mass and Balance, Performance), and clear figures. A smaller bank with strong explanations often beats a larger one that only tells you the letter.
4. A free tier, so you can try before you buy
Almost every serious option lets you try it without paying: a free sample of questions, free practice tests, or a time-limited free trial. Use it. The interface, the explanation quality and how the timed mode feels vary a lot between banks, and those are things you can only judge by using them.
5. Platform, offline access and how you study
Some banks are native apps for iOS, Android and desktop that download for offline study; others run in the browser and install as a web app. If you revise on the move without reliable data, offline support matters. If you switch between a laptop and a phone, check the device limit and whether progress syncs.
6. Price model and commitment
Prices change too often to quote reliably, so compare the model instead: a monthly or annual subscription, a single one-off fee, or a bank bundled with a full distance-learning course. If you only want question practice, a standalone bank is cheaper than buying a course for the bank inside it. If you also need to learn the theory, a course or a book series may be better value overall.
7. Extras that keep you revising
Spaced repetition (bringing questions back just before you forget them), progress analytics, a discussion feature, and community explanations all help you revise consistently and target weak areas. They are not essential, but they are the difference between a bank you dip into and one you use every day.
The ATPL question banks side by side
Figures are as listed on each provider's own site or store in July 2026. Counts cover different licences, editions and question types, so they are not strictly like for like. Always confirm current details with each provider before deciding.
| Provider | Questions advertised | Coverage | Free tier | Price to start | Platform | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AviationExam | 22,652 questions in English for the latest EASA exams (plus a free sample of up to 1,600) | EASA exams including ATPL, plus PPL, across the latest and 2016 editions | A free sample of up to 1,600 questions, as listed on aviationexam.com. | Paid subscription via their e-shop, with a free sample | Apps for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows, usable offline | offline native apps across desktop and mobile |
| ATPLQuestions | Over 20,000 EASA-aligned questions (per their App Store listing) | EASA ATPL(A) and ATPL(H) IR, across the EASA 2020 and 2016 editions, also UK CAA | Free practice tests, as listed on its official App Store page. | Paid subscription, with free practice tests | Website plus iOS and Android apps | a large app-based EASA bank with per-question discussion |
| Airhead | 50,000+ verified real exam questions, organised into clusters of similar questions | EASA authorities and UK CAA, with a selectable examining authority | A free trial, as listed on airheadatpl.com. | Paid subscription (monthly, quarterly, 6-month or annual plans), with a free trial | Web app plus iOS, Android and Microsoft Store apps, with offline access | revising against questions reported from recent exam sittings |
| evoATPL | Over 15,000 exam-style ATPL(A) questions with SME-written explanations | EASA and UK CAA ATPL(A), across all 13 subjects | See evoatpl.com for any current free trial or sample. | Monthly subscription or a single one-off fee | Browser-based with no download, on phone, tablet and laptop | instructor-written explanations with worked solutions on every answer |
| SkyStudyOur own tool | 31,032 questions across every EASA ATPL subject | EASA ATPL theory: the full syllabus (010 to 100) | The whole bank is free to use during the beta, and a free live demo lets you work through real questions before you create an account. | Free while in beta, no card required (ATPL subscription tiers planned after beta) | Web app, installable as an offline PWA | a large question set that is free during the beta, with spaced repetition built in |
| Bristol Groundschool | More than 15,000 EASA and UK CAA ATPL, CPL, IR and PPL questions | ATPL, CPL, IR and PPL; UK CAA and EASA (2016 and 2021 options) | A 3-day free trial, as listed on the BGS Question Bank site (bgsquestionbank.com). | Paid subscription; also offered to its distance-learning students and partner training organisations | PC, Mac, iPad and smartphone | students who want a tutor-supported distance-learning provider with a multi-licence question bank (ATPL, CPL, IR, PPL) |
| Padpilot | Not primarily a question bank: interactive theory books with revision quizzes | EASA ATPL(A) and ATPL(H) theory across all 13 subjects, plus PPL and foundation materials | Free sample pages of every book, plus a few complete free ebooks, via the Apple Books Store. | Interactive books sold through their shop, per subject or as a course subscription | Apple, Android and desktop devices, on up to 3 devices | interactive digital theory books and courseware rather than a standalone bank |
The providers in more detail
AviationExam
Best for offline native apps across desktop and mobile.
AviationExam is a long-established EASA exam-preparation question bank, known for native apps across iOS, Android, macOS and Windows that work offline. As listed on aviationexam.com in July 2026, its English database carries 22,652 questions for the latest EASA exams, with a free sample of up to 1,600 questions.
How SkyStudy compares with AviationExamATPLQuestions
Best for a large app-based EASA bank with per-question discussion.
ATPLQuestions is an EASA ATPL question bank delivered through a website and iOS and Android apps. As listed on its official App Store page in July 2026, it advertises over 20,000 EASA-aligned questions with detailed explanations and a discussion feature, covering the EASA 2020 and 2016 editions and UK CAA.
How SkyStudy compares with ATPLQuestionsAirhead
Best for revising against questions reported from recent exam sittings.
Airhead is an EASA ATPL question bank built around questions reported from recent exam sittings. As listed on airheadatpl.com in July 2026, it advertises 50,000+ verified real exam questions organised into clusters of similar questions, updated at least weekly, with web, iOS, Android and Microsoft Store apps, offline access and a free trial.
How SkyStudy compares with AirheadevoATPL
Best for instructor-written explanations with worked solutions on every answer.
evoATPL is an EASA and UK CAA ATPL(A) question bank written and maintained by ATPL instructors and subject-matter experts. As listed on evoatpl.com in July 2026, it advertises over 15,000 exam-style questions across all 13 ATPL(A) subjects, a full written explanation on every answer including worked solutions, and browser access with no download.
How SkyStudy compares with evoATPLSkyStudy
Our own toolBest for a large question set that is free during the beta, with spaced repetition built in.
SkyStudy is an independent EASA ATPL question bank with 31,032 independently authored revision questions across every theory subject, an SM-2 spaced repetition queue, timed practice and community explanations. The bank is free to use during the beta with no card required, runs in the browser and installs as an offline PWA. This is our own tool, included here for transparency and described only against features that are live today.
See the SkyStudy question bankBristol Groundschool
Best for students who want a tutor-supported distance-learning provider with a multi-licence question bank (ATPL, CPL, IR, PPL).
Bristol Groundschool is best known as a distance-learning ATPL theory provider. Its BGS Question Bank, as listed on bristol.gs and bgsquestionbank.com in July 2026, offers more than 15,000 EASA and UK CAA ATPL, CPL, IR and PPL questions with explanations, illustrations and progress tracking, on a subscription with a 3-day free trial, and is also offered to its distance-learning students and partner training organisations.
How SkyStudy compares with Bristol GroundschoolPadpilot
Best for interactive digital theory books and courseware rather than a standalone bank.
Padpilot is a well-established publisher of digital ATPL theory learning materials rather than a standalone question bank. As listed on padpilot.com in July 2026, it offers interactive EASA ATPL(A) and ATPL(H) theory books sold per subject or as a complete-course subscription covering all 13 subjects, an AI study assistant called the Padpilot Briefing Room, and materials used by more than 180 partner training organisations. Many students pair a book series like this with a separate question bank.
How SkyStudy compares with PadpilotCompare head to head
Head to head
AviationExam vs ATPLQuestions
Two of the most searched EASA ATPL banks, compared neutrally.
See the comparisonHead to head
Bristol Groundschool vs Padpilot
A question-bank course versus interactive theory books.
See the comparisonPrefer a one-to-one comparison with SkyStudy? See all ATPL question bank alternatives or jump to SkyStudy pricing.
Sources
Facts on this page are drawn from each provider's own site or store listing, checked July 2026. Details change, so confirm current specifics with each provider.
What you get with SkyStudy
Features included with SkyStudy today, beyond the question bank.
What you get with SkyStudy
Features included with SkyStudy today, beyond the question bank.- 31,032 questions across every EASA ATPL theory subject
- An SM-2 spaced repetition queue that targets what you are about to forget
- Timed mock exams and progress analytics
- Community explanations, votes and seen-on-exam reports
- Free METAR, TAF, NOTAM decoders and flight calculators, no account needed
- A free live demo, and installable as an offline PWA
Best ATPL question bank: common questions
Best ATPL question bank: common questions
What is the best ATPL question bank?
What is the best free ATPL question bank?
Is a bigger question bank always better?
Which ATPL question bank is most like the real EASA exam?
Is SkyStudy the best ATPL question bank?
Try the SkyStudy question bank free
See 31,032 questions across every ATPL subject, with spaced repetition and timed practice. Free during the beta, no card required, then compare it with the others on their own merits.
This page is general educational information for student pilots and may be out of date. Aviation rules, training requirements, costs, medical standards, and exam details change over time and vary by country, authority, and training organisation, so details here may no longer be current or may differ in your case. Always confirm the current details with your approved training organisation (ATO) and national aviation authority before relying on them. SkyStudy is an independent study aid, is not affiliated with EASA or any aviation authority, and does not guarantee any exam or licence outcome.
Last reviewed July 2026