# CDL Prep vs CDL Permit

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CDL Prep at none against CDL Permit's 3. CDL Prep also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 46%) and chart position (#101 vs unranked). CDL Permit's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CDL Permit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. CDL Prep asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for CDL Prep against 4.7 for CDL Permit. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 18K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of CDL Prep's written reviews are positive against 46% of CDL Permit's.

CDL Prep ships an update every 2 months, CDL Permit monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDL Prep | CDL Permit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-prep/id1101536521/reviews) | **[4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-permit-practice-test-2026/id1566343337/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6.7K | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.7% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#101** | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jeffrey Diaz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1101536520) | [Mapola LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566343339) |

## What reviewers say

### CDL Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-prep/id1101536521)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Prepare for your Commercial Drivers License exams with a comprehensive question bank covering general knowledge and various endorsements. Practice with timed exams or instant feedback modes to identify areas for improvement.

**Highlights:** Over 500 practice questions, Timed exam mode, Endorsement topic exams, Instant feedback in practice mode, Randomized answer order

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate questions
- 👍 Helpful for passing tests
- 💯 Exactly like real test
- 🙌 Great study tool
- ✅ Passed on first try

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Some questions not on app
- 🔢 Too many ads
- 🔀 Can't close ads
- 🤔 Inconsistent answers

**Reported bugs**

- Back button issues
- Incorrect answers in app

**Requested features**

- Ad-free version
- Ability to report incorrect questions
- Include state-specific requirements


### CDL Permit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-permit-practice-test-2026/id1566343337)

Prepare for your 2026 Commercial Driver's License (CDL) exam with comprehensive study materials. Access state-specific rules and knowledge domains for various vehicle types. Offers premium features for enhanced practice.

**Highlights:** State-specific CDL rules, Multiple knowledge domains, General knowledge study, Specialized vehicle prep, Random exam mode, Timed quiz option, Incorrect questions review

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly w Trial, Special Offer | $9.99 | per month |
| CDL Prep Practice Test 2023 | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for passing CDL tests
- 💡 Provides a lot of practice questions
- 🚀 Effective study tool
- 🚀 Closest to actual test questions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Repeated questions in tests
- 🐛 Incorrect or misleading questions/answers
- 💰 Subscription required to access full content
- 🐛 App crashes and connection issues

**Reported bugs**

- Answer choices cut off
- Flashcards not working
- Subscription issues (unable to cancel, still charged)

**Requested features**

- State-specific question banks
- Ability to report incorrect questions
- More varied and up-to-date question pool


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CDL Prep free?

CDL Prep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CDL Permit free?

CDL Permit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CDL Prep or CDL Permit?

CDL Permit is rated higher. CDL Prep averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while CDL Permit averages 4.7 from 18K ratings.

### Do CDL Prep or CDL Permit have ads?

Both CDL Prep and CDL Permit show ads.

### Which is updated more often, CDL Prep or CDL Permit?

CDL Prep ships an update every 2 months, and CDL Permit monthly. Most recently, CDL Prep was updated on September 24, 2026 and CDL Permit on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*