# CDL Study vs CDL Permit

The clearest difference is ads: CDL Study at none against CDL Permit's shown. CDL Study also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 46%). CDL Permit's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (18K vs 2K). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CDL Study sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and CDL Permit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for CDL Study against 4.7 for CDL Permit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDL Permit has 18K ratings behind it against 2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of CDL Study's written reviews are positive against 46% of CDL Permit's.

CDL Study ships an update every 4 months, CDL Permit monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDL Study | CDL Permit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-study-practice-test-2026/id1447718378/reviews)** | [4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-permit-practice-test-2026/id1566343337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2K | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **55.2% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 47 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adrian Del Jesus Sanchez Mendez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1443887258) | [Mapola LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566343339) |

## What reviewers say

### CDL Study

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-study-practice-test-2026/id1447718378)

Prepare for your Commercial Driver's License exam with state-specific practice tests and over 2,000 questions. Master endorsements, track your progress, and study offline to pass on your first attempt.

**Highlights:** 2,000+ state-specific questions, HazMat and endorsement coverage, Smart progress tracking, Unlimited exam simulators, Offline mode, English & Español support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access | $19.99 | per month |
| CDL Study Premium | $71.90 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for studying and preparing for exams
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 👍 Comprehensive content coverage
- 👍 Useful for passing the permit test

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- 🐛 Questions don't match the answers
- 🐛 Poorly worded questions
- 🤬 Subscription cancellation issues
- 🤬 Intrusive ads that can't be closed

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- Questions not matching the answers
- Poorly worded questions
- Subscription cancellation issues
- Intrusive ads that can't be closed

**Requested features**

- Improve accuracy of questions and answers
- Enhance user interface and experience
- Provide better subscription management options
- Optimize ad placement and frequency


### 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 Study free?

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

### Is CDL Permit free?

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

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

CDL Study is rated higher. CDL Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while CDL Permit averages 4.7 from 18K ratings.

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

CDL Permit shows ads; CDL Study does not.

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

CDL Study ships an update every 4 months, and CDL Permit monthly. Most recently, CDL Study was updated on September 24, 2026 and CDL Permit on September 23, 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.*