Comparison

CDL Study vs CDL Direct Course

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CDL Study

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
Read full description

CDL Practice Test 2026 — State-Specific CDL & HazMat Prep, 98 % Pass Rate Looking for the most accurate CDL practice test for 2026? CDL Study packs 2,000+ state questions, a full HazMat test and smart progress tracking in one app so you can pass on your first try. Why CDL Study beats other apps 2,000+ questions updated for 2026, straight from every state DMV manual (Texas, Florida, California, New York and more). State-specific tests: choose your DMV and study only what you will see on exam day. Proven 98 % pass rate — trusted by thousands of drivers nationwide. Unlimited exam simulators & offline mode: study anywhere, anytime. English & Español: switch language instantly for bilingual CDL prep. Written test & driving prep: master both parts of the CDL exam. Full endorsement coverage General Knowledge • Air Brakes • HazMat • Tankers • Doubles / Triples • Passenger • School Bus • Class A • Class B How it works Pick your state and endorsement. Take practice exams of 50 questions until you score 95 % or better. Review explanations, fix weak spots and track your progress. Walk into the DMV confident — permit and license in hand! Key benefits Save time: focus only on the material your state requires. Smart reinforcement: real-time analytics highlight weak topics. Works offline: perfect for truckers on routes with no signal. Cloud sync: continue CDL prep on any device. Free to start: try your first practice test at no cost. Real stories "Passed the New York CDL written test on the first try — questions matched word for word." — Mike D. "The HazMat and Air Brakes modules were exactly what I needed to get my permit." — Sarah L. "La mejor app para estudiar CDL en español. Pasé el examen a la primera." — Carlos R. Download CDL Study now Join thousands who have already passed the 2026 CDL exam. Get unlimited practice and earn your commercial driver's license on the first attempt. CDL Study — your complete CDL study guide and exam prep app. Install today and hit the road tomorrow! Terms of use: https://cdlstudyapp.com/terms

About

CDL Direct Course

This FMCSA-approved course fulfills the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirement for obtaining a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). Complete all mandated theory training online, anytime, anywhere, and have your results instantly submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.

Highlights
  • FMCSA-approved ELDT
  • Online course completion
  • Instant FMCSA registry submission
  • Accessible on any device
  • Flexible scheduling
Features
Read full description

FMCSA-APPROVED CDL ENTRY LEVEL DRIVER TRAINING (ELDT) Individuals who obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) on or after February 7, 2022 will need to complete this course before they will be permitted to take their CDL skills or knowledge test. Upon completion of this course the results will instantly be submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Prior to providing any testing services CDL testing centers will retrieve these results from the FMCSA Training Provider Registry to confirm that the student has completed the required ELDT theory training. This course covers all units for ELDT as mandated by the FMCSA. Follow the steps below to begin your journey to a new career. 1. Register For The Course - Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. You can begin the course immediately after registration. No classrooms, no lines. 2. Begin The Course - The course can be taken from any device, any place, anytime. We keep track of your progress. All you have to do is login and complete each section of the course when it fits your schedule. 3. Complete The Course - The moment you complete the course we report the completion to the Federal Registry. You can then begin the behind-the-wheel training.

Screenshots

CDL Study4 screens
CDL Direct Course4 screens

Verdict

The call

CDL Study and CDL Direct Course both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of CDL Direct Course's written reviews are positive against 55% of CDL Study's. CDL Study's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for CDL Study against 4.9 for CDL Direct Course. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of CDL Study's written reviews are positive against 81% of CDL Direct Course's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CDL Study ships an update every 4 months, CDL Direct Course every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
CDL Study versus CDL Direct Course: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCDL StudyCDL Direct Course
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2K ratings)4.9 (1.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.2% of reviews80.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2K — better1.9K
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB34 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperAdrian Del Jesus Sanchez MendezCDL Direct

Customer experience

CDL Study

All ratings1,851 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive55.2%
Neutral6.9%
Negative37.9%

CDL Direct Course

All ratings1,937 ratings
Positive98.6%
Neutral0.6%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative19.2%

User reviews

CDL Study

From 2K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

CDL Direct Course

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💰 Affordable price
  • 🤖 Easy to use and follow
  • 🎓 Informative and helpful content
  • ⏱️ Convenient self-paced learning
  • 👍 Satisfied users

Room to improve

  • 🔇 Audio issues
  • 🔍 Small text that is hard to read

Bugs and requests

CDL Study

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

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

CDL Direct Course

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • No record of completion at DMV
  • Unable to create account

Requested features

2 requests
  • Ability to enlarge text
  • Option to use audio

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CDL Study

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Access3 Days trial$19.991 Month
One-time1
  • CDL Study Premium$71.90
3 purchases

CDL Direct Course

One-time3
  • Class A CDL Course - Ages 18+$399.99
  • Class B CDL Course - Ages 18+$399.99
  • B to A CDL Upgrade - Ages 18+$399.99

Questions

Is CDL Study free?
CDL Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CDL Direct Course free?
CDL Direct Course is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CDL Study or CDL Direct Course?
CDL Direct Course is rated higher. CDL Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while CDL Direct Course averages 4.9 from 1.9K ratings.
Do CDL Study or CDL Direct Course have ads?
Neither CDL Study nor CDL Direct Course shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CDL Study or CDL Direct Course?
CDL Study ships an update every 4 months, and CDL Direct Course every 2 months. Most recently, CDL Study was updated on September 24, 2026 and CDL Direct Course on September 23, 2026.

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