# CDL Study vs CDL Direct Course

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDL Study | CDL Direct Course |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-study-practice-test-2026/id1447718378/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-direct-course/id1614714939/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 1.9K |
| Positive reviews | 55.2% of reviews | **80.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 47 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Adrian Del Jesus Sanchez Mendez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1443887258) | [CDL Direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614714941) |

## 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 Direct Course

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-direct-course/id1614714939)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Class A CDL Course - Ages 18+ | $399.99 | one-time |
| Class B CDL Course - Ages 18+ | $399.99 | one-time |
| B to A CDL Upgrade - Ages 18+ | $399.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- No record of completion at DMV
- Unable to create account

**Requested features**

- Ability to enlarge text
- Option to use audio


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