# CDL Prep vs CDL Permit

CDL Prep and CDL Permit both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of CDL Prep's written reviews are positive against 47% of CDL Permit's. CDL Permit's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (18K vs 328). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CDL Prep 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.

CDL Permit holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDL Permit has 18K ratings behind it against 328, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of CDL Prep's written reviews are positive against 47% of CDL Permit's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CDL Prep ships an update every 6 months, CDL Permit monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDL Prep | CDL Permit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (328 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-prep-permit-practice-exam/id1564274292/reviews) | **[4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-permit-practice-test-2026/id1566343337/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 328 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SHAREIT WIDGET PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619070259) | [Mapola LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566343339) |

## What reviewers say

### CDL Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-prep-permit-practice-exam/id1564274292)

Prepare for your Commercial Driver's License (CDL) permit exam with practice questions, state-specific handbooks, and custom quizzes. Study by subject, track your progress, and learn from detailed explanations to pass your CDL test.

**Highlights:** Thousands of practice questions, State-specific CDL handbooks, Customizable quizzes by subject, Exam-like test simulations, Detailed explanations for answers, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Life-Time Premium | $94.99 | one-time |


### 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 in-app purchases available.

### 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 4.6 out of 5 from 328 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 6 months, and CDL Permit monthly. Most recently, CDL Prep was updated on October 25, 2026 and CDL Permit on October 28, 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.*