# NHSA Driver vs Dolphin

The clearest difference is update cadence: Dolphin at every 2 weeks against NHSA Driver's every 3 months. NHSA Driver's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 1.3K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for NHSA Driver against 4.8 for Dolphin. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.3K and 1.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of NHSA Driver's written reviews are positive against 84% of Dolphin's.

NHSA Driver ships an update every 3 months, Dolphin every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | NHSA Driver | Dolphin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhsa-driver/id1599008411/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-sat-prep/id6748280981/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | **83.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 35 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [National Highway Safety Administration, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1531005194) | [PaloAI Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824977301) |

## What reviewers say

### NHSA Driver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhsa-driver/id1599008411)

Complete your driver's education course directly through the app. Features include DMV practice tests with unlimited retries, audio read-along, and the ability to start and stop at your convenience. Resume your progress seamlessly from any device.

**Highlights:** Approved Driver's Ed Course, DMV Practice Test (Unlimited Retries), Audio Read Along, Start/Stop Course Anytime, Videos and Practice Quizzes, Resume Progress on Any Device

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Self-paced learning
- 💡 Helpful practice tests
- 👍 Good for teens
- 👍 Affordable alternative to driving schools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 Slow loading and performance problems
- 🔒 Security concerns (account lockouts)

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- More detailed course content
- Improved pacing and structure


### Dolphin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-sat-prep/id6748280981)

Master the Digital SAT with a unique, social media-inspired interface. Swipe through thousands of official practice questions with instant, short video explanations. The app intelligently adapts to your learning, focusing on your weak areas for efficient score improvement.

**Highlights:** 10,000+ Official Digital SAT Questions, Short Video Solutions for Every Problem, Personalized Learning Algorithm, Spaced Repetition for Retention, Frictionless Study Design, Score Tracking

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NHSA Driver free?

NHSA Driver is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dolphin free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NHSA Driver or Dolphin?

NHSA Driver is rated higher. NHSA Driver averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Dolphin averages 4.8 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do NHSA Driver or Dolphin have ads?

Neither NHSA Driver nor Dolphin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NHSA Driver or Dolphin?

NHSA Driver ships an update every 3 months, and Dolphin every 2 weeks. Most recently, NHSA Driver was updated on October 19, 2026 and Dolphin on October 19, 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.*