Comparison

CDL Direct Course vs ELDT 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 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.

About

ELDT Direct Course

This FMCSA-approved course fulfills the entry-level driver training requirements for obtaining a commercial learner's permit. Complete all mandated theory units online, at your own pace, from any device. Instant submission of completion to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry is provided.

Highlights
  • FMCSA-approved ELDT curriculum
  • Online, self-paced learning
  • Accessible on any device
  • Instant FMCSA registry submission
  • Covers all mandated theory units
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 Direct Course4 screens
ELDT Direct Course4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ELDT Direct Course at none against CDL Direct Course's 3. CDL Direct Course's advantage is ratings volume (1.9K vs 252). On price, rating, review sentiment 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 Direct Course sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ELDT Direct Course asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for CDL Direct Course against 4.9 for ELDT Direct Course. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDL Direct Course has 1.9K ratings behind it against 252, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of CDL Direct Course's written reviews are positive against 75% of ELDT Direct Course's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
CDL Direct Course versus ELDT Direct Course: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCDL Direct CourseELDT Direct Course
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.9K ratings)4.9 (252 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.9K — better252
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.6
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB33 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperCDL DirectELDT Direct LLC

Customer experience

CDL Direct Course

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

ELDT Direct Course

All ratings198 ratings
Positive98.5%
Neutral0.5%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

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

ELDT Direct Course

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

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
None

ELDT Direct Course

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CDL Direct Course free?
CDL Direct Course is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ELDT Direct Course free?
ELDT Direct Course is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CDL Direct Course or ELDT Direct Course?
ELDT Direct Course is rated higher. CDL Direct Course averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while ELDT Direct Course averages 4.9 from 252 ratings.
Do CDL Direct Course or ELDT Direct Course have ads?
Neither CDL Direct Course nor ELDT Direct Course shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CDL Direct Course or ELDT Direct Course?
CDL Direct Course ships an update every 2 months, and ELDT Direct Course every 2 months. Most recently, CDL Direct Course was updated on September 23, 2026 and ELDT Direct Course on September 14, 2026.

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