# CDL Direct Course vs SaferTraining

The clearest difference is monetization model: SaferTraining at free against CDL Direct Course's paid. SaferTraining also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 81%) and iOS requirement (15.2 vs 17.6). CDL Direct Course's advantage is ratings volume (1.9K vs 3). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CDL Direct Course sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and SaferTraining sells 12 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 — 4.9 for CDL Direct Course against 5.0 for SaferTraining. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDL Direct Course has 1.9K ratings behind it against 3, 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 100% of SaferTraining's.

CDL Direct Course ships an update every 2 months, SaferTraining every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDL Direct Course | SaferTraining |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-direct-course/id1614714939/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safertraining/id6478107373/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 80.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 34 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CDL Direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614714941) | [SaferTraining LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731805951) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### SaferTraining

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safertraining/id6478107373)

Access and complete essential safety training courses like ELDT and Forklift. The app allows you to save progress, download certificates, and retake tests as needed. Contact support easily via email or phone.

**Highlights:** Complete ELDT and Forklift training, Save and resume training progress, Downloadable certificates, Unlimited test retries, Quick course completion, Direct contact support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tanker Endorsement Study Guide | $14.99 | one-time |
| Doubles & Triples Endorsement | $14.99 | one-time |
| CDL Driver Defensive Driving | $29.99 | one-time |
| Commercial Vehicle Inspection | $49.00 | one-time |
| HAZMAT Endorsement Spanish | $49.00 | one-time |
| HAZMAT Endorsement Training | $49.99 | one-time |
| Forklift Operator Training | $49.99 | one-time |
| Class A ELDT Training Spanish | $99.00 | one-time |
| Class B ELDT Theory - Spanish | $99.00 | one-time |
| Class B to A ELDT Spanish | $99.00 | one-time |
| Class B - ELDT Theory | $99.99 | one-time |
| Class B to A - ELDT Theory | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CDL Direct Course free?

CDL Direct Course is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SaferTraining free?

SaferTraining is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CDL Direct Course or SaferTraining?

SaferTraining is rated higher. CDL Direct Course averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while SaferTraining averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do CDL Direct Course or SaferTraining have ads?

Neither CDL Direct Course nor SaferTraining shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CDL Direct Course or SaferTraining?

CDL Direct Course ships an update every 2 months, and SaferTraining every 6 weeks. Most recently, CDL Direct Course was updated on October 19, 2026 and SaferTraining on October 4, 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.*
