# CDL Direct Course vs ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026

The clearest difference is ratings volume: CDL Direct Course at 1.9K against ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026's 1. CDL Direct Course also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months). ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CDL Direct Course sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. 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 ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDL Direct Course has 1.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

CDL Direct Course ships an update every 2 months, ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDL Direct Course | ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-direct-course/id1614714939/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eldt-cdl-exam-prep-2026/id6752773964/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 34 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CDL Direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614714941) | [YAUHEN BAHDANOVICH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711932790) |

## 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


### ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eldt-cdl-exam-prep-2026/id6752773964)

Prepare for your Commercial Driver's License (CDL) exam with expertly crafted practice questions and realistic simulations. This study companion offers detailed explanations, customizable study plans, and progress tracking to help you master FMCSA entry-level driver requirements.

**Highlights:** Expertly crafted practice questions, Realistic timed simulations, Detailed explanations for answers, Customizable study plans, Progress tracking and analytics, Interactive learning tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ELDT Weekly Full Access | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| ELDT Monthly Full Access | $24.99 | per month |
| ELDT Monthly Full Access | $24.99 | per month |
| ELDT Quarterly Full Access | $55.99 | per 3 months |
| ELDT Quarterly Full Access | $55.99 | per 3 months |
| ELDT Semiannual Full Access | $75.99 | per 6 months |
| ELDT Semiannual Full Access | $75.99 | per 6 months |
| ELDT Annual Full Access | $109.99 | per year |
| ELDT Annual Full Access | $109.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CDL Direct Course free?

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

### Is ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 free?

ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CDL Direct Course or ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026?

ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 is rated higher. CDL Direct Course averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CDL Direct Course or ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 have ads?

Neither CDL Direct Course nor ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CDL Direct Course or ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026?

CDL Direct Course ships an update every 2 months, and ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 every 9 months. Most recently, CDL Direct Course was updated on November 3, 2026 and ELDT CDL Exam Prep 2026 on October 30, 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.*