# California CDL Test Prep vs DMV WRITTEN TEST

The clearest difference is price: DMV WRITTEN TEST at Free against California CDL Test Prep's $12.99. DMV WRITTEN TEST also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months). California CDL Test Prep's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On rating and device support there is nothing between them.

DMV WRITTEN TEST is free to download; California CDL Test Prep costs $12.99 up front. California CDL Test Prep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. DMV WRITTEN TEST asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for California CDL Test Prep against 4.8 for DMV WRITTEN TEST. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DMV WRITTEN TEST has 138K ratings behind it against 106, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of California CDL Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 73% of DMV WRITTEN TEST's.

California CDL Test Prep ships an update every 11 months, DMV WRITTEN TEST every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | California CDL Test Prep | DMV WRITTEN TEST |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/california-cdl-test-prep/id556776023/reviews) | **[4.8 (138K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dmv-written-test/id1497421016/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 106 | **138K** |
| Positive reviews | 56.3% of reviews | **72.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#124** |
| Size | 34 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kelvin Beecroft](https://appshunter.io/developer/301291170) | [Infinity Loop Capital LLc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480211134) |

## What reviewers say

### California CDL Test Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/california-cdl-test-prep/id556776023)

Prepare for your California Commercial Driver License (CDL) written exam with over 580 practice questions covering various topics. Includes study aids like road signs and the official manual, with cheat sheets for key sections. Offers immediate feedback and explanations for practice questions.

**Highlights:** 580+ practice questions, Road signs included, California CDL Manual, Topic-specific sections, Printable cheat sheets, Immediate answer checking, Bookmarking questions

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Air Brakes Cheat Sheet | Free | one-time |
| Cargo Cheat Sheet | Free | one-time |
| Passenger Cheat Sheet | Free | one-time |
| School Bus Cheat Sheet | Free | one-time |


### DMV WRITTEN TEST

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dmv-written-test/id1497421016)

**Currently charting:** #124 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Prepare for your state's DMV permit test with realistic practice exams. Get state-specific questions based on official handbooks to boost your confidence and increase your chances of passing on the first try.

**Highlights:** State-specific practice tests, Questions based on official driver handbooks, Comprehensive test sections, Unlimited practice attempts, Accurate and up-to-date content, Realistic test format and passing scores

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 Accurate practice questions
- 🎓 Helpful explanations for correct/incorrect answers
- 🆓 Free app with no cost
- 🧠 Effective for learning and passing the test
- 🏆 Helped users pass the test on the first try

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💤 Repetitive questions
- 📺 Annoying ads
- 🖼️ Missing images for sign questions
- 🐛 App crashes or freezes occasionally

**Reported bugs**

- Answers switching incorrectly
- Inability to see images for sign questions

**Requested features**

- Save progress and test history
- Ability to review missed questions
- Option to remove ads for a one-time fee


## Frequently asked questions

### Is California CDL Test Prep free?

California CDL Test Prep costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is DMV WRITTEN TEST free?

DMV WRITTEN TEST is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, California CDL Test Prep or DMV WRITTEN TEST?

DMV WRITTEN TEST is rated higher. California CDL Test Prep averages 4.7 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while DMV WRITTEN TEST averages 4.8 from 138K ratings.

### Do California CDL Test Prep or DMV WRITTEN TEST have ads?

DMV WRITTEN TEST shows ads; California CDL Test Prep does not.

### Which is updated more often, California CDL Test Prep or DMV WRITTEN TEST?

California CDL Test Prep ships an update every 11 months, and DMV WRITTEN TEST every 3 weeks. Most recently, California CDL Test Prep was updated on November 1, 2026 and DMV WRITTEN TEST on November 7, 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.*