# Illinois CDL Test Prep vs CDL Permit

The clearest difference is price: CDL Permit at Free against Illinois CDL Test Prep's $12.99. CDL Permit also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (18K vs 96). Illinois CDL Test Prep's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On rating, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

CDL Permit is free to download; Illinois CDL Test Prep costs $12.99 up front. Illinois CDL Test Prep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and CDL Permit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Illinois CDL Test Prep against 4.7 for CDL Permit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDL Permit has 18K ratings behind it against 96, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 38% of Illinois CDL Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 47% of CDL Permit's.

Illinois CDL Test Prep ships an update every 11 months, CDL Permit monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Illinois CDL Test Prep | CDL Permit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (96 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illinois-cdl-test-prep/id689963706/reviews) | **[4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-permit-practice-test-2026/id1566343337/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 96 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | **46.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 37 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kelvin Beecroft](https://appshunter.io/developer/301291170) | [Mapola LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566343339) |

## What reviewers say

### Illinois CDL Test Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illinois-cdl-test-prep/id689963706)

Prepare for your Commercial Driver's License permit test with extensive practice questions and study materials. Learn at your own pace, even offline, and focus on the specific CDL class and endorsements you need. Includes the official manual and cheat sheets.

**Highlights:** Offline study capability, DMV-style practice quizzes, CDL class and endorsement focus, 580+ practice questions, Includes Illinois CDL Manual, Printable cheat sheets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 |


### CDL Permit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdl-permit-practice-test-2026/id1566343337)

Prepare for your 2026 Commercial Driver's License (CDL) exam with comprehensive study materials. Access state-specific rules and knowledge domains for various vehicle types. Offers premium features for enhanced practice.

**Highlights:** State-specific CDL rules, Multiple knowledge domains, General knowledge study, Specialized vehicle prep, Random exam mode, Timed quiz option, Incorrect questions review

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly w Trial, Special Offer | $9.99 | per month |
| CDL Prep Practice Test 2023 | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for passing CDL tests
- 💡 Provides a lot of practice questions
- 🚀 Effective study tool
- 🚀 Closest to actual test questions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Repeated questions in tests
- 🐛 Incorrect or misleading questions/answers
- 💰 Subscription required to access full content
- 🐛 App crashes and connection issues

**Reported bugs**

- Answer choices cut off
- Flashcards not working
- Subscription issues (unable to cancel, still charged)

**Requested features**

- State-specific question banks
- Ability to report incorrect questions
- More varied and up-to-date question pool


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Illinois CDL Test Prep free?

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

### Is CDL Permit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Illinois CDL Test Prep or CDL Permit?

CDL Permit is rated higher. Illinois CDL Test Prep averages 4.7 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while CDL Permit averages 4.7 from 18K ratings.

### Do Illinois CDL Test Prep or CDL Permit have ads?

CDL Permit shows ads; Illinois CDL Test Prep does not.

### Which is updated more often, Illinois CDL Test Prep or CDL Permit?

Illinois CDL Test Prep ships an update every 11 months, and CDL Permit monthly. Most recently, Illinois CDL Test Prep was updated on October 21, 2026 and CDL Permit on October 27, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*