PermitReady is an independent app not affiliated with any DMV or state agency. RoadReady is referenced by name in official materials in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Montana — if you're in one of those states and want to follow official instructions exactly, that's worth knowing before reading further.
We make PermitReady. We have tried to write this page so that a reader in Massachusetts who should stay with RoadReady finishes it knowing that.
Which should you use?
Use RoadReady if…
- You're in Ohio — use RoadReady Ohio specifically, through RoadReady.ohio.gov
- Your state's official form or instructions name it and you want the path of least resistance
- You're on Android
- You want automatic telematics logging rather than typing in each drive
- You want a parent dashboard that updates on its own
- Your state expects a PDF affidavit the app can generate
Use PermitReady if…
- You also need permit-test practice — all 50 states plus DC, in the same app
- You don't want accounts or a second phone involved
- You need it to work offline, with no signal and no sync
- Your current app has stopped working and you need your hours somewhere reliable
- You'd rather not grant background location to a teenager's phone
Using both is also a legitimate answer: the state-referenced app for the paperwork, PermitReady for the studying and an offline copy of the hours.
Looking wider than these two? Six RoadReady alternatives compared covers OtoZen, Moda, GoTime, and paper state forms alongside both apps on this page.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | PermitReady | RoadReady |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS only (iPhone, iPad) | iOS + Android |
| Price | Free (ads) / $4.99 one-time to remove ads | Free |
| Account required | No | Yes — two accounts (teen + parent) |
| Second device required | No | Yes — parent must also install |
| Works offline | Yes — fully | Requires a data connection |
| Telematics (auto-logging) | No — manual entry | Yes |
| State-referenced / recommended | No | Yes (MA, WI, OH, MT) |
| Permit test practice | Yes — all 50 states + DC | No |
| Log sharing | File export (AirDrop, Messages, Mail) | In-app parent view |
| PDF affidavit export | No | Yes (some states) |
| App Store rating (Aug 2026) | 4.8 / 16 ratings | 2.4 / ~12,000 ratings |
A note on that last row, because it would be easy to misread: 16 ratings is not a meaningful sample, and 12,000 is. PermitReady is a new app with very few reviews; RoadReady has been used by millions of families over many years. A 4.8 from 16 people tells you almost nothing, and we would rather say so than let the number do work it hasn't earned.
What RoadReady does better
Genuinely, and not as a setup for a rebuttal:
- Automatic telematics logging. The app can detect and record a drive without anyone remembering to open it. For families where the logging keeps getting forgotten, this is the single most valuable feature either app has, and PermitReady does not have it.
- Android support. RoadReady runs on both platforms. PermitReady does not run on Android at all, and no amount of other features fixes that if you're on a Pixel.
- In-app parent view. A supervising parent sees the log update in their own app. No file to send, no import step, no "did you get it?"
- State recognition in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Montana. Being named in official materials removes ambiguity about whether your record will be accepted. That is worth real money in avoided hassle at the counter.
- PDF affidavit export in some states. The app can produce the certification document the state expects, rather than leaving you to transcribe totals onto a form.
- An established track record. Safe Roads Alliance reports the program has been used by millions of families, and RoadReady has been recognized with a U.S. Department of Transportation award. It has been doing this far longer than we have.
What PermitReady does better
- No account required. No sign-up, no email verification, no password to reset, and nothing that can lock you out of your own record.
- No second phone. One device, one app. A parent who wants a copy gets a file; a parent who wants their own running log can import it, but nothing breaks if they never install anything.
- Works fully offline. Every question bank and every logged drive lives on the device. No signal, no sync, no server between you and your own hours.
- Studying and logging in one app. RoadReady does not do permit-test practice; PermitReady covers all 50 states plus DC with handbook-based questions, then keeps going with the log after you pass. That is the whole reason the app exists.
- Simpler manual entry. Date, duration, conditions, notes — a drive takes about fifteen seconds to log, with no pairing state, no sync status, and no account role to get wrong.
- No "Always Allow" location requirement. PermitReady never requests location permission, because it does not track where you drive. For some parents that is a feature in itself.
What users are saying about RoadReady
The following quotes are from public App Store reviews as of August 2026:
"This is the first time I've ever seen an app require two phones to have it installed in order for the program to actually work."
— App Store reviewer, June 2026
"App ceased being able to log a drive, then wouldn't accept login"
— App Store reviewer, June 2026
For context rather than commentary: RoadReady shipped nine releases between June and August 2026, most labeled as stability improvements, and RoadReady's own homepage carries a banner about account migration difficulties as of August 2026. Its App Store rating sits at 2.4 stars across roughly 12,000 ratings accumulated over the app's lifetime.
Reviews are a snapshot of the people motivated to write one, and an app in the middle of a migration attracts more of them. If you are troubleshooting rather than shopping, our RoadReady troubleshooting guide goes through the reported issues one at a time.
Switching your hours over
If you decide to move, do not delete anything until you have a copy of your log — RoadReady stores it server-side, so once an account is inaccessible the record can be too.
Read the step-by-step switching guide → It covers exporting from RoadReady, what to do if no export is available, how to re-enter drives in PermitReady, verifying your total against your state's requirement, and an honest list of what PermitReady cannot do yet.
Frequently asked
Does my state require the RoadReady app?
No state requires a specific app. Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Montana reference RoadReady by name in official materials, which makes it the smoothest option there. What states require is an accurate record of hours and, usually, a parent or guardian certification. Confirm the accepted format with your own licensing agency.
Can PermitReady log my drives automatically?
No. Every drive is entered by hand. The app does not use GPS and never asks for location permission. That is a deliberate trade — it is why the log works with no signal and no permissions — but if you want automatic detection, RoadReady has it and we do not.
Is PermitReady on Android?
No. iPhone and iPad only. If the teen or the supervising parent is on Android, RoadReady is the one that will work for both of you.
Can my parent see my log without installing anything?
Yes. You send them a file over AirDrop, Messages, or Mail. They can read it, keep it, or import it into their own copy of PermitReady if they want a running total of their own. There is no account for either of you.
Will PermitReady's log be accepted by my DMV?
PermitReady's log is an accurate record you can copy onto whatever form your state requires. No state has formally approved or rejected it as a substitute for an official form. Always confirm with your state agency what log format they accept.
Which app is cheaper?
RoadReady is free. PermitReady is free with ads, with an optional one-time $4.99 purchase that removes ads and the advertising SDK entirely. Neither app has a subscription.
Trademark and affiliation notice
RoadReady® is a registered trademark of Safe Roads Alliance, Inc. PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Safe Roads Alliance, Inc. Competitor information was last verified August 2026 — ratings, versions, and features change frequently.
PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any DMV, RMV, BMV, DPS, or state agency. No state has formally approved or rejected PermitReady's driving log as a substitute for an official state form. Always confirm with your state agency what log format they accept.