Simule is one of the theoretical driver's-test prep apps that Brazilian students reach for the week before the Detran exam, and the format works: 30-question simulados that mirror the real prova, a growing question bank, and offline mode so you can drill on the bus. What sends people looking for Simule alternatives is usually one of three things. The free tier gets aggressive with ad breaks between simulados, the question pool is generic rather than tuned to a specific state's Detran style, and the explanations after a wrong answer are shorter than the ones in the official Detran-published apps. These Simule alternatives cover the same job, some state-specific, some sponsored by the Detran itself, and one built around a full autoescola course rather than just the test.
We compared seven driver's-test prep apps that compete with Simule on Android. Each one is actively maintained, has real user counts, and solves a specific complaint that shows up in Simule's reviews.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simulado Detran-SP | São Paulo candidates | Fully free | Free, official | Question bank from the São Paulo Detran itself |
| Detran-SP | SP drivers who also need services | Fully free | Free, official | CNH, IPVA, and simulado all in one government app |
| Simulado DETRAN RJ | Rio de Janeiro candidates | Fully free | Free | Question format tuned to Rio's Detran |
| Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026 | Nationwide, no state assumption | Free with ads | Ad-free plan available | Updated question bank across categories A, B, C, D, E |
| Simulado CNH | Straightforward drilling | Free with ads | Ad-free upgrade | Fast simulados, minimal UI |
| Provas do Detran e Simulados | Bank of past exams | Free with ads | Ad-free upgrade | Real past-exam questions rather than synthetic ones |
| Autoescola Online | Full theoretical course | Free trial | Paid subscription | Video aulas plus simulados, closer to a real autoescola |
Why people leave Simule
The question bank is generic. Simule pulls from a national pool, which is fine for the CTB rules that don't change between states, but Detran-SP and Detran-RJ phrase questions differently, and candidates who trained on Simule sometimes describe the real prova as feeling like a different app.
Ads pile up on the free tier. Reviews on the Play Store repeatedly mention interstitial ads between simulados and inside the results screen. A few reais to upgrade would fix it, but many candidates prefer a competitor whose free tier is quieter.
Explanations are thin after a wrong answer. The correct answer is highlighted, but the "why" is sometimes a single line. Candidates who miss a signaling question want the sinal explained, not just marked green.
No video content. For visual learners preparing for a first-time habilitação, a full autoescola app with video aulas covers more ground than any pure simulado app can.
Which Simule alternative should you pick
- Simulado Detran-SP for SP candidates who want the official question bank.
- Detran-SP for SP residents who also need CNH and IPVA services in the same app.
- Simulado DETRAN RJ for Rio de Janeiro candidates.
- Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026 when the state doesn't matter and you want a current question bank.
- Simulado CNH for fast, no-frills drilling.
- Provas do Detran e Simulados for a bank of real past-exam questions.
- Autoescola Online when you want a full theoretical course with video aulas.
Stay on Simule if the mixed national question bank matches how your autoescola instructor already prepped you, if you're paying to remove ads and the app feels smooth, or if the offline mode is the one thing you actually needed. None of the alternatives cover exactly the same national mix in the same format.
1. Simulado Detran-SP, the official SP app
Simulado Detran-SP is the official simulado app from Prodesp, the state IT arm behind Detran-SP. Questions come from the same pool the real prova draws from, the app is free with no ads, and results explain the underlying rule when you miss. If you're taking the theoretical exam in São Paulo state, this is the app your autoescola instructor most likely tells you to install first.
Simulado Detran-SP vs Simule: Detran-SP's app is state-official and free, Simule is a third-party app with a broader national question bank. For candidates who will sit the SP prova, the official app matches the real thing more closely.
Where it falls short: only useful if you're taking the exam in São Paulo. The question bank is smaller than the multi-state apps.
Pricing:
- Free, government-published, no ads and no in-app purchases.
Migrating from Simule: install both, keep Simule for volume drilling if that's the pace you like, and use Simulado Detran-SP for the final week to calibrate on the actual state format.
Bottom line: the default install if you're taking the theoretical exam anywhere inside São Paulo state.
2. Detran-SP, official services plus simulado
Detran-SP is the flagship government app for São Paulo state. It covers CNH management, IPVA, vehicle debits, license renewal appointments, and a simulado for the theoretical exam. Everything sits behind one gov.br login. Ten million-plus installs, no ads, no subscription. The simulado inside it is the same official question pool as the standalone Simulado Detran-SP app, so you get both worlds without a second install.
Detran-SP vs Simule: Detran-SP is the whole SP driver relationship (services and simulado), Simule is only the simulado. For SP residents, the government app removes the need for a third-party study tool for most cases.
Where it falls short: outside São Paulo state, most of the app is not useful. Also, the app requires gov.br credentials for real services.
Pricing:
- Free forever, published by the SP government.
Migrating from Simule: install and sign in with your gov.br account. The simulado works even without gov.br login; the service functions require it.
Bottom line: the one app every SP driver should already have installed, simulado included.
3. Simulado DETRAN RJ, the Rio-tuned option
Simulado DETRAN RJ is the answer for candidates preparing to sit the theoretical exam in Rio de Janeiro. The question style is closer to the RJ Detran format, and half a million people have installed it. The app is straightforward: quick simulados, a mode that keeps only the questions you got wrong, and explanations under each answer.
Simulado DETRAN RJ vs Simule: DETRAN RJ is tuned to Rio's exam phrasing, Simule uses a national pool. For RJ candidates, the RJ-specific app fits the real prova better.
Where it falls short: only useful for Rio de Janeiro. The bank is smaller than the multi-state paid apps.
Pricing:
- Free, ad-supported.
Migrating from Simule: add DETRAN RJ if you're sitting the exam in Rio. Simule's national pool still helps for CTB rules; DETRAN RJ handles the state-specific bits.
Bottom line: the RJ counterpart to Simulado Detran-SP.
4. Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026, updated bank
Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026 is a multi-state third-party app updated each year with the current question set. A million installs, categories A through E covered, and the app groups questions by topic so you can drill signalling separately from legislation. The free version shows ads, and there's an upgrade to remove them.
Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026 vs Simule: same category, similar national pool, updated more frequently than a few of the older third-party apps. If Simule's bank feels stale, this one is the swap.
Where it falls short: still not state-official, so RJ or SP-specific phrasing is not guaranteed. Ad load is real on the free tier.
Pricing:
- Free with ads.
- Ad-free upgrade, priced in Brazilian reais and typically a one-time purchase.
Migrating from Simule: reset your daily target inside the new app. Question tracking doesn't transfer, so treat the swap as a fresh start.
Bottom line: a fresher national-pool alternative when Simule's bank feels stale.
5. Simulado CNH, fast and minimal
Simulado CNH is a straightforward drilling app with a million installs and a UI that stays out of the way. Pick a category, take a 30-question round, see the result. Ads are limited to between rounds rather than mid-simulado, which is what most Simule reviewers actually want. Explanations sit under each answer once results are shown.
Simulado CNH vs Simule: Simulado CNH keeps the UX tighter and the ad interruptions lower, at the cost of a smaller feature set. If you're studying in short bursts, that trade lands well.
Where it falls short: no video content, no state-specific mode, no leaderboard or streak mechanics.
Pricing:
- Free with ads.
- Ad-free upgrade.
Migrating from Simule: install and start. The minimal setup is the point; nothing to configure and nothing to transfer.
Bottom line: the pick for candidates who want to drill fast without the UI getting in the way.
6. Provas do Detran e Simulados, past-exam bank
Provas do Detran e Simulados is built around real past-exam questions rather than synthetic ones. That matters because Detran phrasing has its own tics, and a candidate who has seen fifty past questions in the actual Detran voice will recognize the twenty-first question in the real prova. The app covers multiple Brazilian states and lets you filter by year.
Provas do Detran vs Simule: Provas leans on past exams, Simule leans on a rewritten national pool. For candidates worried about phrasing, past-exam is closer to the real thing.
Where it falls short: smaller install base, less polish, and free-tier ads are present.
Pricing:
- Free with ads.
- Ad-free upgrade.
Migrating from Simule: use both. Simule for volume, Provas do Detran for the last week of phrasing calibration.
Bottom line: the phrasing-calibration app for the last week before the exam.
7. Autoescola Online, the full course
Autoescola Online is the pick when the plan is more than passing the theoretical exam. The app carries video aulas from real instructors, mock provas, and a topic-by-topic structure that mirrors an autoescola classroom. For a first-time habilitação candidate who hasn't been sitting in a physical classroom, the video content covers ground that a pure simulado app can't touch.
Autoescola Online vs Simule: Autoescola Online is a full course with video and simulados, Simule is a simulado tool. Different price, different depth.
Where it falls short: the paid subscription is a real commitment, and the value is thin for candidates who already sat through classroom aulas at a physical autoescola.
Pricing:
- Free trial period.
- Paid subscription, priced in Brazilian reais.
Migrating from Simule: if you're going the video-plus-simulado route, start with the free trial to see whether the video style matches your learning pace before subscribing.
Bottom line: the pick for candidates who want a full course rather than only simulados.
How to choose
Pick Simulado Detran-SP or Detran-SP if you're in São Paulo state. Pick Simulado DETRAN RJ for Rio de Janeiro. Pick Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026 or Simulado CNH when the state doesn't dictate the phrasing and you just want a fresh national pool. Pick Provas do Detran e Simulados for the final week of past-exam drilling. Pick Autoescola Online when the plan is a full theoretical course with video aulas, not just simulados.
Stay on Simule when the mixed national bank matches how your autoescola instructor prepped you, or when you've paid to remove ads and the offline mode is doing exactly what you needed on the commute.
FAQ
Which app is best for the Detran theoretical exam in São Paulo? Detran-SP, the official government app, is the best default because it covers the simulado alongside CNH and IPVA services, all free. The standalone Simulado Detran-SP app uses the same question pool if you only want the drilling side.
Are Simule alternatives free? Simulado Detran-SP, Detran-SP, and Simulado DETRAN RJ are fully free. Simulado para CNH/DETRAN 2026, Simulado CNH, and Provas do Detran e Simulados are free with ads and offer paid ad-free upgrades.
Can I pass the Detran exam using only an app? Many candidates do, especially for renewal categories. First-time habilitação candidates usually pair an app with a physical autoescola or with a full course app like Autoescola Online for the video aulas.
How many questions does the real Detran exam have? The theoretical prova is 30 questions, and you need 21 correct answers to pass. Most simulado apps mirror that 30-question round format.
Are the questions in these apps the same as the real Detran exam? The government apps (Simulado Detran-SP, Detran-SP) draw from the actual question pool. Third-party apps use rewritten or past-exam questions that follow the same CTB rules but may phrase things slightly differently than the state exam.
