11 Best Free Route Planners with Unlimited Stops in 2024

Struggling with route planning on a tight budget? We get it. Especially for small businesses on the move, finding that perfect free route planner with unlimited stops is key.

If your routes are a mess, it's going to cost you, whether you're delivering packages yourself or managing a team of drivers.

That's why we rolled up our sleeves and tested 25 free route planners, while also chatting with the delivery drivers and business owners who use them on the road.

In our quest for the best, we've arrived at 11 top contenders. Join us as we reveal the best free route planners that save you time, money… and headaches!

Does any free route planner offer unlimited stops?

There isn’t a free route planner that offers unlimited stops. Some apps are free, or have a free version up to a certain number of stops—usually around ten. But if you need more than 20 stops or want to plan routes for multiple vehicles, you'll have to pay for route planning software.

When will I outgrow a free route planner?

Here’s some obvious signs:

• When you need more than one delivery vehicle (car, van, etc)
• When your daily stops exceed 10
• When your business has enough orders to need high (or unlimited) stops
• When manual route planning starts taking you away from key business tasks
• When you need additional features such as proof of delivery and live route tracking
• When pen-and-paper or spreadsheet route planning becomes chaotic 
• When operational costs such as fuel start getting expensive
• When you’re thinking of hiring another delivery driver (you might not need to)

💡 Note: If you want to see what route planning software can do for your business, try our 7-day free trial of Circuit for Teams.

Best free route planners in 2024

1. Circuit Route Planner & Circuit for Teams: For ease of use and small retailers 
2. Google Maps: For solo drivers needing to get from A to B  
3. Waze: For sharing real-time road updates
4. Apple Maps: For Apple users making short journeys
5. Mapquest: For planning long road trips
6. Speedy Route: For less than 10 deliveries per day
7. Route XL: For those needing routes for a small number of stops
8. MyRouteOnline: For those repeatedly delivering to the same address
9. Route4Me: For picking and choosing what you want with its add-ons
10. TruckRouter: For large trucks needing specific warnings about weight, height, width and length restrictions
11. ZEO Route Planner: For fleet owners with many trucks on the road

1. Circuit Route Planner (& Circuit for Teams)

First off, what’s the difference between Circuit Route Planner and Circuit for Teams?

It’s simple:

• Circuit Route Planner is the route planner app for individual drivers
• Circuit for Teams is for small business owners who manage drivers

Our route planner app is for solo delivery drivers who need to create the fastest route possible and don’t need extra features like driver tracking, flexible proof of delivery and dynamic customer notifications.

When your business starts to grow, and you’re delivering more than 10 packages a day, you’ll probably need to upgrade to route planning software.

This is where Circuit for Teams can save you over 20% per month on your operational costs.

If you were to use Circuit for Teams, your delivery drivers would use a variation of the Circuit Route Planner app. 

We’ll touch on CFT a bit more later, for now, let’s dive into Circuit Route Planner.

Circuit Route Planner (the free version)

• Main benefits: Easy to use, reliable, the most accurate route planner on the market
• Cost: Free plan with 10 stops, then $20 for unlimited stops
• Route optimization: Yes, best-in-class
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Max number of stops: 10 on free plan, unlimited on paid
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: small retailers and couriers

Does this free route planner have unlimited stops?

With our free plan, our algorithm lets you optimize a route of up to ten stops. You won’t find any free route planners that will allow you to create unlimited stops. Though you can still create unlimited routes with the free version of Circuit Route Planner.

If you upgrade to our paid plan, which is $20 per month, you can get unlimited stops.

What can this free route planner do?

Our free route planner app reorders your stops so you’re always on the fastest, most efficient route. It works with both iPhone/iOS and Android mobile devices.

Simply download it from the app store, and it works with your preferred GPS navigation app — whether that’s Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze.

Manually typing addresses into the Circuit Route Planner mobile app is a piece of cake because we use the same technology that finds addresses as Google Maps.

As you type in your destination, Circuit Route Planner uses your current location to suggest the most likely destination.

While this is useful for drivers, it’s less handy for dispatchers who aren’t actually planning routes from their current location (that’s who Circuit for Teams is for — more on that below).

What else can I do on the free plan?

• Time constraints & priority stops: Drivers can set urgent deliveries as priority stops, ensuring they're visited first
• Create fastest route with one click: Input all stops, hit "Optimize," and the Circuit Route Planner crafts the quickest route, considering your stop priorities
• Seamless navigation integration: Starting the route in the app automatically opens the driver's preferred navigation tool on their phone
• Effortless stop tracking: As the day progresses, drivers can easily mark off completed stops with one tap using their iPhone or Android app

How do I get started with Circuit Route Planner?

It’s as easy as one, two, three.. The first step is to download the app. 

Circuit Route Planner app for delivery drivers

Professional couriers who need a multi-stop route planner that can handle more than ten stops at a time will benefit from our paid plan (which comes with a free trial). 

Here's what you can do with the paid version of Circuit Route Planner for $20 a month.

• No stop limit: Plan as many stops as you need in one go
• Adding addresses in bulk is easy: Type in addresses or upload and Excel sheet, and in one click, Circuit will find you the fastest route

• No traffic or toll roads: Circuit will automatically avoid traffic and toll roads
• No Strings Attached: Cancel the premium plan anytime, perfect for the busier seasons.

👀 Note: If your business has an internal team of delivery drivers, more goes into making an efficient delivery process than just optimizing for the fastest route.

If your drivers are using Circuit Route Planner individually, there’s zero central control or accountability over their routes.

You can’t track drivers and monitor live routes, so you can’t make changes in real-time.

They also can’t capture proof of delivery (POD) or get data on their drivers — which is a potential nightmare as you’ll be wasting time and creating an extra expense on your bottom line.

Enter Circuit for Teams.

Circuit for Teams: Route planning software for multiple drivers

We know that time is money.

Hearing from small retailers and real delivery teams, we've packed Circuit for Teams with features to slash your delivery expenses by over 20% per month and keep headaches to an absolute minimum.

CFT comes with a web app for managers to oversee deliveries on a laptop, while delivery drivers will use the CRP app.

Here’s some links to the sections below, feel free to skip ahead:

• Route optimization
• Electronic proof of delivery (POD)
• Route monitoring (driver tracking)
• Order tracking
• Dynamic customer notifications
• New API for live event data
• Delivery analytics

Let's explore the details further.

Route optimization

With Circuit for Teams, you can optimize routes for multiple drivers. You can also swap routes between drivers in case of a last-minute change or if a driver prefers a specific route or area.

Let’s say the workday starts in 15 minutes. You’ve already imported your addresses into Circuit for Teams and created an efficient route.

Then, at the last minute, one of your drivers says they have to leave early due to an unexpected appointment. What now? 😱

With minimal hassle, you can set a time restraint for that driver, making sure they finish their stops by noon. Then, you can re-optimize the remaining stops among your other drivers.

By using Circuit for Teams, what could have become an hour-long headache and extra business costs was fixed in a matter of minutes.

We also make it possible to copy stops from one route to another. This saves even more time.

You can edit optimized routes and make adjustments to delivery schedules based on real-time data, like traffic jams. You can even edit live routes.

The result? Greater agility.

Electronic proof of delivery (POD)

Circuit for Teams offers two types of proof of delivery:

• Signature. The driver can use their smartphone to collect a signature from the customer.
• Photo capture. If a customer can’t get their package, the driver can leave it in a secure place. Then, the driver can take a photo of where they left it and upload it into the Circuit for Teams app — where it’s stored in the cloud for future reference.

Whether it’s a signature or a photo capture, Circuit for Teams sends proof of delivery to the customer.

Plus, it’s available for reference within the Circuit for Teams web app. You can view, copy, and even share POD documents, streamlining workflows and document management. 

This way, if a customer calls dispatch and asks about their package, you can reference the photo from the delivery driver and help the customer find their package.

Route monitoring (also known as driver tracking)

Circuit for Teams lets you see where your drivers are during their deliveries.

You can use this feature to give customers a status update about their delivery and make changes to any routes in progress with the Circuit for Teams web app.

For example, a customer calls to ask when their package will arrive. Without route monitoring, you’d have to take down the customer’s information and contact the driver for an update.

This interrupts their route, distracts them, and adds to their overall travel time.

With our route monitoring feature, you can see which stop your driver just completed and where they’re going next, and inform the customer immediately.

It’s also possible to group routes by status, so you can see where a route has started, is in progress, or has finished.

To search stops, click a specific route so you can look up stops only within that selected route. If a stop can’t be added to a route, it will be highlighted, so you can fix it.

Order tracking

The new dynamic stop status icons make it easy to find where deliveries are in real time.

You can also greatly reduce the number of customer calls you’ll get by sending your customers order tracking information automatically.

At the start of the route, Circuit for Teams sends your customers an email and/or SMS message with a link to a dashboard they can use to check their delivery status.

As the driver gets closer to their address, the customer gets an updated and more accurate time window.

The customer can also leave notes for the driver at this stage, such as a gate code or detailed information on how to find their specific building.

Dynamic customer notifications

Circuit for Teams also makes it possible to set dynamic delivery windows or fixed delivery windows.

This way, you can give customers greater visibility and control about when they can expect a package.

A dynamic window will show a minimum delivery time, for example 10 to 11 am. Depending on route progress, this may expand, for example, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

Your customer will be sent a notification with the updated delivery time.

New API for live event data

API integrations allow Circuit for Teams to use the power of other apps.

Circuit for Teams can integrate with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Zapier, making it easier to track customer orders.

Customers can then get live event data about their deliveries through the eCommerce platform.

Delivery analytics

You can efficiently track driver performance by monitoring delivery attempts, success rates, daily averages, and trends.

This allows for a clear overview of how well drivers are meeting their targets, making it easy to identify performance bottlenecks and areas where delivery operations might be falling short.

All of your account activity and route history gets stored automatically, helping you go back and spot any inefficiencies in your delivery operations.

You can also set a unique cost per delivery and track the average cost per delivery to accurately stay on top of operational expenses.

Here's a few more valuable delivery metrics you can track with Circuit for Teams delivery management software:

• The most common reasons for failed deliveries
• The total completed routes, successful stops and success rate %
• Compare planned versus actual route durations to identify discrepancies and opportunities for route optimization

You can also filter reports by depot, team, or driver.

Circuit for Teams pricing

• The Starter plan is tailored for small retailers. At $100 a month, you get all the essential features for up to 500 stops, perfect for keeping quality high even at lower volumes. If you need more, additional stops are just 20 cents each.
• The Essentials plan is a great fit for couriers and large retailers. It's priced at $250 a month and includes everything you need to optimize routes and track multiple drivers for up to 1,000 stops, with each extra stop costing only 5 cents
• The Standard plan steps it up to $500 a month, providing capabilities for 2,000 stops. It's built for businesses focusing on customer interaction, offering the ability to collect proof of delivery and send out notifications, with additional stops at 6 cents
• The Pro plan is the most robust option at $750 a month, supporting up to 5,000 stops. It's the ultimate tool for analyzing and enhancing performance and efficiency, with further stops at 7 cents

Each plan comes with a suite of features including the creation and optimization of routes, real-time tracking, proof of delivery, customer notifications, and an unlimited delivery history. Plus, you can take any plan for a spin with a 7-day free trial to ensure it's the right fit for your business

Circuit for Teams reviews

Let’s see what others are saying about Circuit for Teams Here are some real-world reviews:

5/5 stars: “Takes the thought out of routing … We evaluated several different titles and none of them were as easy to use for the field folks as this.”

5/5 stars: “We’ve used Circuit almost daily for a month now, and it’s changed our efficiency drastically. I have more time to focus on other tasks in the morning, other than sorting a route for our drivers. Circuit even notifies our clients of a potential arrival time so we don’t have to constantly be on the phone updating our arrival times. There are too many benefits to go over it all, but the real icing on the cake is the support from Circuit itself.”

4/5 stars: “The drivers found the app very useful, and the fact that it linked with the map app on their phone meant that they could easily find each address.”

Let’s return to the regular programme of reviewing free route planners.

2. Google Maps

• Main benefits: Familiar to many as one of the top navigation tools in the world
• Cost: Free
• Maximum number of stops: Up to 10 and then you need to start over
• Route optimization: Limited 
• Plan multiple routes: Can only plan for one driver at a time
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Solo drivers needing to get from A to B

Google Maps is a free tool that lets you plan routes for drivers by car, bike, foot, or public transportation. 

Just add the destination and choose the mode of transport at the top of the map screen.

You can get step-by-step directions, which tell your drivers exactly when to turn where. 

Drivers can access directions through an audio voice assistant, so they can focus on the road and driving instead of fiddling with the Maps tool.

Another benefit: Google gathers real-time traffic data, so drivers can avoid hurdles like traffic jams or construction that slow down their route. 

The tool also lets drivers visualize their route in different ways, including a map find, satellite find, and 360-degree street find.

For iOS and Android, Google Maps can be used as an app or desktop.

Sometimes, delivery teams try to use free tools like Google Maps. But the Google Maps route planner was built to offer driving directions — not to find the shortest route possible.

Does this free route planner have unlimited stops?

There aren’t unlimited stops with this free route planner—you’re limited to 10 stops—making it more of a navigation tool than a true route optimization software.

Google maps route planner reviews

Here’s what real-world Google Maps users have to say about the app:

3/5 stars: “Google maps is a useful app for navigating and exploring new places, but it has its downsides. While the app offers reliable and accurate directions and real-time traffic updates, it can be slow to load and respond at times, and I’ve encountered occasional glitches and inaccuracies in the directions provided.”

1/5 stars: “Inconsistent!!! Works differently on a PC or a tablet and a phone.”

4/5 stars: “This app changed the world. Much love for this. These days though, it’s often less usable than I expect. It will insist on routes I don’t want, or not present alternatives for routes that are obviously wrong. Especially on longer trips. I’ve struggled with annoying pop-ups (that I can’t clear easily while driving).”

3. Waze

• Main benefits: Commuters can find the fastest way to one destination
• Cost: Free
• Maximum number of stops: 1 stop plus your destination
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes: No
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Sharing real-time road updates

The Waze app is a free tool and it gives you traffic notifications and step-by-step directions. 

The voice assistant lets drivers get the info they need by audio, so they can keep their hands on the steering wheel and focus on the road.

This GPS navigation software includes data that’s partially user-sourced. 

So, other Waze users can update routes, give alerts about police stops or speed traps, and offer insights into traffic conditions.

With the Waze trip planner function, you can designate arrival or departure times for a set destination, making it easier to map out trips for your drivers in advance. 

Another pro: The app is free to use. It also has some fun API integrations, like Spotify — perfect for drivers who want that fun road trip vibe.

The problem is that Waze only lets you add up to two stops. 

This isn’t a route planning tool for delivery driver teams — it’s just about getting users from point A to point B.

The app can also be pretty cluttered, with a confusing dashboard. When it comes to user-friendliness, it’s not the best option. 

Also, getting directions from somewhere other than your current location is hard. 

For dispatchers trying to plan routes in advance from a location that isn’t a route stop, it’s impractical.

Waze also lacks some of the functionality of other apps on this list. 

For example, you won’t get the 3D street find or satellite viewing options with a tool like Google Maps.

Does this free route planner have unlimited stops?

Waze does not allow unlimited stops. In fact, it allows you to find the fastest route to one destination, with only one stop on the way. 

Waze route planner review

Here’s what people have to say about Waze:

4/5 stars: “This app has saved me so many times. I absolutely love it. I use it constantly, mainly because it alerts me to traffic and cops, but also because it has shown me shorter ways to places I go to all the time (and thought I knew the best route there).”

5/5 stars: “Waze is my #1 choice for GPS. Live traffic updates, being able to edit traffic conditions on the fly to give a more accurate commute, and sharing routes and ETAs are great features. I do hope they integrate voice commands with Siri so we can say things like ‘Hey Waze, drop a stopped vehicle pin’ while we are driving, so interaction becomes handsfree and safer.”

3/5 stars: “I’ve used this app for years and hardly ever drive without it. It gives great directions and usually gets me where I’m going the fastest way possible. That being said, it has some serious flaws. It definitely takes some time to account for traffic or an accident and bypass that route. It also doesn’t take all routes into consideration. I’ve had times where it will only give one route option when I know for a fact there are other routes I personally know. And it usually doesn’t give you routes that bypass the freeway that’s backed up unless you actually set the whole app to avoid the freeway, even if the side streets are the faster route.”

4. Apple Maps

• Main benefits: Ease of use on an iPhone
• Cost: Free
• Maximum number of stops: 14 
• Route optimization: Yes 
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Apple users making short journeys

If you’ve got an iPhone, Apple Maps is another option for route planning. 

But note that your drivers will ALL need to have iPhones if they’re going to use this tool!

This is Apple’s answer to Google Maps, as it gives driving directions and map views — including panoramic street views and a 3D flyover mode.

In addition to getting transit and navigation information, you can search local points of interest, including restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, and more.

Your drivers might appreciate this feature — for example, if they’re looking for a place to stop for lunch.

Another unique plus of this route planner is that it integrates with Siri.

However, Apple Maps falls short in a few areas. 

You can’t modify routes, for example, and you can’t add multiple stops. It’s more of a navigation tool than a route planning tool.

Another drawback is that you can’t save maps for offline use, so your drivers must always be connected to the internet to use this tool. That can mean big data fees.

Apple Maps is available for free through the Apple App Store. But there’s no browser version available — you can only use it through the iPhone app.

One pro for drivers worried about privacy is that Apple Maps doesn’t hold on to user data.

Does this free route planner have unlimited stops?

Apple Maps doesn’t have unlimited stops—you can have up to 14 on your route. 

Apple Maps reviews

Here’s what people have to say about Apple Maps:

3/5 stars: “Like some other reviews, I noticed a lot of people were having difficulties with this app. It’s pretty glitchy, but still pretty decent.”

1/5 stars: “Every time I use Apple Maps, I almost get in a car accident. Today seriously shook me up, as Apple Maps rerouted 4/5 different times while I was on a 70 MPH highway. It told me to merge where I shouldn’t, it took me the opposite direction of my destination, and took me down tons of one way streets. The inconsistency of this app is dangerous and careless of Apple.”

4/5 stars: “iOS 16 maps was a big improvement. About time you put multiple stops in … The only thing that I can see now that you need to do is a fuel optimizer.”

5. Mapquest

• Main benefits: More stops than other web-based apps
• Cost: Free
• Maximum Number of Stops: 26
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes:  Yes
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: planning long road trips

With MapQuest, you can pick whether you want to map your route for the shortest time or distance. You can also ask MapQuest to avoid tolls, highways, ferries, seasonal roads, and country borders.

Plus, you can import a spreadsheet of your destinations into MapQuest, which is faster than manually typing in each address — great for overworked managers.

MapQuest is a viable option for individuals planning route trips or vacations. 

However, it doesn’t let you plan routes for multiple drivers. 

This means dispatchers aren’t saving much time in route planning — they have to plan a route for every driver.

Plus, it doesn’t offer advanced route management features or the ability to add more stops, meaning it’s likely too limited for professional drivers to use consistently.

Does this free route planner have unlimited stops?

MapQuest doesn’t have unlimited stops. MapQuest is similar to RouteXL, as it works mostly as a web-based route planner. But instead of 20 free stops, you get 26.

Mapquest reviews

3/5 stars: “The good part was that while traveling there were several accidents that Google Maps told us would cause significant delays, but couldn’t/didn’t give us any alternative routes. Neither did Apple Maps. MapQuest gave us the alternative and even alternatives to that route when it started getting backed up. Neither G nor A gave additional alternatives even once knowing we were on a different road.”

3/5 stars: “I’m an avid MapQuest user because I’m always having to go to different meeting sites for work and rely on this app because I’m always in an unfamiliar area. I trust MapQuest because it has kept me on the right track and on time. However, this last time I had to change my route because of construction and the MapQuest map was not keeping up with the voice.”

5/5 stars: “I’m a letter carrier. In December, we have to deliver so many parcels, and I was very new at this job so didn’t know much about 100s of streets. My truck was full of parcels to deliver, so I gave it a shot to use MapQuest because it tells me which side houses are on the street. Then I figured out the BEST part of this app is it lets me put 25 addresses at the same time, which makes my life so easy.”

💡 OK, let’s move onto some route planner options that offer free versions, but aren’t strictly free route planners like the options above. These ones below have more features built towards helping professionals and small businesses plan their routes. They offer both free plans, but also paid plans.

6. Speedy Route

• Main benefits: Web-based app
• Cost: Starts at $69/month
• Maximum Number of Stops: Unlimited 
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes: Yes 
• Platform: Web only
• Best for: Less than 10 deliveries per day

Speedy Route is a web-based route planner. The free version allows you to calculate the route for a maximum of ten stops. 

The benefit of Speedy Route is that you can add multiple vehicles to the list and the algorithm will calculate how best to distribute routes between them.

You’ll need to buy a subscription for routes with more than ten stops. The options are: 

• $69 per month for small teams (5 drivers, 500 stops)
• $99 per month for large teams (10 drivers, 9,999 stops)

If you have a lot of stops to enter, the tool allows you to bulk upload addresses or import a list of locations from a .txt file.

The downside of Speedy Route is that it’s not available as an app because the Android product was discontinued in Google Play in 2015. 

This makes it harder to hand optimized routes over to drivers.

However, Speedy Route is a useful tool if you just want to plan a few stops for multiple vehicles. 

The setup is well-suited for delivery drivers and traveling salespeople who make a limited number of stops over a large distance.

Does this route planner have unlimited stops?

This route planner actually does have unlimited stops if you move to the plan for large teams, but this won’t be suitable for small business retailers or individual delivery drivers

Speedy Route reviews

2/5 stars: “Trial worked great with under 20 addresses, but once I tried the full version with 50 addresses, the routing result was terrible. I recalculated the route 20 times, to no avail. It takes you back and forth. I spent hours each time manually reorganizing the route to reduce overall mileage & time significantly. But then, what was I paying for?!” 

5/5 stars: “I love using this site as it is easy and fast to use. I drive many properties and need to know the best and fastest route which this site gives me.”

1/5 stars: “This is absolutely horrible to use. Really wish you left Route Fast alone. Will not use or pay for this product ever!”

7. RouteXL

• Main benefits: Can optimize for up to 20 stops
• Cost: Plans start at 35 Euros per month
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Maximum number of stops: Free for up to 20 stops. 
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Those needing routes for only a small number of stops

RouteXL is a web-based route planner. It’s free if you’re planning delivery routes with up to 20 stops. 

If you need more than 20 stops per route, RouteXL charges around $40. If you need more than 100 stops per route, RouteXL charges around $70.

At the time of writing, it doesn’t look like RouteXL offers any route planning features for drivers or delivery teams optimizing more than 200 stops.

The easiest way to use RouteXL is to create the route on your desktop (after making an account). After finishing your route, go to routexl.com on your mobile phone, log into the same account, and start the route.

Unfortunately, RouteXL doesn’t let you select a specific stop as having a high priority or time constraint. 

It’s worth noting that with RouteXL, you’re not using an actual app. Instead, you’re relying on the mobile version of a website. 

This can be more draining on your phone battery and certainly isn’t as easy to use as an app.

Note: For professional delivery teams, RouteXL partners with Webfleet Solutions to offer an integration with TomTom devices.

RouteXL: paid vs. free

The biggest difference between getting a paid subscription with RouteXL and using it for free is the number of stops you can plan in a single route. 

But there’s one other significant difference: the quality of geocoding.

Geocoding helps you find addresses on the map when you’re typing in your destinations or importing addresses. We talked about this in our section on Circuit Route Planner, when we explained how we use the same type of geocoding Google Maps uses.

RouteXL’s free plan uses free geocoding services, which sometimes have a usage limit and/or are generally not as reliable.

This means you could select the wrong address when creating your route. 

You’ll upgrade to premium geocoding services once you start paying for RouteXL, which usually perform better.

Before you upgrade to a paid plan, you can get a free trial. However, it’s a tedious process. 

With RouteXL, you’ll have to talk to a sales prep first — whereas with Circuit, you can get started right away.

Does this route planner have unlimited stops?

No, you can only create 20 stops on the free plan.

RouteXL reviews

• 5/5 stars: “100 addresses can take a few minutes to import and find a route for.”
• 4.5/5 stars: “I didn’t think that the tutorial was very good at explaining how it works. There isn’t much training on how to use it.”
• 4/5 stars: “Maximum of 20 addresses or ‘stops’ per route when using RouteXL lite, worth the small $9/month fee for unlimited address stops.”

8. MyRouteOnline

• Main benefits: Upload using Excel or CSV files
• Cost: Plans start with a $24/month “pay as you go” option  
• Maximum number of stops: Unlimited 
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Those repeatedly delivering to the same address 

MyRouteOnline doesn’t currently offer a free plan, but — like the other apps on our list — it does have a free trial.

With MyRouteOnline, you can add addresses with an Excel or CSV file (up to 350 per route). 

When building a route with MyRouteOnline, you can set it up to:

• Minimize the distance
• Minimize the time
• Balance distance and time

You must export your routes as an Excel file after they’re optimized and print or email them to your drivers. You can also export them to TomTom or Garmin devices — if your drivers are using those tools. There’s also the option to navigate with Google Maps using the MyRoute Multi Stop navigation app.

But with Circuit for Teams, drivers can access their routes through an app.

The problem is that it can be challenging to handle route changes as they’re in progress unless your drivers are using TomTom or Garmin devices.

Circuit for Teams makes it easier to change routes on the go. 

With dynamic stop status icons, you can monitor delivery statuses and make adjustments as needed in real time.

Real-time route editing also gives dispatchers using Circuit for Teams greater agility.

MyRoute Online offers a tiered paid plan system.

For example, the premium plan includes 1,200 address credits at $99 per month; the professional plan includes 6,000 address credits at $399 per month; and the business plan includes 15,000 address credits at $799 per month.

While that kind of flexibility is great, these rates aren’t cheap. 

In contrast, the Circuit for Teams Standard plan includes unlimited routes and stops for just $200 per month. 

Does this route planner have unlimited stops?

There is a limited number of 350 locations, but no limit—other than the 350 locations—to the number of stops per route.

As a result, there is no limit to the quantity of 350-stop routes you can plan. However, MyRouteOnline doesn’t currently offer a free plan. Like the other apps on our list, it does have a free trial.

MyRouteOnline reviews

4/5 Stars: “Our deliveries are exclusively in NYC. With loads of (a) toll bridges and tunnels, and (b) dense, concentrated routes. We would really, REALLY like to see... (a) the option of avoiding tolls and (b) the option of the Start Point resulting from us having chosen ‘Quickest’ or ‘Shortest’ (not ‘Farthest’ or ‘Nearest’).”

3/5 stars: “Sometimes, the routes provided need to be changed as it takes into consideration only one criteria (for instance the ‘duration’ one).”

3/5 stars: “There is a serious lack of information on how to use the program. Personally, I find the information that is available hard to navigate, all over the place and dysfunctional. The videos that are supposed to help you get started look like they were from the 90s, very dry content and not overly helpful. Popups that you could enable or disable would be neat.”

9. Route4Me

• Main benefits: Add-ons let you customize your planner 
• Cost: Plans start at $200/month
• Maximum number of stops: Unlimited
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Picking and choosing what you want

Like MyRouteOnline, Route4Me doesn’t offer a free plan, but you do get a seven-day free trial. It’s one of the more complex planning tools on our list. 

This is because it’s a route-planning app that lets you customize your features and has a long list of possible add-ons.

Here’s how Route4Me works:

First, you select one of its core pricing plans.

• Route Management, which starts at $199 a month
• Route Optimization, which starts at $249 a month
• Route Optimization Plus, which starts at $349 a month

Then, you choose add-on services. It’s these add-on services that make Route4Me unique.

For example, if you manage a commercial vehicle delivery service that deals with long-haul trucks, you’ll like their add-on for commercial truck routing.

Plenty more add-ons are available, including curbside delivery, predictive weather, and left- or right-turn avoidance.

Customers pick up their goods at the curb, saving drivers time since they don’t have to get out of the car.

Predictive weather is another tool drivers may appreciate, allowing them to prepare for possible interferences like snow or rain that can slow them down. 

For drivers who dread time-consuming turns, the tool also offers left- or right-turn avoidance.

Does this route planner have unlimited stops?

Route4Me offers a flexible plan with add-ons, so there is the ability to opt for a "Maximum Stops per Route Add-On". You can then define the maximum number of locations per driver route.

Route4Me reviews

3/5 stars: “There was a new update that caused you to have to open a separate window in order to view a route. There were a few times where I had over 500/1,000 stops and I wasn’t able to create a single map. I instead had to create multiple maps and take screenshots and stitch them together using a third party.”

4/5 stars: “The first thing that I like is support. The team is very fast and effective in solving all issues. The routing engine software is very good but has parts to improve and make it awesome.”

4/5 stars: “I think there needs to be more training to explore the full functionality of the platform. It would be ideal to have a user-friendly and full-service mobile application.”

10. TruckRouter

• Main benefits: Information specific to large trucks
• Cost: Free
• Maximum number of stops: 5
• Route optimization: Yes
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Large trucks needing specific warnings like weight, height, width and length restrictions

TruckRouter is a free routing software built for long-haul truck drivers. 

That makes it different from the other free routing apps on our list because it offers features like finding truck-specific routes, entering waypoints, and making sure your truck won’t have any trouble with low-clearance bridges or highways.

Because TruckRouter is specific to trucks, it doesn’t focus on offering a high number of stops. In fact, most long-haul trucks aren’t making many stops. 

Instead, they’re traveling far distances — sometimes crossing multiple state lines — to make one or two deliveries or pick up goods.

TruckRouter can help you figure out your trip’s cost efficiency, but its disclaimer states clearly that “TruckRouter is not a navigation tool.”

Let’s say you’re managing a team of large trucks and a client wants to pay you to deliver a load from South Florida to North Florida. 

You can factor in the route, the average time spent at each stop, and the cost of fuel. 

Then, you can factor in how much you need to pay your driver to make sure you make a profit.

While that’s convenient, it’s also time-consuming. Plus, you aren’t dealing with standardized rates, which can be confusing.

This high level of customization defeats the whole purpose of using automated route planners — to save time. 

For dispatchers with big teams to manage, this is a major drawback.

Does this route planner have unlimited stops?

No, there are a maximum of 5 intermediate stops between your starting point and your destination.

TruckRouter reviews

3/5 stars: “This app has helped very much to find truck routes in unfamiliar areas, especially the East Coast where there are many truck restrictions and low overpasses. HOWEVER, some annoyances need to be addressed. 1: Cannot access settings while navigating. 2: Once exiting navigation, settings can be accessed but they are very basic.”

3/5 stars: “It will get you in the ballpark. The route maps need serious work. They will try and send you down residential streets that are restricted for big semis. Also, it will also take you out of the way.”

1/5 stars: “As previous reviews have stated, this app will put you in some nasty spots 100%!”

11. Zeo Route Planner

• Main benefits: Can add stops by uploading an image, using latitude and longitude coordinates, or using a QR code
• Cost: $15/month for individual driver; $35/month per seat for Fleets
• Maximum Number of Stops: 15
• Route optimization: Yes 
• Plan multiple routes: Yes
• Platform: Web & mobile app
• Best for: Fleet owners with many trucks on the road

Zeo Route Planner offers route optimization for individual drivers or for fleet managers.

Those managing drivers can create routes for them, track delivery progress, view live location and keep your customers informed.

The mobile app allows routes to be created in advance, with the ability to add proof of delivery.

Stops can be added through different means, like Google search or an excel spreadsheet. It also integrates with Shopify, Wix, and more.

For those managing a team of drivers, here’s what it offers:

• Upload stops, create routes and automatically assign multiple routes to drivers in a single click.
• Select all unassigned stops and Zeo will intelligently auto-assign them amongst all your drivers based on location.
• Track driver location and message customers directly about current driver location and estimated ETA.

Capterra ratings aren’t all positive, however. There is a free option for up to 15 stops. Some customers complain that the application takes a long time to open when launched. 

You can try it for free, and single drivers can buy a Daily pass, a Monthly Subscription or a Yearly Subscription. Fleets are offered a Flexible Plan as well as a Fixed Subscription.

Does this route planner have unlimited stops?

Zeo’s paid plan allows for up to 150 stops in one single route with no limit on the number of routes created. The free plan has a limit of 15 stops.

Zeo Route Planner reviews

5/5 stars: Could be better. I like the app, it’s a start to something that can be really great. If there were a way to merge routes or delete (edit) stops without it restarting with all the stops all over again that would be great. It could be because I use it on Apple devices and I HAVE TO LOG IN every time I change devices it’s a pain! 

4/5 stars: Please fix the problems. I love this app, when It works of course, I subscribe every month for this planner and it’s great but I've had the app crash on me over 30 times this week and on top of that it says I’m not subscribed to the monthly plan when I am. I've canceled and resubscribed and the same message deleted the app and still having this problem so as of now I’m winging my routes. 

2/5 stars: Does not really optimize There were addresses in the same complexes and some on the same street that the app did not put together. I like the fact that it provides a map which helped me to realize the optimization is off. It was somewhat helpful but not enough for me to pay for it. At times I was routing myself.

Other free route planners

Here are a few other free route planners we considered that didn’t make our list: 

• Maps.me: an offline map and GPS navigation app best for traveling, since it provides information about points of interest, in-app travel guides and integration with Booking.com for in-app hotel reservations. It’s not for you if you drive for a living, since it only allows you to plan trips with 5 stops or less a day.
• TruckMap: This route planner is specifically developed for truck routing, accounting for things like commercial vehicle parameters and restricted residential roads. However, there’s no option for planning a route with a regular vehicle, and you can’t make modifications like changing your route start point.  
• Routix: This cloud-based route planning tool has features like delivery tracking, dispatch management and route optimization, but with zero reviews on Capterra, we were hesitant to suggest it as an option.
• Badger Maps: This is better suited to a sales team working in the field, as it connects to a Customer Relationship Management system. It doesn’t have the functionality that would benefit delivery drivers, like GPS, real-time monitoring, and delivery tracking. 
• Mappr: Another mapping solution that lacks the features needed by those who manage delivery drivers on the road, like delivery tracking and real-time monitoring. 

Free route planners: Quick recap

Most of the route planners in this list offer a free trial. However, that means you’ll only get to use the tool’s full functionality for a limited time — for example, seven or 14 days.

This is unique from a free plan, where you can use certain features for an unlimited time frame. Free plans usually don’t offer full functionality, however. 

For example, they may only offer a limited number of stops or drivers.

Every platform has its own terms for starting a free trial. Some require you to talk to a salesperson first. Others, like Circuit for Teams, are easier.

With Circuit for Teams, you can get started right away. There’s no need for detailed training since the platform is user-friendly and straightforward. This lets you get the most out of your freebie. Start your free trial today.

Frequently asked questions

Let’s dive into some commonly asked questions.

What is the best multi-stop route planner?

There is no one “best” multi-stop route planner. The right one for you depends on your needs as a delivery manager.

For example, if your drivers need a route planner that includes routing for public transportation and bicycles, Google Maps is convenient. If they need a route planner that alerts them to speed traps, Waze is handy.

For an all-around route planner made for managing multiple delivery drivers, trust Circuit for Teams. It offers unlimited tops, multi-depot delivery, easy onboarding, proof of delivery, tracking, and much more.

Is free route planning software good?

Free route planning software is available but often has significant limitations, especially if you’re managing a professional route.

For example, free route planning software greatly limits how many stops your drivers can have per route. But for $20 per month, you can use Circuit Route Planner and add unlimited stops to a single route.

Plus, if you’re handling more than one driver, you may want delivery management capabilities like route monitoring, order tracking, and proof of delivery. 

You get these with Circuit for Teams, our delivery management software.

How do I plan a route with unlimited stops?

While many free route planners are available, they all limit the number of stops you can add. There are no free route planners with unlimited stops.

One cost-efficient option for dispatchers managing  delivery drivers who need a multi-stop route planner is Circuit for Teams. 

The paid option offers unlimited stops plus other perks to simplify delivery driving, like setting couriers start locations from different depots, proof of delivery and tracking features.

Can I plan routes with Google Maps?

Like most navigation apps, Google Maps has a lot going for it. It’s user-friendly, lets you plan estimated times of arrival (ETAs) based on different travel modes, and has a street map to find where you’re going. 

But it’s not ideal for planning multiple driver routes. Why? 

Because navigational apps like Google Maps don’t use route optimization software. That is, they don’t have an algorithm in their code that lets them build the fastest route for you based on speed, distance, traffic patterns, and other key variables.

Plus, they do not support routes for multiple drivers.

We go over this detail in our post on how to plan multi-stop routes with Google Maps.

What is the max amount of stops on Google Maps?

You can add up to ten stops in the Google Maps route planner. This wastes time for delivery drivers who make more than ten stops: They’ll have to constantly interrupt their delivery driving to add new stops, wasting time and money.

Is a free route planner right for me?

If you’re just starting out—let’s say you’re an individual driver or you own a small business with only one driver—then a free route planner is a good start. Planning the most efficient route cuts down on costs, like fuel, vehicle wear and tear and the driver’s salary. 

A good rule of thumb: The shorter the driving time, the more profitable your delivery business will be.

If you manage a team of delivery drivers, you’ll quickly find that a free tool like Google Maps has limitations. The Google Maps route planner was built to offer driving directions—not to find the shortest route possible.

If you’re wondering: Will a free route planner work for me? Here’s when paying for a Premium Route Planning Software a better choice:

• When your fleet grows to two or more vehicles.
• When your daily stops exceed 20.
• When you want to streamline routes for efficiency.
• When managing routes with pen & paper or spreadsheets starts getting chaotic.
• When route planning starts eating into your time significantly.
• When reducing costs like fuel expense is a priority.
• When route planning becomes a source of stress.
• To avoid the cost of adding another driver or vehicle.

Quality software can reclaim hours spent on route planning each week while making a positive impact on your bottom line. The return on investment for a paid plan often speaks for itself.

When does upgrading to a paid route planner make sense? 

Here are some situations where you should consider route optimization software with full functionality:

• If you have a team making more than 10 stops a day, you need a route planner that can keep up with your demand.
• If you have more than two vehicles on the road, you must manage multiple drivers and distribute multiple stops. Doing this with a free route planner can be time-consuming and frustrating.
• If you want to save time and reduce fuel costs, you need the real deal. A free route planner won’t always get you on the shortest route. 

If you must upgrade your route planning solution, try last mile delivery software like Circuit for Teams.

Circuit for Teams can help you reduce delivery costs by 20 percent by minimizing failed deliveries and reducing idling, missed turns, and slow routes. Start your free trial today

How to plan routes better and make faster deliveries

As you know, there’s more to route planning than just getting your driver from point A to point B as quickly as possible.

When searching for the right route planner, we recommend diving into your entire delivery process — from route planning and route management to what happens once your driver arrives at their destination.

Most delivery teams and professional couriers benefit from more advanced features, such as proof of delivery and order tracking.

By relying on free route planners, they might save money upfront just to lose it through inefficiency elsewhere in their operations.

If you just need route optimization, we recommend looking at which route planner works with your Android or Apple device and offers the features you must plan an efficient route.

If you manage a team of delivery drivers and want a simple, cost-effective way to keep track of them (while making their routes more efficient), upgrading to delivery management software like Circuit for Teams could be the way to go. Start your free trial today.