The 7 Best Delivery Route Planner Apps 2024 (User Reviews + Pricing)

Your goal as a delivery driver is to make your drops on time and keep customers happy. It sounds simple, but as soon as you add unpredictable traffic, unfamiliar neighborhoods, and tight schedules to the mix, it can all fall apart very quickly.

Before you know it, you’re behind schedule, stuck in a queue of traffic, with frustrated customers trying to get in touch.

If you’re not already using a delivery route planner app, we recommend giving one a go. There are plenty of free options out there (hello Google Maps and Waze—in fact, we’ve got a whole article dedicated to free route planners here), but sometimes you need a little more than limited free stops and a glorified map tool.

We tested 18 dedicated route planner apps, pitting them head-to-head in categories most important to solo delivery drivers like you. By comparing each app’s ability to optimize routes, adapt to unexpected delays, and keep customers informed about arrival times, we whittled the list down to the seven best options. 

1. Circuit Route Planner (& Circuit for Teams) 

Circuit has two different route planning products: 

• Circuit Route Planner: for individual drivers (and what we’ll be focusing on here)
• Circuit for Teams: for small business owners and dispatchers who manage drivers 

While it might be just you and your van right now, who knows what the future holds? Our route planner app was designed for individual delivery drivers whose main focus is finding the fastest route and don’t need extra features like driver tracking, dynamic customer notifications, or different types of proof of delivery.

But if you add a few vans to your repertoire or deliver more than 10 packages a day, you’ll need to upgrade to route planning software that does more than optimize the best route for you.

This is when you’d switch to Circuit for Teams to unlock extra features (and save over 20% per month on your operational and fuel costs):

💡Note: You can join the thousands of business owners and courier companies using CFT to simplify and supercharge their delivery operation: sign up for a 7-day free trial to explore the extra features you get when you upgrade. 

Here’s what our customers say about Circuit for Teams: 

Circuit Route Planner for individual drivers

• Number of free stops: 10
• Number of paid stops: Unlimited
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Android and iOS: Yes
• Mobile and web: Yes

Our verdict: 

The Circuit Route Planner is the most cost-effective, easy-to-use and feature-rich route planner on this list. 

For just $20 a month, you can build an optimized route for 500 stops in just a few seconds, set specific time windows for special deliveries, and re-optimize your route with one click if you need to make a change.

Circuit integrates with free apps like Waze and Google Maps to analyze current traffic conditions and re-route your deliveries to avoid congestion. Plus, you can send automatic updates to customers so they know when their package is likely to be dropped off and get proof of delivery using an eSignature or multiple photos. 

When it comes to ease of use, Circuit’s interface is incredibly intuitive. You can add, delete, or re-optimize multiple stops in just one click and use hands-free voice entry to make deliveries even faster.

BONUS: Circuit Route Planner’s Fast Package Finder lets you describe where you’ve placed each package in your van so you can find it quickly at drop-off. This can save you up to an hour each day by drastically reducing the amount of time spent searching your vehicle at each delivery destination. 

Pros:

• Free seven-day trial of the Pro plan (unlimited stops and routes)
• Free up to ten stops, with unlimited optimization and routes.
• Works with your favorite navigation apps, including Google Maps and Waze.
• Optimize up to 500 stops to avoid traffic and backtracking
• Tell Circuit where a package is and get notified at the stop to quickly find it.
• Choose your preferred GPS, including Apple Maps, Google Maps, HEREWeGo, and Waze.
• Find and add destinations fast using accurate address, postcode, or voice search.
• Mark priority delivery stops to do them at the start or end of your route.
• Set time windows for parcels to be delivered on schedule.
• Choose the length of time you want to spend at each stop.
• Get instant and accurate ETAs.
• One click to navigate to your next stop.
• Add stops in the order you want them and skip optimization (if you prefer).

Cons:

• The free option is limited to ten stops.
• Some delivery drivers have reported issues with inaccurate route optimization algorithms, but this happens less often over time.

Circuit Route Planner Pricing

• Free: Up to 10 stops/route
• $20/month: Unlimited stops/routes

What other drivers think about Circuit Route Planner

2. Route4Me 

• Number of free stops: 10 (limited to 10 routes/month)
• Number of paid stops: Unlimited
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Mobile and web: Mobile only for individual drivers

Our verdict: 

Route4Me’s Route Planner mobile app has all the basics an individual driver needs but you have to pay for extra features. 

Route4Me lets you enter up to thousands of stops which it then analyzes to find the best possible route, providing you with a map with route lines and turn-by-turn directions for driving or walking directions. It’s useful that you can save a route for later reference or share it with friends and colleagues directly in the driver app—but this is only really needed if you’re working with a team.

The app’s Dynamic Routing helps you map out routes that change daily or a few times a week, while its Scheduled & Recurring Routing option was designed for businesses that make recurring visits to the same stops. 

Pros:

• Keep track of progress by marking where you've been.
• Store important information addresses.
• Know how long a route will take and how many miles you will drive.

Cons:

• Additional fees for in-app purchases could quickly negate the lower monthly cost.
• A cumbersome interface can make getting started and learning the app a challenge.
• Some drivers report issues with Route4Me's optimization reliability.

Route4Me pricing 

• Free: 10 stops/unlimited routes
• $9.99 a month: unlimited routes/stops

What other drivers think about Route4Me

3. Routific 

• Number of free stops: N/A
• Number of paid stops: Unlimited
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Mobile and web: Yes

Our verdict: 

Routific has only one route-planning product used by both individual drivers and businesses. While you get a lot of features, you also pay a much higher price than other apps which can be a big expense if you’re working on your own. 

Routific’s route planning product was designed with dispatchers and companies in mind, not necessarily individual drivers. So, while you do get a ton of features, including powerful route optimization software, proof of delivery, and dynamic customer notifications, there are a lot of things you may not need as an individual driver.

Whereas Circuit for Teams offers two products—one for solo drivers and one for teams—Routific bundles it all into one product. This can be beneficial if you know you’re going to expand one day but if it’s just you on your own, it’s one of the more expensive options.

Some key features include the ability to adjust routes with a drag-and-drop system, add last-minute deliveries to your route in a couple of clicks, and send automated tracker links to customers so they know when to expect their deliveries. 

Pros: 

• All the features of a “pro” multi-stop route planner.
• Easy to use drag-and-drop route planning system. 
• Quickly add last-minute drop-offs to your route.

Cons: 

• The biggest issue is the price—it’s considerably more than other delivery route planning apps, which is a lot for individual drivers. 
• Some users claim there are issues with re-optimizing routes when you add a new drop-off. 

Routific pricing 

• Free trial but no free option
• $49 a month for route optimization and basic dispatching

What other drivers think about Routific 

4. RoadWarrior 

• Number of free stops: N/A
• Number of paid stops: 500 a day
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Mobile and web: Mobile-only for individual drivers

Our verdict: 

An affordable option with basic features. There’s no web app for individual drivers, so you have to do everything from your mobile. 

RoadWarrior works for teams or individual drivers who want to optimize routes for up to 500 stops a day. When you upload your stops, you can customize your preferences to avoid highways or plan a one-way trip. The optimization system also considers drop-off priority, real-time traffic, school zones, and business availability, which it uses to build an adjustable, optimized route.

Rather than proof of delivery, you “check in” when you arrive at your destination and deliver a parcel. The check-ins record your arrival times at each stop and mark them as complete in the route.

Pros:

• Can be used by individual drivers or teams.
• One of the least expensive options.
• Upload addresses in bulk.

Cons:

• Lacks proof of delivery.
• Drivers report that the app can be slow, hard to use, and have errors with route optimization.
• The Pro plan is only $14.99 per month but routes can only be a maximum of 200 stops, and there’s a cap of 500 stops and 500 searches per day.

RoadWarrior pricing 

• Free trial but no free plan. 
• $14.99 a month for 200 stops in a route.

What other drivers think about RoadWarrior

5. RouteXL 

• Number of free stops: 20
• Number of paid stops: 100-200
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Mobile and web: Just web 

Our verdict: 

RouteXL is a basic tool with a pretty clunky user interface. The price is higher than other route planner apps that come with more robust features. 

RouteXL’s main (and seemingly only) purpose is to find the quickest route for individual drivers. You just add your departure location and all destinations to the map, click a button, and the tool will calculate your route for you. The downside is, that you have to do it all in a web browser, which can feel clunky and outdated if you’re trying to plot extra stops on the go. The tool says you can print out your routes, but is anyone really doing that anymore? 

The price of RouteXL doesn’t make up for its lack of features because it actually works out more expensive than some of the other feature-rich tools here. 

Pros: 

• The free option lets you plan up to 20 stops on a route—the highest number of stops on this list. 
• You can get started straight away in the web browser. 

Cons:

• Some users say it’s not very intuitive to use and there’s not a lot of documentation to get started. 
• If you pass 20 stops it can get quite expensive compared to other tools that have far more features.

RouteXL pricing 

• Free for up to 20 stops/unlimited routes
• €35 a month for 100 stops/unlimited routes

What other drivers think about RouteXL 

6. SpeedyRoute

• Number of free stops: 10
• Number of paid stops: 500
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Mobile and web: Not available on iPhone

Our verdict:

SpeedyRoute lets you create a route including up to 10 stops as soon as you land on its website. The cost rises quite dramatically if you want to make more than 10 stops. 

SpeedyRoute is useful if you want to create a quick route with less than 10 stops. As soon as you land on its website, you’re greeted with a map and a sidebar that lets you type in up to 10 addresses. The tool will then calculate the best route, incorporating your return address at the end. If you want to make more than 10 stops, you need to upgrade to its cheapest subscription tier which is actually not that cheap at $69 a month. 

For that price, you can add 500 stops and five drivers but it’s otherwise limited in features. There are no dynamic customer notifications and no extra features for teams, like driver tracking and proof of delivery, which makes it a pretty poor investment for the price. 

Pros:

• Free for up to ten stops.
• Optimizes your route.
• Wide availability around the world.

Cons:

• The free option is limited to only ten stops.
• Not available in the app store for iPhones – Android only.
• One of the pricier monthly options for single drivers.

SpeedyRoute pricing 

• Free for up to 10 stops
• $69 a month for 500 stops

What other drivers think about SpeedyRoute

7. Upper Route Planner

• Number of free stops: N/A
• Number of paid stops: 250-500
• Route optimization: Yes
• Multiple routes: Yes
• Mobile and web: Mobile-only for individual drivers

Our verdict: 

Upper Route Planner offers a Solo Driver product with several useful features. However, if you make more than 10 stops, you need to pay for a subscription which can be costly (especially as you have to pay for a minimum number of users). 

Upper Route Planner has a free version for up to 10 stops, but if you’re making more than that then the Solo Driver version is for you. Upload a list of stops either from an Excel spreadsheet or a third-party app, and Upper Route Planner will optimize the quickest route taking into account traffic conditions, special delivery time windows, and driving preferences (for example, if you want to avoid highways).

You can save routes you make regularly and roll them out over and over again. Plus, you can add special instructions for each stop to help you deliver more efficiently and generate proof of delivery for record-keeping. 

Pros:

• Route optimization and proof of delivery services.
• Ability to adjust settings for the type of vehicle.
• Works with more familiar navigation tools like Google Maps and Waze.

Cons:

• The free option only allows up to 10 stops. 
• Doesn't calculate the time spent at a stop.
• Paid plans are very costly as you have to pay for a minimum number of users. 

Upper Route Planner pricing

• Free for 3 stops
• $49.67 per user per month for 250 stops per route (minimum $149 a month for 3 users)

What other drivers think about Upper Route Planner

How delivery route planner apps help delivery drivers

As a last-mile delivery driver, you know that time is of the essence.

By using a delivery route planner app, you can optimize your delivery operations, save time and money, and improve your customer satisfaction.

With customizable settings and real-time updates, you can adjust your delivery routes on the go and make sure that your deliveries are always on time and on track.

Whether you're a self-employed driver, a contractor, or working for a company, finding the best route to all your stops is crucial to saving time and reducing stress.

When you can easily locate your stops and deliver packages quickly, it makes for happy customers and a satisfying end to your day.

That's where a delivery route planner app comes in handy. They help you find each destination on your route, plan the most efficient route by avoiding traffic jams, and ensure you make your drops on time.

No more stress and frustration from an inefficient route that wastes your time and fuel.

Plus, a good route can help keep you safe by allowing you to avoid dangerous driving conditions or the need to speed to make a stop you missed. So if you want to make your delivery job easier and more efficient, give one of these route planner apps a try.

Try Circuit Route Planner free now.