Time translates into money for drivers and transportation companies. Optimizing every minute of the delivery route can impact the overall outcome. Additionally, route optimization can also save on fuel costs and other resources. To achieve business efficiency, companies must leverage route planner apps that can help their drivers perform better.
We have collated a list of the top 5 route planner apps you can’t miss out on if you want to take your delivery operations to the next level.
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Zeo Route Planner
Zeo is one of the top route planner apps that helps individuals and businesses plan and optimize their delivery routes. The software uses cutting-edge technology and modern-day algorithms to calculate the fastest and most efficient routes based on multiple factors, such as distance, traffic conditions, and time constraints.
The Zeo Route Planner app also offers real-time tracking and GPS navigation, allowing users to monitor their progress and adjust their routes accordingly. Zeo reduces delays and ensures that deliveries are made on time. It is a route optimization platform that can easily help you add and assign stops without coding. Zeo takes into account various factors before presenting the best routes along with the delivery stop order – resource availability, delivery time, number of delivery stops, and vehicle capacity. Moreover, this route planner app takes less than 15 minutes to set up and start.
Cost: Free 7-day trial and Premium subscription plan. Free version available for up to 12 stops.
Route optimization: Yes
Add multiple routes: Yes
Platform: Web & mobile app
Best for: Individual drivers & Businesses -
Google Maps
Google Maps is an online mapping platform created by Google that enables individuals to access maps and satellite images and obtain information about directions, traffic congestion, and nearby attractions. Additionally, Google Maps facilitates driving, walking, biking, or public transit itineraries for users. By utilizing Google Maps, drivers can also add multiple stops and customize their routes as desired.
Google Maps has a drawback – it only lets you plan up to 10 stops. While Google Maps is excellent for finding the quickest way between two places and giving driving directions, it does not optimize routes when you add multiple stops.
Cost: Free
Route optimization: No
Add multiple routes: No
Platform: Web & mobile app
Best for: Individual drivers
Related Read: Google Maps Route Navigation Powered by Zeo -
Speedy Route
Speedy Route is another free route planner app offering a route optimization feature.
It calculates the best route when visiting multiple locations in your route and then returning back to the start. Speedy Route arranges the stops you input into the most efficient order, so you can visit each location once before returning to your starting point using the shortest and quickest route. Additionally, it provides detailed driving directions between each stop.While the free version of this route planner app allows adding up to 10 stops, users can add up to 9999 stops with a paid subscription.
Cost: Free (up to 10 stops) & Paid subscription
Route optimization: Yes
Add multiple routes: Available with paid subscription
Platform: Web only
Best for: Small businesses -
Upper Route Planner
Upper is a versatile route planning and optimization software that minimizes the time and effort required for planning the shortest, fastest, and most efficient routes.
The route planner excels in its ability to seamlessly integrate route planning, scheduling, proof of delivery, and customer notifications within a single platform. Upper’s diverse functionalities include importing multiple stops through spreadsheets, assigning service times, setting time windows for on-time deliveries, prioritizing specific stops, and generating optimized routes for multiple vehicles concurrently.
Moreover, Upper offers GPS tracking to track drivers’ locations in real-time and supports integration with third-party software too. With its intuitive design and powerful features, Upper emerges as a comprehensive choice for businesses seeking to enhance their route planning capabilities and delivery performance.
Cost: Free 30-day trial; Premium subscription plans available
Route optimization: Yes
Add multiple routes: Yes
Platform: Web & mobile app
Best for: Individual drivers & Businesses -
Optimoroute
OptimoRoute is an online tool for deliveries and field services. It lets you plan the best routes and schedules with several stops per trip. You input or import the delivery and pick-up stops. Based on factors like travel time, driver availability, delivery/service time windows, vehicle capacity, and driver skills, the system suggests efficient routes and stops sequences.
This route planner app has features such as automated planning, real-time route modification, and workload balancing. It can serve the best for individual drivers and courier carriers.
Cost: 30-day free trial
Route optimization: Yes
Add multiple routes: Yes
Platform: Android and iOS mobile apps
Best for: Independent delivery contractors -
MapQuest
MapQuest is an American free online web mapping service. This GPS navigation app has many maps and features to plan routes. These features include optimized routes, alternative route options, and route settings to avoid highways or tolls.
Mapquest has two big challenges. First, it shows ads to pay for its free route planning service, which can disturb the driver. The second problem is that Mapquest needs help understanding many types of addresses. If your address is not formatted in exactly the correct way, it will be considered invalid.
Cost: Free; Business plus plan
Route optimization: Basic
Add multiple routes: No
Platform: Web & mobile app
Best for: Small businesses
Conclusion
Today, when technology has a huge say in every business segment, fleet managers and drivers must use smart technology. Every business will have unique requirements. Choosing a route planner app catering to your requirements is crucial for business success.
Zeo can help you bring a paradigm shift in your delivery operations and enhance customer experience. If you are a contract driver and wish to save valuable time in delivery, download Zeo and optimize your routes – Android (Google Play Store) or iOS devices (Apple Store). If you are a fleet manager aiming to improve business outcomes and enhance driver management, schedule a free product demo.