Best Route Planner App (2026): 9 Apps for Multi-Stop Routes

If you drive for a living, the order of your stops can add or save hours every week. It's the kind of saving you don't notice until you've had it for a month. Route planner apps take a list of addresses and work out an efficient order, then hand you over to the navigation app you prefer or their own.

The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free planners for solo drivers to dispatch software for fleets. Each description comes from the app's own website or plans page, re-checked today. If you're weighing up delivery work, my look at how much Grubhub pays drivers shows what the job involves.

Route planner apps compared

In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site describes a free app or free planner, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Fleet tools usually charge per driver or per vehicle.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Badger Maps	Field sales planner	Sales reps visiting accounts	Trial only
MyRouteOnline	Route optimiser	Planning from a spreadsheet	Trial only
OptimoRoute	Delivery and field scheduler	Scheduling jobs and deliveries	No
RoadWarrior	Driver route planner	Multi-stop days for one driver	Trial only
Route4Me	Route optimisation	Larger fleets and truck routes	No
Routific	Delivery management	Local delivery businesses	Trial only
Spoke	Delivery route planner	Free route planning for drivers	Yes
Upper	Dispatch and routing	Dispatch for distribution teams	No
Zeo Route Planner	Route planner	Quick multi-stop planning	Yes

Nine route planner apps

Badger Maps

Best for: Field sales reps who plan visits to customers and want accounts, notes and routes on one map.

MyRouteOnline

Best for: Office planners who upload addresses from a spreadsheet and send optimised routes to drivers.

OptimoRoute

Best for: Service and delivery businesses scheduling many drivers or technicians across tight customer time windows each day.

RoadWarrior

Best for: Couriers and gig drivers with dozens of stops a day who want the order worked out for them.

Route4Me

Best for: Growing fleets that want commercial vehicle routing, tracking and proof of delivery in one system.

Routific

Best for: Bakeries, florists and grocers running local delivery rounds who want customer notifications sent along the way.

Spoke

Best for: Independent drivers who want a free app to plan, optimise and navigate a day of delivery stops.

Upper

Best for: Distribution and service teams who want dispatch, routes and customer updates handled automatically from one dashboard.

Zeo Route Planner

Best for: Solo drivers and small teams who want to paste a list of stops and get an optimised route fast.

Why a normal maps app runs out of stops

Most people start with their phone's maps and hit a wall. Google Maps Help says you can add up to 9 stops on a route, which includes the final destination.

What that means for you: for more stops than that, or to have the best order worked out for you, a dedicated route planner earns its place. They also handle time windows, priorities and proof of delivery, which a general maps app doesn't.

Solo driver apps, field sales tools or fleet software?

Solo driver apps take a list of stops, optimise the order and send you on your way, which suits couriers and gig drivers. Field sales tools add customer accounts, notes and visit history on a map. Fleet software assigns stops across many drivers, tracks progress live and sends customers updates.

Pick the smallest tool that covers how you work today; you can move up as the business grows. Don't pay for dispatch features if you're the only driver.

Planning a day's route

1. Collect every address in one list or spreadsheet.
2. Add time windows for customers who need them.
3. Mark urgent or priority stops.
4. Let the app optimise the order.
5. Check the route on a map for anything odd.
6. Re-optimise when stops are added or cancelled.

Small habits that save miles

• Group stops by area. Fewer cross-town trips add up.
• Avoid rush hour where you can. Plan the busiest roads for quieter times.
• Confirm addresses the day before. Wrong addresses waste the most time.
• Leave a buffer. One delay shouldn't wreck the whole day.

Route planning for tradespeople

Plumbers, electricians and cleaners plan routes too, often with jobs booked at short notice. Pairing a route planner with a booking system keeps the diary realistic. My guide to AI for tradespeople covers tools that sit alongside it. The aim's the same whatever the trade: fewer miles, fewer late arrivals and customers who know when you'll turn up.

Keeping customers in the loop

Many route planners can text customers when you're on the way, which cuts missed deliveries and calls asking where you are. If yours doesn't, a quick message when you set off to each stop does the same job. Customers forgive a late arrival far more easily when they've been told about it.

Do you make a route planner? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing a route planner app

Start free if you're a single driver; a good free planner will save time from the first day. If you manage several drivers, a fleet tool pays for itself in fewer miles and fewer calls asking where the van is.

Test any app on a real day's route before committing. Optimisation only helps if addresses are accurate, so clean your list first and keep customer notes with each stop. A note like 'side gate, ring twice' saves more time than any algorithm.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best route planner app?

Solo drivers usually suit a simple free planner; field sales reps suit tools with customer maps; fleets suit dispatch software.

How many stops can Google Maps handle?

Google Maps Help says up to 9 stops, including the final destination.

Is there a free route planner app?

Yes. Some apps here describe a free driver app or free browser planner.

Can a route planner handle delivery time windows?

Many can. Add each customer's window and the app plans around it.

Do route planners work for sales reps?

Yes. Field sales tools combine routes with customer accounts and visit notes.

Can I change the route during the day?

Yes. Most apps re-optimise when you add, remove or reorder stops.