Best Route Optimization Software (2026): 11 Tools

Planning routes by hand works until it doesn't. Add a second van, a few customers who want morning slots and a driver off sick, and the spreadsheet falls apart before lunch.

The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. My piece on speeding up ecommerce deliveries covers the bigger picture.

Route optimization software compared

I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free account or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Descartes	Enterprise fleet routing	Large fleets with complex operations	Not stated
Detrack	Delivery software with routing	Proof of delivery alongside routes	Trial only
eLogii	Route optimization and scheduling	Field service teams of 50 plus	Not stated
Mapline	Mapping and route optimization	Sales territories and mapped customers	Yes
Onfleet	Last mile delivery software	Last mile dispatch and tracking	Trial only
OptimoRoute	Route planning and scheduling	Deliveries and field service visits	Trial only
Route4Me	Route planning software	Industrial-grade last mile routing	Not stated
RouteXL	Online multi-stop route planner	Occasional planning of short trips	Yes
Routific	Route optimization software	Growing local delivery businesses	Trial only
SmartRoutes	Route planning and POD software	Retail and ecommerce deliveries	Trial only
Track-POD	Delivery management software	Deliveries and collections in one	Not stated

Eleven route optimization tools worth a look

Descartes

Best for: Large distributors and enterprise fleets who want routing, fulfilment decisions and tracking automated inside a wider logistics software suite.

Detrack

Best for: Delivery teams who want electronic proof of delivery, live tracking and route planning together, with a free trial to test it.

eLogii

Best for: Field service and distribution operations with 50 or more people in the field who need dynamic scheduling as well as routes.

Mapline

Best for: Teams that want to map customers and territories first, then optimise routes, starting with a free account.

Onfleet

Best for: Last mile delivery businesses, from grocery to medical couriers, who want dispatch, route management and a top-rated driver app.

OptimoRoute

Best for: Businesses that plan both deliveries and field service appointments and want routes and schedules built from the same orders.

Route4Me

Best for: Operations managers who want industrial grade route planning and optimisation for last mile transportation at scale.

RouteXL

Best for: Small businesses and sole traders who need the fastest order for a handful of stops and can use it free up to 20 addresses.

Routific

Best for: Growing delivery businesses, such as farms, florists and couriers, who want a dispatcher view and a driver app in one place.

SmartRoutes

Best for: Retailers, couriers and garden centres who want route planning, proof of delivery and automatic notifications with a seven day trial.

Track-POD

Best for: Teams that handle both deliveries and collections and want real-time proof of delivery with automated scheduling.

Which tool to try first

• A handful of stops, no sign-up hassle: RouteXL.
• Growing local delivery businesses: Routific or SmartRoutes.
• Deliveries plus service appointments: OptimoRoute or eLogii.
• Proof of delivery alongside routes: Detrack or Track-POD.
• Last mile dispatch at scale: Onfleet or Route4Me.
• Sales territories on a map: Mapline.
• Large enterprise fleets: Descartes.

Truck routes have to respect driving hours

FMCSA's summary of hours of service rules says property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.

So the shortest route on a map isn't always a legal one. If you run heavy vehicles, ask whether the software can plan around shift limits and breaks, or you'll find the problem at the roadside instead of the planning desk.

Route planner or delivery platform?

A route planner orders the stops and hands the driver a sequence. That's often enough for a sole trader or a small team doing the same patch every day.

A delivery platform adds dispatch, a driver app, customer notifications and proof of delivery. It's more to set up, but it cuts the calls asking where a parcel is.

Questions to ask before you choose

1. How many stops and drivers do we plan each day?
2. Do customers need time windows or arrival alerts?
3. Do drivers need proof of delivery in the app?
4. Can it plan around vehicle size and driving hours?
5. Can we change a route once drivers are out?
6. Does it link to our order or ecommerce system?

Another angle is dispatch and invoicing for couriers, which I cover in my breakdown of courier software.

Signs you've outgrown routes on a spreadsheet

• Planning takes over an hour. Automate the first draft.
• Drivers cross each other's paths. Optimise across vehicles.
• Customers keep calling. Add arrival notifications.
• Disputes over deliveries. Capture proof of delivery.

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

My plain advice on route optimization software

Test with a real day, not a demo. Export yesterday's stops, run them through two tools and compare the miles and finish times with what your drivers did, because that's the only comparison that tells you anything.

Then ask the drivers. A clever route that ignores loading bays and school traffic won't survive the first week. My piece on improving delivery tracking for customers covers the other half of the job.

Frequently asked questions

What does route optimization software do?

It works out the best order and route for a set of stops, drivers and time windows, so vehicles cover fewer miles and arrive when customers expect them.

Is there free route optimization software?

Yes. Some online planners are free for a limited number of addresses, and a few platforms offer free accounts with limits.

What's the difference from a route planner app?

A route planner app usually orders stops for one driver. Route optimization software plans many drivers at once and often adds dispatch and tracking.

Can it handle delivery time windows?

Most delivery-focused tools can plan around customer time windows, but check how many windows and constraints each plan supports.

Do truck drivers need special routing?

Yes. Heavy vehicles face driving-hour limits and road restrictions, so look for software that plans around both.

How do I test route software fairly?

Run the same real day of stops through each tool and compare total miles, finish times and how many routes your drivers would accept.