Controlling these costs without compromising speed is a challenge for businesses. This is where route optimization tools come in. With efficient route planning, businesses can cut delivery times, reduce fuel use, and keep costs down—all without sacrificing the customer experience. Best of all, several free tools make it easy to start optimizing routes today.

1. Here WeGo – Best Alternative to Google Maps

HERE WeGo is a free route planner and navigation app that offers a variety of features designed to make travel easier and more convenient. 

One of the most useful features of HERE WeGo is its ability to download maps for offline use. This is especially helpful when traveling in areas with limited internet connectivity. Users can download entire cities or regions, and the app will continue to provide directions and other features even without an internet connection.

In 2023, HereWeGo unveiled a fresh new design, emphasizing clearer navigation and ease of use, with features like simple walking directions, public transit information for over 1,900 cities, and turn-by-turn voice guidance for driving, enhancing the overall user experience. Last year’s new features and functionalities included:

• A customizable map view empowering users to tailor their maps by displaying traffic, city, and topographic features according to their preferences.
• A new functionality allowed users to toggle the display of a progress bar, providing a comprehensive overview of traffic, stops, estimated travel time, and arrival time.
• A convenient hotel booking feature, allowing users to book accommodations directly through the app via Booking.com partnership, streamlining the booking process.
• Highway rest stop amenities enabled drivers to locate available facilities along their route, particularly beneficial for electric vehicle drivers seeking charging points.

In 2024, the company has completed a number of updates:

• Here WeGo has made improvements to general routing to avoid suggesting rest areas as shortcuts 
• They have updated their EV Routing to prioritize charging stations with more connectors to increase the likelihood of finding an available spot–plus, users can now manually add charging stations as waypoints to their route, allowing for more customized planning and control over charging.
• They have also made significant updates to their Geocoding and Search API. One of the most notable changes is the integration of speed limit data directly into reverse geocoding results. This means developers can now get both location information and speed limits in a single API call, making their applications more efficient and accurate.
• They have also introduced a new feature called Usage Alerts. This allows customers to set up notifications based on their API usage, making it easier to monitor and manage their consumption.
• Intermodal Journey Planning: The app now includes intermodal journey planning, enabling users to view the total travel time by car, including walking to the vehicle and from the parking spot to the final destination. The app also remembers the parking location to provide an accurate estimated time of arrival.
• Offline Map Downloads: Users now have the option to download maps for offline navigation of entire regions, countries, or continents. This feature ensures reliable routing even without an internet connection, making it ideal for travel to avoid data roaming charges.
• New Road Signs Indication: Finally coming out of beta, this feature tells users about important road signs as they approach, so they can see road sign icons with the remaining distance indicated on the screen.

A couple of improvements and new features that were slotted for 2024 are still in the works:

• Future Transportation Modes and On-the-Go Services: HERE WeGo plans to introduce more transportation modes such as biking and car-sharing in the near future, along with additional on-the-go services like parking. 
• A web version of the app featuring 3D maps is also expected to launch in 2024.

Here WeGo offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, making it easy to follow directions while driving, cycling, or walking. It includes pretty accurate traffic information, though it lacks the ability to actively modify an assigned route when the app detects that there is congestion on the way. 

Because of this and the limited options it offers for route optimization, users may need to manually adjust their route to achieve the most efficient path.

Pros

• Unlimited stops
• Download maps for offline use
• Detailed public transit options, including bus and train schedules
• Real-time traffic updates
• Customizable route options
• Safety features, including speed limit warnings, lane guidance, and alerts for sharp turns and railroad crossings

Cons

• Limited voice guidance
• Incomplete point of interest database
• Slow loading times
• Limited route optimization options

Is This Tool Right for You?

It’s a solid alternative to Google Maps, particularly for users who prioritize privacy.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

2. Maptive – Best for Professionals

Maptive is the best free route optimizer for professionals of every kind. Maptive offers many advanced options that simpler route optimizers like Google Maps don’t offer, such as:

• Up to 73 stops
• Optimizes your stops to find the shortest route
• Offers a suite of tools like distance calculators, radius tools, and more.
• Map location data in bulk to show all your customers, store locations, and more.
• Overlay multiple routes
• Customize route colors and marker appearance
• Share maps publicly or securely

Maptive offers a free 10-day trial that gives you a chance to try out all of their tools and features for free. 

In 2024, Maptive plans to release the version 5 of their mapping software, including: 

• A new and improved user interface that makes the platform not just sleeker, but also more user-friendly.
• All new drive time polygons with improved isochrones to generate even more accurate drive time estimates.
• New CRM integrations to seamlessly connect with platforms like Salesforce, Pipedrive, Hubspot, Keap, and Zoho.
• AI-driven territory generation tools to simplify and streamline territory plotting.
• Advanced map layering and customization to give users more control.
• Built-in map charts to facilitate deeper insights into your data.

The new Maptive version will be a complete rebuild from the ground up using OpenGL which will allow for better performance and better data visualization capabilities.

Maptive is easier to use than many tools on this list as it allows you to easily add multiple stops by clicking on the map or by typing in addresses. The Maptive interface is intuitive to use and offers lots of built-in guides.

Pros

• 73 stops
• Optimizes your stops for a more efficient route
• Import or copy-paste location data in bulk
• Lots of customization options
• Lots of value-adding tools and features for businesses
• Layer multiple routes
• Lots of sharing options
• Cloud-based
• Works on all devices

Cons

• Not 100% free – Made for business professionals
• It takes time to learn how to use it
• Web-based (no apps available)

Is This Tool Right for You?

Maptive is perfect for businesses of all sizes that need to optimize delivery routes with multiple stops (think delivery companies, field service technicians).

Available on: Web-based

3. Google Maps – Best for Simple Routes

By far, the most common route planner app is Google Maps. Virtually everyone uses this tool to get from one place to another, but not many are aware that it’s capable of planning routes with multiple stops.

Google Maps advertises that they’re able to plan routes with up to ten spots. However, there’s a trick you can use to create routes with up to 25 stops. Google Maps’ user-friendly interface and familiarity make it an excellent choice for a wide range of businesses.

Google is so revolutionary when mapping that many other providers have built their tools using Google’s API. So, it’s clear the company is doing something right when it comes to its mapping tool.

In 2023, Google Maps added a few new features driven by AI integrations, including Immersive View, which can help users plan their trips ahead of time whether driving, walking, or cycling. Immersive view gives users visual turn-by-turn directions and can help avoid getting stuck in congestion thanks to simulated traffic and weather conditions. 

So far in 2024, Google Maps has completed several noteworthy updates:

• The Immersive View feature has been refined, providing even more detailed and accurate previews of routes and locations.
• Google Maps has expanded its AI capabilities to offer more personalized recommendations based on user preferences and behavior.
• The app has become more accurate in predicting traffic conditions, helping users avoid congestion and optimize their travel times.
• Google Maps has strengthened its integration with other Google services, such as Google Assistant and Google Photos, providing a more seamless user experience.
• The Glanceable Directions feature displays real-time navigation info on the lock screen, allowing users to track their journey without constantly unlocking their phone.
• Google Maps has also started including recommendation lists curated by publishers like Lonely Planet and The New York Times, as well as algorithmically generated lists of trending and popular places.

A couple of the new features they announced at CES 2024 are still in the works, including:

• New default map style: A fresh map style with an updated color palette and enhanced usability. Starting March 21, 2024, apps using map IDs can preview and opt-in to the new style, which will become the default on March 18, 2025.
• Precise business entrances: In the near future, Google Maps will show precisely where the main entrances to businesses and points of interest are located, improving user navigation. 

The biggest downside of Google Maps is you can’t optimize the order of your stops. Google will calculate your route in the order you enter your stops. For a truly optimized route, you’ll need to list your stops in the most efficient order, which isn’t always easy to figure out.

Pros

• User-friendly
• Most people already know how to use it
• Google Street View helps you see what your destinations look like
• Industry-leading technology

Cons

• Can only add 10 stops (25 with a workaround)
• You can’t optimize the order of your stops.

Is This Tool Right for You?

Great general-purpose tool for anyone needing basic navigation with traffic updates (good for personal errands or deliveries with few stops).

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

4. Waze – Best for Personal Trips

If you’re looking for an app with excellent directions and a great user experience, it’s hard to beat Waze. The company was purchased by Google back in 2013, so you might expect it to be reasonably similar to the Maps app. However, Waze offers some innovative features that truly make it unique.

What sets Waze apart is that it collects real-time data from other users. This allows it to provide you with live traffic updates, adjusted routes, and shortcuts. The app also integrates with Spotify, which lets you receive directions while listening to music.

While Waze’s community feature is a nice perk, it’s only effective on routes that other users are traveling. If you’re in a more remote area, you won’t have access to the same amount of real-time data.  And if you are on a route with many other users, the number of icons on the screen can block your directions.

Last year, Waze was expected to launch quite a few new features in the near future, including warnings regarding roads with an increased likelihood of accidents, support for Android Auto Coolwalk, and additional toll road controls. In November 2023, Crash History Alerts was indeed launched as its newest safety feature, notifying users of crash-prone roads along their trips. 

However, Google–Waze’s parent company–has continued to consolidate the app into its own mapping products and users have noticed that throughout 2023 Waze actually removed some core functionalities, especially across iOS devices. 

Although there is increasing overlap, Google assures users that Waze and Google Maps will remain independent apps. So far in 2024, Waze has launched a few updates and new features:

• Lock screen navigation: Users can now get navigation guidance directly on their lock screen without unlocking their phones.   
• Expanded traffic event information: Waze now provides more detailed information about traffic events like parades, concerts, and sporting events.
• New camera types: The app has added support for various types of cameras, including those that enforce speed limits, carpool lanes, and other traffic violations.   
• Improved roundabout navigation: Waze has made it easier for users to navigate roundabouts by providing clearer lane guidance.

Other features and functionalities that are expected to launch in 2024 include:

• Enhanced user safety features: A few new features aim to improve user safety and convenience during navigation. They include alerts for upcoming speed limit changes, warnings about road hazards like speed bumps and sharp turns, and integration with Flash to provide detailed parking information and reservations.
• Route insights: Waze now offers users helpful information about their favorite routes, including live traffic updates and delays. This enables users to compare their usual routes with alternatives and select which option they prefer.
• First responder alerts: In an effort to prioritize the safety of first responders, Waze notifies drivers when an ambulance or fire truck is stopped along their route. This feature is currently available in the US, Canada, Mexico, and France, with more countries expected soon.
• Redesigned reporting feature: Waze has revamped its reporting feature on both Android and iOS platforms to enhance usability. However, certain options, such as reporting roadkill, were removed in the process.

The biggest downside of Waze is that you can’t add multiple stops to your route. However, its great directions and fun interface still make it worthy of being included on this list. You can always use it in conjunction with another logistics tool for routes with more than one stop.

Pros

• Makes directions fun
• Real-time updates via community data
• Integrates with Spotify
• Add friends and share directions

Cons

• You can only add 1 stop in addition to your final destination
• Lacks data in more remote areas
• Includes ads that can be distracting

Is This Tool Right for You?

Ideal for drivers who want real-time traffic updates and crowd-sourced navigation (especially good for deliveries in congested areas).

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

5. Apple Maps – Best for Apple Users

Not to be outdone by Google, Apple came out with its own mapping app included on all iOS devices. It offers many of the same features as Google Maps but does lag behind in a few areas.

Where it excels is its map design. The maps look great, and they include a 3D view and buildings. Apple users will also appreciate that maps and directions are synced between all Apple devices. So, you can instantly move directions from your iPad to your iPhone.

With the iOS 17 update, Apple Maps added Offline Maps, allowing users to download maps for use when a Wi-Fi or cellular signal is not available, and EV routing improvements, including “the ability to select a preferred charging network when getting directions for your electric vehicle”. 

With the release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11 in September 2024, Apple Maps has launched several new features:

• The app has expanded its transit directions to include more cities and regions around the world, providing users with more comprehensive information for their commutes.
• Apple Maps has refined its driving directions algorithm to offer more accurate and efficient routes, considering factors like traffic conditions and road closures.
• They have enhanced its search functionality, making it easier for users to find specific locations, businesses, and points of interest.   
• Apple Maps has introduced new map styles, allowing users to customize their map experience based on their preferences.
• Originally introduced on the Apple Watch in watchOS 10, topographic maps are now also available on iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. These maps offer detailed information crucial for hiking and outdoor activities, including trails, contour lines, elevation data, and points of interest.
• Apple Maps users can now create and save custom hiking and walking routes. Like national park hikes, custom routes can be accessed while away from cell service or Wi-Fi when synced to Apple Watch.

The biggest downfall of Apple maps is that it only allows you to add two stops. So, busy delivery drivers likely won’t be able to get much use out of this tool. Users have also complained about inaccurate information, which is a big concern for businesses.

The app is only available on Apple devices, so PC and Android users will have to look elsewhere for their route-planning software.

Pros

• Works similarly to Google Maps
• User-friendly
• 3D maps and building views

Cons

• You can only add 2 stops
• Inaccurate information
• Only available on Apple devices

Is This Tool Right for You?

Apple Maps is a solid all-around choice for people looking for simple navigation with traffic updates. It’s great for running personal errands or handling deliveries with minimal stops.

Available on: Mac, iOS

6. TruckRouter – Best for Truck Drivers & Fleets

TruckRouter is a free route-planning tool designed specifically for the trucking industry. If you’re a trucker, fleet manager, or dispatch professional looking for a solution to meet your needs, this is likely the one.

TruckRouter differs from other route optimization apps because it offers truck-specific routes. Trucks aren’t always able to travel everywhere due to height and weight restrictions, and the tool factors that in when it’s creating its routes.

TruckRouter also alerts drivers to low clearances, provides information on toll roads and costs, and offers a trip cost calculator to estimate your expenses.

The only downside is that the tool is web-based, meaning there aren’t downloadable apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Pros

• Designed for the trucking industry
• Truck specific routes
• Alerts truckers of low clearances and road elevation
• It helps you estimate expenses

Cons

• No mobile apps are available
• Only allows up to 5 stops

Is This Tool Right for You?

Specifically designed for truck drivers with features like height clearances and weight restrictions, it is essential for trucking companies and logistics.

Available on: Web-based

7. SalesRabbit – Best for Sales Teams

SalesRabbit is a lead generation and team management solution for businesses. They also offer a free multi-stop route planner.

This tool features turn-by-turn directions, and multiple stops per route and lets you plot your leads on an interactive map. As you would expect, it works seamlessly with SalesRabbit’s other solutions, so this is ideal for anyone already using their software.

Sales Rabbit’s tool also offers appointment setting services. You can filter your appointments by status, set scheduled reminders, and get directions.

To use this route planner, you’ll need to sign up for Sales Rabbit Lite, which is a free version of their sales management software. 

In October 2023, Sales Rabbit announced improvements to Proposals, Scheduler, Importer, and Lead Cards. Proposals now integrates with solar design tools and financing options, Scheduler is in early access and can sync with calendars, and Lead Cards have been improved with multi-disposition tracking, owner display, and a DGAI toggle.

In January SalesRabbit released the Amplify app for SalesRabbit Gamification users, which includes battles, competitions, achievements, social surround activities, and dashboards to boost motivation and productivity.

In April 2024, the latest platform update announced, SalesRabbit underwent significant updates to enhance its functionality for sales managers, representatives, and businesses:

• General updates for mobile use included a clipboard functionality, so that users can now easily copy addresses, and the ability to add comments directly to leads and track their history.
• Updates to the scheduler improved how the platform accounts for daylight savings time changes and enhanced lead disposition options for a more streamlined process.
• The platform also made updates to its DataGrid AI, with models that more accurately score and personalize data. They also added more phone numbers, primary spoken languages, and geocodes to pins for better accuracy and coverage.
• Weather updates introduced an enhanced hail probability model for more accurate predictions and benchmarking.
• SalesRabbit introduced new features to their proposals that now allow representatives to edit the contracted utility rate for deregulated energy markets. Additionally, LightReach enhancements include improved financing option handling, the ability to add rep license numbers to user profiles, and streamlined annual escalator updates. Mosaic integration has been improved with enhanced credential verification and user-friendly error messages. Solar production rounding has been updated to align with industry standards, and Aurora AutoDesigner now offers the option to set the target offset. Finally, batteries are now automatically listed on proposals when added to projects.
• The SalesRabbit Amplify platform now features Public API endpoints, allowing for greater flexibility in managing activities, records, and users. Tracking lead status changes after re-assignment has been simplified, and integration support has been improved for reporting and updating lead statuses. Dark mode is now available for TV screen dashboards, and new features like a proximity indicator and stages have been added to enhance accountability and user experience.
• The platform also introduced loads of new integrations: Amplify has been integrated with JobNimbus, RealGreen Service Assistant, AccuLynx, HubSpot, Salesforce, and HighLevel. These integrations streamline workflows, track activities and job data, and provide a more seamless user experience.

Pros

• Perfect for salespeople
• Works seamlessly with SalesRabbit
• Offers appointment scheduling feature

Cons

• A limited number of stops available for each route
• No desktop functionality

Is This Tool Right for You?

SalesRabbit is a tool built specifically for sales teams to plan efficient routes for visiting clients or prospects.

Available on: iOS, Android

8. Speedy Route – Best for Simple Sales Routes

Speedy Route is an excellent route optimizer for delivery routes, salespeople, and anyone who needs to plan complicated trips. There are a few features that make Speed Route superior to many other options.

First, it will automatically reorder your stops to create the quickest and most efficient route possible. It also supports timeboxing, which accommodates situations where you can only arrive at a location before or after a specific time.

After your route is calculated, Speedy Route’s drag-and-drop feature makes it easy for you to tweak your stops’ order and make adjustments as needed. Once you’re happy with your route, you can export your directions to a spreadsheet.

While there are many great things about this tool, there are a few negatives. The free version only allows you to enter ten stops, and the interface isn’t as sleek as some of the other options. 

Finally, because it’s a web-based solution, they don’t offer any downloadable apps.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Offers time boxing to accommodate specific arrival times
• Easy to make adjustments to your route

Cons

• Can only add 10 locations
• Poor interface
• Downloadable apps not available

Is This Tool Right for You?

Tailored to meet the needs of sales teams, SpeedyRoutel is designed for planning efficient routes for visiting clients or prospects. 

Available on: Web-based

9. Circuit – Good Alternative for Professionals

Circuit provides route optimization software with several advanced features that professionals will love. They offer a free version for those on a tight budget and a paid subscription service ideal for large businesses with more complex needs.

There are many features that make this an excellent tool. First, it allows you to set time constraints on locations if you need to arrive within a certain timeframe. You can also prioritize locations that require you to be there ASAP to ensure they’re first on your route.

Once you set your parameters, Circuit will rearrange your stops based on your parameters to create your optimal route. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play, so you can take your directions with you wherever you go.

You can find all Circuit product updates as they happen in their product update page. So far, in 2024, Circuit has introduced a variety of new features and platform updates:

• Team Management Enhancements: New roles were introduced with limited access to global account settings, ensuring better control and preventing unauthorized changes.
• Delivery Instruction Control: Circuit users now have the ability to disable recipient delivery instructions to prevent delays and disruptions caused by unrealistic requests.
• Customer Notification Customization: The platform now lets you choose the level of tracking information shared with customers for individual stops or entire routes.
• Driver Experience Improvements include Map View Switching to allow drivers to go from detailed satellite to simplified route views for better navigation; and Proof of Delivery for Pickup Points to streamline processes.
• Circuit also implemented a variety of improvements to its route management: dispatchers now have the flexibility to move stops between routes, while drivers can visually highlight important stops with color-coding–and for greater customization, drivers can also manually select the order of stops or use batch editing to adjust routes by quickly copying and moving multiple stops. 
• Performance and efficiency of the platform have been enhanced: route changes are now processed significantly faster, reducing waiting times for dispatchers. To help reduce delivery costs, routes can now be created to avoid toll roads. Additionally, the Overview Dashboard loads much faster, especially for large teams, providing quicker access to important delivery data.

One of the only downsides to Circuit’s free route planner app is that it only lets you add ten stops which likely won’t be enough for many businesses.

Pros

• Assign time constraints to certain locations
• Prioritize the stops you need to get to first
• Optimizes your stops to create the best route

Cons

• It only allows you to add 10 stops
• No desktop functionality

Is This Tool Right for You?

Circuit is a great tool for businesses, big or small, seeking to streamline delivery routes with 10 stops or less.

Available on: iOS, Android

10. Mappr – Best for Delivery Routes

Formerly known as Flightmap, Mappr is an impressive online route planner that’s perfect for sales and delivery professionals. What’s unique about this tool is that it optimizes routes based on your vehicle’s size, speed, and volume. This makes it perfect for companies with different vehicle types.

This delivery route planner app is free for up to 200 stops per month per vehicle for two vehicles. While that might seem like a lot, if you’re delivering every business day, it works out to about 18 stops per day split between two vehicles. While not a ton, that’s still more than most apps.

For an extra charge, Mappr integrates with Tookan, a popular delivery management solution. So, if you’re already using that service, this might be a good choice for you.

Mappr also offers a number of sharing options, including exporting to a spreadsheet, sending your map in an email, or using a shareable link.

Pros

• Optimizes routes based on vehicle type.
• Integrates with Tookan
• Plenty of sharing options

Cons

• Only about 9 stops per day per vehicle, which won’t be enough for most businesses
• No downloadable app

Is This Tool Right for You?

Ideal for delivery services that need to optimize routes with frequent stops and tight delivery windows.

Available on: Web-based

11. Komoot – Best for Outdoor Activities

Komoot is a popular route planner and navigation app that’s designed specifically for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and running. 

It allows users to plan their route based on their preferred activity and fitness level and offers a variety of map types, including topographical and satellite maps, that people can use to customize their route based on factors like distance, elevation, and surface type.

Though voice guidance and offline maps are paid features, Komoot’s free version offers turn-by-turn navigation that makes it easy to follow directions while on the go while also giving users access to its large database of popular hiking and biking trails, scenic views, and other outdoor attractions.

And for outdoor enthusiasts who want to plan excursions that go beyond day trips, Komoot also allows users to plan multi-day tours, complete with overnight accommodations and points of interest along the way.

In 2023, Komoot made a lot of updates and released new features that make the app even more powerful and user-friendly:

• Route planner enhancements improved their map display which makes their interface much cleaner, significantly improving overall readability and clarity. 
• Advanced surface analysis lets users gain deeper insights into their route’s terrain, including detailed information about surface types, waypoints, and elevation changes.
• Precise distance and elevation data help users better gauge their physical effort.
• The new “Suggest” functionality can recommend suitable routes based on chosen sport, desired distance or duration, and even public transport accessibility.
• The new “Round Trip” option lets users create circular routes, which ideal for exploring new areas without getting lost.
• The app’s offline functionality was also improved to make sure users can access maps and navigation even in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

So far in 2024, Komoot has introduced a number of exciting new features:

• Enhanced Discovery and Planning: Users can now personalize their completed routes by selecting cover photos and explore curated collections and multi-day adventures in their preferred language. For off-road enthusiasts, the app offers gravel route discovery and an improved MTB route planner that balances spontaneity with informed planning. The routing algorithm has been optimized to minimize detours and prioritize paved roads for road cyclists, while bikepacking routes are now easier to find with additional filters and access to individual stages on mobile devices. Additionally, a revamped user interface provides a clearer layout for intuitive navigation and route finding.
• New Social Features and Tracking Capabilities: Users can now track their outdoor activity streak to stay motivated, and Garmin users can view sport-specific route markings for enhanced navigation. Additionally, connecting Apple Health allows users to view all their activities in one place and share them on Komoot. For group adventures, the app offers group Tours with live updates and navigation. QR code sharing facilitates easy connections with other users, and Tour ratings provide valuable insights from other explorers.
• Map enhancements include improved clarity–Komoot can now visually distinguish nature reserves and cemeteries, depict cliff faces more clearly, and show long-distance trails for easier identification. They have also improved labeling for via ferrata routes with difficulty grades.
• Other features introduced this year include:
  • More accurate elevation data in the route planner, providing a clearer picture of climbs and terrain variations.
  • The route planner prioritizes official cycle routes for bike touring adventures.
  • Users can now access the Komoot app for navigation on most Garmin devices, including those without native maps.
  • Komoot users can now view roads on the route planner using Google Street View for better planning.

Though first-time users will find themselves facing a bit of a learning curve, the app has gained a strong community of users who share their favorite routes, making it easy to discover new places and activities. However, it’s worth noting that users have reported ongoing frustration with Komoot’s routing algorithms occasionally favoring gravel paths over paved roads for road cycling routes, a concern that persists into 2024.

One of Komoot’s particularly useful and community-oriented features includes tracking activity data, including distance, elevation, and speed and can sync with other fitness tracking apps like Garmin, Strava, and Apple Health.

Pros

• Customizable routes
• Turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance
• Download maps for offline use
• Large database of points of interest
• Plan multi-day tours
• A strong community of users

Cons

• Premium features require a subscription
• Learning curve

Is This Tool Right for You?

Focuses on outdoor navigation, great for cyclists, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android 

Where Free Solutions Fall Short

Free route planning tools are great for small businesses on a budget, but you’ll likely realize that you’ll need a more robust solution once you start to grow.

Here are a few drawbacks of free solutions:

• Most only let you add 10 – 20 stops
• Not all of them optimize the order of your stops
• You can only plan one route at a time

If you have a large fleet that makes many stops per day, these limitations will greatly reduce your efficiency. If you have the budget, we highly recommend looking into an affordable paid tool like Maptive.

Plan Routes Quicker and Easier with Maptive

Maptive is a mapping software platform that includes a sophisticated route planner and optimizer. It’s built using Google Maps API, which gives you access to their industry-leading technology, along with many additional features that the free Google maps tool doesn’t provide.

Here’s why Maptive is the superior choice for route planning:

• Automatically reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Plan multiple routes at once
• Upload all your locations within seconds from a spreadsheet
• Maptive is cloud-based so that drivers can access their routes from anywhere on any device.

Brad Crisp

Brad Crisp is the CEO at Maptive.com, based in Denver, CO and born in San Francisco, CA. He has extensive experience in Business Mapping, GIS, Data Visualization, Mapping Data Analytics and all forms of software development. His career includes Software Development and Venture Capital dating back to 1998 at businesses like Maptive, GlobalMojo (now Giving Assistant), KPG Ventures, Loopnet, NextCard, and Banking.

www.maptive.com/

The post 11 Best Free Route Planners with Unlimited Stops appeared first on Maptive.

The answer? Route optimization! By planning the most efficient routes, businesses can save money and be more sustainable. Luckily, there are several free route planning tools available. Keep reading to discover the 11 best free options for your business.

1. Here WeGo – Alternative to Google Maps with Unlimited Stops

HERE WeGo is a free route planner and navigation app that offers a variety of features designed to make travel easier and more convenient. 

One of the most useful features of HERE WeGo is its ability to download maps for offline use. This is especially helpful when traveling in areas with limited internet connectivity. Users can download entire cities or regions, and the app will continue to provide directions and other features even without an internet connection.

In 2023, HereWeGo unveiled a fresh new design, emphasizing clearer navigation and ease of use, with features like simple walking directions, public transit information for over 1,900 cities, and turn-by-turn voice guidance for driving, enhancing the overall user experience. Last year’s new features and functionalities included:

• A customizable map view empowering users to tailor their maps by displaying traffic, city, and topographic features according to their preferences.
• A new functionality allowed users to toggle the display of a progress bar, providing a comprehensive overview of traffic, stops, estimated travel time, and arrival time.
• A convenient hotel booking feature, allowing users to book accommodations directly through the app via Booking.com partnership, streamlining the booking process.
• Highway rest stop amenities enabled drivers to locate available facilities along their route, particularly beneficial for electric vehicle drivers seeking charging points.

In 2024, HereWeGo is adding a number of improvements and new features to the platform:

• Intermodal Journey Planning: The app now includes intermodal journey planning, enabling users to view the total travel time by car, including walking to the vehicle and from the parking spot to the final destination. The app also remembers the parking location to provide an accurate estimated time of arrival.
• Offline Map Downloads: Users now have the option to download maps for offline navigation of entire regions, countries, or continents. This feature ensures reliable routing even without an internet connection, making it ideal for travel to avoid data roaming charges.
• New Road Signs Indication: Finally coming out of beta, this feature tells users about important road signs as they approach, so they can see road sign icons with remaining distance indicated on the screen.
• Future Transportation Modes and On-the-Go Services: HERE WeGo plans to introduce more transportation modes such as biking and car-sharing in the near future, along with additional on-the-go services like parking. 
• A web version of the app featuring 3D maps is also expected to launch in 2024.

Here WeGo offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, making it easy to follow directions while driving, cycling, or walking. It includes pretty accurate traffic information, though it lacks the ability to actively modify an assigned route when the app detects that there is congestion on the way. 

Because of this and the limited options it offers for route optimization, users may need to manually adjust their route to achieve the most efficient path.

Pros

• Unlimited stops
• Download maps for offline use
• Detailed public transit options, including bus and train schedules
• Real-time traffic updates
• Customizable route options
• Safety features, including speed limit warnings, lane guidance, and alerts for sharp turns and railroad crossings

Cons

• Limited voice guidance
• Incomplete point of interest database
• Slow loading times
• Limited route optimization options

Is This Tool Right for You?

It’s a solid alternative to Google Maps, particularly for users who prioritize privacy and need unlimited stops.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

2. Maptive – Best for Professionals

Maptive is the best free route optimizer for professionals of every kind. Maptive offers many advanced options that simpler route optimizers like Google Maps don’t offer, such as:

• Up to 73 stops
• Optimizes your stops to find the shortest route
• Offers a suite of tools like distance calculators, radius tools, and more.
• Map location data in bulk to show all your customers, store locations, and more.
• Overlay multiple routes
• Customize route colors and marker appearance
• Share maps publicly or securely

Maptive offers a free 10-day trial that gives you a chance to try out all of their tools and features for free. 

In 2024, Maptive plans to release the version 5 of their mapping software, including: 

• A new and improved user interface that makes the platform not just sleeker, but also more user-friendly.
• All new drive time polygons with improved isochrones to generate even more accurate drive time estimates.
• New CRM integrations to seamlessly connect with platforms like Salesforce, Pipedrive, Hubspot, Keap, and Zoho.
• AI-driven territory generation tools to simplify and streamline territory plotting.
• Advanced map layering and customization to give users more control.
• Built-in map charts to facilitate deeper insights into your data.

The new Maptive version will be a complete rebuild from the ground up using OpenGL which will allow for better performance and better data visualization capabilities.

Maptive is easier to use than many tools on this list as it allows you to easily add multiple stops by clicking on the map or by typing in addresses. The Maptive interface is intuitive to use and offers lots of built-in guides.

Pros

• 73 stops
• Optimizes your stops for a more efficient route
• Import or copy-paste location data in bulk
• Lots of customization options
• Lots of value-adding tools and features for businesses
• Layer multiple routes
• Lots of sharing options
• Cloud-based
• Works on all devices

Cons

• Not 100% free – Made for business professionals
• It takes time to learn how to use it
• Web-based (no apps available)

Is This Tool Right for You?

Maptive is perfect for businesses of all sizes that need to optimize delivery routes with multiple stops (think delivery companies, field service technicians).

Available on: Web-based

Try Maptive Now

3. Google Maps – Best for Simple Routes

By far, the most common route planner app is Google Maps. Virtually everyone uses this tool to get from one place to another, but not many are aware that it’s capable of planning routes with multiple stops.

Google Maps advertises that they’re able to plan routes with up to ten spots. However, there’s a trick you can use to create routes with up to 25 stops. Google Maps’ user-friendly interface and familiarity make it an excellent choice for a wide range of businesses.

Google is so revolutionary when mapping that many other providers have built their tools using Google’s API. So, it’s clear the company is doing something right when it comes to its mapping tool.

In 2023, Google Maps added a few new features driven by AI integrations, including Immersive View, which can help users plan their trips ahead of time whether driving, walking, or cycling. Immersive view gives users visual turn-by-turn directions and can help avoid getting stuck in congestion thanks to simulated traffic and weather conditions. 

At CES 2024, they also announced a new battery notifications feature for EV vehicles directly in Google Maps. This new integration will make life much easier for EV drivers using Android Auto. It will allow them to see estimated battery levels upon arrival at their destination and even flag charging stops along the way. Other improvements and new features for 2024 include:

• New default map style: A fresh map style with an updated color palette and enhanced usability. Starting March 21, 2024, apps using map IDs can preview and opt-in to the new style, which will become the default on March 18, 2025.
• Redesigned interfaces: Key interfaces, including the directions search experience, have been revamped to reduce clutter and bring important elements within easier reach.
• Precise business entrances: In the near future, Google Maps will show precisely where the main entrances to businesses and points of interest are located, improving user navigation. 
• Glanceable Directions feature: This feature displays real-time navigation info on the lock screen, allowing users to track their journey without constantly unlocking their phone.
• AI-powered features: AI-powered features such as dish identification in restaurant photos, menu information, and a cleaner interface design.
• Enhanced recommendations: Google Maps will include recommendation lists curated by publishers like Lonely Planet and The New York Times, as well as algorithmically generated lists of trending and popular places.

The biggest downside of Google Maps is you can’t optimize the order of your stops. Google will calculate your route in the order you enter your stops. For a truly optimized route, you’ll need to list your stops in the most efficient order, which isn’t always easy to figure out.

Pros

• User-friendly
• Most people already know how to use it
• Google Street View helps you see what your destinations look like
• Industry-leading technology

Cons

• Can only add 10 stops (25 with a workaround)
• You can’t optimize the order of your stops.

Is This Tool Right for You?

Great general-purpose tool for anyone needing basic navigation with traffic updates (good for personal errands or deliveries with few stops).

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android3. Waze – Best for Personal Trips

4. Waze – Best for Personal Trips

If you’re looking for an app with excellent directions and a great user experience, it’s hard to beat Waze. The company was purchased by Google back in 2013, so you might expect it to be reasonably similar to the Maps app. However, Waze offers some innovative features that truly make it unique.

What sets Waze apart is that it collects real-time data from other users. This allows it to provide you with live traffic updates, adjusted routes, and shortcuts. The app also integrates with Spotify, which lets you receive directions while listening to music.

While Waze’s community feature is a nice perk, it’s only effective on routes that other users are traveling. If you’re in a more remote area, you won’t have access to the same amount of real-time data.  And if you are on a route with many other users, the number of icons on the screen can block your directions.

Last year, Waze was expected to launch quite a few new features in the near future, including warnings regarding roads with an increased likelihood of accidents, support for Android Auto Coolwalk, and additional toll road controls. In November 2023, Crash History Alerts was indeed launched as its newest safety feature, notifying users of crash-prone roads along their trips. 

However, Google–Waze’s parent company–has continued to consolidate the app into its own mapping products and users have noticed that throughout 2023 Waze actually removed some core functionalities, especially across iOS devices. New features and functionalities launching in 2024 include:

• Enhanced user safety features: A host of six new features that improve user safety and convenience during navigation. They include assistance navigating roundabouts, alerts for upcoming speed limit changes, warnings about road hazards like speed bumps and sharp turns, and integration with Flash to provide detailed parking information and reservations.
• Route insights: Waze now offers users helpful information about their favorite routes, including live traffic updates and delays. This enables users to compare their usual routes with alternatives and select which option they prefer.
• First responder alerts: In an effort to prioritize the safety of first responders, Waze notifies drivers when an ambulance or fire truck is stopped along their route. This feature is currently available in the US, Canada, Mexico, and France, with more countries expected soon.
• Redesigned reporting feature: Waze has revamped its reporting feature on both Android and iOS platforms to enhance usability. However, certain options, such as reporting roadkill, were removed in the process.

The biggest downside of Waze is that you can’t add multiple stops to your route. However, its great directions and fun interface still make it worthy of being included on this list. You can always use it in conjunction with another logistics tool for routes with more than one stop.

Pros

• Makes directions fun
• Real-time updates via community data
• Integrates with Spotify
• Add friends and share directions

Cons

• You can only add 1 stop in addition to your final destination
• Lacks data in more remote areas
• Includes ads that can be distracting

Is This Tool Right for You?

Ideal for drivers who want real-time traffic updates and crowd-sourced navigation (especially good for deliveries in congested areas).

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

5. Apple Maps – Best for Apple Users

Not to be outdone by Google, Apple came out with its own mapping app included on all iOS devices. It offers many of the same features as Google Maps but does lag behind in a few areas.

Where it excels is its map design. The maps look great, and they include a 3D view and buildings. Apple users will also appreciate that maps and directions are synced between all Apple devices. So, you can instantly move directions from your iPad to your iPhone.

With the iOS 17 update, Apple Maps added Offline Maps, allowing users to download maps for use when a Wi-Fi or cellular signal is not available, and EV routing improvements, including “the ability to select a preferred charging network when getting directions for your electric vehicle”. And for all outdoors enthusiasts, Apple Maps has also added thousands of park trails across the U.S. “with place cards that include detailed information like trail length and type, difficulty, and elevation gain”.

New product features and updates specific to Apple Maps in 2024 include:

• Custom Routes: Expected with iOS 18 in September 2024, this new feature will allow users to pick specific roads for their routes.
• Topographic Maps on Multiple Platforms: Originally introduced on the Apple Watch in watchOS 10, topographic maps will become available on the iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. These maps offer detailed information crucial for hiking and outdoor activities, including trails, contour lines, elevation data, and points of interest. Anticipated for release with iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2 in 2024.
• User Reporting: Though limited compared to Waze as of early 2024, Apple Maps now includes user reporting for accidents and hazards, with potential for expansion.
• Expansion of Mapping Efforts: Apple is continuing vehicle-based data collection in countries like Malaysia, aiming to enhance its map database and introduce features like Look Around.

The biggest downfall of Apple maps is that it only allows you to add two stops. So, busy delivery drivers likely won’t be able to get much use out of this tool. Users have also complained about inaccurate information, which is a big concern for businesses.

The app is only available on Apple devices, so PC and Android users will have to look elsewhere for their route-planning software.

Pros

• Works similarly to Google Maps
• User-friendly
• 3D maps and building views

Cons

• You can only add 2 stops
• Inaccurate information
• Only available on Apple devices

Is This Tool Right for You?

Apple Maps is a solid all-around choice for people looking for simple navigation with traffic updates. It’s great for running personal errands or handling deliveries with minimal stops.

Available on: Mac, iOS

6. TruckRouter – Best for Truck Drivers & Fleets

TruckRouter is a free route-planning tool designed specifically for the trucking industry. If you’re a trucker, fleet manager, or dispatch professional looking for a solution to meet your needs, this is likely the one.

TruckRouter differs from other route optimization apps because it offers truck-specific routes. Trucks aren’t always able to travel everywhere due to height and weight restrictions, and the tool factors that in when it’s creating its routes.

TruckRouter also alerts drivers to low clearances, provides information on toll roads and costs, and offers a trip cost calculator to estimate your expenses.

The only downside is that the tool is web-based, meaning there aren’t downloadable apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Pros

• Designed for the trucking industry
• Truck specific routes
• Alerts truckers of low clearances and road elevation
• It helps you estimate expenses

Cons

• No mobile apps are available
• Only allows up to 5 stops

Is This Tool Right for You?

Specifically designed for truck drivers with features like height clearances and weight restrictions, it is essential for trucking companies and logistics.

Available on: Web-based

7. SalesRabbit – Best for Sales Teams

SalesRabbit is a lead generation and team management solution for businesses. They also offer a free multi-stop route planner.

This tool features turn-by-turn directions, and multiple stops per route and lets you plot your leads on an interactive map. As you would expect, it works seamlessly with SalesRabbit’s other solutions, so this is ideal for anyone already using their software.

Sales Rabbit’s tool also offers appointment setting services. You can filter your appointments by status, set scheduled reminders, and get directions.

To use this route planner, you’ll need to sign up for Sales Rabbit Lite, which is a free version of their sales management software. 

In October 2023, Sales Rabbit announced improvements to Proposals, Scheduler, Importer, and Lead Cards. Proposals now integrates with solar design tools and financing options, Scheduler is in early access and can sync with calendars, and Lead Cards have been improved with multi-disposition tracking, owner display, and a DGAI toggle.

While they have not announced what they have planned for the rest of 2024, in January SalesRabbit released the Amplify app for SalesRabbit Gamification users, which includes battles, competitions, achievements, social surround activities, and dashboards to boost motivation and productivity.

Pros

• Perfect for salespeople
• Works seamlessly with SalesRabbit
• Offers appointment scheduling feature

Cons

• A limited number of stops available for each route
• No desktop functionality

Is This Tool Right for You?

SalesRabbit is a tool built specifically for sales teams to plan efficient routes for visiting clients or prospects.

Available on: iOS, Android

8. Speedy Route – Best for Simple Sales Routes

Speedy Route is an excellent route optimizer for delivery routes, salespeople, and anyone who needs to plan complicated trips. There are a few features that make Speed Route superior to many other options.

First, it will automatically reorder your stops to create the quickest and most efficient route possible. It also supports timeboxing, which accommodates situations where you can only arrive at a location before or after a specific time.

After your route is calculated, Speedy Route’s drag-and-drop feature makes it easy for you to tweak your stops’ order and make adjustments as needed. Once you’re happy with your route, you can export your directions to a spreadsheet.

While there are many great things about this tool, there are a few negatives. The free version only allows you to enter ten stops, and the interface isn’t as sleek as some of the other options. Finally, because it’s a web-based solution, they don’t offer any downloadable apps.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Offers time boxing to accommodate specific arrival times
• Easy to make adjustments to your route

Cons

• Can only add 10 locations
• Poor interface
• Downloadable apps not available

Is This Tool Right for You?

Tailored to meet the needs of sales teams, SpeedyRoutel is designed for planning efficient routes for visiting clients or prospects. 

Available on: Web-based

9. Circuit – Good Alternative for Professionals

Circuit provides route optimization software with several advanced features that professionals will love. They offer a free version for those on a tight budget and a paid subscription service ideal for large businesses with more complex needs.

There are many features that make this an excellent tool. First, it allows you to set time constraints on locations if you need to arrive within a certain timeframe. You can also prioritize locations that require you to be there ASAP to ensure they’re first on your route.

Once you set your parameters, Circuit will rearrange your stops based on your parameters to create your optimal route. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play, so you can take your directions with you wherever you go.

You can find all Circuit product updates as they happen, here’s every new feature from last year:

• A new function to compare estimated and actual route durations.
• The ability to set a custom cost per delivery, a maximum number of stops per driver, and to create custom delivery zones, so you can hand a clear plan to your teams on the ground. Users can also create read-only team member roles, to ensure data privacy and allow for information to be accessed or hidden based on their job functions.
• Integration with Circuit’s API, which was not available in earlier versions. Now users can integrate their existing systems with the Circuit for Teams API for end-to-end automation of delivery operations, including data import and optimization & distribution of routes and drivers.
• Stop markers on the maps have been simplified.
• New delivery analytics reports allow users to take a deeper dive into their data to analyze delivery costs and performance metrics, and to gain valuable insights across a number of factors: from the most common reason for failed deliveries to monitoring the percentage of late stops to tracking the average cost per delivery over time.

One of the only downsides to Circuit’s free route planner app is that it only lets you add ten stops which likely won’t be enough for many businesses.

Pros

• Assign time constraints to certain locations
• Prioritize the stops you need to get to first
• Optimizes your stops to create the best route

Cons

• It only allows you to add 10 stops
• No desktop functionality

Is This Tool Right for You?

Circuit is a great tool for businesses, big or small, seeking to streamline delivery routes with 10 stops or less.

Available on: iOS, Android

10. Mappr – Best for Delivery Routes

Formerly known as Flightmap, Mappr is an impressive online route planner that’s perfect for sales and delivery professionals. What’s unique about this tool is that it optimizes routes based on your vehicle’s size, speed, and volume. This makes it perfect for companies with different vehicle types.

This delivery route planner app is free for up to 200 stops per month per vehicle for two vehicles. While that might seem like a lot, if you’re delivering every business day, it works out to about 18 stops per day split between two vehicles. While not a ton, that’s still more than most apps.

For an extra charge, Mappr integrates with Tookan, a popular delivery management solution. So, if you’re already using that service, this might be a good choice for you.

Mappr also offers a number of sharing options, including exporting to a spreadsheet, sending your map in an email, or using a shareable link.

Pros

• Optimizes routes based on vehicle type.
• Integrates with Tookan
• Plenty of sharing options

Cons

• Only about 9 stops per day per vehicle, which won’t be enough for most businesses
• No downloadable app

Is This Tool Right for You?

Ideal for delivery services that need to optimize routes with frequent stops and tight delivery windows.

Available on: Web-based

11. Komoot – Best for Outdoor Activities

Komoot is a popular route planner and navigation app that’s designed specifically for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and running. 

It allows users to plan their route based on their preferred activity and fitness level and offers a variety of map types, including topographical and satellite maps, that people can use to customize their route based on factors like distance, elevation, and surface type.

Though voice guidance and offline maps are paid features, Komoot’s free version offers turn-by-turn navigation that makes it easy to follow directions while on the go while also giving users access to its large database of popular hiking and biking trails, scenic views, and other outdoor attractions.

And for outdoor enthusiasts who want to plan excursions that go beyond day trips, Komoot also allows users to plan multi-day tours, complete with overnight accommodations and points of interest along the way.

In 2023, Komoot made a lot of updates and released new features that make the app even more powerful and user-friendly:

• Route planner enhancements improved their map display which makes their interface much cleaner, significantly improving overall readability and clarity. 
• Advanced surface analysis lets users gain deeper insights into their route’s terrain, including detailed information about surface types, waypoints, and elevation changes.
• Precise distance and elevation data help users better gauge their physical effort.
• The new “Suggest” functionality can recommend suitable routes based on chosen sport, desired distance or duration, and even public transport accessibility.
• The new “Round Trip” option lets users create circular routes, which ideal for exploring new areas without getting lost.
• The app’s offline functionality was also improved to make sure users can access maps and navigation even in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

Komoot has announced a lot of new exciting features and updates for 2024:

• Group Tours Feature: Launched on March 27th, 2024, this new feature enables users to easily plan and share social adventures with others. Group simplifies the organization and navigation of rides for friends and groups.
• Partnership with HomeToGo: Komoot announced a strategic partnership with vacation rental platform HomeToGo in early April 2024. This collaboration is expected to facilitate travelers in planning outdoor activities and finding suitable accommodations along their routes.
• Incremental Improvements to Mobile App: Komoot regularly updates its iOS and Android apps to address bugs, enhance performance, and introduce new features. The latest versions, rolled out in early 2024, focused on delivering a smoother user experience. 

Though first-time users will find themselves facing a bit of a learning curve, the app has gained a strong community of users who share their favorite routes, making it easy to discover new places and activities. However, it’s worth noting that users have reported ongoing frustration with Komoot’s routing algorithms occasionally favoring gravel paths over paved roads for road cycling routes, a concern that persists into 2024.

One of Komoot’s particularly useful and community-oriented features includes tracking activity data, including distance, elevation, and speed and can sync with other fitness tracking apps like Garmin, Strava, and Apple Health.

Pros

• Customizable routes
• Turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance
• Download maps for offline use
• Large database of points of interest
• Plan multi-day tours
• A strong community of users

Cons

• Premium features require a subscription
• Learning curve

Is This Tool Right for You?

Focuses on outdoor navigation, great for cyclists, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android 

Where Free Solutions Fall Short

Free route planning tools are great for small businesses on a budget, but you’ll likely realize that you’ll need a more robust solution once you start to grow.

Here are a few drawbacks of free solutions:

• Most only let you add 10 – 20 stops
• Not all of them optimize the order of your stops
• You can only plan one route at a time

If you have a large fleet that makes many stops per day, these limitations will greatly reduce your efficiency. If you have the budget, we highly recommend looking into an affordable paid tool like Maptive.

Plan Routes Quicker and Easier with Maptive

Maptive is a mapping software platform that includes a sophisticated route planner and optimizer. It’s built using Google Maps API, which gives you access to their industry-leading technology, along with many additional features that the free Google maps tool doesn’t provide.

Here’s why Maptive is the superior choice for route planning:

• Add an unlimited number of stops to your routes
• Automatically reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Plan multiple routes at once
• Upload all your locations within seconds from a spreadsheet
• Maptive is cloud-based so that drivers can access their routes from anywhere on any device.

Try Maptive Today

Sign up for a free trial of Maptive to start creating better routes for yourself and your team.

Brad Crisp

Brad Crisp is the CEO at Maptive.com, based in Denver, CO and born in San Francisco, CA. He has extensive experience in Business Mapping, GIS, Data Visualization, Mapping Data Analytics and all forms of software development. His career includes Software Development and Venture Capital dating back to 1998 at businesses like Maptive, GlobalMojo (now Giving Assistant), KPG Ventures, Loopnet, NextCard, and Banking.

www.maptive.com/

The post 11 Best Free Route Planners with Unlimited Stops in 2024 appeared first on Maptive.

Unveil a new era of disaster response with features meticulously crafted to empower swift and strategic risk management. When every moment counts, trust Maptive to map your way to safety.

CREATE YOUR FREE MAP NOW

Harness the Power of Maptive for Emergency Response

With Maptive, emergency response personnel can craft emergency response routes with ease, map out critical infrastructure in seconds, and deploy disaster management strategies on the spot.

Navigate the fastest path to safety during natural disasters by using drive time maps, and proactively identify danger zones to maintain situational awareness. In the aftermath of chaos, Maptive’s tools become a guiding light, helping communities organize, spot hazards, and reestablish public safety.

How Digital Maps Empower Emergency Management

Digital maps have the power to completely change how disaster management unfolds. Up-to-date maps aid in damage assessment while emergency teams feed geospatial data, incident reports, and GPS coordinates into the emergency management software to make sure decision-makers always have the most accurate information.

These interactive functionalities go well beyond what traditional paper maps can do, offering real-time insights to response teams to manage emergencies. Unlike non-digital maps, emergency management software like Maptive can help first responders generate maps for:

• Instant Situational Awareness
• Precision Routing
• Predictive Analysis
• Resource Allocation
• Communication Hub
• Aftermath Assessment

Master the Art of Emergency Management with Maptive

Emergency Route Planning When Every Second Counts

Maptive’s intuitive interface helps first responders and emergency workers create optimal routes for emergency vehicles to ensure swift navigation.

When urgency strikes, Maptive paves the way for timely and effective action, saving lives through strategic route planning.

Maptive Version 5 (Coming Mid 2024)

Heat Mapping for Proactive Response Efforts

Empower your team to make informed decisions by visualizing data-driven patterns. With Maptive’s dynamic heat maps, emergency workers can instantly detect high-activity zones and potential risks.

When disaster strikes, Maptive’s heat maps can help track the ebb and flow of people and resources, optimizing aid distribution and resource allocation.

Maptive Version 5 (Coming Mid 2024)

Hazard Mapping: Build a Blueprint for Risk Management

Anticipate nature’s uncertainties and plan for the worst with data-backed risk assessments. Maptive’s satellite mapping lays the groundwork for emergency preparedness.

Emergency managers can pinpoint vulnerabilities with precision, from flood-prone zones to wildfire paths and seismic hotspots.

Maptive Version 5 (Coming Mid 2024)

Seamless Organization: Uniting Efforts in the Face of Adversity

Use Maptive as your digital command center, helping responders establish a centralized repository for vital information–survivor locations, infrastructure status, and resource availability–enabling rapid and coordinated decision-making.

Easily share maps and information across agencies and organizations, fostering collaboration that transcends boundaries.

Evaluating the Aftermath

When the dust settles after a disaster, emergency management software like Maptive can generate digital maps to create a visual chronicle of the event’s repercussions. Those maps can facilitate damage evaluation, guide future emergency response planning, and even help streamline insurance claims.

Getting Started with Maptive

1. Create Your Account. Begin by signing up for Maptive. Visit our website and follow the simple steps to create your account for emergency responders.
2. Access the Software. Once registered, log in to your account to access Maptive’s powerful tools. Experience the user-friendly interface designed to simplify your crisis management journey.
3. Explore Features. Dive into Maptive’s arsenal of features tailored for emergency scenarios. Discover route planning, heat mapping, organization tools, hazard mapping, and more. Unleash the potential of data-driven decision-making.
4. Try Before You Buy. Test-drive Maptive firsthand with our free trial or request a demo. Let emergency responders try its capabilities and see how it transforms crisis management for you.

Empower Your Emergency Services with Maptive

Elevate your emergency management strategy with Maptive’s emergency management software.

Harness the power of your lessons learned and our location data to create disaster response maps for natural or man-made disasters.

Give your emergency response teams the best chance at response and recovery, securing critical infrastructure, and leveraging real-time data and critical information to restore public safety.

[START YOUR FREE 10-DAY TRIAL]

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post Maptive: Emergency Response Mapping Software for Faster, Smarter Response appeared first on Maptive.

The Couriers & Local Delivery Services market has grown to be a $157.2bn industry in the US in 2023, and with such significant growth over the past few years, the demand for efficient route planning software has skyrocketed.

If your business delivers goods or services and you have a fleet to manage, a delivery route planner app is an absolute necessity.

These amazing tools come packed with features like real-time route optimization, GPS tracking, and on-demand dispatch that can revolutionize how you do business, including streamlining your operations and saving precious time to ensure that your customers stay delighted every step of the way.

Without further ado, below you’ll find the top 10 best delivery route mapping software for 2024!

This article provides a comprehensive comparison, including the pros and cons of each so that you can choose the perfect one for your business.

The Top 10 Delivery Route Mapping Software for 2024 Compared:

#1 Maptive: The Ultimate Route Planning Software for Businesses

Why Choose Maptive for Your Delivery Route Planning Needs?

If you’re looking for delivery route planning software that’s versatile and can cater to different industries, Maptive might be the right choice for you. Whether you’re in the food and beverage, maintenance, retail, logistics industry or any other business that does deliveries, Maptive has got you covered.

One of the best things about Maptive is that it can help you save time and reduce costs while ensuring timely deliveries. This is a huge plus for businesses that are always looking for ways to streamline their operations and improve customer satisfaction. With Maptive’s powerful features, you can optimize your routes in real-time.

Factors Considered by Maptive in Planning and Optimizing Delivery Routes

Maptive optimizes delivery routes by using sophisticated algorithms to analyze the most efficient way for multiple vehicles to reach multiple destinations.

It considers factors such as traffic conditions, road closures, and delivery windows to create the optimized routes for the most efficient route possible, which in turn helps businesses save time and money by reducing unnecessary travel.

Moreover, Maptive allows businesses to make adjustments on the fly, ensuring timely deliveries and improving overall customer satisfaction.

Benefits of Planning Multi-Stop Delivery Routes with Maptive

• Save time and reduce fuel costs: By optimizing routes and eliminating unnecessary backtracking and traffic jams, Maptive helps drivers get to their destinations more efficiently. Over time, cutting down time and fuel costs can add up to significant savings.
• Improved customer satisfaction: You can greatly improve customer satisfaction by ensuring timely deliveries. Maptive’s route planning software allows businesses to provide accurate delivery times and reduces the likelihood of missed or delayed deliveries.
• Better resource utilization: By ensuring that each driver is assigned the right number of deliveries and the most efficient route, Maptive can help reduce the number of vehicles needed for deliveries and optimize the use of drivers’ time
• Real-time traffic and updates: Thanks to Maptive’s real-time tracking and updates, you can stay on top of potential delays or issues and can take action to mitigate them before they become a problem. Plus, if customers call in with a sudden emergency, you can easily reroute your crews.
• Enhance logistics and supply chain management: Maptive’s reporting and analytics tools provide valuable insights into delivery performance and enable businesses to make data-driven decisions to optimize their logistics and supply chain management.

Key Features of Maptive for Route Planning

Maptive’s user-friendly interface and intuitive drag-and-drop functionality make it easy for users to plan, adjust, and optimize delivery routes in real-time, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Multi-stop route optimization: Add as many stops as you like to each route to save time and ensure each driver only receives one set of directions. Because Maptive is cloud-based your delivery and sales teams can access their multi-stop routes anywhere from any device. If you prefer, you can also export each efficient route to a CSV file and share them with delivery drivers individually.
• Plan multiple routes at a time: Plan all your routes on one map all at once. Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that Maptive is fully integrated with Google Maps, which means it automatically calculates the quickest and most efficient order for your stops thanks to its global coverage, 99.99% uptime, and the most accurate and up-to-date data available.
• Turn-by-turn driving directions & real-time traffic update: Your delivery and field sale teams are never going to get lost again! With Maptive, you can provide them with clear and easy-to-understand directions for each stop on their most efficient route. Plus, your crews will always see the most up-to-date traffic information, allowing them to bypass closed roads or traffic jams.
• Advanced mapping features: Maptive is so much more than a delivery route planner. With our advanced mapping features, you can uncover critical business insights buried deep in your data and create visualizations that can help your sales team succeed and your business grow. You can choose customizable map styles and bespoke elements to best display your information with Maptive’s intuitive, no-code software.
• Geocoding capabilities: Convert addresses into geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), making it easier to visualize data on a map. Plus, Maptive has a built-in address validation feature that can identify and correct errors in address data, ensuring accurate results. These geocoding capabilities are essential for route planning, as they allow businesses to efficiently plan and optimize delivery routes by accurately pinpointing locations on a map.

How to Get Started with Maptive

To use Maptive’s delivery route planner simply:

1. Become a Maptive user for FREE.
2. Upload your location data from Excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, or your own CRM, or copy-paste your data directly into Maptive.
3. Choose your starting point and add all the locations you need to visit.
4. Optimize your route planning app with Maptive customization tools and see your most efficient route, get directions, or share them directly with your team.
5. [START YOUR FREE TRIAL]

#2 Circuit Route Planner: Optimized Delivery Routes with Fast Package Finder

Recommended for its ease of use, real-time tracking, and route optimization features, Circuit can be a great software for any business looking to optimize its delivery process. It is often a popular choice for delivery crews and the transportation industry thanks to its ability to create more efficient routes, save time, and reduce costs.

Pros:

• Route optimization
• Fast package finder
• Real-time driver tracking
• Free trial for up to 10 stops

Cons:

• Subscriptions are required for unlimited stops and team plan

#3 Onfleet: Advanced Route Planning for Multiple Industries

Known for its powerful features, such as route planning, customer communication, and real-time tracking, Onfleet has introduced powerful new features. From now on, the platform will notify customers when delivery starts, the ETA, and proof of delivery. Onfleet also allows customers to communicate with drivers, dispatchers, and call centers, shifting the burden of responsibility of a speedy route and solving problems on the go to your delivery businesses’ crews.

Pros:

• Trusted last-mile delivery solution for various industries
• Advanced route planning features
• Unlimited users and drivers on the basic plan

Cons:

• Pricing starts at $349/month, which may be expensive for some businesses

#4 Upper Route Planner: Efficient Automatic Route Optimization

Upper Route Planner allows delivery businesses to create optimized routes with multiple stops, create custom delivery zones, and import addresses from various sources. It is one of the most cost-effective delivery route planner apps available, with pricing starting at just $9.99 per month for up to 100 stops per route, and it offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for those with little to no experience in route planning.

Pros:

• Automatic route optimization
• Ability to save regular routes
• Offers a three-day free trial

Cons:

• Subscription required for full features

#5 Route4Me: Powerful Route Optimization and Monitoring

Designed to help businesses generate optimized routes, Route4Me uses algorithms that consider a wide range of factors, including traffic conditions, delivery windows, and driver availability. Beyond creating efficient routes, Route4Me also offers live tracking and real-time updates, digital signature capture, and a customer portal where customers can track their deliveries and provide feedback.

Pros:

• Supports thousands of stops
• Offers optimized route listing and turn-by-turn directions
• Route monitoring and customer communications
• Offers GPS tracking and real-time location information

Cons:

• Route Optimization Plus plan costs $299 per month
• Steep learning curve

#6 RouteXL: A Free Route Planning Solution for Small Businesses

RouteXL uses advanced optimization algorithms to create routes that are optimized for time, distance vehicle capacity, and cost. It also offers a range of customization options, including the ability to set specific delivery windows.

Pros:

• Free for single-driver companies making less than 20 stops per month
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Limited features compared to paid options

#7 Mappr: Basic Route Planning with Vehicle Type Optimization

Mappr is one of the few web-only delivery route planner apps that focuses on providing a simple and intuitive user interface to make it easy for users to plan and optimize their delivery routes. On top of their route optimization software, Mappr also includes a variety of customization options, including the ability to further optimize routes by vehicle type.

Pros:

• Optimize fleet based on vehicle type
• Interactive drag-and-drop interface
• API integration

Cons:

• May not offer advanced features needed by larger businesses

#8 Google Maps Route Planner: Free and Widely Used Route Planning Solution

Available through their website and mobile app, this free route planner offers users a familiar interface backed by the might and accuracy of Google Maps. It allows users to generate routes that reflect real-time traffic updates, provide crews with turn-by-turn directions, and show a number of views, including satellite imagery.

Pros:

• Free and easy to use
• Add lines and shapes to maps
• Find locations by business type

Cons:

• Limited to 10 stops
• No route optimization feature

#9 SpeedyRoute: Free Route Planning with Optimization Options

SpeedyRoute is a powerful and affordable delivery route planning app that offers advanced optimization algorithms, real-time updates, and flexible customization options. Its ease of use and pay-as-you-go pricing model make it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

Pros:

• Free for up to 10 stops
• Available worldwide
• Offers route optimization

Cons:

• Subscription required for more stops

#10 RoadWarrior: Customizable Trip Preferences and Check-Ins

RoadWarrior is designed to be a user-friendly and affordable delivery route planner app that helps businesses optimize their delivery operations and improve their bottom line. Its advanced optimization algorithms, real-time updates, and customizable parameters make it stand out from other options in the market.

Pros:

• Route optimization and customizable trip preferences
• Check-Ins instead of proof of delivery
• Available in many countries
• View the progress of drivers
• Free version available with limited features

Cons:

• Limited features compared to other solutions on this list

Key Features to Look for in a Delivery Route Planner App

When choosing among the best delivery route planner apps for your business, consider the following features:

• Multi-stop route optimization
• Real-time traffic updates
• Turn-by-turn directions
• Driver tracking
• Delivery status updates
• Customer communications
• Proof of delivery
• Customizable parameters
• Integration with other platforms

Choosing the Best Delivery Route Mapping Software for Your Business

The top 10 delivery route mapping software solutions for 2024 offer a wide range of features and pricing options to cater to businesses of all sizes and needs.

While Maptive is an excellent choice for delivery route planning due to its comprehensive features, multi-stop route optimization, and real-time traffic updates, choosing the best software ultimately depends on your unique business requirements. It’s essential to consider factors such as the size of your fleet, the number of stops per route, and the level of optimization your business needs to thrive.

Our advice is also to evaluate the importance of additional features such as driver tracking, delivery status updates, customer communication, and proof of delivery for your operations.

By carefully examining the pros and cons of each route planner software solution and understanding your business’s specific needs, you can select the ideal route planning software to optimize your delivery routes, save time and money, and ultimately boost customer satisfaction.

Start Optimizing Your Routes Today

With Maptive’s route optimization software, you can empower your delivery businesses, multiple drivers, sales reps, and multiple delivery vehicles to always have the best route.

[START YOUR FREE TRIAL]

Or call us at 888-788-2871

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post Top 10 Best Delivery Route Planning Software for 2024 appeared first on Maptive.

The best way to avoid dealing with displeased customers is to start planning multiple delivery routes, a solution that helps deliver goods or services efficiently–and on time!–to multiple locations.

While you can absolutely be a manual multiple delivery route planner, the decision to adopt an app or route planning software may come down to just how much time you can devote to it, as it can become a complex and time-consuming riddle to solve, especially as the number of delivery locations increases.

By using specialized software, like Maptive, to optimize routes with multiple delivery stops, businesses can save time, reduce costs, and–most importantly–ensure customer satisfaction by completing deliveries reliably on time.

Planning itineraries for multiple deliveries can be especially useful for companies in industries such as food and beverage, maintenance, retail, and logistics that need to make multiple deliveries daily.

What is Multiple Delivery Routes Planning?

Multiple delivery route planning aims to optimize how goods and services are delivered. It is done by planning multiple routes with multiple stops and distributing shipments, or service teams, across those routes.

At its core, it involves:

• Identifying the most efficient routes possible, which is often the fastest route.
• Scheduling the deliveries, including multiple stops.
• Allocating the resources necessary to fulfill the deliveries.

Several factors go into the fine art of planning and optimizing routes for your delivery teams:

• Delivery times or windows.
• Distances between delivery locations.
• Traffic and road closures.
• The type of goods being transported.
• Weather conditions.
• Staff availability and vehicle capacity.

Benefits of Planning Multi-Stop Delivery Routes

One of the primary benefits of becoming a route planner is reducing transportation costs. Especially if you have multiple delivery vehicles, by optimizing your teams’ routes, you can give them turn-by-turn directions that will save money on gas–which is especially impactful given recent hikes in fuel prices–as well as vehicle maintenance and driver wages.

More importantly, once you can create the optimal route for every delivery, you will see your customer satisfaction skyrocket and complaints plummet because your deliveries will be reliably on time every time.

Overall, planning multiple delivery routes can be critical to logistics and supply chain management. Once you’ve optimized routes and resources, you can not just improve your bottom line but also meet the needs of your customers at a whole other level.

How Mapping Software Can Help Plan Multiple Delivery Routes

Using mapping software to plan the most efficient route for your delivery or service team can help you free up your time and sanity by relieving the stress of constantly checking for traffic updates and calculating distances between clients.

Could you use a Google Maps route planner? that depends on how much time you can have to plan routes, generate driving directions, optimize routes with unlimited stops, and find the best route every time without the help of route planner apps or route planner software.

Maptive is a powerful route-planning software offering various features to help businesses optimize their shipping and logistics routes.

One of its key features is multi-stop route optimization, which considers delivery times, distances, and traffic to create the most efficient delivery schedule.

Maptive also offers real-time traffic updates, which can help drivers avoid delays and get to their destinations faster.

Thanks to its geocoding capabilities and ease of use, Maptive also empowers companies of all sizes to reduce mileage, improve delivery times, and increase delivery capacity–all without requiring any coding or technical knowledge.

The Importance of Mapping Software for Delivery Planning 

No matter the size of your business, you will find that adopting a full-featured mapping software like Maptive is the best solution for managing multi-stop routes.

The key reasons include the following:

• Mapping software allows you to visualize your customer locations, warehouses, supply chain depots, or distribution centers. This feature alone can make it easier to identify what is the best, speedy route to take.
• Features like multi-stop route optimization and real-time traffic updates can reduce mileage and improve delivery times.
• By grouping deliveries by location or driver, mapping software can greatly increase your delivery capacity and even reveal inefficiencies in how your staff and vehicles are allocated to each client.
• Mapping software can also generate territories, which you can assign to a specific crew or driver to ensure they cover their assigned areas efficiently.

How to Get Started with Maptive

You can start using Maptive today, here’s how:

1. Create an account: you can do this for free and take advantage of Maptive’s free 10-day trial.
2. Import data: upload your data into Maptive through spreadsheets, CSV files, or copying and pasting data directly. You can include everything from your client addresses, delivery locations, and any other relevant location data you have.
3. Map locations: after importing your data, you can map the locations in Maptive by selecting the relevant data columns and visualizing the locations on the map.
4. Optimize routes: select the locations your teams need to visit and the order in which to visit them. This feature helps to reduce driving time and fuel consumption while increasing delivery efficiency.
5. Generate routes: now, you can generate routes for your delivery drivers or the entire fleet. Maptive’s real-time traffic updates ensure they’ll avoid congested areas and help you provide accurate delivery times to customers.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Maptive can be a complete game-changer when it comes to managing multiple routes.

With advanced features like multi-stop route optimization, real-time traffic updates, and geocoding, Maptive offers businesses a wide range of benefits, such as helping lower transportation costs, boosting efficiency, and increasing customer satisfaction.

You can start using Maptive today, and in just a few simple steps, you can experience how it can help take your delivery operations to the next level.

Sign up for a free trial or visit the Maptive website to learn more about this powerful mapping software.

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post Multiple Delivery Route Planning: Optimize Delivery Routes with Maptive appeared first on Maptive.

To maximize their results, many businesses are turning to route planning software that uses GPS technology. These tools automate the process and make it easy to identify the best route.

Are you thinking about implementing this technology in your business? Here are five route planning software benefits to consider.

1. Faster Route Planning

Routing software for businesses doesn’t just save you time while your employees are on the road. It also speeds up the process of actually planning your routes. In fact, it’s been shown that software can reduce your route planning time by up to 20%.

How much time do you spend on route planning for your employees? Depending on your business, this process alone can take an hour or more. Imagine how much time could be saved if you had software that instantly calculated the quickest route between two or more locations.

And it’s not just the initial planning that you need to consider. What if one of your employees runs into traffic or construction and needs to re-route? They could spend valuable time in the field finding another route, or they might choose an inefficient route that delays them further.

With routing optimization software, enter your starting destination and your stops to find the best route in seconds. If you’re using cloud-based software, like Maptive, your team can take their route planner with them and recalculate their route with ease. 

2. Reduced Operating Costs

One of the best ways to increase your profits is to lower your costs. Luckily, route planning software gives you the chance to reduce your expenses in a few different ways:

• Less Wear and Tear on Your Vehicles: Shorter routes mean fewer miles on your vehicles. Not only does this lead to a reduced maintenance schedule, but it also extends the life of your vehicles.
• Fewer Vehicles on the Road: You might find that as your routes become more efficient, you’re able to achieve the same amount of work with fewer vehicles. This again reduces maintenance costs and might even allow you to sell vehicles that are no longer needed.

• Lower Fuel Costs: Less driving time and fewer vehicles being used translate to lower fuel consumption.

• Less Labor: With fewer vehicles on the road, it also means you’ll need fewer drivers. You may also find that your employees complete all their stops quicker, which further reduces your labor costs.

Overall, studies show that route planning software helps you lower your expenses by 10% – 30%, which has a major impact on your bottom line.

3. Increased Scalability

Every business owner dreams of scaling their business and taking it to the next level. But that’s difficult to do when too many manual tasks bog you down. High expenses also limit your ability to scale.

Route planning software automates a lot of your processes around outbound sales and deliveries. This frees you up to focus on other areas of your business, like developing sales strategies, hiring team members, and identifying new customers.

As we discussed, route optimization tools also reduce your costs. Money saved can be invested back into the business, giving you access to new tools and resources that you previously couldn’t afford.

Becoming more efficient and developing better processes is critical to scaling your business. And this starts with investing in the right route optimization solution.

4. Continuous Optimization

In business, things rarely go as planned. Sales calls get canceled, additional deliveries come in, or new opportunities present themselves right at the end of the day. These sorts of things happen all the time, and you need to be prepared.

If you’re planning routes manually, cancellations and new stops can throw your entire day off. You or your staff have to stop what you’re doing to develop a plan. And if you’re not quick enough, you may lose valuable opportunities for your business.

But this is never an issue with sales routing software. Add and remove stops on the fly and recalculate your routes with ease. That way, your business continually optimizes itself, even as situations evolve and change.

5. Business Intelligence

Good route planning software doesn’t just plan routes. It also has other capabilities, like tracking sales, visualizing data, and territory management.

For example, in addition to route planning, Maptive offers a variety of services that improve your business intelligence:

• Upload customer locations and automatically plot them on a map.
• Display a wide variety of data for every customer, including sales rep, total revenue, average sales value, and more.
• Filter data in and out of your map depending on what you’re working on.
• Use drivetime polygons to find customers within driving distance
• Measure customer and sales trends with heat maps.
• Create territories based on zip codes, counties, and states, or draw your own custom territories.

According to a report by Bain & Company, this type of data visualization offers an average ROI of $13.01 back on every dollar spent. In addition, with these tools, you’ll uncover new insights that better inform your decision-making.

6. Better Customer Service

One of the biggest benefits of route planning software is how it allows you to increase customer satisfaction. Saving time and money, improving your processes, and scaling your business is great. But in the end, your success as a business will come down to your ability to meet customer expectations.

Better routes mean you’re able to reach your customers faster. It also ensures you’re not late for appointments or deliveries. Plus, as customer demand for your service rises, you’ll need to adapt. Having a strong route-planning solution allows you to maximize the number of stops you can make in a day, letting you service customers now instead of making them wait.

Start Planning Your Routes Today

Are you ready to optimize routes quickly and easily? Then, sign up for your free trial of Maptive and start route planning today.

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post 6 Ways Businesses Benefit from Route Planning Software appeared first on Maptive.

What is a Travel Time Map?

Travel time maps are designed to show you where you can travel in a certain amount of time, whether that be by car, public transit, or another mode of transport. 

For example, let’s say you’re visiting New York City and you want to know how what landmarks you could reach in a certain amount of time. A travel time map uses estimated drive time, based on available routes, the speed limit, and current traffic conditions to draw the area that can be reached in a given amount of time.

What are Travel Time maps used for?

• Business site selection/location intelligence
• Retail site selection
• Supply chain/logistics optimization
• Vacation & travel planning
• Real estate
• Sales territory optimization
• Network coverage assessment

How to Create a Travel Time Map with Maptive

Maptive uses Google Maps API and a user-friendly interface to make creating travel time maps easy.

1. Sign up for your Maptive free trial account.
2. Upload your location data directly from a spreadsheet, copy and past it into Maptive, or enter it manually.
3. Click “Create Map” to instantly plot your data on an interactive map.
4. Click the Tools icon in the top right corner of your screen.
5. To find the distance between two locations, select the “Routing / Directions” tool. Enter your starting location and your destination to see the travel time. You can also add additional stops and determine the time to travel between each one.
6. To create an isochrone map, select the “Distance Radius / Drive Time Polygon” tool, then under “Type” select “Drive Time Polygon.” Enter your starting location and then your drive time to generate your map.

What Can You Use Travel Time Maps For?

Travel time and isochrone maps have many different uses:

For Consumers

• Determine how long it will take you to reach appointments and meetings.
• See how long it will take you to travel somewhere you’ve never been before.
• Discover restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, and landmarks that are reachable in a certain amount of time from your current location.

For Businesses

• Outbound sales reps can schedule appointments based on the drive time between clients.
• Assign clients to sales reps based on travel time.
• Draw isochrones around your offices to establish sales territories.
• Schedule employees at different locations based on which stores are within driving distance of them.

Why Choose Maptive?

Maptive is more than just a travel time map generator. Use our mapping software to visualize your data, spot new trends, and optimize your business:

• Customize your map by adjusting the look of your map markers and choosing from 15 different base maps.
• Build sales territories based on zip codes, states, and counties, or use our drawing tool to create custom territories.
• Analyze the density of your data by using heat maps.
• Display demographic data on your map, including population, gender, income, housing education, and more.
• Keep your data secure with the latest encryption protocols.
• Easily share your map by saving it as a picture, exporting your data to a spreadsheet, sending your teammates a link, or embedding it on a website.

Create Travel Time Maps Today

Want to see the benefits of travel time maps for yourself? Start your free trial of Maptive and start mapping today.

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post Build Your Own Travel Time Maps appeared first on Maptive.

Luckily, there are tools you can use to find the shortest route for multiple destinations. Google Maps is one of the most popular, although it does have some drawbacks. We’ll show you how to find the shortest route with Google Maps, and talk about another route planner that will make your life a lot easier.

Find the Shortest Route with Maptive – Free 10-Day Trial (No Credit Card Required)

Finding the Shortest Route with Google Maps

Google makes it easy to plan the shortest route possible:

1. Go to maps.google.com, or open the Google Maps app.
2. Enter your destination into the search bar.
   
   
3. Click the “Directions” button
   
4. Enter your starting location.
   
5. Make sure the car icon is selected so Google knows you’re driving.

Google will offer you several different route options with the distance and travel time displayed next to them. If your preference is for the shortest route select the one with the least distance.

What’s the Difference Between the Shortest Route and the Fastest Route?

The shortest route is the one that covers the least amount of distance, whereas the fastest route is the one that takes the least amount of time.

While these two routes are the same most of the time, it’s not uncommon for the shortest route to not be the fastest route. This will largely depend on traffic conditions. For example, the shortest route might take you directly through a city where there’s a lot of traffic and many lights. It might actually be faster to go around the city, even though you’re covering more distance.

Google is able to identify traffic delays using real-time data and determine both the shortest and fastest route. You can then choose which you prefer.

When to Use the Shortest Route vs the Fastest Route

This is really a matter of personal preference. Some people prioritize getting somewhere as fast as possible while others want to take the easiest and most direct route.

Here are a few things to consider:

• What’s the difference in travel time between the two routes? If it’s just a few minutes you might want to just take the most direct route.
• Are you familiar with the area? The fastest routes are sometimes more complicated and take you through back roads. If you’re somewhere you’ve never been before the shortest route might be easier.
• Which route contains fewer left turns? This is often a dangerous maneuver, especially on busy streets. You might want to choose whichever route has fewer left turns.

Depending on your needs you may select a route that’s neither the shortest nor the fastest. For example, if you’re a truck driver you’ll need a route that accommodates the height of your vehicle. Assess your needs and choose the best route for you.

How to Find the Fastest or Shortest Route with Multiple Destinations

Google allows you to add up to ten stops to your route. Click “Add Destination” while creating your directions to add additional stops. Google will provide step-by-step directions from each stop.

Keep in mind that once you start adding multiple stops Google will default to only giving you the fastest route for each stop.

Drawbacks of Using Google to Find the Shortest Route

While Google Maps route planner is useful it does have some disadvantages compared to other route optimization software:

• Only Add Ten Stops: Google only allows you to add up to ten stops to each route. This might be enough for some people, but if you’re a busy delivery driver you’ll likely need a route optimization tool that allows for more stops during one trip.
• It Doesn’t Optimize Your Route: When you enter your stops Google doesn’t reorder them for you to create the most efficient route. This can lead to a lot of backtracking if you’re not careful. To avoid this, determine the most logical order for your stops ahead of time and enter them into Google in that order.

• You Can Only Create One Route at a Time: Google doesn’t allow you to create multiple routes at once. If you have a large number of stops and multiple routes to create this will cost you time.

An Easier Way to Find the Shortest Route

As you can see, depending on your needs Google might not be the best tool for you. Luckily there’s a better solution for those who need to find the shortest route between multiple locations.

Maptive’s powerful mapping software includes a sophisticated route optimizer that makes planning routes easier than ever. Best of all, it’s built using Google Maps API so you get all the benefits of using Google plus some additional features.

Here’s why Maptive is a better option for route planning:

• Add an unlimited number of stops to your route.
• Plan multiple routes on the same map all at once.
• Maptive will automatically calculate the best order for your stops to create the most efficient route.
• Maptive’s cloud-based platform means team members can access routes from anywhere and from any device, including laptops, iOS and Android mobile devices, and more.

Create Optimized Routes in Minutes – Try Maptive Now

How to Find the Shortest Route with Maptive

Find the shortest route between multiple stops in seconds:

1. Sign up for a Maptive account. A free seven-day trial is available to allow you to test the software.
2. Log in to your account and select “Create New Map.”
3. Enter a name for your map.
4. Upload your location data from a spreadsheet, copy and paste it into Maptive, or enter it manually. If you want to build your map from scratch without uploading any data select “Click here to start adding locations to your map manually.”
5. Click the tools icon in the top righthand corner.
6. Select the “Routing / Directions Tool.”
7. Maptive will default to using your current location as the starting point. Enter a different starting location if you wish.
8. Enter the location of your first destination.
9. Click “Add Additional Locations” to add more stops.
10. Click “Optimize Route” to reorganize your stops and create the optimal stop order.
11. Click the arrow next to each stop to get turn-by-turn directions.
12. Once you’re ready to create a new route click “Clear Form.” Your first route and directions will be saved.

Start Planning Routes with Maptive

Ready to create optimized routes quicker and easier than ever before? Sign up for our ten-day free trial to give Maptive a try.

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post How to Find the Shortest Route with Google Maps appeared first on Maptive.

Many businesses use Google Maps delivery route planner when they’re first starting. While this is fine for smaller operations with fewer deliveries, once you have a larger fleet, there will eventually come the point where you will outgrow the capabilities of Google maps, and you need a more robust solution.

We’ll go over how to use Google Maps for delivery route optimization and show you another mapping tool that makes the process even easier.

How to Optimize Routes with Google Maps

Most of us have used Google Maps’ routing software for directions at some point in our lives, so the process is pretty straightforward:

1. Go to maps.google.com
2. Enter your destination into the search bar
3. Click “Directions”
4. Enter your starting location
5. Select the car icon to indicate that you’re driving

Google will then offer you several different route options, with the estimated travel time and distance listed beside each one.

If you need to create a multi-stop route, click “Add Destination” to plan a route that includes multiple deliveries.

To send your directions to your delivery drivers, click “Send directions to your phone.” Choose the email option to email the directions to yourself, then forward them to your drivers.

Limitations of Google Maps

While Google Maps is a useful tool, it does have some limitations. This is especially true once you have more than one driver and many deliveries to complete each day.

Here are a few reasons why Google Maps might not work for you.

• Your Routes Can Only Include a Maximum of Ten Stops: You can only add a maximum of ten stops to any one route. That means if one of your drivers has more than ten stops, you’ll need to create two separate sets of directions for them.
• You Can Only Plan One Route at a Time: If you have more than one driver, you’ll need to create and send directions out one at a time. There’s no way to plan routes for all your drivers at once.
• Google Doesn’t Calculate The Most Efficient Order for Your Stops: When you’re adding additional stops to your route, Google will plan your route in the order you enter the stops. That means you’ll need to try and enter your stops in the most logical/efficient order if you want to get a truly optimized route.

Tips for Planning Routes with Google Maps

If Google Maps is your only route optimization option, here are a few tips to help make the process a little easier:

• Batch Your Deliveries in Groups of 10: Because you can only add ten stops to every route, batch your deliveries together into groups of ten, based on their location. Try to find ten destinations that are relatively close together to make the route as efficient as possible.
• Determine the Most Efficient Order: Factor in location, distance from your starting point, schedules, and delivery windows, then list your destinations in the most efficient order. It’s a good idea to figure this out before you start creating your routes.
• Give Drivers Routes That Are Close Together: If your drivers have more than ten stops, that means you’ll have to give them multiple routes. Ensure that the two routes you provide are relatively close together to keep things efficient.

An Easier Way to Map Delivery Routes

If you’re wondering if there’s an easier, more efficient way to find the best route, there is. Maptive’s platform is built using Google Maps API but includes several features not offered by their software.

Here are a few reasons why Maptive’s route planning software is a better option than Google Maps:

• Unlimited Stops Per Route: Add as many stops as you like to each route to save time and ensure each driver only receives one set of directions.
• Plan Multiple Routes at a Time: Plan all your routes on one map all at once.
• Automatically Optimize Your Routes: Maptive automatically calculates the quickest and most efficient order for your stops, so you don’t have to do it manually.
• Easily Share Your Routes: Maptive is cloud-based, meaning your couriers can access their routes anywhere from any device (iPhone, Android, etc.). You can also export your routes to a CSV file and send them to your delivery teams.

How to Use Maptives Route Optimizer

Planning routes with Maptive’s multi-stop route planner is simple and only takes seconds. This makes it the perfect tool for fleet managers, dispatchers, logistics specialists, and delivery management experts.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Sign Up for a Maptive Account: If you haven’t done so already, register for an account with Maptive. A free demo is available to allow you to test it out and see if it’s right for you.
2. Create Your Map: Log in to your Maptive account and click the “Create New Map” button.
3. Name Your Map: Enter a name for your map and then click “Continue.”
4. Upload Your Location Data: If you have location data (depots, customers, suppliers, etc.), you can upload it using an Excel spreadsheet, copy and paste your data, or add it manually.
5. Open the Route Optimizer: Click the tools icon in the top lefthand corner of your map, then click “Routing / Directions Tool.”
6. Enter Your Starting Location: Maptive will default to using your current location as your starting location. If you’d like to use a different location, enter your desired address.
7. Enter Your Destinations: Enter the addresses of your delivery locations. Click “Add Additional Locations” to add more stops.
8. Generate Your Directions: Click “Get Directions” to generate directions in the order you entered your stops. To automatically optimize your route, click “Optimize Route.” This will reorganize your drop locations to create the most efficient route.
9. Get Your Directions: Maptive will display your route information below the form. Click the arrow next to each stop to get turn-by-turn directions.
10. Create a New Route: Click “Clear Form” to enter new route data. Maptive will save your first route and directions.

Try Maptive for Free Today

Ready to start optimizing your delivery routes? Sign up for a free trial of Maptive’s route optimization software today and discover a better way to plan your routes.

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post Using Google Maps for Delivery Route Planning appeared first on Maptive.

What is a Commute Time Map?

A commute time map, or travel time map, allows you to see the time it will take you to commute between a starting point and the locations that you can reach in a certain period of time from that starting point. Instead of measuring distance, a travel time map measures commute time. 

Calculating commute time depends on several factors, including distance, traffic conditions, transport mode, and transit information. Commute maps factor all this in to give you accurate estimates of your travel time. This means estimates are calculated in real-time and might fluctuate from one time of day to another.

Use a commute time calculator to determine the average commute time from one location to another or draw a travel time radius around one location to see all the other reachable locations within a given time limit.

These calculations are available for driving and various forms of public transport, such as buses and trains.

What Can You Do with a Commute Time Map?

Many companies use travel time maps to optimize their business and better serve their customers:

• Site Selection Based on Customers: Choose business locations based on commute times from specific neighborhoods, zip codes, suburbs, and metropolitan areas to ensure your customers can easily reach you.
• Site Selection Based on Employees: Select work locations near your employees to help them avoid long commutes.

• Assign Sales Reps: Choose sales reps to work with customers based on commute time to optimize your customer service.

• Real Estate: List the various businesses, services, and amenities that are reachable from a property within a specific commute time.

How to Create a Commute Time Map with Maptive

Step 1: Sign up for a Maptive free trial account. Try Maptive for free and explore the many mapping tools we have to offer.

Step 2: Upload or input your data. Upload your location data from an existing Excel spreadsheet, copy and paste your data into Maptive, or enter it manually.

Step 3: Click on “Map Now” to view your map. Your location data is now plotted on a beautiful interactive map. 

Step 4: Choose the Distance Radius/Drivetime Polygon Tool. Select this feature from Maptive’s tools menu.

Step 5: Select “Drive Time Polygon” from the dropdown menu. Enter your trip details. This includes your start location & travel time in hours or minutes.

Step 6: Get your commute time. Your commute time map will be automatically calculated based on your trip details.

Fred Metterhausen

Fred Metterhausen is a Chicago based computer programmer, and product owner of the current version of Maptive. He has over 15 years of experience developing mapping applications as a freelance developer, including 12 with Maptive. He has seen how thousands of companies have used mapping to optimize various aspects of their workflow.

www.maptive.com

The post How to Generate a Commute Time Map appeared first on Maptive.