Circuit app for route planning: review and alternatives
- November 20, 2025
- 7 mins
In the delivery industry, route optimization is a key challenge for improving productivity, reducing costs, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Among the many solutions available, the Circuit app (now renamed Spoke) has quickly become a popular tool for delivery drivers.
In this article, we review Circuit/Spoke’s main features, its various plans (free and paid), its strengths, and its limitations. We will also discuss a few alternatives to consider for meeting specific needs.
Main features of Circuit Route Planner
Circuit is designed to simplify delivery planning and management. Its clear and user-friendly interface makes it easy to use, even for drivers who are not very familiar with digital tools. The app offers dynamic route planning, taking into account multiple delivery addresses to optimize trips and reduce mileage.
Adding stops
Users can add stops directly from the map, import lists from a spreadsheet, use voice recognition, or scan addresses with the phone’s camera. Stops from previous routes can also be easily reused or carried over. Once the route is optimized, users can reverse the direction of the trip or manually reorder the stops.
Circuit/Spoke also allows users to add, remove, or reorder stops in real time, even while on the road, with hands-free voice input for safer and smoother operation.
Package Finder
This tool lets drivers accurately record where each package is stored in the vehicle, enabling them to quickly locate it at the correct stop and optimize delivery time.
Integrated navigation
Navigation can be done directly within the app or via the driver’s preferred navigation app, including Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, or HERE WeGo. This flexibility ensures a user experience tailored to individual habits.
Delivery tracking
Stops can be marked as “delivered” or “failed,” with the option to add notes and photos as proof of delivery, ensuring complete traceability.
Priority management and time window optimization
Circuit/Spoke also allows users to set priorities for specific stops and define delivery time windows. This feature reduces unnecessary backtracking, optimizing routes and helping drivers finish their day earlier.
Free and paid versions: what does Circuit Route Planner offer?
Circuit/Spoke offers three subscription levels, allowing each user to choose the plan that best fits their needs.
1. Free version
✅ Integrated GPS navigation
✅ Mark deliveries as completed
✅ Basic features for tracking and rescheduling
⚠️ Limit of 10 stops per route
This version is particularly suited for independent drivers or short routes.
2. Lite plan: $10/month
✅ Optimization with unlimited stops
❌ No voice or camera input for adding stops
❌ Cannot set delivery time windows
❌ No “Package Finder” tool to locate packages
❌ Integrated navigation not powered by Google
This plan targets users with longer routes but no need for advanced features.
3. Standard plan: $20/month
✅ Optimization with unlimited stops
✅ Add stops via voice or camera
✅ Set time windows for each delivery
✅ Package Finder to locate packages
✅ Full GPS navigation with Google Maps
This level is aimed at teams needing advanced planning and features.
Key strengths of Circuit Route Planner
- Ease of use: The app is known for its intuitive interface, making it easy to use even for beginners or drivers less familiar with digital tools. Learning is quick, even without prior experience.
- Planning flexibility: The ability to adjust routes in real time is highly valued in situations with frequent unexpected events (traffic, cancellations, last-minute requests), making the app very practical for daily use.
- Mobility: Compatible with iOS and Android, the app works smoothly on different mobile devices. It also supports multiple GPS options, including Waze, providing good flexibility.
- Free version suitable for simple needs: For small routes, the free version is often sufficient, making it an accessible solution for small teams or independent drivers.
Limitations and areas for improvement of Circuit Route Planner
Despite its strengths, Circuit/Spoke has certain limitations that may pose issues depending on the context of use:
Perceived high pricing
Many users feel that the premium subscription price (around €20/month for a single user) is too high given the features offered. This perception is particularly strong among self-employed drivers or small businesses, who look for simple but cost-effective tools. The lack of a truly sustainable free plan, combined with paid options even for basic needs, is often cited as a barrier.
10-stop limit in the free version
This limit is quickly reached once routes exceed about ten addresses, forcing users to subscribe to continue using the app, which can be a deterrent for some.
Advanced features are paid and costly
Many useful functions, such as multi-user management or precise time window constraints, are reserved for the paid version, whose price may seem high relative to expectations.
Repetitive manual address entry
The absence of features to easily save and reuse recurring routes or stops often requires manually entering addresses for each route.
Optimization can be insufficient or inconsistent
User reviews on app stores highlight several issues:
- Optimized routes often contain unnecessary overlaps, with trips crossing the same areas multiple times, leading to inefficient routes.
- High-traffic areas, bridges, or toll roads are not always adequately considered, potentially causing avoidable delays.
- Delivery time windows are not always respected, which can be problematic for time-sensitive deliveries.
Lack of industry-specific customization
The app remains general-purpose and does not adapt to the specific constraints of certain sectors (e.g., refrigerated transport, deliveries with specific load or timing requirements).
💡Key Takeaways
Circuit Route Planner stands out for its simplicity and quick onboarding, making it an attractive solution for independent drivers or small teams with simple needs. The free version allows effective testing of the tool, while the subscription unlocks useful features for slightly more structured organizations.
However, as operations grow in complexity, Circuit’s limitations become apparent: restricted capacity, limited customization, and optimization that can sometimes be suboptimal. Before adopting it, it is important to carefully assess your business constraints and, if needed, consider more specialized alternatives offering higher levels of optimization and integration.
Alternative apps to Circuit Route Planner
1. Laskar
Laskar is Kardinal’s mobile app designed to simplify the daily work of delivery drivers and all mobile professionals, leveraging the expertise of a recognized specialist in complex route optimization.
✅ Key strengths of Laskar
- Intuitive mobile interface: Available on iOS and Android, Laskar offers a clear and user-friendly interface designed for delivery drivers and mobile professionals.
- Simplified stop addition: Addresses can be entered manually, imported via Excel/CSV files, scanned with the camera, or added via voice command. Favorites can be saved for quick reuse without retyping.
- Smart address verification: An integrated module automatically checks and corrects imported addresses for accurate geocoding.
- Advanced, multi-criteria optimization: Planning considers time windows, mode of transport (car, truck, bike, motorcycle, walking), service times, and driver breaks. Unlike Circuit, it allows breaks during delivery time slots (e.g., lunch if a stop is closed).
- Connected navigation: Routes can be launched via Google Maps or Waze, depending on the driver’s preference.
- Delivery tracking: Each stop can be marked as completed or failed, providing simple and reliable route tracking.
- Proven technology: Laskar is developed by Kardinal, a recognized provider of advanced route optimization solutions.
- More affordable premium plan: The paid plan offers the same features as Circuit/Spoke at a lower cost (€8/month for Laskar vs €20/month for Circuit Standard).
❌ Limitations of Laskar
- Free version limit: Laskar allows planning up to 10 stops per route without a subscription. A paid version is required for more (up to 250 stops per day).
- No proof of delivery: Laskar does not yet offer features like photo capture, e-signature, or parcel scanning, which are often expected for advanced professional use.
- No package finder: The app currently lacks a tool to help locate packages within the vehicle.
💰 Laskar Pricing
- Free: Up to 10 stops per route, unlimited routes – includes all app features (adding stops via voice or camera, duplicating routes, setting delivery time windows, integrated GPS navigation, marking deliveries as completed).
- Premium: €8 excl. VAT / month with unlimited routes and up to 250 stops
- Free trial: 7 days
Laskar, the only app that combines a budget-friendly price with premium features.
2. MyWay
✅ Strengths of MyWay
- Intuitive mobile interface: Available on iOS and Android, MyWay offers a user-friendly interface tailored to the needs of delivery drivers and mobile professionals.
- Multiple import methods: Stops can be added manually, imported from an Excel/CSV file, or even extracted from a photo or an address book.
- Multi-criteria optimization: The app considers priorities, delivery time windows, transportation mode (car, bike, truck, motorcycle, walking), and offers options such as avoiding U-turns or accounting for vehicle size.
- Integrated navigation: Compatible with various GPS apps: Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, Here WeGo, Maps.me, Organic Maps, etc.
- Proof-of-delivery features: Add notes, mark stops as completed or failed, capture signatures or photos.
❌ Limitations of MyWay
- Up to 15 free stops: MyWay allows planning up to 15 stops per route in its free version. Beyond this limit, a subscription is required (up to 200 stops per day).
- Limited market visibility: Less well-known than other solutions like Circuit, MyWay has a smaller user community and a still-limited integration ecosystem.
- No integration with business systems: No API or integration tools with ERP or CRM systems at this time.
💰 MyWay Pricing
- Free: Up to 15 stops per route, unlimited routes.
- Premium: €8.99 / month for unlimited routes and up to 200 stops.
- Free trial: 7 days.
3. Upper
✅ Strengths of Upper Route Planner
- Advanced route optimization: Upper allows planning up to 250 stops per route (for the lowest-priced plan), taking into account constraints such as delivery time windows, priorities, and driver assignment.
- Built-in proof of delivery: Ability to capture signatures, photos, and comments—useful for delivery tracking and dispute management.
- E-commerce integration: Notably with Shopify, enabling automatic import of delivery orders.
- Available on iOS and Android: With an interface many users consider functional and efficient.
❌ Limitations of Upper Route Planner
- No free version: Unlike some competitors, Upper does not offer a free plan for freelancers or small teams.
- Relatively high pricing: Plans start at nearly $50 per month, which can be discouraging for individual users or small businesses.
- Slowdowns on long routes: Some users report reduced performance when planning routes with a large number of stops.
- Limited post-dispatch edits: Once the route has been dispatched to drivers, modifying it is difficult without starting over.
- Less smooth interface than some competitors: Several reviews mention that the UI feels less refined than apps like Circuit/Spoke or Laskar.
💰 Upper Route Planner pricing
- Essentials: $50/month – up to 250 stops per route; proof of delivery, live route edits, and custom time windows not included.
- Growth: $60/month – up to 500 stops per route – includes proof of delivery, custom time windows, and more.
- Free trial: 7 days.
4. RoadWarrior
✅ Strengths of RoadWarrior Route Planner
- Available on iOS and Android
- Optimization by distance or duration: The app lets users choose whether a route should prioritize shortest distance or shortest travel time, taking into account real-time traffic, highways, toll roads, and ferries.
- Advanced stop configuration: Management of time windows, service durations, stop prioritization, and easy rescheduling.
- Multiple transport modes: Compatible with car, bike, or walking.
- Cloud sync and automatic backup: All route data is stored, accessible, and available for analysis.
❌ Limitations of RoadWarrior Route Planner
- Very limited free version: Only 8 stops per route and a maximum of 48 optimized stops per day.
- Outdated and unintuitive interface: Some users report an aging UI that makes onboarding more difficult, especially on mobile.
- No proof of delivery: No built-in features for photos, signatures, or parcel scanning—unlike other apps on the market.
- No Excel import in the mobile app: Batch address import is only available via the web version (RoadWarrior Flex), which is intended for teams and more expensive.
- Delivery-focused feature set: Not well-suited for other sectors like sales, real estate, or maintenance that require customized data for each stop.
💰 RoadWarrior Route Planner pricing
- Basic (free): 8 stops per route, up to 48 optimized stops per day.
- Pro: $15.99/month for up to 200 stops per route and up to 500 optimized stops per day.
- Free trial: 7 days.
5. Route4Me
✅ Strengths of Route4Me
- Feature-rich application: Route4Me offers a wide range of tools, from route optimization to built-in navigation, customer notifications, proof of delivery (photo, signature, barcode scan), and full data history.
- Easy Excel import: You can import address lists directly from a spreadsheet file.
- Adapted to specialized vehicle fleets: Route4Me accounts for constraints related to heavy trucks, vehicle dimensions, and road restrictions (bridge heights, access limitations, etc.).
- Territory planning and recurring routes: Dedicated modules allow users to segment geographic areas, assign recurring drivers to specific zones, or plan repeating delivery routes.
- Many available integrations: The solution offers connectors for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, telematics APIs, and geofencing modules.
- Web and mobile interface: The tool is available both on desktop and on a mobile app for drivers. The app works on iOS and Android.
❌ Limitations of Route4Me
- Very limited free version: Only 10 stops per route, and routes expire after 7 days. Time windows cannot be added. This version allows planning only, real-time execution is not possible, meaning drivers cannot mark deliveries as completed or failed.
- Unreliable time estimates: Several tests showed ETAs that are too optimistic (e.g., a 10-minute estimate for a trip that takes 18–19 minutes according to Google Maps), which disrupts route management, time windows, and customer satisfaction.
- Imperfect ergonomics: The interface feels dated, with many windows and intrusive pop-ups. The user experience is considered less smooth than with Circuit/Spoke or Laskar. The web interface can feel “heavy” or complex for small teams.
- Not fully suitable for all professions: While Route4Me works well for deliveries, some industries (real estate, field service, home care, etc.) may find the lack of customizable data per stop limiting.
💰 Route4Me pricing
- Free: Routes limited to 10 stops; routes expire after 7 days. This version includes planning only (no route execution).
- Basic: €8.49/month, including new route creation, route search, and route export.
- Enhanced: €16.99/month, including all Basic features plus destination status, adding new destinations, and improved address search.
Comparative table of route planning apps
Application | Average store rating | Platforms | Free stops | Subscriptions & pricing | Strengths | Weaknesses | Laskar | ⭐ 5,0/5 | Android, iOS | 10 stops/route | Premium €8/month | Intuitive interface, easy address entry, smart address validation, multi-criteria optimization | No web version, no multi-driver management, no POD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Circuit / Spoke | ⭐ 4,6/5 | Android, iOS | 10 stops/route | Lite $10/month, Standard $20/month | Intuitive interface, POD module, simplified tracking, constraints management | High pricing, advanced features only in the $20/month plan |
MyWay | ⭐ 4,6/5 | Android, iOS | 15 stops/route | Premium €8.99/month | Intuitive interface, flexible import, advanced optimization, multi-GPS navigation, built-in proof of delivery | Limited free version, low brand recognition, no business integrations |
Upper | ⭐ 4,5/5 | Android, iOS | None, no free version | Essentials $50/month, Growth $60/month | Advanced optimization, proof of delivery, e-commerce integrations, clear app | No free version, high cost, slowdowns on long routes, limited modifications, less fluid interface |
RoadWarrior | ⭐ 4,1/5 | Web, Android, iOS | 8 stops/route, 48/day | Pro $15.99/month | Handles simple constraints, history saving | Very limited free version, outdated interface, no built-in POD |
Route4Me | ⭐ 4,0/5 | Android, iOS, Web | 10 stops/route | Basic €8.49/month, Enhanced €16.99/month | Advanced territory planning, POD functions, e-commerce integrations, multi-driver planning | Very limited free version, complex and outdated web interface, limited customization |
Conclusion
Every route planning app has its strengths… and its weaknesses. Some are very complete, others very simple, but few truly match the day-to-day reality of delivery drivers.
That’s exactly where Laskar stands out: an app designed to be simple, efficient, and centered on real-world field constraints. No miracle promises, just the ambition to offer a smooth and genuinely helpful experience, day after day.
The best way to know is to try: compare them, test them, and see what works best for you. Because the best app is the one that truly makes your life easier on the road.
