Google Alternative: Kardinal's Route optimization API
A factual comparison, based on Kardinal's open benchmark of 149 constraints and both vendors' public pricing. For a pure route optimization API, Kardinal is the stronger choice: far broader coverage (93% vs 57%), a per-stop model where re-optimizations stay free within 24h while Google re-bills every run, plus lexicographic optimization and agent-ready tooling. Google Route Optimization is one product inside a vast maps platform.
1,000 stops free · no credit card · self-serve sign-up
Kardinal's open benchmark, 149 constraints across 8 sectors. See the methodology
Both expose a route optimization API, but they come from opposite places. Kardinal is an API-first optimization engine, specialized in routing: it covers far more constraints, runs from simple routes to complex operations, and bills per stop with re-optimizations free within 24h. Google Route Optimization is one product inside Google Maps Platform: excellent map data and availability, but optimization is not its core, functional coverage lags at 57%, and every request re-bills all its stops, so the cost multiplies each time you re-optimize.
For a pure API need, Kardinal is the stronger choice: broader coverage, and a cost that stays flat when you re-optimize. Google's free monthly tier can look cheaper at very low volume, but every re-optimization re-bills all stops, so its cost multiplies with dynamic operations and scale.
Feature by feature
The same criteria, side by side. Coverage figures come from Kardinal's open benchmark of 149 real-world constraints.
| Criteria | Kardinal | |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmark coverage (149 constraints) | 93% | 57% |
| Focus | Route optimization specialist | Maps platform, optimization is one product of many |
| Billing model | Per stop, re-optimizations free within 24h | Per stop, every request re-bills all stops |
| Real-time re-optimization | Yes | Partial |
| Predictive traffic | Yes | Yes |
| Lexicographic optimization | Yes | No |
| Ease of integration | Typed SDKs, clear docs, first call in minutes | Powerful, but pricing, quotas and docs spread across pages |
| Free tier | 1,000 stops, no credit card | 1,000 stops/month + $300 Google Cloud credits |
| Built for AI agents | MCP server, agent-ready docs, modeling corpus | Not offered |
Already on Google Maps, low re-optimization
If you already build on Google Maps Platform, run at low volume, and optimize once a day, Google Route Optimization is a natural, reliable option, backed by world-class map data and availability.
But optimization is one product among dozens there, coverage is 57%, and every request re-bills all its stops. For a routing-first API with broader coverage and re-optimizations that stay free within 24h, the comparison tips to Kardinal.
Broader coverage, flat re-optimization cost
Kardinal covers 93% of the 149-constraint benchmark against 57% for Google, from simple routes to hard cases (multi-temperature vehicles, skip handling, multi-depot, nested time windows), plus lexicographic optimization that Google doesn't offer.
And the billing fits real operations: per stop, with re-optimizations free within 24h. You can re-optimize all day without watching the meter, where Google re-bills every run. Plus public self-serve pricing, 1,000 free stops, typed SDKs, and an MCP server for agents.
If you also need field execution, our Laskar app takes over on the driver side, from the optimized plan to the completed route.
Pricing: a flat cost when you re-optimize
Google bills per stop, but every request re-bills all its stops: each re-optimization is charged again. Kardinal bills the unique stop per plan over 24h, so re-optimizing the same day costs nothing more.
| Fleet profile | Kardinal | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 vehicles, 20 stops/day, 1 optimization/day | ~63€/mo | ~30€/mo |
| 5 vehicles, 20 stops/day, 3 optimizations/day | ~63€/mo | ~146€/mo |
| 100 vehicles, 50 stops/day, 1 optimization/day | ~1,260€/mo | ~2,870€/mo |
| 100 vehicles, 50 stops/day, 3 optimizations/day | ~1,260€/mo | ~8,670€/mo |
Kardinal's cost is identical whatever the re-optimization frequency; Google's multiplies with every run. Google figures use the first pricing tier without volume discounts, so the high-volume numbers are upper bounds (its degressive grid lowers them at scale). USD converted at ×0.92.
Re-optimizations free within 24h
Optimize the same stops all day for no extra cost. Google re-bills every request, so dynamic operations pay each recalculation.
Prepaid packs, no expiry
Prepaid stop packs, no subscription and no forced monthly tier you pay even in quiet periods.
In our developer survey, an unpredictable bill that could spike was the top pricing frustration. See the survey.
Our verdict
The best test is your own data. Our free tier of 1,000 stops lets you check whether we cover your constraints before you commit.
You already build on Google Maps Platform, run at low volume with a single daily optimization, and value Google's availability above full functional coverage.
You need a routing-first API: broadest coverage (93% vs 57%), a cost that stays flat when you re-optimize, lexicographic optimization and agent-ready tooling. For a pure API need, Kardinal is the superior choice.
1,000 stops free · no credit card
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between Kardinal and Google Route Optimization?
Is Kardinal cheaper than Google?
Can I test both for free?
Does Kardinal support lexicographic optimization?
Which one covers more constraints?
Test Kardinal on your own routes
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