In the transport and logistics industry, route efficiency is a key challenge. Whether you’re a delivery driver or an operations manager, planning routes effectively helps save time, reduce mileage, and lower costs.
Some free apps now offer multi-stop route planning features suitable for professional use, particularly for light or seasonal activities.
In this article, we review 5 free route planning apps: their advantages, limitations, and the use cases they’re best suited for.
1. Google Maps
Google Maps is arguably the world’s most popular mapping tool, used daily by millions of people. For new delivery drivers or independent couriers, it’s often the go-to app, easy to use, reliable, and familiar.
📱 Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
💰 Free
✅ Advantages for route planning
- Intuitive and familiar interface, easy even for casual users.
- Up-to-date maps with reliable, real-time traffic information.
- Multi-modal navigation (car, bike, walking, or public transport).
- Multiple stops (up to 10) with manual reordering by drag and drop.
- Ideal for simple route planning, quickly set up a daily route with accurate travel time estimates.
- Street View and satellite imagery for previewing complex delivery locations.
- Displays nearby points of interest (gas stations, restaurants, parking), useful for drivers on the go.
- Syncs with Google Calendar and Gmail, automatically adding addresses from meetings or confirmation emails.
❌ Limitations for professional logistics use
- No automatic optimization: Google Maps won’t reorder stops to minimize time or distance. Drivers must plan the optimal sequence manually, which requires experience or external preparation (e.g., via Excel or another tool).
- Limited to 10 stops, which is too few for most delivery routes.
- No logistics constraints management: it doesn’t account for delivery time windows, vehicle capacity, service times, or package types.
- No fleet management or reporting: not designed for team or dispatcher use.
🧰 Recommended use cases
Google Maps remains a great option for:
- Independent drivers or couriers with few daily stops.
- Technicians or tradespeople visiting regular clients.
- Checking or visualizing complex addresses before departure.
- Navigation when paired with another optimization tool (e.g., Excel + Google Maps).
2. Laskar
Laskar is a mobile app designed for delivery drivers and professionals on the move, developed by Kardinal, a recognized leader in complex route optimization. It combines ease of use with an advanced optimization engine, offering a free version limited to 10 stops.
📱 Platforms: Android, iOS
💰 Free up to 10 stops / Subscription for more
✅ Advantages for route planning
- Clear and ergonomic mobile interface, designed specifically for delivery professionals.
- Flexible stop entry: manual input, Excel/CSV import, voice commands, or photo scan.
- Address favorites for quickly reusing frequent locations.
- Automatic address verification for more accurate geocoding.
- Multi-criteria optimization considering time windows, service times, driver breaks, and transport modes (car, bike, motorbike, van, walking).
- Connected navigation with Google Maps or Waze.
- Simple delivery tracking with delivered or failed stop marking.
❌ Limitations for professional logistics use
- Free version limited to 10 stops, requiring a subscription for longer routes (up to 250 stops).
- No proof of delivery yet, signature, photo, or parcel scan not available in the app.
🧰 Recommended use cases
- Independent couriers or self-employed drivers planning small to medium-sized routes.
- Small teams looking to test a reliable tool before investing in a full solution.
- Users seeking a simple, fast-to-learn app with a genuine optimization engine.
💰 Pricing
- Free: €0, up to 10 stops per route, unlimited routes, includes all app features (voice/photo stop entry, delivery time windows, route duplication, GPS navigation, delivery marking).
- Premium: €8/month (excl. VAT) for up to 250 stops per route.
- Free Trial: 7 days, no commitment.
LasKar, the only app that combines a budget-friendly price with premium features.
3. Circuit / Spoke Route Planner
Circuit (now called Spoke) is an app specifically designed for delivery drivers, offering a very limited free version that provides a preview of its optimization features. It features a modern mobile interface and an efficient route optimization engine, primarily for last-mile delivery.
📱 Platform: Android, iOS
💰 Free version up to 10 stops / Subscription required beyond
✅ Advantages for route planning
- Automatic stop order optimization, even in the free version (up to 10 addresses).
- Smooth, driver-focused interface, with Google Maps or Waze integration for navigation.
- Ability to add notes, photos, or signatures at each stop in the pro version.
- Proof of Delivery (POD) available in paid versions.
- Plan routes considering delivery time windows and stop durations (paid plans).
- Quickly add addresses on the go from your smartphone.
❌ Limitations for professional logistics use
- Limited to 10 stops in the free version, making it unsuitable for larger professional routes.
- No advanced constraint features in the free version (time windows, vehicle capacities, etc.).
- Route export or sharing unavailable without a subscription.
- Web version only available for paid users (Circuit for Teams).
🧰 Recommended use cases
- Independent delivery drivers or self-employed couriers with up to 10 stops.
- Users who want to test a simple mobile optimization tool before switching to a full-featured solution.
- More structured delivery teams (paid version) needing delivery tracking, customer notifications, or proof of delivery.
💰 Pricing
- Free: $0 for basic GPS navigation and tracking, limited to 10 stops per route.
- Lite: $10/month for unlimited stops, without advanced features (time windows, voice input, Package Finder, Google navigation).
- Standard: $20/month for unlimited stops, voice/photo stop input, time window management, parcel tracking, and Google Maps navigation.
4. Route4Me
Route4Me is a comprehensive route planning solution designed for delivery professionals and teams managing diverse fleets. It offers a wide range of features—from route optimization to proof of delivery—with options for territory management and recurring routes for regular operations.
📱 Platform: Android, iOS, Web
💰 Free version up to 10 stops / Subscription required beyond
✅ Advantages for route planning
- Automatic route optimization that considers traffic and vehicle constraints (trucks, height limits, restricted bridges, etc.).
- Easy import of address lists via Excel.
- Comprehensive Proof of Delivery (POD) module: photos, signatures, and parcel scans.
- Route history and reporting available in paid versions.
- Advanced territory planning features: fixed zones, recurring routes, multi-driver assignments.
- Extensive integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, telematics, and geofencing tools.
❌ Limitations for professional logistics use
- Very limited free version: maximum of 10 stops, routes deleted after 7 days, no real-time tracking or time window management.
- ETAs can be overly optimistic, potentially disrupting route timing and customer satisfaction.
- Outdated, complex web interface with frequent pop-ups and a steeper learning curve.
- Limited stop customization, making it less suitable for non-delivery sectors like field service, real estate, or home care.
🧰 Recommended use cases
- Delivery companies with mixed fleets, including heavy vehicles.
- Teams with defined service areas requiring recurring planning and delivery proof.
- Businesses needing to integrate route optimization with other tools (e-commerce, CRM, or tracking systems).
💰 Pricing
- Free: up to 10 stops, routes valid for 7 days, no real-time execution.
- Basic: €8.49/month – create and export routes without POD or advanced tracking.
- Enhanced: €16.99/month – add destinations, track stop statuses, and access improved address search.
5. RoadWarrior
RoadWarrior is an app designed for mobile professionals, particularly delivery drivers. It allows users to create, organize, and optimize routes while considering multiple constraints.
📱 Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
💰 Free version up to 8 stops / Subscription required beyond
✅ Advantages for route planning
- Route optimization by distance or duration, accounting for real-time traffic, tolls, highways, and ferries.
- Customizable routes with simple constraints such as time windows, service durations, and customer priorities (mostly in paid versions).
- Supports multiple travel modes: car, bike, or walking.
- Automatic cloud backup with full route history accessible anytime.
❌ Limitations for professional logistics use
- Highly limited free version: only 8 stops per route and a daily cap of 48 optimized stops.
- Outdated interface: some users find the app less intuitive, especially on mobile.
- No built-in proof of delivery: no photo capture, parcel scan, or signature option.
- Advanced features such as CSV import, time windows, multi-route management, and export are reserved for paid versions.
🧰 Recommended use cases
- Delivery drivers or sales reps with short routes, especially those managing time constraints (in paid plans).
- Small businesses with modest fleets: the Flex version supports team management and route dispatching.
- Professionals seeking a reliable, efficient, and proven route optimization tool.
💰 Pricing
- Free: up to 8 stops per route and 48 optimized stops per day.
- Pro: $15.99/month for up to 200 stops per route and 500 optimized stops per day.
Comparative table of the 5 best route planning apps
App | Avg. store rating | Platforms | Free stops | Subscriptions & pricing | Strengths | Weaknesses | Google Maps | ⭐ 4.1/5 | Web, Android, iOS | 10 stops/route | Free | Intuitive interface, real-time traffic, multimodal navigation | No route optimization, no logistics constraints support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laskar | ⭐ 5.0/5 | Android, iOS | 10 stops/route | Premium €8/month | Simple interface, smart address input & verification, multi-criteria optimization | No web version, no multi-driver management, no proof of delivery |
Circuit / Spoke | ⭐ 4,6/5 | Android, iOS | 10 stops/route | Lite $10/month, Standard $20/month | Easy-to-use app, POD module, simple tracking, time window support | Expensive, advanced features only in $20/month plan |
Route4Me | ⭐ 4,0/5 | Android, iOS, Web | 10 stops/route | Basic €8.49/month, Advanced €16.99/month | Advanced territory planning, POD, e-commerce integrations, multi-driver routes | Very limited free plan, outdated web interface, little customization |
RoadWarrior | ⭐ 4,1/5 | Web, Android, iOS | 8 stops/route, 48/day | Pro $15.99/month | Handles basic constraints, saves route history | Very limited free plan, dated interface, no built-in POD |
Conclusion
The route planning app market is full of options, each with its own strengths. While some tools stand out for their feature richness or ease of use, few succeed in combining efficiency, accessibility, and real-world adaptability.
Laskar stands out as a strong alternative, both easy to use and powerful enough to meet the daily needs of delivery drivers. Its intuitive interface, flexible import options, and multi-criteria optimization engine make it a serious choice for professionals seeking a reliable app without unnecessary complexity.
Available on both iOS and Android, Laskar is definitely worth trying to see if it matches your needs and the way you work on the road.