Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Delivery Planning Software in 2024

Consider this scenario: It’s 7 AM, and you’ve got 50 orders lined up. Drivers are stuck in traffic on Main Street, customers are calling about delays, and you’re trying to figure out how to fit those last-minute orders that just came in. 

Sound familiar?

Many of our clients have faced this; we know it’s no fun. That’s why we jumped right into the world of delivery planning software. 

We tested 15 solutions, putting them through their paces in real-world scenarios. Late-night pizza orders? Check. Rush hour traffic nightmares? Yep. Last-minute route changes? You bet.

Our team also considered ease of use, feature sets, scalability, and bang for your buck. After testing multiple business route planner for weeks (and a lot of coffee), we’ve narrowed it down to the top 7 delivery planning software that makes a difference. 

Want to know which software cut? Let’s see.

💡 Tip for Solo Drivers: If you’re an individual driver looking for a web or mobile app to make your deliveries faster and easier, check out Upper Route Planner for solo drivers.

7 Best Delivery Route Planning Software of 2024

1. Upper: Best for local delivery businesses looking to scale efficiently

User ratings: 4.6/5 (44)

Free route planner: Free route planner app is available (for up to 20 stops)

Free trial: 7 days free trial with no credit card required

Driver app: Mobile route planner app is available and loved by delivery drivers for its simplicity and reliability. 

Ease-of-use: Our intuitive interface means you’ll be up and running quickly. Even the most tech-shy team members will love it!

Route quality: Our advanced algorithm creates high-quality, optimized routes, cutting travel distance and avoiding detours. Upper’s routes are up to 15% more efficient, with minimal overlap and clean paths for faster, hassle-free deliveries.

Pricing: Flexible pricing plans starting at $40/user/month. We grow with you, so you only pay for what you need.

Upper is a versatile delivery route planning software. We cater primarily to local delivery businesses, e-commerce operations, and field service providers looking to simplify their operations.

Upper stands out with its blend of advanced features and intuitive design:

• One-click bulk import of stops from Excel or CSV files, saving time on manual entry
• Smart route optimization considering traffic, weather, and avoidance zones
• Automatic driver assignment for balanced workloads and timely deliveries
• Drag-and-drop interface for easy route adjustments
• Real-time GPS tracking for complete visibility
• Automated customer notifications via email and SMS to keep customers informed
• Spot trends and optimize performance with detailed reports

We’ve built Upper to tackle the real-world challenges of delivery planning. Our algorithm optimizes for both efficiency and practicality, creating optimized routes that make sense to drivers and dispatchers alike. 

We understand that is crucial, so we’ve made it easy to set service times, customize delivery time windows, and make last-minute changes when needed.

For delivery businesses looking to scale, we offer:

• Capacity optimization to balance vehicle loads efficiently
• Proof of delivery software to capture photos, signatures, and notes
• Zoning features for strategic resource allocation
• In-app navigation for delivery drivers
• Dispatcher-driver chat for seamless communication

Whether you’re handling 10 deliveries a day or 500, Upper adapts to your needs. 

Here’s what our users are saying:

“Upper saved us 10 hours of planning time per week and tripled our delivery capacity.” – Nathaniel Pool, Chef Nicole Miami

With Upper, you’re not just optimizing routes – you’re optimizing your entire delivery operation. 

💡Want to test drive Upper with your data? Start your free trial today and see how our software optimizes your routes in real time.

2. Routific: Best for medium-sized local delivery businesses needing basic routing

User ratings: 4.9 (131) 

Free route planner: None

Free Trial: 7-day free trial

Driver app: Available

Ease-of-use: User-friendly interface with a simple setup process.

Route quality: Optimized routes are generally effective but may require manual tweaks for clustered stops. We observed occasional inefficiencies, overlaps, and spaghetti routes.

Pricing: Routific’s pricing starts at $49 per vehicle/month for basic features, with more advanced options in higher-tier plans.

Routific is a practical choice for medium-sized local delivery services that need basic route optimization. 

Our review of Routific found its interface easy to navigate, and the setup process is smooth, getting you up and running quickly. 

The route optimization software efficiently plans multiple routes by considering traffic patterns and driver preferences, ensuring high delivery efficiency. 

However, it does show some limitations when managing complex deliveries with multiple clustered stops. Solution like real-time driver tracking and proof of delivery are not available in the essential plan, which could be a drawback. 

While Routific excels at handling straightforward delivery needs, it may require manual adjustments for more intricate routes. It’s a dependable option, but there are some trade-offs to consider.

💡 If Routific’s limitations concern you, it might be worth looking at Routific alternatives or checking how they compare in our comparison of Upper vs. Routific.

3. OptimoRoute: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing multi-stop route optimization

User ratings: 4.6 (153)

Free route planner: Not available

Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Driver app: Route optimization app for drivers is available

Ease-of-use: User-friendly, though some advanced features require a bit of learning.

Route quality: Routes are optimized quickly but lack real-time traffic data, which can affect ETA accuracy.

Pricing: OptimoRoute’s pricing starts at $39 per driver per month, but costs can rise quickly with larger fleets or feature upgrades.

OptimoRoute is route planning software for small businesses with moderate needs.

While reviewing OptimoRoute, we found it effective at importing orders and optimizing efficient multi-stop routes, even allowing mid-day changes without disruption. 

The software is particularly efficient in providing live tracking, proof of delivery, and useful analytics to evaluate delivery driver performance.

However, OptimoRoute falls short in some areas. It doesn’t integrate live traffic data, which can lead to inaccurate ETAs. Also, some essential features, like barcode scanning, are only available in higher-priced plans, which can make it expensive for larger fleets.While user-friendly and offers a decent set of tools, businesses with more complex delivery needs might want to explore other OptimoRoute alternatives.

💡 If you’re on the fence about OptimoRoute, reviewing Upper vs. Routific could help you make a better decision.

4. Route4Me: Best for businesses needing a flexible, last-mile delivery solution

User ratings: 4.5 (388)

Free delivery route planner: Available (for up to 10 stops)

Free Trial: 7-day free trial 

Delivery route app for driver: Available

Ease-of-use: The interface is often considered outdated and cluttered.

Route quality: Route optimization algorithms can produce inefficient routes and inaccurate ETAs. Real-time tracking is a strong point but may not always resolve routing issues.

Pricing: Route4me’s pricing starts at $40 per user per month, with additional costs for necessary add-ons.

Route4Me is a seasoned delivery planning software ideal for businesses with heavy last-mile delivery needs. It offers a modular approach, allowing you to add features like automated customer notifications, proof of delivery, and curbside pickup delivery support as needed. This flexibility is a plus, but it comes with a downside—the cost of essential add-on features can add up quickly.

💡 If you want budget-friendly options, explore other Route4Me alternatives.

While Route4Me excels in real-time tracking and customizable route planning, its user interface is outdated and occasionally cluttered, which could hinder usability. 

Additionally, some users have reported issues with route accuracy and ETA calculations, so it’s not always the most reliable for optimizing complex multiple routes.

💡 For a better comparison of the delivery route optimization capability, see our guide on Route4Me vs. Routific.

However, if you need a customizable last-mile delivery route optimization solution, Route4Me offers valuable features worth considering.

5. MyRouteOnline: Best for deliveries, sales, and service businesses

User ratings: 4.6 (108)

Free route optimization app: No free app is available

Free Trial: 20 credits free trial

Driver app: Available

Ease-of-use: User-friendly with easy import and route adjustment features.

Route quality: Provides effective basic route optimization with drag-and-drop adjustments.

Pricing: MyRouteOnline uses a credit-based pricing model with plans starting at $24 for 50 address credits. More extensive plans are available for more significant needs.

MyRouteOnline offers an intuitive platform for planning and optimizing delivery routes. 

It supports importing addresses from various sources, such as Google Drive and Dropbox and allows you to set stop durations for better route accuracy. You can also save and reload routes, making it convenient for frequent deliveries. 

The delivery route scheduling software lacks proof of delivery features but provides easy route adjustments with drag-and-drop functionality. 

While it excels in handling multiple stops and offers flexible data import options, the absence of advanced features and the complex pricing structure can be drawbacks.

💡 However, if you’re looking for more advanced features and better pricing, there are other alternative options of MyRouteOnline to consider.

MyRouteOnline is suitable for basic routing needs, particularly if you value ease of use and flexibility in data management.

6. WorkWave RouteManager: Best for real-time delivery management

User ratings: 4.3 (81)

Free route planner: Not available

Free Trial: Not available

Driver app: Available

Ease-of-use: User-friendly with intuitive route planning and dispatch features.

Route quality: Provides accurate route optimization and real-time tracking. However, multi-day route planning and customization options are limited.

Pricing: Pricing starts at $54 per month per vehicle, with different packages based on features and scale.

WorkWave RouteManager is reliable for delivery operations seeking efficiency and real-time management. 

During our review of WorkWave, we found that it easily allows you to manage schedules, dispatch drivers, and optimize routes. The driver mobile app updates your team with daily routes and last-minute changes.

GPS tracking is accurate, offering timely alerts and customer notifications.

However, we noticed some limitations. The system struggles with multi-day routes and has limited customization options. The reporting features are basic, and the mobile delivery route app can sometimes be slow. 

Overall, WorkWave RouteManager is effective but may need adjustments depending on your needs.

💡 If you’re curious about options offering different functionalities, check out our list of WorkWave alternatives.

7. Onfleet: Best for businesses with large delivery volumes

User ratings: 4.6 (93)

Free route planner: Not available

Free Trial: 14-day free trial (credit card required)

Driver app: Available

Ease-of-use: Requires some learning but becomes manageable with regular use.

Route quality: Generally reliable delivery route optimization, though occasional quirks can occur, especially in complex areas.

Pricing: Onfleet’s pricing starts at $550 per month, which may be steep for smaller businesses. Pricing increases with advanced features and higher delivery volumes.

Onfleet stands out for businesses with large delivery volumes. We’ve tested and reviewed Onfleet thoroughly to see how it handles the job. 

Its route planning is straightforward, letting you add stops and prioritize easily. Real-time tracking keeps you updated on your drivers’ locations, which is handy for making quick adjustments. 

The customizable reporting features offer insights to help you improve your delivery operations.

However, the interface can be tricky to learn initially, and some key features are only available in higher-priced plans.

💡 If you’re weighing your options, you might want to consider how Upper compares to Onfleet.

If you’re managing a large number of deliveries, Onfleet’s strengths in optimization and tracking make it a good option, but be prepared for some learning.

8 Common Features to Look for in Delivery Planning Software

Now that we’ve covered some of the top delivery planning software options let’s explore some key features you should consider.

1. Route optimization: Look for a tool to quickly crunch the numbers and give you the most efficient routes. It should consider traffic, delivery time windows, priority stops, drivers’ shift schedules, and vehicle capacity.
2. Real-time tracking: With this, you can see where your delivery drivers are at any moment. It helps you manage or avoid delivery delays, update customers, and smooth your delivery process.
3. Easy import/export: Look for delivery route planners that let you easily import addresses from spreadsheets and export route data for your records.
4. Dynamic rerouting: When unexpected changes occur, this feature lets you adjust/edit routes on the go, ensuring that deliveries remain on schedule.
5. Mobile app for drivers: Your drivers are on the go, so their tools should be, too. A good mobile app gives drivers access to their routes, delivery details, and any changes.
6. Customer notifications: Happy customers are repeat customers. Automatic SMS or email updates about ETAs can help manage customer expectations.
7. Proof of delivery: Say goodbye to “he said, she said” situations. Look for features that let drivers capture signatures, photos, or notes as proof of delivery.
8. Analytics and reporting: Data is power. Look for route planners that offer insights into delivery performance, route efficiency, and driver behavior. This helps you spot trends and make smarter decisions.

Remember, you don’t need the best route optimization software with all the bells and whistles. Focus on the route planning functions that align with your specific business needs.

How to Choose the Right Delivery Planning Software

So, you’ve seen the options and know what features to look for. 

But how do you pick the right delivery planning software for your business? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s break it down into simple steps.

1. Know your needs 

First things first, what are you looking for? Jot down your must-haves. 

Are you all about speed? Or maybe you need customizable customer notifications? Do you need dispatch routing software that handles complex multi-stop route planning, or are you more focused on real-time tracking and driver communication?

Knowing your priorities will help you filter out the options.

2. Set your budget 

Money talks, right? Figure out how much you can spend. 

Remember, efficient delivery route planning software is an investment, not just an expense. But there’s no point falling in love with a Rolls Royce if you’re on a bicycle budget.

3. Ease of use 

The delivery route optimization software should be intuitive for you and your drivers. It could create more problems than it solves if it’s too complicated.

4. Think about scalability 

Your business is going to grow (fingers crossed!). Can the best delivery management software grow with you? Make sure it can handle more stops, drivers, and complexity as you expand.

5. Check the integration options 

Your new routing software needs to play nicely with your existing tools. 

Whether it’s your accounting system or your e-commerce platform, smooth integration ensures a seamless flow of information and reduces manual data entry errors.

6. Try before you buy 

Most good route optimization software offers a free trial. Use it! This is your chance to kick the tires and see if it fits your needs. Don’t be shy about testing all the features.

7. Evaluate customer support 

You’ll need help at some point. How easy is it to reach their support team? Do they offer training? Good support can make or break your experience.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The right software for you is the one that best fits your specific needs, budget, and goals. Take your time, do your homework, and you’ll find the perfect match for your business. 

Your Perfect Delivery Planning Tool Awaits

Let’s wrap this up. We’ve walked you through our top picks for delivery planning software. Each tool has strengths, whether it’s Upper’s scalability, Routific’s simplicity, or Onfleet’s high-volume handling.

Remember, the best software for you depends on your specific needs. Are you a delivery business looking to scale? Upper might be your go-to. Handling hundreds of deliveries daily? Onfleet could be your answer.

Don’t just take our word for it. Most of these tools offer free trials. Give them a spin with your real-world data. See how they handle your unique challenges.