Upper vs. Zeo Route Planner: Head-to-Head Comparison for Better Routing Efficiency

We do not have control over chance, but we certainly have control over choices. So, when given a chance, choosing the best available option should always be your approach.

Especially in logistics or delivery business industries, where delivering products on time, optimizing travel routes, and reducing operational costs are crucial, the right choice in routing software can make all the difference. 

What if you chose Zeo and later discovered that;

• Upper has improved delivery efficiency by threefold, 
• Helped save 40% on fuel costs, and 
• Significantly enhanced route optimization that could have doubled your daily deliveries?

What if you come to know that Zeo Route Planner’s first plan allows you to add only 15 stops per route whereas Upper allows 250 stops per route? Won’t it affect your capability to scale operations as your business grows? 

All these small differences create a huge impact on your overall operational efficiency. So, without any further delay, let’s delve into a detailed comparison between Upper and Zeo route planner. 

We’ll explore how each platform addresses the critical needs of logistics and delivery businesses, examining their features, user experience, scalability, and overall value.

How Did We Compare Upper vs. Zeo Route Planner?

We understand that choosing the right route planning software is not just a decision—it’s an investment. Your hard-earned money and the operational success of your business depend on selecting a tool that truly fits your needs.

And that’s why our team of experts has conducted a thorough and fair comparison of both platforms. First, let’s see what practical approach we took to deliver the most insightful and unbiased analysis possible.

Our practical approach is divided into a few steps. Please have a look:

• Features base: We examined capabilities such as route optimization, maximum number of stops per route, real-time traffic updates, and seamless integration with your existing systems.
• Ease of use: Our team practically used both the software to determine whether the software is easy to understand, smooth to navigate, and how streamlined the setup process is. 
• Mobile-responsive: We tested how well each platform’s mobile app functions in real-time environments. This included checking the apps for stability, user interface design, responsiveness to commands, and overall functionality on various devices.
• Pricing models: Analyzed different subscription levels, inclusion of free trials, and feature allocation per pricing tier. We even checked if there was any room to customize the pricing plan as per the customer’s requirements.

In addition to our firsthand testing, we also gathered and analyzed feedback from current users of both platforms. We even connected Capterra, G2, and Software Advice where hundreds of users have shared their real experiences. 

This user feedback provided a broader context to our findings, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses experienced by real businesses in their day-to-day operations.

Upper Route Planner vs. Zeo Route Planner: The Final Face-Off

Feature Base
User ratings (Capterra)	4.6/5 (29)	4.6/5 (40)
User rating (G2)	4.8/5	4.8/5
Pricing model	Per user	Per user
Free trial	Yes, for 7 Days	Yes, for 7 days
Stops per route under the first plan	12 stops per route	250 stops per route
Discount offer	Yes, flat 20% off on annual billing	Yes, flat 20% off on annual billing
The pricing plan starts at	$35/month/driver	$40/user/month
Route optimization
Service time
Time windows
Vehicle capacity optimization
Proof of delivery
Re-assignment of routes
Contact/Address book
Bulk SMS
Delivery service zones
Edit routes in-transit
Multiple map view	Only the map view, not the satellite and terrain view
Set stops priority
Color Code the stops
In-app navigation	Only for iOS users

• Feature Base Zeo Upper

• User ratings (Capterra)

  4.6/5 (29)

  4.6/5 (40)

• User rating (G2)

  4.8/5

  4.8/5

• Pricing model

  Per user

  Per user

• Free trial

  Yes, for 7 Days

  Yes, for 7 days

• Stops per route under the first plan

  12 stops per route

  250 stops per route

• Discount offer

  Yes, flat 20% off on annual billing

  Yes, flat 20% off on annual billing

• The pricing plan starts at

  $35/month/driver

  $40/user/month

• Route optimization

  

  

• Service time

  

  

• Time windows

  

  

• Vehicle capacity optimization

  

  

• Proof of delivery

  

  

• Re-assignment of routes

  

  

• Contact/Address book

  

  

• Bulk SMS

  

  

• Delivery service zones

  

  

• Edit routes in-transit

  

  

• Multiple map view

  Only the map view, not the satellite and terrain view

  

• Set stops priority

  

  

• Color Code the stops

  

  

• In-app navigation

  Only for iOS users

  

• Try Upper for FREE No credit card required

Why Choose Upper Over Zeo Route Planner?

After a thorough comparison, it’s clear that both Zeo and Upper offer competitive features, including free trials and diverse pricing plans. However, Upper stands out when it comes to scalability and handling real-world logistics challenges.

Scalability for diverse needs: Zeo Route Planner is effective for individual drivers or small teams, supporting up to 15 stops per route. This is adequate for smaller operations but may not suffice for larger businesses. In contrast, Upper is designed to scale with any size operation—from single drivers to large enterprises. Its plans are tailored to grow your business:

• Upper solo: Priced at $19.99/month, the Upper solo plan lets you optimize routes quickly, often in less than five minutes. It’s perfect for solo drivers looking to streamline daily operations. The functionalities of Upper solo are:

• Efficient route planning
• Optimization and quick dispatch
• Last-minute route changes, re-routing
• Paperless proof of deliveries
• Detailed analytics for business insights

In any case, if you want to try and taste the Upper Solo app practically, consider trying it free for 3 days, followed by downloading either on iOS or Android, once assured about every aspect. 

• Upper crew: Ideal for teams or large enterprises, this option offers flexible pricing, superior features, and premium customer support, ensuring that larger operations get the support they need.

Advanced features and support: Upper enhances route optimization with real-time re-routing to avoid delays, a centralized system for delivery proof, and powerful analytics to drive smarter business decisions. These tools are essential for maintaining efficiency and improving profitability at scale.

Consistent updates: Upper consistently updates its software, ensuring that all existing features and functionalities remain up to the mark. Notable core features include:

• Route Optimization
• Vehicle Capacity Optimization
• Real-time Tracking
• Automated Customer Alerts
• One-Click Driver Dispatch
• Bulk Address Import
• Route Scheduling
• Driving Management

However, to serve customers recently, Upper has introduced several key updates that enhance its offerings:

• Bulk SMS Feature: Share important discount deals or crucial information with thousands of customers simultaneously.
• Delivery Service Zones: Set specific areas as restricted zones and assign them only to drivers who are familiar with those regions.
• Edit Routes in Transit: Make real-time changes to routes while deliveries are in progress.
• Shopify App Integration: Now get Upper on Shopify. Seamlessly integrate with Shopify for efficient order management.

These updates highlight areas where Upper excels, particularly in comparison to Zeo, which lacks these advanced functionalities.

Customer-centric policies: Upper also offers annual discounts, does not have forced auto-renewal policies for more control over subscriptions, and provides ease of use that makes it accessible to all user levels.

Choose What is Right For You?

Choosing the best routing software can significantly impact your business. Upper’s comprehensive feature set, including route optimization, dispatching and scheduling real-time tracking, and automated customer alerts, ensures your operations are always running smoothly. The recent updates, such as bulk SMS, delivery service zones, and real-time route editing, further enhance Upper’s capabilities, making it a superior choice over Zeo Route Planner.