The Best MapQuest Alternatives for Mobile, Web & Business Use

MapQuest is the OG of navigation apps. Way back in 1996, long before we became smartphone addicts, we relied on our printed-out directions to get from point A to point B. 

Over the years, MapQuest has evolved and is still used by millions of people today. 

There’s a lot to love about MapQuest as a mapping service and navigation tool, but it’s not perfect. If you run a delivery business, it’s too limited to be practical. But even for general use, MapQuest just may not do it for you. 

Fortunately, there are many alternatives that will tick all of your boxes. In this review, we’ll look at what MapQuest can and can’t do, and explore some of the best alternatives for general and business use.

MapQuest key features

MapQuest is a simple and straightforward tool, but that’s the beauty of it. With just a few taps of a button, you can:

1. Search by address or place

Not sure of the exact address of your destination? No problem! With MapQuest, you can add destinations just by searching for the name of the business or place.

This is hardly a revolutionary feature — you can do this with most web mapping tools these days — but it’s still convenient!

The web-based and Android versions of MapQuest also have a free RoutePlanner tool that allows you to import or copy/paste up to 26 stops. You can then optimize routes with ease. You should know that the iPhone version doesn’t have this route optimization feature – you will have to drag and drop stops into an order you like.   

2. Adjust route settings

Mapquest has custom route settings that you can activate to avoid busy highways, toll roads, unpaved roads, ferries, and more. These options are available on both the regular MapQuest tool and the RoutePlanner.

3. View and compare alternate routes

Once you’ve added all of your stops, you can view and compare routes. This feature is only available on the app, but it’s a convenient one that gives you a little more control over your trip.

Take the scenic route or avoid the rush hour traffic in the nearby city. With MapQuest, you have more route options.

4. Get real-time ETAs and traffic conditions

There’s nothing worse than hitting the road and getting stuck in traffic. MapQuest helps you avoid traffic congestion with real-time traffic updates. With their mapping app, you can also see your travel time and ETA, which is updated in real-time. 

Again, this is nothing revolutionary, and you’ll find the same features in Google Maps, Waze, etc — it just means that Mapquest is (just about) keeping up.  

5. Find points of interest in your area

If you’re planning a road trip or visiting a new city, MapQuest can help you find points of interest like hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and gas stations in seconds. 

You can even view Yelp ratings and reviews when available, get directions to the business, view photos, and more. The interface is similar to Google Maps, so it’s easy to navigate your way around.

Overall, MapQuest has some cool features, even though it doesn't really excel in any particular area. In the next section, we’ll take a look at some of the drawbacks. 

What MapQuest can’t do

MapQuest can do a lot of things, but it also has some limitations. 

1. No choice of navigation apps

The browser version of MapQuest is quick and easy to use, but you can’t use it for anything more than simple route planning. If you want to export your directions to Google Maps, Waze, or another navigation app, you’re out of luck — your only option is to print or share them.

While the app does have a navigation function, it’s a little clunky and riddled with ads. To be fair, MapQuest is free, so they need to keep their business running somehow — but the ads are a lot more intrusive than in Google Maps.

2. MapQuest isn’t ideal for delivery or business use

The biggest complaint I have with MapQuest is that it’s not ideal for business use. 

Here’s why:

• You can only add 26 stops to a route
• Optimization is limited
• There’s no option to optimize multiple routes
• It’s lacking features like customer notifications, proof of delivery, and GPS tracking

If you manage a fleet — no matter how small — MapQuest doesn’t offer the integrations and connectivity that centralized platforms offer. 

MapQuest alternatives for mobile

If MapQuest doesn’t tick all of the boxes for you, there are quite a few alternatives that are optimized for mobile.

The right one for you will depend on whether you need something for general or business use.

Mobile alternatives to Mapquest for general use

Maps.me

Availability: Android & iOS

Maps.me has a lot going for it. Its main selling point is that it supports offline use. Just download your map, plan your route, and get moving. If you’ve ever been stuck without access to your online maps when you really need them, you’ll appreciate the value of this feature!

You should know that while there are plenty of perks to using offline maps, there are some limitations: 

• You’ll need to download maps for every location you plan to visit in advance. If you’re planning a trip from Vancouver to Edmonton, for example, you may need to download all of the maps for British Columbia and Alberta — and each province has several maps.
• You’re limited to 10 free map downloads. If you need more, you’ll need to upgrade to a pro account, which is $3.49 per month or $32.99 per year.
• Route planning has its quirks. Moving from route planning to navigation can be tricky, and I struggled to find options to change my starting point.

That said, Maps.me is still an excellent alternative to MapQuest for mobile devices. It’s especially useful if you like to venture into remote areas where cell service is sketchy. 

You never have to worry about losing connectivity and getting lost because your offline maps are always with you.

Apple Maps

Availability: iPhone only

Apple Maps is Apple’s answer to Google Maps. The simple, intuitive interface makes this app so easy to use.

Along with GPS navigation, Apple Maps gives you the option to:

• Download maps for offline use
• Explore cities in greater detail with 3D maps
• Get turn-by-turn navigation for walking and public transportation
• Use Siri to get directions while you’re on the road

The biggest drawback? Apple Maps is only available for Apple devices.

Waze

Availability: Android & iOS

Waze is a popular crowd-sourced navigation app with over 140 million users, offering smooth and efficient driving directions.   

But unlike its sister app Google Maps, Waze doesn’t offer much flexibility if you need to make multiple stops. You can only add one stop to your route. If you need to add more, you’ll need to start a new drive.

Still, Waze has quite a few perks that make it easy to overlook this shortcoming:

• Real-time updates from the community, so you can reroute to avoid hazards, detours, and more
• Spoken turn-by-turn directions
• Real-time traffic data
• Multiple language support 

Plus, Waze is free to use, and you don’t even need an account to use the app.

Comparison table: Mobile alternatives to Mapquest

Mobile alternatives to Mapquest for delivery drivers

RoadWarrior

RoadWarrior is a popular app for planning delivery routes with flexible pricing, reliable features, and an intuitive design.

With RoadWarrior, you can:

• Optimize routes with up to 500 stops
• Plan routes with drop-off priorities, toll roads, and other factors in mind
• Plan and track driver routes 
• Assign routes and monitor progress

The app is speedy enough and delivers live traffic updates to keep drivers moving.

Circuit

Circuit  claims to save delivery drivers an hour a day. In this business, time is money, so this is a serious selling point.

But how does the app achieve this goal?

With Circuit, you can:

• Set time windows and priority deliveries to keep routes efficient
• Add, delete, and re-optimize stops, even when you’re already on the road

Unique features, like package finder and hands-free voice entry, make it easy for drivers to do their jobs safely and efficiently.

Circuit also integrates with your preferred navigation app, so it’s easy to implement it into your workflow.

Zeo

Zeo Route Planner is a great MapQuest alternative for both drivers and delivery operations. It’s loaded with smart features that save you time, like:

• Advanced image recognition, so you can scan printed manifests and add addresses in seconds
• The option to share your live location with customers
• Route scheduling in advance
• The ability to collect delivery photos and customer signatures

Fleet managers can also auto-assign routes based on driver availability, track route progress, and onboard drivers in minutes.

Zeo’s delivery-friendly features are what make this app so popular with fleet owners and drivers.

Comparison table: Mobile alternatives to Mapquest for delivery drivers

MapQuest alternatives for both mobile and desktop

If you want a little more flexibility in how you plan your routes, these MapQuest alternatives offer both mobile and web app options.

This is especially useful if you like to do your planning with the convenience of a big screen, but need a mobile app for actual navigation. 

For general use

Google Maps

With more than 1 billion users worldwide, it’s no surprise that Google Maps makes this list. It’s easy to use, and it’s super versatile, too. You can get simple driving directions to a destination or plan an entire trip, right from the Maps interface.

In a snap, Google will send you on the fastest route to wherever you’re going, and take things like road closures and accidents into account.

But that’s not the only thing Maps can do:

• Send directions from the web app to your phone (if your device is connected to your account)
• Use Street View to visualize your route
• Plan future trips by adjusting the departure or arrival time
• Send your location to others
• Download maps to stay on track even when you lose connection

Maps also makes it easy to add multiple stops to your route, but you’re limited to just 10 total. It can’t optimize your route, but it offers a simple way to navigate around town or across the country.

Roadtrippers

RoadTrippers is a niche alternative to MapQuest. It excels at planning road trips, but that’s about it. 

The scope may be limited, but it really does an excellent job of planning a killer road trip, thanks to the AI-powered Autopilot feature. 

Autopilot will create your entire itinerary for you in seconds. Just enter a few basic details about your preferences to get started. 

With a Premium subscription, you can also:

• Add up to 150 stops
• Export trips
• Navigate right from the app
• View life traffic updates
• Download maps
• Get RV-friendly tools

A Premium membership will set you back $59.99 for the year, but if you’re into RVing or just love taking the scenic route, it’s worth the cost.

RoadTrippers does have a free trial, and you can easily plan trips on desktop or mobile.

HERE WeGo

HERE WeGo’s barebones interface is a welcome sight in a sea of mapping apps littered with ads. Just enter your destination, and you’re ready to start planning.

Both the desktop and mobile app have a user-friendly interface that’s similar to Google Maps. I also love how easy it is to change your starting point — something that so many other apps complicate for no reason.

Adding stops is fast and easy. Enter the exact address or search for a place or point of interest (grocery store, gas, etc.).

Rerouting is easy, too. Just click and drag a stop to change its order. 

With HERE WeGo, you can:

• Change your route preferences and departure time
• Share and save trips
• Scan your trip’s QR code to open routes in the mobile app
• Get real-time information on traffic conditions and road closures

The real-time updates and ease of use make HERE WeGo a popular choice for commuters, but it’s just as efficient at planning a multi-stop trip across the country. 

There doesn’t seem to be a limit on how many stops you can add. I planned a demo trip from coast to coast with 13 stops, and HERE WeGo set up my route in seconds.

Comparison table: Desktop + mobile alternatives to Mapquest 

Mapquest alternatives for delivery businesses

Routific

We may be a little biased, but we believe that Routific is one of the best MapQuest alternatives for delivery businesses.

Why? Because the platform is built from the ground up with fleet management and route optimization in mind.

Routific:

• Automates route planning. Upload a spreadsheet, or use our API integration to sync orders and reduce errors.
• Optimizes routes based on numerous factors, from historical traffic patterns to driver preferences.
• Simplifies route adjustments. Drag ‘n drop functionality makes it easy to change routes. You can even add last-minute deliveries or assign drivers to routes they’re most familiar with.
• Makes dispatch less complicated. Send routes right to your drivers’ app, get live GPS tracking, navigate with familiar apps, and more.

Customer-facing functionality, analytics, and proof of delivery features make Routific an all-around awesome option for delivery operations of all sizes.

Circuit for Teams

Unlike Circuit’s route planner — which is designed for delivery drivers — Circuit for Teams is for designed courier companies. 

In other words, Teams adds functions for dispatchers to make life easier.

Along with route optimization, you can use Teams to:

• Import delivery data automatically
• Customize stops by adding notes, assigning drivers, and more
• Edit live routes or send updates in real-time
• Collect signatures or snap photos for proof of delivery

Plus, Teams makes it easy to view analytics and analyze key metrics you can use to optimize your operations.

Route4Me

Route4Me optimizes last-mile transportation through robust features like:

• Route planning and optimization 
• Dispatch and tracking tools
• Driver efficiency tools
• Integrations with order management systems

Customer communication features and analytics help delivery businesses optimize their processes to improve performance and customer satisfaction.

The biggest complaint with Route4Me? Package options and solutions are a little confusing and overwhelming. There are separate solutions for drivers, which also come with their own costs. Speaking with an agent may be the best way to determine which solution is right for you.

OptimoRoute

OptimoRoute is loaded with features — 50+ to be exact — but it’s the automated planning functionality that makes it a serious MapQuest contender. 

Just import your orders, and OptimoRoute will calculate the most efficient route and schedule. 

Drivers can use whatever navigation app they prefer: Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, and more.

OptimoRoute can also:

• Plan long-haul routes that span multiple days
• Plan truck-specific routes and optimize for large vehicles and hazardous materials when necessary

With such a wealth of features and its complex platform, OptimoRoute is best suited for larger operations.

If you want to take their service for a test drive, they have a 30-day free trial.

Comparison table: Mapquest alternatives for delivery businesses

Alleged Mapquest alternatives that really aren’t

If you’re searching for a Mapquest alternative, you’re likely to find a lot of lists from big software review sites like G2, Slashdot, CBInsights, Alternative.to, and more. 

These sites are great, a lot of the time. But — and it’s a big “but” — most of their lists are auto-generated. An app gets tagged as something to do with maps, and all of a sudden you find Google Earth and Waze in the same category. 

This is not helpful. People use maps for many different purposes. To name just three:

• To find directions to a place they want to visit. That’s Mapquest, Waze, and the other apps we’ve covered in this article. 
• To explore the world without leaving their sofas. That’s where Google Earth, built on satellite imagery that covers the whole world, is outstanding. I can happily spend hours exploring remote rivers and mountains. But it would be foolish to try and use Google Earth to find my way to a new restaurant. 
• For technical purposes like urban planning, infrastructure development, utilities and natural resource management, and much more. This is where geographical information systems (GIS) apps, often based on data from OpenStreetMap and other mapping service providers, come into their own. 

Maps are among the most useful tools humans have ever invented, and they’ve evolved to be very diverse and specialized. 

I’m not going to be using a pro mapping and data visualization tool like ArcGIS for driving directions. In the same way, no engineer in their right mind is going to be trying to use MapQuest to plan a new power station. It’s all about finding the right tool for the right job. 

Final thoughts

Whether you’re planning a killer road trip, running errands around town, or optimizing delivery routes, you’re sure to find a MapQuest alternative on this list that you love. 

For SMBs managing delivery routes, Routific covers all of your bases by optimizing routes, simplifying driver navigation, and keeping customers in the loop. For general use, Waze and HERE WeGo offer simple, to-the-point solutions that get you where you need to go fast.