Need a Multi-Stop Route Planner? Here Are The 6 Best

Navigation apps like Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps are great at getting you from A to B. But what happens when you need to keep moving from B to C, D, E, F and beyond? That’s multi-stop route planning — and navigation apps are really bad at it. 

Sure, there are workarounds (we’ve even written about how to plan multi-stop routes in Google Maps) — but they’re clunky and inefficient. The truth is, multi-stop route planning is advanced functionality that needs specialist apps. 

I know that when I’m planning multi-stop routes, two things are true:

1. Route planners that are fine-tuned for a particular task, like deliveries or a running route, often work best.
2. The quality of apps varies widely.

So, I mix it up. If I’m going on a road trip to visit friends who’ve moved to a new town, and I want to check out some restaurants and sights while I’m there, I’ll probably use HERE WeGo. 

But if I’m planning a hike, HERE WeGo can only get me as far as the trailhead parking. It doesn’t have the functionality of something like Komoot or Alltrails, that can show me the most popular trails, with elevation profiles and difficulty ratings. 

So in this post, I’m going to share the best apps I’ve discovered (and some alternatives), for six different types of tasks and users:

1. Last-mile delivery companies
2. Sales reps
3. Service techs
4. Solo delivery drivers
5. Everyday errands
6. Outdoor adventures

Let’s go!

6 multi-stop route planner apps to take the pain out of planning

1. Routific — Best for last-mile delivery route planning

Routific’s route optimization software can slash delivery costs and travel time by up to 25%. Intelligent route optimization and traffic pattern-based algorithms make deliveries fast and efficient.

The combination of a web planning interface and a free mobile driver app makes it easy to connect drivers and dispatch, so managers can track delivery progress in real-time, review stats, and better manage their delivery operations.

Routific helps delivery business:

• Deliver on time.
• Reduce delivery costs by as much as 25%.
• Delight their customers.

Advantages of Routific 

• Easily plan and edit delivery driver routes and schedules.
• Live GPS and progress tracking.
• End-of-day reports are available to monitor driver performance.
• Customer notifications.

Disadvantages of Routific 

• Doesn’t have barcode scanning
• No in-app chat function 

Why Routific is great for delivery route planning

Routific’s delivery route planner is designed to eliminate spaghetti routes, offers traffic-aware routing so that drivers avoid rush hour traffic, and offers a simple, powerful interface for growing delivery businesses.

💡Try out Routific  for free — no credit card needed.

Alternatives

• Onfleet: Less easy to use than Routific and the route optimization isn’t as good, but does have features we lack like barcode scanning and age verification.
• Optimoroute: We recommend Optimoroute below for field service techs, but it also does delivery route planning. Routific has better route optimization, though.

2. SalesRabbit — Best for field sales reps

SalesRabbit is specifically designed for sales teams, so there’s much more to it than a route planner. The SalesRabbit platform includes apps for appointment scheduling, mobile contracts, training, and more. But their route planner is included in their free Lite version, available on Android and iOS devices.

Sales reps will appreciate the platform’s:

• Ability to optimize routes based on sales appointment times. 
• Ease of adding up to 23 leads to the map.
• Smart labeling so that sales reps can see the lead’s name and appointment time at a glance.
• Canvassing options to monitor progress, assign areas for teams, and review past performance data for the area.

Advantages of SalesRabbit

• Free route planning allows users to try the platform before committing to a paid tier.
• Extensive lead information is available for each stop, enabling sales reps to know what to expect when knocking on the lead’s door or walking into their office.
• Advanced tiers offer scheduling, weather alerts, reports, advanced canvassing, import from Excel and other formats, and more.

Disadvantages of SalesRabbit

• You need to create an account, even if you’re using the free Lite version of SalesRabbit.
• Free users are restricted to the mobile app. The web app is only available on paid tiers.

Why SalesRabbit is great for sales reps

SalesRabbit’s focus on sales teams and reps gives it the upper hand in this category. Its functionality offers an easy-to-use platform for tracking leads on the map, advanced filtering, reminders, and extensive customization, all wrapped into one route planner app.

While users mention bugs and issues in different areas of the platform, it’s still the go-to route planning app for sales reps.

Alternatives

• Badger Maps: Fast, speedy route optimization with capabilities to optimize 100+ stops effortlessly, and to identify opportunities near your current location.
• RepMove: Territory management, shared customer data, and optimized sales routes to minimize travel time.

3. OptimoRoute — Best for field service techs

OptimoRoute is a versatile route planner for many different use cases, including deliveries and long-haul routes — but it’s particularly good for field service techs. With OptimoRoute, technicians can find the best route around their different service stops, to save time and money while providing customers with real-time ETAs.

If you have a large database of customers, automated planning allows you to import thousands of orders, and the platform will select the most efficient route.

You can:

• Add workflow constraints and vehicle details to enhance arrival times.
• Automatically match the right skills and tools to each job.
• Include workflow parameters like service time windows and task durations.

Advantages of OptimoRoute 

• Proof of delivery or job completion.
• Live tracking and ETA options.
• Native apps for iPhone and Android devices.

Disadvantages of OptimoRoute 

• Recurring stops are not supported well, and there is no easy way to see past services.
• Updates to the app can remove random stops.

Why OptimoRoute is great for service techs

OptimoRoute works well for service techs, delivery drivers, and home service businesses. Real-time route modification helps keep service calls on schedule even if a rep calls out.

Automated planning, driver and vehicle variables, and priority options for tasks keep high-value customers happy and minimize downtime.

Alternatives

• MyWay: A trusted route planner for 600k drivers across 150 countries with the power to optimize 200 stops at once.
• Maptive: A free multi-stop route planner with real-time updates via API access, customizable maps, driving radius maps, and more.   

4. Circuit — Best for solo delivery drivers

Circuit is a route optimization app that can streamline your day as a trucker or delivery driver. Just enter your stops — you can even scan in a printed manifest — and Circuit will generate the best route. When you’re ready to hit the road, the app will send driving directions right to your favorite navigation app.

With Circuit, you can even add breaks to your routes to ensure your ETAs are always accurate. You can:

• Prioritize certain stops and set delivery time windows for each one. 
• Add, delete, or re-optimize routes while you’re out on your route.
• Scan address labels with your smartphone to add stops.

If you’re using an Android device, you can also upload your stops via spreadsheet.

Advantages of Circuit

• Add and optimize unlimited stops.
• Easy to manuallyre- order routes when necessary.
• Use the “load vehicle” feature to note exactly where in your vehicle each package is loaded. 

Disadvantages of Circuit

• Spreadsheet importing is only available with the Premium tier.
• The free tier only offers 10 stops per day. After that, it’s US$20 a month. 

Why Circuit is best for solo drivers

Circuit is a solid choice for solo drivers who need help with route planning (read our in-depth review of the Circuit driver app here). Thanks to the user-friendly interface, adding stops is easy, and optimization is on point to help you get through the day faster.

Alternatives

• Hammer: A free navigation and routing app designed for large commercial vehicles. Routes are tailored to your truck type, and the app helps you avoid low bridge clearances and truck restrictions.
• RoadWarrior: Similar to Circuit, but routes are limited to 200 stops. Route planning and optimization are quick and easy.

5. HERE WeGo – Best for everyday errands

HERE WeGo is a user-friendly route planner that lets you jump right into creating your route without having to log in or create an account. Just search for your first stop and add it to your list with the tap of a button.

For errand planning, it doesn’t get much easier than this.

To add more stops, just search for more destinations: the bank, the grocery store — wherever you need to go.

With HERE WeGo, you can:

• Choose your departure time
• Share your route through a QR code 
• Plan routes based on when you want to arrive
• Find the quickest driving route, or select cycling or biking

Once you’ve planned your route, you can share it or save it. HERE WeGo gives you options for route preferences (e.g., the fastest route), estimated arrival time, and other info to help you stay on track.

Advantages of HERE WeGo

• User-friendly interface. 
• The map is not cluttered with ads and highlighted places, unlike Google Maps.
• Easy to add stops with the click of a button.
• Plan routes based on efficiency, distance, and even maximum vehicle speed.

Disadvantages of HERE WeGo

• Real-time traffic updates aren’t always in “real time”
• You need to create an account to save routes to your collections

Why HERE WeGo is best for everyday errands

I prefer HERE WeGo for planning my daily errands because it takes the guesswork out of my morning. It works its magic to find the shortest route to each stop, so I’m in and out ASAP. Creating routes is quick and easy thanks to the simple, intuitive interface.

Alternatives

• Google Maps: Not really a multi-stop route planner, but Routific’s Chrome extension does the job.
• MyRouteOnline: Look past the outdated interface and you’ll find that MyRouteOnline is efficient and reliable for multi-stop route planning. 
• Speedy Route: Limited to 10 stops a day, but free!

6. Komoot – Best for planning outdoor activities

Komoot is a fan-favorite for planning outdoor activities because it’s easy to dive right in and start creating routes.

In fact, you don’t need an account to start planning your adventure, although you do need one to save your trip.

Not sure how to plan your route? No problem. With Komoot, you can browse pre-planned routes in your area designed specifically for your preferred sport — hiking, bike touring, mountain biking, road cycling, running, gravel riding, mountaineering, or enduro mountain biking.

You can also create your own route from scratch with any number of stops you want. 

Planning a multi-day tour? Komoot has you covered here, too.

Creating a route is as easy as searching for your destination and adding it to your list. With a tap of the “+” button, you can add more stops to your adventure and re-order it however you want. Save your plan, and you’re off to the races. 

Komoot offers:

• User-friendly desktop interface. 
• The ability to plan routes based on your preferred sport
• The option to view the travel time, distance, incline/decline info, and difficulty levels for each trip.

You can send routes to your mobile device or wearable for easy access from virtually anywhere.

Advantages of Komoot

• Routes can be saved and used offline.
• Plan routes on your desktop, sync with the mobile app.

Disadvantages of Komoot

• Minimal integrations.
• Planning on the mobile app can be a pain — the desktop version works best.

Why Komoot is best for outdoor activity planning 

Komoot was designed from the ground up for outdoor enthusiasts and with route planning in mind. You can tailor your adventure to your sport and view details, like incline/decline or asphalt/gravel surfaces to better plot out your route and plan ahead.

Although Komoot is available for free, upgrading to Premium will give you access to more features, like voice navigation, multi-day adventures, and location sharing.

Alternatives

• Outdoor Active: Similar interface, but more options for activities (horse riding, canoeing, winter hiking, running, etc). Pre-planned routes are also available.
• Bikemap: Designed just for biking, with pre-planned and custom routes available.
• Plotaroute: Offers multiple options for route planning, including auto-generated plans, point-and-click, waypoints, or route upload.

Multi-stop route planning made easy

Planning a multi-stop route doesn’t have to be complicated. These apps streamline the process to save you time and serious headaches. While I’ve chosen a “best use” for each of these apps, most are versatile and can be used for a variety of route planning purposes.