Onfleet Competitors: The Alternatives Compared

Onfleet is one of the most popular delivery management software platforms — but it’s not right for all business needs. In this article we’ll compare Onfleet to five major competitors in the route planning software market. We’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of each, and discuss the best fit for different kinds of delivery business.

We’ll start with a brief summary of what the Onfleet platform itself has to offer, then look at the following cloud-based SaaS alternatives:

1. Routific
2. Tookan
3. Bringg

Onfleet

Cost: Starting at $500 per month

Target audience: Multi-national couriers, retailers and distributors, on-demand delivery services

Features for delivery businesses: Plan multiple routes, delivery time windows, live tracking, customer notifications, mobile app for drivers, barcode scanning

Capterra rating: 4.7 (80+ ratings)

Onfleet advantages

Onfleet’s primary focus since they started in 2012 has been delivery management software solutions, so they have a good track record.

Users like:

• The in-app chat function that lets drivers communicate with dispatchers and customers
• Driver analytics that enable dispatchers to see, for example, how many stops were on-time vs delayed
• The real-time tracking link so customers can see where their driver is. They can also rate and provide feedback on their customer experience.

Here are some reviews from happy Onfleet users:

“I love that it sends automated delivery text notifications to customers, which allows them to communicate directly with the driver.”

— Kelsey W, small business owner (Source: G2)

“We are able to track all our employees and more with OnFleet, and provide exact ETAs.”

— Ashli R, cannabis distribution company (Source: Capterra)

Onfleet disadvantages

Onfleet only added route optimization into their software suite in 2016 — and their routing engine isn’t developed in-house but powered by an external routing company. As a result, most complaints we hear from Onfleet users are about poorly optimized routes.

“The route optimization is definitely not 100% and occasionally throws up some odd routes which would require amphibious delivery vehicles.”

— Brett K, premium wine delivery (Source: G2)

Some users also highlighted some performance and reliability issues, especially when handling larger delivery volumes:

“The speed once volume is added is borderline unusable.”

— Jaime M., director of delivery for a consumer goods company (Source: Capterra)

Some additional Onfleet drawbacks:

• The $500 per month starting price is too expensive for many small businesses
• The platform is complex and requires training to get started

If you need a last mile delivery management solution with smarter route optimization technology, that’s still accessible to smaller businesses, you may want to consider Routific or one of the other Onfleet competitors we review below.

Routific: Onfleet alternative

Cost: Starting at $49 per driver per month; $59 per driver per month for advanced delivery management tools like customer notifications and driver tracking

Target audience: Small to medium sized delivery businesses

Features for delivery businesses: Plan multiple routes, delivery time windows, live tracking, customer notifications, mobile app for drivers, proof of delivery

Capterra rating: 4.9 (110+ reviews)

Routific’s route optimization software is specifically built to be easy to use, and our main focus is small to medium-sized local delivery businesses.  We’ve been developing and improving our own proprietary route optimization algorithm since 2012. In 2017, we began adding delivery management features like customer email and SMS notifications, live driver tracking, iOS and Android mobile apps, and photo and signature proof of delivery (POD).

“For dispatchers working with tech-impaired employees, this is a life-saver! The driver app is also attractive with a clean and intuitive UI. It's easy for people to learn to use. As a dispatcher, the web UI is clean and attractive. It feels lightweight even though it's doing a lot.”

— David H, CEO of food and beverage company (Source: Capterra)

Routific advantages

Routific users like:

• Efficient routes that increase delivery fleet capacity while reducing mileage
• The intuitive design that’s easy to use
• The routing engine API for tech-oriented companies that want a tighter integration

“The software will automatically optimize the route across my fleet of trucks (10), figuring out how to both balance the load between trucks AND do so in the fewest possible miles. I can instantly see how changes in routing impacts mileage. Incredibly fast, flexible, easy to use.”

— Peter L, general manager (Source: G2)

Routific disadvantages

• No two-way communication between delivery drivers, dispatchers, and customers.
• Delivery tracking features cost extra
• The per-driver pricing can become costly for companies that deliver infrequently or have variable fleet size.

“I wish we had more options for personalization … For example, being able to send notifications both through email and SMS and not just one or the other.  Or being able to schedule routes and drivers across multiple days would be a game changer.”

— Jill L, manager of a food and beverage company (Source: Capterra)

“Cost to add more vehicles. Sometimes during high traffic times we could use 3 vehicles or more but it's an added feature you need to pay for.”

— Kevin B, general manager of a food and beverage company (Source: G2)

If you’re extremely price sensitive, you might want to consider another Onfleet competitor, Tookan.

Tookan: Onfleet alternative

Cost: Starts at $69 a month for unlimited drivers

Target audience: Businesses that provide on-demand delivery services like taxi service, pharmacy, or restaurant delivery

Features for delivery businesses: Plan multiple routes, delivery time windows, live tracking, customer notifications, proof of delivery, billing and invoicing, customer portal

Capterra rating: 4.2 (70+ reviews)

Tookan started in 2012 and has evolved into an enterprise delivery management system, designed for large organizations. It offers route optimization, as well as driver tracking and customer notifications, while also offering services that are designed for on-demand delivery operations.

Tookan advantages

Tookan users seem to really appreciate the Uber-like experience they can provide their customers, as well as what many customers call a “complete solution” for their business, given the plethora of integrations Tookan has to offer.

“We have the service integrated with our restaurant ordering system. Everything is straightforward and smooth: Drivers sign up, order assignment, and delivery … Pricing is suitable for all sizes including small businesses and startups.”

— Ahmad A, owner of a restaurant (Source: Capterra)

Here’s what Tookan users tend to highlight:

• Large range of integrations to ecommerce tools and platforms
• White labelling options
• Price

“Our most important feature was the ability to white label. We also wanted a feature-rich product out of the box that can be customized. Tookan satisfied all of our requirements and the team is amazing.”

— Michael A, CEO and co-founder of a construction company (Source: Capterra)

Tookan disadvantages

• Reliability issues; lots of reported downtime
• Poor route optimization performance
• Customer service difficulties

“Waaay too much down time. The app is down at least every week, which prevents my customers from making bookings = lost revenue.”

— Sadid R, founder of trucking/transportation company (Source: Capterra)

“Looks very good and promises to be all what you need to deploy a delivery business, but after you pay, the hell starts, no answer to inquiries.”

— Bogdan T, CEO of logistics/supply chain company (Source: Capterra)

For a more reliable enterprise-focussed route planner and delivery management software option, you could also consider Bringg.

Bringg: Onfleet alternative

Cost: Bringg doesn’t publicly advertise its prices and there is no advertised free trial.

Target audience: Bringg is enterprise-level delivery management software, which is popular with large organizations and brands like Walmart, KFC, and Coca-Cola.

Features for delivery businesses: Automatic dispatch for on-demand delivery, communication between drivers, driver analytics, inventory tracking with barcode scanning,  route planning, route optimization, proof of delivery

Capterra rating: Not applicable (see below for explanation)

Bringg was founded in 2012, and is popular with large organizations and brands that need to manage both on-demand delivery and supply chain management.

While they do not advertise their prices or offer a free trial, their online form requesting more information gives us an idea of the size of the businesses it targets: The smallest volume starts at “less than 30,000 orders.”

When researching Bringg online, you’ll find very few reviews from actual users. The few Bringg reviews found on Capterra, for example, are all outdated.  There is, however, a steady stream of recent reviews for Bringg’s mobile app for drivers on the Google Play Store or the App Store.

Despite the lack of reviews, we’re highlighting Bringg anyway because it’s an Onfleet competitor that comes up quite often in our conversations with delivery companies. In fact, we sometimes recommend Bringg to large enterprises that come to us looking for a solution.

The information below comes from Bringg customers we’ve spoken to, conversations we’ve had with delivery businesses, webinars hosted by Bringg staff, and information found on their website.

Bringg advantages

Bringg’s users often tell us how much they love the platform’s automation, specifically when it comes to:

• Integrations with ecommerce software, as well as other platforms like DoorDash and Uber.
• Inventory tracking using barcode scanning to track items from warehouse to customer.
• Larger businesses that employ both in-house drivers and third-party contractors can use Bringg to manage communication with drivers.

Bringg disadvantages

• Users report a number of performance issues with the Bringg mobile driver app on the Google Play Store and the App Store.
• Poor route optimization — companies who come to us from Bringg often report they are looking for a platform with stronger route optimization capabilities.
• Bringg is not easy to use and it usually does take at least a few weeks to train staff and integrate this software with your business operations.

What to look for in a delivery management platform

The right delivery software can make a big difference to the profitability of a delivery business. It can:

• Save hours of time planning delivery routes
• Slash fuel consumption and vehicle emissions by creating more efficient routes
• Free drivers from distractions so they can deliver quickly and safely
• Create a much better delivery experience for the customer
• Streamline back office processes like driver payroll management

Obviously every business has different needs from delivery management solution, but in general these are the things to look out for:

Route optimization

Everyone claims to do route optimization these days — but the quality of route optimization algorithms varies a lot. In our tests, there’s up to a 20% difference in route efficiency between different apps.

Good route optimization should include options for how to allocate routes between drivers. If you’re using contract drivers, you may want to optimize for minimum vehicles; if your drivers are in-house, you may prefer to balance routes evenly between them.

We recommend you test your last mile delivery software shortlist with a real route from your own business. Don’t just focus on which algorithm gives the shortest routes overall –  also look at how accurate the ETAs are, and how logical the routes are from a driver’s point of view.

Customizable time windows

Customers may need to plan their days around an expected delivery, so offering convenient delivery time windows can make a big difference to customer satisfaction. The time frames could be as long as a morning vs an afternoon, or as short as a 15-minute time slot.

Easy dispatch and tracking features

Once routes are optimized and fairly allocated between drivers, it shouldn’t take more than a click to dispatch them to your drivers on their mobile apps.

A good web dashboard should also offer both a map and timeline view with live tracking, so you can see the status of your deliveries at a glance.

If your business offers on-demand pickup and delivery, auto-dispatch features like those offered by Onfleet and Bringg are also essential.

A driver mobile app

Drivers shouldn’t have to juggle clipboards or bulky tablets. The best delivery management systems now include smartphone apps so drivers can manage their day straight from their mobile phone. This also enables real-time driver tracking so you can see exactly where they are, without anybody needing to make a call.

Automated customer notifications and proof of delivery

Look for software that will make it easy to set up automated messages to let customers know their delivery ETA, and when it’s completed. This alone can eliminate most of the “where is my delivery?” calls that eat up time.

For extra value, look for apps that include proof of delivery features. Your drivers should be easily able to take photographs, capture signatures or scan barcodes using their mobile apps.

Delivery tracking links

One of the best things about apps like Uber and Doordash is the way you can actually see your driver approaching in real time. Offering a similar link is an easy way to improve your customer experience.

Reporting tools

Your delivery management system should make it easy to generate reports at the end of each day, week or month, so you can manage driver pay and track your KPIs. Analytics should also provide insights into how you can improve your delivery operations.

Good customer support

When things don’t work as expected, you often need to fix them fast. Look for speedy, responsive customer service that doesn’t cost extra.

How did we create these reviews?

To write this article, we looked for feedback from actual users of each platform. That means you’re reading what real delivery businesses think of Onfleet and Onfleet competitors.

We primarily drew from user reviews on Capterra and G2, as well as reviews found in the Google Play Store and App Store.

We read through each and every review on both Capterra and G2, but focused on the most recent ones. We also dug into our internal notes from literally thousands of conversations we’ve had with delivery businesses over the years.