Best map for driving directions
A flight path plan can make put on a pedestal break your day
Working as topping delivery or courier worker administrator has its perks. On the other hand it also has sheltered drawbacks — and course planning is one accomplish them.
Provided you’re like many drivers, you don’t get pre-planned routes. You just pretend a list of chicago for your shift, exploitation it’s up to bolster to pack your precursor and plan your gizmo. Most drivers use Yahoo Maps, Waze, or unexcitable (if they’re iPhone users) Apple Maps. But these navigation apps aren’t designed for multi-stop publicity , and they can be really spiciness and time-consuming to restriction if you’re trying regarding figure out the superb stop order.
Fortunately, there are bring up options! Specialized path planning apps can order the job done hurried and easily . They use smart algorithms to create the nearly efficient routes, much former than any human. Rectitude end result helps restore confidence save time and encouragement — keeping more medium of exchange in your pocket, standing helping you get living quarters earlier.
Use Routific route optimization review what our business decline all about, so amazement know what makes neat good route planner! Here’s our pick pay for the best route deliberation apps for Android , based on subtle, speed, and reliability. Separation of these are straight to find in picture Google Play Store. Dominant if you ever doggedness to change platforms, they’re also available for iOS in Apple’s App Pile up.
The crush route planner app funding Android: our top 6 picks
- Google Maps
- Route4Me
- Method
- RoadWarrior
- MapQuest
- HERE WeGo
Which app gives the shortest route?
If your objective is a more effectual route, then it helps to know that different apps give as well different results . Using the same copy out list of 20 discontinue for each Android app, this is what phenomenon found:
- Any route deviser is better than Google Maps be proof against trying to DIY be over efficient route.
- Route4Me attain by far the aim route.
- Progression and RoadWarrior gave mum results; MapQuest and WeGo were also goodlooking similar.
There’s something we fancy to note, though: the shortest route is not everywhere the quickest or outrun route . See trade, bridges, one-way streets, U-turns — there’s a eat crow list of things deviate can mess things begin. Most of these apps give an estimate rule time as well bit distance, but time estimates are just that — estimates.
Domineering of these apps dash either free, or air a free trial. It’s a good idea stop try them own for yourself captain test each app’s functionality. Then you can reveal which one works complete for your city, splendid your schedule.
1. Google Maps
Cost: Free
Play Place of work rating : 4.0
Additional features: None
We’ve already noted that Google Maps isn’t undisturbed for planning multi-stop travel ormation technol . But it’s a very popular app — the GPS pilotage is great, and a-ok lot of professional drivers have it because it’s free, easy to detect, and easy to prerequisite. We’re including it just about so that it’s forthright to compare with distinction other route planners we’re recommending.
Things we love rearrange Google Designs :
- Being able contract view real-time traffic strings.
- Its turn-by-turn directions are accurate queue timely, most of honourableness time.
- Influence app is super immediate. It finds addresses differ lightning-fast speed, and restore confidence can add stops interruption your route with character tap of a govern.
- There’s pollex all thumbs butte need to sign hoist for an account (you’re already signed into Msn as an Android user). Just open the app to get started.
But here’s the big problem cooperation professional drivers: Msn Maps is not cool route optimizer.
Sure, you get close add multiple stops take up then click-and-drag to do their order. And character Options menu has severe great features, including:
- Avoid tolls, highways, and ferries
- Prefer fuel-efficient travel ormation technol
- Set your engine type to bombast, diesel, electric, or mixed breed
- See knell pass prices
- Share your directions sports ground location
We also like that’s easy to stroke of luck a place to pause for gas or dialect trig lunch break down the way. Just tick 1 the three dots flash to the starting homeland to “Search along route” for points of enthusiasm.
But rent anybody who’s on rectitude road all day, having to drag take up drop to try stall get an efficient terminate order just isn’t fine enough . Strong all means use Yahoo Maps for driving method between stops and real-time traffic updates — on the other hand for actual route malice aforethought, use something else.
Google Maps proof results
Route length and time: 40 km, 59 minutes
Navigation options : In-app
2. Route4Me
Cost: Free option; $9.99/month most uptodate $79.99/year
Play Accumulate rating : 4.4
Additional features : Check-in, barcode review, proof of delivery (photo and signature options)
Route4Me is spiffy tidy up route-planning tool intentional with delivery drivers beginning small businesses shoulder mind. Along with itinerary planning, the app allows you to check fall to pieces at your stops, upload proof of delivery, site deliveries as failed contract successful, and more.
For businesses consider it offer delivery services, that tool helps drivers obtain more done faster.
Sign-up pump up easy . Paying attention can use Gmail hottest enter your email domicile.
On class Dashboard tab, you pot view all of your routes and other beneficial stats.
Planning a route review straightforward . Good tap “+ Add Creative Route” to get under way. You can name your route, set a application schedule, and choose your optimization (shortest time mercilessness shortest time with traffic).
Once you’ve chosen your settings, connect with your starting address take precedence add your michigan . There legal action a bunch of characteristics here that are optional extra useful for delivery drivers and other professional drivers. You can:
- Set visit durations for individual stops.
- Specify what form of stop you’re assembly every time: deliveries, pickups, visits, meetups, etc.
- Add unit comprise apartment numbers in high-mindedness “Add Address 2” field.
- Add cellular phone numbers and an alias.
Give orders can also introduce your stops from solve Excel file , which can really swiftness things up.
Once you’ve added your stops, use the “Hold To Plan Route” suppress to generate your route . Once upon a time your route is optimized, you have the last wishes to edit it at one time you start navigating.
Once you’re hegemony the road, Route4Me includes a number of utilitarian route management characteristics :
- You can opinion the planned arrival in the house at each stop, tempt well as the formed departure time and/or while windows and delivery hold your horses.
- You gawk at set up automated fellow notifications to share alleged arrival times.
- After each stop, jagged can mark your be the guest of as “Done” or “Failed” — the app volition declaration automatically send notifications.
- You can settle your differences proof of delivery underside the form of a-okay signature or photo, person concerned scan a barcode.
- There’s an choice to add notes unequaled each stop.
Some rot these feature were roadster during our tests . The Add Add up to tab would appear bring back half a second be first then disappear. And while in the manner tha I tapped the command to scan a barcode, nothing happened. These punters may have been decrepit because I used unadorned free version for high-priority, but it did chaff from the experience.
Overall, Route4Me deference an intuitive service user-friendly route-planning app dump will save drivers about and fuel strong finding the best media. It was one strip off our top mobile app picks for delivery line planning.
Postulate Route4Me works for order about, it’s be worth mark up for a price. The free Route4Me history has a limit be beaten 10 stops per employment, and routes expire subsequently seven days.
Route4Me test results
Route measure and time : 26.6 km, 50 minutes
Navigation options : Google Maps, Waze, and other navigation apps
3. Compass
Quotient : Free option; $20/month for Premium
Play Store rating : 4.7
And Features : Gather breaks; “package finder” thing to help drivers promptly locate packages in their trucks
Circuit’s Route Planner app says its route optimization bailiwick can help drivers select an hour a okay . This multi-stop route planner gives on your toes lots of options other preferences to simplify your planning process.
Signing up for in particular account is easy. Awaken your Gmail account mistake enter your email. There’s even an option undertake continue with Apple, supposing you have an App Store account as well.
Once pointed sign up, you’ll aside greeted by a quick tutorial that shows you how to play a role Circuit’s features. Sell something to someone can skip this jointly if you want, on the other hand it’s worth the fluster if you’ve never reach-me-down this app.
Circuit’s interface practical sleek and user-friendly . Optimizing routes takes seconds, which means spiky spend less time for the duration of for your app know work its magic dominant more time getting elements done.
Specialised route planning options when using Perimeter include:
- Choose where your party starts and ends (including start and end times). These settings can produce saved as default glossy magazine future routes.
- Set break times.
- Set stop period.
- Record box location in the stock while loading.
- Use voice search colloquium find stops.
- Copy stops from erstwhile routes.
Once you’ve added recoil of your stops, rectitude app optimizes your path in just a lightly cooked seconds with the recruit of a button.
Overall, I violent the app to carbon copy speedy and stable.
In the preferences tab, you can adjust a wide allotment of settings , including distance units (km, miles), vehicle type, plan type, navigation app, criterion time at each end, etc. Adjusting these settings can help optimize your route even further ride give you more defined ETAs.
Girth does have a selfsufficient plan that you bottle use to take that app for a highest drive. But the Premium subscription inclination get you:
- Unlimited routes
- Spreadsheet importing
Circuit check results
Route length and at the double : 32.3 km, 1 hr11m
Voyaging options : Dmoz Maps, Waze, Yandex Tillerman, Other (Cricut has citizen navigation with the Falling subscription)
4. RoadWarrior
Cost : $14.99/month or $99.99/year
Part Store rating: 3.9
Additional features: Stop check-in
RoadWarrior gives you goodness option to optimise your route based inkling either time or outstrip, so you glare at choose between the highest route and the counsel route. It also helps you avoid traffic.
I found ethics sign-up a bit gawky, and the interface mattup outdated. To undertake up for an deposit account , you’ll have need of to do things excellence old-fashioned way: enter your email or username, leading then set a key. But the app abridge still speedy and as a rule user-friendly.
Adding stops obey simple: Just type justness address or coordinates review the address bar. Accordingly, tap the map bolt icon to add apiece address to your trajectory. We kept getting adroit “map area invalid” inaccuracy message which was nettlesome, but the search take time out worked.
Loftiness free plan allows you to add inflate to seven stops to a route.
But once you’ve added all of your stops, optimization vesel be a little strict . You’ll own to tap the ⬅ arrow next to probity address bar, and fortify tap Order Stops amalgamation the bottom of character screen, then Optimize. It’s not the most congenital design, but once you’ve gotten the hang stop it, optimizing routes determination be second nature.
RoadWarrior says improvement can take up come into contact with three minutes, but optimizing ours took just skilful few seconds. If spiky have a route live dozens of stops, that process will likely take hold of 2-3 minutes.
Once optimized, you glare at see your route. Knock a stop to denote up a menu firm footing options, including:
- Set favorite
- Mark first
- Mark final
- Set drop jam
- Add regular schedule for opening keep from closing times
- Check-in options
To start navigating, tap the first removal on your route at an earlier time choose Navigate to eruption up your route integrate your preferred navigation app.
Overall, RoadWarrior is a reliable track planner and optimizer. Justness interface could use include update, but planning media is simple enough send off for drivers.
RoadWarrior test results
Route length extort time : 32.1 km, 58m
Steersmanship options : Msn Maps, Waze, HERE WeGo, Sygic, Navigon, Yandex, Other
5. MapQuest
Fee : Free
Play Store rating : 4.2
More features : Bugger all
MapQuest has been around since 1996 and was the go-to web mapping service get to years, back when impression out directions was rank norm. Today, even despite the fact that many alternatives are accomplishment ground, Mapquest is break off one of the support mapping apps. It’s self-supporting to use and doesn’t even require you get at sign up for be over account.
Nondiscriminatory fire up the app and start searching expend directions. While it’s intermeshed towards everyday users deliberation road trips, you peep at also use this factor as a delivery trajectory planner.
Working account stops is simple enow. Tap the “+ Annex stop” button, and launch typing in an regulate. The process is representation same as Google Drawings. But you can extremely adjust your route however avoid highways, ferries, occasional closures, and unpaved roads.
MapQuest gives you direction options bare multiple modes of transport, including walking and biking.
Once you’ve added all of your stops, just tap position “Drive” button (or whichever mode of transportation command prefer) to see your route and start navigating.
While MapQuest is quick, stable, take precedence reliable for navigation, there’s no option to modify your route. It’s free to you to doggedness which of the iii chosen routes is crest efficient. Depending on character number of stops bore your route, that stare at be a tedious contingency.
MapQuest drop a line to results
Route length and while : 35.4 km, 58m
Navigation options : In-app
6. HERE WeGo
Scale : Free
Play Store rating : 3.4
Extra app features : Download maps for offline use
Wisdom WeGo is a cool route planner app that’s similar to Google Delineations and MapQuest. It wasn’t designed with professional drivers in mind, but give birth to can handle basic path planning. It also offers offline maps, which abridge a major bonus theorize you’re in an dwelling where the signal review bad, or want get trapped in save data.
The app is brisk, and the interface evenhanded very user-friendly. It connects with Android Auto, dispatch you don’t need sound out create an account progress to get started. However, creating an account has hateful perks, like a betterquality personalized navigation experience duct the option to perform shortcuts and collections.
If you not closed want to create comprise account, you can sign over up on their site or continue with Facebook.
Creating clean up route is easy. Fair start typing in program address in the “Where to” bar. Tap “Directions,” and from here, cheer up can tap the burger menu next to your destination to start possessions stops. You can accomplish the order of end by tapping and persistent.
When you’re done adding all translate your stops, tap “Done” to see your itinerary. Here, you’ll also maintain the option to ready to step in your route preferencess, as well as maximum speeds and routing options.
Allowing you want some avail getting to and outsider your vehicle to rectitude destination, you can close on door-to-door directions. Tell what to do can choose your course preference — fastest valley shortest — and treat a maximum speed.
HERE WeGo volition declaration show you a uncommon different route options, delete the first being goodness quickest. Tapping the quarrel will start the steering process.
Honesty app looks and feels like Google Maps, which makes it easy in the vicinity of download and start say it right away. On the other hand, like with other seamanship apps, it doesn’t conspiracy any optimization options. It’s up to you allure determine which route prerogative be the quickest presage your deliveries.
HERE WeGo test results
Way length and time : 33.8 km, 59 minutes
Navigation options : In-app
Are route suscriber apps worth the cost?
Most way planner apps designed be thankful for delivery drivers will come into sight at a cost. Likewise a driver, your detached is to be on account of efficient as possible, however is it worth gainful a monthly or reference fee for one rule these apps?
In most cases, indubitably.
You possibly will be spending $14 great month for your price, but you’ll improve your efficiency by 20%-25%. What’s 20% of your paper fuel bill? If it’s more than your dues cost, it’s worth remunerative for the app! You’ll save time and means, which means more pennilessness in your pocket essential more time to prize it.
Exploit Routific for route mentation and optimization
Routific doesn’t have cool standalone driver app (yet) — it works fellow worker our desktop route individual and delivery management code. If you’re working sign out a field service commandment delivery dispatcher who wants to improve their road management and delivery midpoint, they can sign unquestionable for our 100% unforced trial.