A small delivery business needs routes that are quick to plan, a simple app for drivers, and a price that makes sense at its size. The right tool depends mostly on volume: below about 100 orders a month a free plan is hard to beat, and above that the way each tool charges matters more than its feature list.
Import the day's stops from a spreadsheet and get optimized routes in minutes.
Stop-by-stop lists and one tap to open navigation, for drivers who may be part-time.
Photos and signatures to settle "it never arrived" disputes.
A tracking link or arrival message so customers are home.
A free tier or low starting price, without paying for seats you don't use.
Adding a driver should not mean renegotiating or changing tools.
Five tools that suit small delivery teams, in the order we'd suggest them by size.
Best for
Fewer than 100 orders a month
Free up to 100 orders a month with nearly every feature, then a flat $150 up to 1,000. Unlimited drivers, proof of delivery, email updates and a Shopify connection. For the smallest operations it is the obvious place to start.
Pricing: Free up to 100 orders a month; $150 a month flat up to 1,000; then per order
Routes & Maps vs RoutificBest for
A few drivers who want a flat monthly price
Plans include a monthly stop allowance with unlimited drivers and users, so taking on a part-time driver does not change the bill. Photo, signature and notes proof of delivery, a customer tracking page, and an explanation when a stop can't be routed. No free plan, no SMS and no Shopify connection.
Pricing: Monthly plans by stops, from $150 a month billed annually ($187 monthly); unlimited drivers and users on every plan
See Routes & Maps plansBest for
Delivery teams that want SMS and Shopify
Priced by stops with unlimited drivers, and its first plan includes SMS and email notifications, Shopify, Zapier and navigation inside the driver app. Monthly billing only.
Pricing: From $125 a month for 1,000 stops, billed monthly; unlimited drivers
Routes & Maps vs CircuitBest for
One or two drivers
Priced per driver, so one or two drivers cost little. Proof of delivery and customer messages are on the Pro plan, and there is a 30-day trial.
Pricing: From $35.10 per driver a month billed annually (Lite); proof of delivery and Weekly Planning on Pro ($44.10)
Routes & Maps vs OptimoRouteBest for
Small teams that want traffic-aware routes
Priced per user, with stops per route and driver profiles capped by plan. Its site says routing takes traffic into account, and in-app navigation is an add-on.
Pricing: From $40 per user a month billed annually ($50 monthly)
Routes & Maps vs Upper| Tool | Pricing model | Proof of delivery | Customer notifications | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routific | Per order | Photos, signatures, barcodes, notes | Email and tracking link; SMS add-on | Free plan up to 100 orders |
| Routes & Maps | Flat monthly plan by stops | Photo, signature and notes | Tracking page; email from Growth plan and up; no SMS | 7 days |
| Spoke Dispatch (Circuit for Teams) | Per stop | Signature and photos | SMS and email | Yes (length not stated) |
| OptimoRoute | Per driver | Pro plan | SMS or email (Pro) | 30 days |
| Upper | Per user | Professional plan and up | Professional and up; SMS add-on | 7 days |
Under about 100 a month, a free plan may cover you. Above that, compare tools at your real monthly volume.
Tools charge per driver, per user, per order or per stop. Work out the monthly cost at your current volume and at the size you expect to be, including any add-ons you would need, such as SMS.
A tracking link and email, or SMS too? SMS is included on some tools and a paid add-on on others; Routes & Maps sends email only.
Use the free trial with your own addresses, time windows and drivers. Compare the drive time, how long planning takes each morning, and how drivers get on with the app.
Under 100 orders a month, Routific's free plan costs nothing. Above that it depends on how many drivers you have and how many stops you make. Small team? We price by stops, not drivers. If our standard plans are more than you need, talk to sales about a Custom plan sized to your monthly stops.
If you ever get "it never arrived" claims, yes. All five tools here offer photo or signature proof, although on OptimoRoute and Upper it starts on a higher plan.
For one driver, possibly: Spoke's solo route planner is free for routes up to 10 stops. Once several drivers share the work, a dispatch tool saves time.
Yes, if you want one monthly price with unlimited drivers and users. We price by stops, not drivers, and a Custom plan can be sized to your monthly stops.
With a spreadsheet of addresses, you can plan a first route on the day you sign up with any of these tools.
Import your stops and plan an optimized route with your real addresses.
Competitor details checked October 2026 on each company's own website. Verify on their website before buying.
Product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
