Free route planner apps compared: what the free plans really include
Updated · 4 min read
Route planner apps all promise to save you time, but their free plans differ a lot, and the difference usually shows up only after you've typed in all of your stops.
The main reason is cost: every optimization calls paid mapping services, so most apps cap how many stops free users can plan. A real courier day has 50 to 150 stops or more, which is why so many drivers hit a paywall on day one.
Free plans at a glance
| App | Free plan | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|
| Spoke (formerly Circuit) | 10 stops per route | Monthly subscription |
| Zeo | 15 stops per route | Monthly subscription |
| RoadWarrior | 8 stops, one device | Monthly subscription |
| MyWay | 20 stops per route | Premium for longer routes |
| Routerra | 20 stops, 5 optimizations a day | Monthly or day pass |
| Route Planner (this app) | No stop cap: up to 500 stops per route, unlimited routes | Optional one-time purchase to remove ads |
What to check before you choose
- The stop limit per route, and whether there's also a daily limit on optimizations.
- When the paywall appears: before you start, or after you've entered every stop.
- Pin accuracy: does the app send exact coordinates to your navigation app, or the address text (which can land one street away)?
- Manual control: can you drag stops, lock the first and last, and set time windows?
- Reuse: can you repeat yesterday's route and save regular addresses?
- Ads: where they appear, and whether they ever show while you're driving.
- Offline: what happens when you lose signal mid-route.
Looking for a free alternative to Circuit or Spoke?
Spoke is polished and popular, and its paid plans suit many drivers. If you need more than 10 stops without a subscription, Route Planner is a free alternative: no stop cap, no account, and ads that never appear while you drive.
It covers the essentials a working driver needs: paste, scan or voice entry, one-tap optimization for fastest or shortest, locked stops and time windows, turn-by-turn guidance, proof-of-delivery photos and PDF or CSV reports.