Comparison
Compare US route planners
The free tiers, side by side
Every row is what you get without paying and, where relevant, without an account. The “optimizes order” column is the one that separates a route planner from a navigation app.
| Planner | Free stops | Optimizes order | Account needed | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SortMyStops.comOfficial details | 100 per route | Yes | No | Free |
| Google MapsOfficial details | 10 locations total | No | No | Free |
| Spoke (formerly Circuit)Official details | 20 per route; 3 routes/day | Yes | No | Free web tool |
| Geo2Official details | 15 per route | Yes | Yes | $7.99/month for Pro |
| RouteXLOfficial details | 20 addresses | Yes | No | €40/month ex. VAT for 100 |
| MapQuest Route PlannerOfficial details | 26 per route | Yes | No | Free |
| Shipday Free Route PlannerOfficial details | 100 per route | Yes | No | Free tool |
Selected free-tier limits checked on . Each planner name links to the provider page used for verification. Plans can change without notice.
How to read that table
Stop count is necessary but not sufficient
A higher limit only helps when the tool optimizes every stop you entered. Test a planner with a route you know, inspect the map, and confirm that locked start and end points remain where you set them.
Look beyond the stop count
Google Maps is a familiar, free navigation app. It accepts a starting point plus up to nine destinations and follows the order you set, but it does not optimize that order.
Accounts change the privacy tradeoff
An account usually means saved history and team features. No account means less profile data, but it does not mean addresses never leave your device: every online planner must process route data to geocode and optimize it. Read the provider’s privacy notice.
Free tiers move
Everything here was checked on August 4, 2026. Limits can change without notice. If one number decides your choice, verify it on the provider’s own page, including ours.
Detailed comparisons
Deeper pages on the tools people most often weigh against this one, each with the case for staying where you are:
When you need a different tool
Free planners, this one included, solve a single driver’s day. Look at dispatch software instead if you need any of the following:
- Dispatching a fleet. Splitting stops across vehicles, time windows and driver shifts needs a multi-vehicle planning system.
- Proof of delivery. Photos, signatures and customer notifications need a driver app with a backend behind it.
- Truck-specific routing. Bridge heights, weight limits and hazmat restrictions require commercial map data no free tool licenses.
- System integration. If routes should appear automatically from your order system, you need an API, which means a paid product.
If two or more of those describe your operation, compare dispatch products rather than free single-route planners.
Frequently asked questions
Which free route planner allows the most stops?
In this selected comparison, SortMyStops.com and Shipday both allow 100 stops in a free, no-account browser tool. MapQuest allows 26 locations, while RouteXL and Spoke allow 20 per route; Spoke also limits free optimization to three routes per day.
Does Google Maps optimize the order of stops?
No. Google Maps lets you use a starting point plus up to nine destinations and lets you drag them into a different order, but it does not automatically optimize that order.
What happened to Speedy Route?
Speedy Route stopped operating as a separate product. Its old domain now redirects to Spoke's free web planner, which currently allows 20 stops per route and three optimized routes per day.
Is a paid route planner worth it?
It is, once you are dispatching rather than driving. Multiple drivers, time windows, service durations, proof of delivery and live tracking are real problems that free tools do not solve. For one person planning their own day, a free planner with a sensible stop limit is usually enough.
How current are these numbers?
They were checked on August 4, 2026. Free tiers in this category change without notice, so confirm on the provider's own pricing page before you commit to one.
Compare with a real route
Paste tomorrow's stops, review the map and compare the estimated total with your current order.
Open the planner