MapQuest Route Planner alternative
More than MapQuest’s 26 stops
Side by side
| Planner | Free stops | Optimizes order | Account needed | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SortMyStops.comOfficial details | 100 per route | Yes | No | Free |
| MapQuest Route PlannerOfficial details | 26 per route | Yes | No | Free |
Selected free-tier limits checked on . Each planner name links to the provider page used for verification. Plans can change without notice.
What MapQuest already does well
MapQuest optimizes stop order, is free, needs no account and supports both copy-and-paste and XLS or CSV import. Its 26-location limit also exceeds Google Maps, Geo2 and Spoke’s per-route limit.
The main differences are capacity, the way ambiguous addresses are handled and the navigation workflow.
The differences that matter
1. Stop capacity
MapQuest accepts up to 26 locations. SortMyStops.com accepts up to 100. If your longest route fits comfortably below 26, capacity alone is not a reason to switch.
2. Import formats
MapQuest supports XLS and CSV files laid out in its documented column order. SortMyStops.com supports a pasted column plus .xlsx, .csv, .txt and .tsv uploads, recognizes several common headers and can carry a notes column into the route and printout.
3. Unmatched addresses
Every geocoder fails on some addresses: a new development, a rural route, a street name that exists in four suburbs of the same metro. If an address is placed at a city center, the optimizer treats that point as a real destination and builds the route around it.
Anything ambiguous is held back here with candidates on a map, so you can select a match or place a pin before the stop enters the optimized route.
Is 26 enough for your route?
Check the largest route you ran recently, including the starting point and any fixed end. That tells you more than an industry average.
If that route fits, compare usability and navigation. If it does not, choose a planner that can optimize the complete list instead of splitting it before optimization.
When to stay with MapQuest Route Planner
Your routes fit in 26 stops and you already know the interface. If it covers your route and you already know the workflow, there may be no reason to change tools.
You want one tool for planning and navigating. MapQuest has its own navigation, so you never leave it. This planner lets you choose Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze or OsmAnd for navigation.
You want gas prices and points of interest along the route. MapQuest bundles road-trip features this planner does not have and is not trying to have.
Frequently asked questions
How many stops does MapQuest allow?
MapQuest documents support for up to 26 addresses in its free Route Planner. No account is required to build a route.
Does MapQuest optimize the stop order?
Yes. Unlike Google Maps, MapQuest's route planner can reorder your stops, so it is a genuine free optimizer rather than only a navigation app.
Why use Sort My Stops instead?
The main differences are 100 stops instead of 26, support for additional text-file formats, and a review step that flags address matches needing attention. Both products can import spreadsheets.
Can I import a spreadsheet into MapQuest?
Yes. MapQuest documents XLS and CSV import for up to 26 addresses, as well as copy-and-paste input. SortMyStops.com accepts XLSX, CSV, TXT and TSV files or a pasted column.
Is MapQuest still good in 2026?
Yes. It is free, it optimizes, needs no account, imports common spreadsheet formats and includes directions in the same product. Choose based on whether 26 locations cover your route and which address-review and navigation workflow you prefer.
Try it on a real route
Paste the addresses you are driving tomorrow, then compare the map and estimated total with your original order.
Open the planner