Guide
Free route planners with “unlimited” stops
Three common limits behind “unlimited”
Before choosing a planner, check whether “unlimited” refers to stops, routes, saved history or access during a trial.
1. Unlimited stops, limited optimizations
A service may allow a useful number of stops but restrict how often you can optimize. For example, Spoke currently publishes three free route optimizations per day.
2. Unlimited stops, no real optimization
A tool can store or display a long address list while optimizing only part of it. Confirm that every stop is included in the optimized sequence and that the documented limit applies to the optimization itself, rather than only list storage.
3. Unlimited stops, limited days
Temporary access to a paid plan is a trial, not a permanent free tier. Check what remains available after the trial ends and whether a payment method is required.
Published free stop limits
Free ceilings across the tools American drivers most often compare, checked on August 4, 2026:
| 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 many stops do you need?
The useful question is not “what is the highest number” but “what does my busiest recent day require, plus headroom?”
- Count the start, every required visit and any fixed finishing point.
- Check the largest route you completed recently, not an industry estimate.
- Leave room for same-day additions and corrected duplicate stops.
- If appointment windows or several drivers determine the schedule, stop capacity alone will not make a free single-route planner suitable.
Choose a limit that covers your busiest normal route with room for late additions.
What else matters
Stop count is only one part of the workflow. Also check these features:
- Does it optimize on drive time or straight-line distance? Straight-line distance can produce poor orders around rivers, rail yards and interstates.
- Can you paste from a spreadsheet? Retyping a long address list adds work and creates avoidable errors.
- What happens to a bad address? A missing stop or a pin at the wrong city center can distort the route. Uncertain matches should be flagged.
- Can you fix the order afterwards? You know things the map does not.
- How does it hand off to navigation? Confirm that you can open the ordered stops in the navigation app you use while driving.
- Is an account required? An account changes persistent history and profile data, but every online planner still processes route data. Read its privacy notice.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a truly unlimited free route planner?
None of the selected planners in this comparison publishes a literally unlimited free optimizer. SortMyStops.com and Shipday each publish a 100-stop free tool, while other products cap stops, daily optimizations or trial access.
What is a realistic free stop limit?
Current published limits vary widely: Google Maps supports 10 locations total without automatic reordering, Geo2 allows 15, RouteXL and Spoke allow 20 per route, MapQuest allows 26, and SortMyStops.com and Shipday publish 100-stop free tools.
Why do free planners cap stops at all?
Larger routes require more routing computation and third-party map capacity. Providers also use stop, route or daily quotas to separate a free tool from paid dispatch and delivery-management products.
How many stops should I plan for?
Count the largest route you ran recently, including its starting point and any fixed end. Choose enough headroom for a busy day rather than relying on a generic industry average.
Does a higher stop limit mean a worse route?
Not necessarily. Test with a route you know, inspect the map, confirm every stop is present, and compare the total with your original order. A stop ceiling describes capacity, not route quality.
What is the catch with Sort My Stops?
It plans one route for one driver. There is no multi-driver splitting, no time-window scheduling, no proof of delivery and no API. Those features require dispatch software.
100 stops per route, stated up front
No trial, no daily optimization quota and no account. Paste a real address list and review the route on the map.
Open the planner