Top 8 Courier Delivery Software of 2024 (Updated List)

Managing courier deliveries can be challenging. 

Inefficient route planning, delayed deliveries, and high operational costs are common issues that impact your bottom line and lead to dissatisfied customers.

The solution lies in adopting the right courier delivery software. 

These tools can transform your operations by optimizing routes, providing real-time tracking, and enhancing customer communication. It’s no surprise the global courier software market is projected to reach $1.4 billion by 2032 as more businesses seek these benefits.

But with so many options, how do you choose the right one?

That’s where we come in. Our team has personally used and tested various software solutions and compiled a list of the top 8 courier delivery software.

In this blog, we share our honest reviews, offering valuable insights and recommendations to help you find the best courier software to streamline your operations.

If you are looking for one such software but can’t determine which one suits your business the most, then this blog is for you. With a list of the top 8 courier management software, their key features, pros, and cons, we will help you make an informed choice.

How We Evaluated and Selected the Best Courier Delivery Software?

Choosing the right software is crucial for your business, so we didn’t take this process lightly. Our team researched and analyzed over 30 courier delivery software solutions available today.

• We created a comprehensive criteria list to evaluate each software based on ease of use, feature set, scalability, integration capabilities, and customer support. But we didn’t stop there!
• We also dug deeper and analyzed hundreds of customer reviews and ratings on popular review platforms like Capterra and G2. This gave us invaluable insights into these software solutions’ real-world performance and user experiences.
• After an extensive evaluation, we shortlisted the top 10 outstanding software options. But we didn’t just rely on our judgment – we also consulted industry experts and sought feedback from seasoned logistics professionals who’ve been in the trenches.

Ultimately, we narrowed it down to the top 8 courier service software solutions that offer the best value proposition for businesses like yours.

8 Best Courier Delivery Software to Try in 2024

1. Upper

Best for: Courier businesses ranging from startups to enterprises

User rating: 4.5/5 (37)

Upper is our very own courier delivery software designed to simplify and optimize delivery operations. 

With Upper, we’ve taken the complexities out of managing courier deliveries, allowing you to navigate confidently, redefine your delivery strategy, and achieve more with less effort.

At the heart of Upper lies our advanced route optimization engine. Our intelligent algorithms calculate the most efficient routes in minutes, factoring in variables like traffic conditions, time windows, and vehicle capacities. 

This translates into reduced fuel costs, timely deliveries, and satisfied customers – addressing your excruciating pain points head-on.

With Upper, you can:

• Create unlimited routes
• Set delivery schedules with precision
• Track your deliveries in real-time
• Dynamically adjust routes on the go
• Capture electronic proof of delivery
• Send ETA notifications to customers
• Track performance with reports and analytics

We believe in simplifying your route planning process, saving you time and fuel costs while ensuring timely deliveries to your customers. 

Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise, Upper’s end-to-end route management software has functionalities that can help you run your courier delivery business efficiently.

Moreover, our 24/7 customer support ensures that you receive assistance whenever needed, enhancing your overall experience with Upper.

Route quality:  Upper eliminates spaghetti routes with excessive turns and double-backing. Our software consistently delivers optimized routes that are, on average, 20% shorter than manually planned routes.

Pricing: Starts at $119/month 

Free trial: 7 days without credit card requirement

2. OptimoRoute

Best for: Courier businesses managing high volumes of deliveries and pickups

User rating: 4.6/5 (153)

We tested OptimoRoute to see if it lives up to its claims of boosting efficiency and usability. 

If you need easy-to-use route planning for handling a high volume of daily pickups and deliveries, OptimoRoute stands out. Planning around 1000 routes took just minutes, which is impressive.

OptimoRoute allows you to factor in variables like the number of boxes, volume, and weight to choose the right vehicle. We found the “Return to Depot” feature useful for efficiently planning return trips. 

The real-time GPS tracking feature helped us compare planned vs. actual routes, though it doesn’t account for real-time events like traffic or road closures. This could be a drawback for those needing dynamic adjustments.

Despite lacking barcode scanning and order-taking features, OptimoRoute shines in route optimization. It considers general, vehicle-specific, and driver-specific constraints. The mobile app allows drivers to receive routes and navigate using their preferred navigation app.

Route quality: OptimoRoute’s route planning is efficient but can sometimes yield inaccurate ETAs and sub-optimal performance in poor network areas.

Pricing: Starts at $39/month 

Free trial: 30 days

3. Routific

Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses managing frequent multi-stop deliveries

User rating: 4.9/5 (126)

Routific stands out for maximizing route efficiency by creating clean, straightforward multi-stop routes. 

Routific’s ability to sync customer orders from the eCommerce system helps streamline the workflow and reduce manual errors. The real-time traffic-aware routing also allowed us to avoid jams and ensure timely deliveries. 

However, the customer notification customization options were limited, with restricted character counts and logo placements.

The absence of barcode scanning and order-taking functionality was a downside. Despite this, Routific’s Engine API was a strong point, integrating seamlessly with our existing software. 

The platform allowed us to view route details, including start and stop points, travel distance, and delivery instructions, providing clear guidance to our drivers.

Route quality: Routific’s route quality was satisfactory but not outstanding. Although it helped cut delivery times, we observed occasional inefficiencies and overlaps in the routes.

Pricing: $49/month per vehicle 

Free trial: 7 days

4. Route4Me

Best for: Businesses needing flexible pricing and add-ons 

User rating:4.5/5 (388)

Route4Me stands out for its flexible pricing model and comprehensive route optimization capabilities. 

Unlike many competitors, it offers a range of subscription plans and add-ons tailored to individual business needs, ensuring you pay only for what you require. 

The last-mile delivery software excels in considering various factors for route optimization, including driver skills, labor laws, vehicle capacity, and recurring routes.

However, Route4Me falls short in seamless stop additions and automated optimization in dense areas, often requiring manual adjustments. 

Despite these drawbacks, its strengths in custom scheduling, easy route adjustments, and detailed analytics make it a solid choice for businesses seeking efficient courier delivery management.

Route quality: Route4Me delivers satisfactory route quality, with impressive consideration of diverse factors, though it may require manual tweaking in certain scenarios for optimal results.

Pricing: Starts at $200 per month

Free trial: 14 days

5. Workwave Route Manager

Best for: Small to medium-sized courier businesses requiring basic routing functionalities

User rating: 4.3/5 (68)

Workwave Route Manager entered the ring as a contender for our package delivery software needs, promising route optimization and easy adaptation to last-minute changes. It performed decently, but a few shortcomings might hinder its appeal for some businesses.

On the plus side, the driver app was a breeze and offered surprising customization for various industries. We were particularly impressed by the route simulation feature. 

The real-time updates kept us on top of deliveries, and the customer notification feature ensured our clients always knew where their packages were. 

However, Workwave Route Manager wasn’t without its flaws. The reporting features left us wanting more. Reports only covered a few days’ worth of data, making it difficult to identify trends and glean valuable insights over longer periods. 

While the core software offered useful features, some functionalities we considered essential, like multi-day planning, were only available as expensive add-ons, which could significantly inflate the overall cost.

Route quality: Workwave Route Manager creates optimized routes and allows modifications to be tested through simulations. However, some user reviews mentioned issues with multi-day planning.

Pricing: Starts at $54/month per vehicle

Free trial: NA

6. Onfleet

Best for: Medium to large courier businesses seeking customer privacy

User rating: 4.6/5 (93)

Onfleet proved a solid choice for courier companies aiming to streamline and expand their delivery operations. During our evaluation, we appreciated Onfleet’s attention to customer privacy, which was demonstrated through features like anonymous calls between customers and drivers.

The platform’s auto-assign functionality also stood out, efficiently distributing tasks based on driver availability, location, and skills.

One of Onfleet’s key strengths is its real-time dashboard, which offers a consolidated view that simplifies dispatching and routing tasks. Additionally, the platform facilitates feedback collection via SMS, enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction levels. 

Performance reports also provided valuable insights into delivery success rates, feedback scores, and service times.

However, we noted a few drawbacks. The pricing structure might be higher, especially for smaller courier businesses operating within limited delivery areas. We also encountered instances of duplicate orders, which could potentially impact last-mile delivery efficiency.

Route quality: While generally reliable, the route optimization software doesn’t identify duplicate or incorrect routes, necessitating users to verify their entries manually.

Pricing: Starts at $14.99/ month per team member

Free trial: 7 days

7. OnTime 360

Best for: Medium-sized businesses that value driver autonomy and customization

User rating: 4.3/5 (37)

We put OnTime 360 through its paces to see if it lived up to its claim of being a one-stop shop for courier management. It boasts a feature set that goes beyond just route optimization, including barcode scanning, invoicing, and even workflow management. 

We were particularly impressed with the workflow designer. It allowed us to customize delivery notifications and set specific triggers for when they were sent, giving us more control over customer communication.

OnTime 360 also empowers drivers by letting them see unassigned deliveries and claim them based on their routes and availability. Another time-saver was the automatic invoice generation based on shipping information.

However, there were a couple of drawbacks to consider. The starter package lacked advanced routing and driver scheduling features, making it an expensive courier software for small businesses. 

Some users also mentioned a confusing search bar and a bit of a learning curve when setting up routes.

Route quality: OnTime 360 offers reliable routing capabilities, although users can encounter occasional issues with the search bar and route order confusion.

Pricing: Starts at $99 / month

Free trial: 14 days

8. Onro

Best for: Both batched and on-demand delivery businesses

User rating: 5/5 (6)

Onro excels in customizing workflows to automate and streamline courier delivery operations.

The platform stands out by catering to both on-demand and batched delivery needs. It features a dispatch management panel for centralized management and serves as efficient courier tracking software with its customer app, facilitating seamless order tracking and payments.

However, users may experience a slight lag with extensive workflow automation.

Our experience with Onro revealed a simple user interface, smooth implementation, and excellent technical support. The platform’s scalability is noteworthy, allowing businesses to focus on growth. 

While integration options could be expanded, Onro remains a top choice for optimizing courier operations and enhancing customer experiences.

Route quality: Onro’s route optimization is generally reliable and efficient, catering to various delivery types. However, occasional lagging may occur when automating numerous workflows, impacting real-time efficiency.

Pricing: Starts at $239/month

Free trial: NA

What Should You Consider When Choosing Courier Delivery Software?

When selecting the right courier delivery software for your business, there are several factors to consider. Let’s break them down in a way that’s easy to understand.

• Firstly, think about the size of your operation. Are you a small startup just getting off the ground or a larger enterprise with a well-established last-mile delivery network? The courier system that works best for a small business might not have all the features needed to handle the complexity of a larger operation.
• Next, consider your specific needs. Do you require advanced route optimization to maximize efficiency? Are real-time GPS tracking and customer notifications crucial for your service? List the must-have features that will directly impact your daily operations.
• User-friendliness is another crucial aspect. The courier dispatch software should be intuitive and easy to navigate, both for your dispatch team and delivery personnel. A steep learning curve can hinder adoption and lead to frustration.
• Integration capabilities are also essential. Can the software easily integrate with your existing systems, such as CRM or order management software? Seamless integration can save you time and effort when managing multiple platforms.
• Think about scalability as well. As your business grows, will the software grow with you? Scalable solutions ensure you won’t outgrow your software as delivery volumes increase.
• Don’t forget about customer support. Does the software provider offer reliable customer support, especially during critical times? Access to timely support can be a lifesaver when dealing with unexpected issues.
• Finally, consider the software’s reporting and analytics capabilities. Access to detailed reports and dashboards can provide valuable insights into your last-mile delivery operations, helping you identify areas for improvement.

What are the Essential Features to Look for in Courier Delivery Software?

When you’re hunting for the right courier delivery management system, there are some essential features you shouldn’t overlook. Let’s break them down:

1. Route optimization: Look for software to optimize routes based on traffic, delivery windows, and vehicle capacity. Efficient routes mean quicker deliveries and happier customers.
2. Real-time tracking: Tracking deliveries in real-time is crucial for transparency and customer satisfaction. It also helps you make on-the-fly adjustments if needed.
3. Customer notifications: Ensure the software can automatically notify customers about their delivery status, including ETAs and delays. This keeps everyone in the loop.
4. Integration capabilities: Opt for software that seamlessly integrates with your existing systems, such as CRM or order management tools. This streamlines your operations and prevents data silos.
5. Customization options: Every courier business is unique. Look for courier delivery tracking software that offers customization options, such as branded customer portals or tailored reporting, to fit your needs.
6. Mobile-friendly: A mobile courier app or a responsive web interface for drivers and customers is a huge plus. It enhances accessibility and convenience.
7. Analytics and reporting: Access to comprehensive analytics and reporting tools lets you track performance metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your operations.