Onfleet vs. OptimoRoute – Which One Delivers the Best Results in 2024?

Deliveries can be a headache.  

Imagine: stressed drivers, lost productivity, and unhappy customers because routes aren’t planned and optimized properly.

That’s where route planning software steps in. This software can make deliveries smoother, saving your business time and money.

However, with so many options on the market, choosing the right software can be confusing. 

This is where popular tools like Onfleet and OptimoRoute come into play, claiming to offer features that streamline delivery routes and enhance customer satisfaction.

But how do you know which one is right for you? This blog compares Onfleet and OptimoRoute, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and key features.

Product Comparison at a Glance

Onfleet: Suitable for Businesses with Large Volumes of Deliveries

Having used Onfleet extensively, we can provide an honest review based on our hands-on experience. 

Onfleet impressed us with its easy-to-use route planning. We could quickly add stops, set priorities, and get optimized routes for all our drivers, saving us a lot of time and effort. 

Plus, the real-time tracking kept us in the loop about where our drivers were so that we could make adjustments on the fly.

However, there were a few things we weren’t crazy about. The interface seemed a little complicated at first, and it took some time to learn all the features. Also, the pricing can be a bit higher for smaller businesses compared to other alternatives of Onfleet, even though it might be a good fit for bigger companies.

Overall, Onfleet is a powerful tool for managing deliveries. It lets you track drivers, create reports, integrate with other apps, and get help from customer support. If you’re looking to streamline your deliveries, Onfleet is a strong option to consider, but keep in mind the learning curve and pricing for smaller businesses.

Onfleet pricing plans

Onfleet offers a tiered pricing structure designed to accommodate businesses of various sizes and needs:

Launch Plan

• Starting at $550 per month
• Suitable for new or small teams
• Includes 2,000 delivery or pickup tasks
• Basic features like route optimization, photo & signature proof of delivery, status and ETA triggered notifications, and 90-day historical analytics
• Limited support options with email and scheduled phone support

Scale Plan

• Starting at $1,265 per month
• Ideal for growing delivery operations
• Includes everything in the Launch Plan
• Offers additional features such as barcode scanning & age verification, advanced ETA notifications, task completion customization, and 1-year historical analytics
• Standard onboarding support

Enterprise Plan

• Custom pricing based on specific requirements
• Customizable solution for established delivery operations
• Includes everything in the Scale Plan
• Advanced features like multi-brand or region support, enterprise SSO, private label recipient tracking page, unlimited historical analytics, premium onboarding, and best SLAs

Free Trial

• 14-day free trial with credit card requirement

Key strengths of Onfleet

We explored Onfleet’s capabilities to see how it could optimize our delivery operations. Here’s a breakdown of the key strengths and features of Onfleet:

• Route optimization: Onfleet’s route optimization feature is robust and can significantly reduce delivery costs and times. However, it’s worth noting that while it generally works well, there can be occasional instances where routes may not be optimized as expected, especially when traffic conditions change.
• Real-time tracking: The real-time tracking functionality of Onfleet is impressive, providing accurate updates on driver locations and delivery statuses. However, multiple reviews indicate that Onfleet’s ETAs are often overestimated, leading to frustration.
• Customizable reporting: Onfleet offers customizable reporting tools that allow businesses to track key metrics and performance indicators. These reports provide valuable insights into delivery operations, helping businesses make data-driven decisions
• Proof of delivery: Onfleet’s proof-of-delivery system allows drivers to capture signatures and photos directly through the app. This eliminates the need for physical paperwork and provides a secure digital record of delivery. 
• User-friendly driver app: Onfleet’s driver app is generally praised for its user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. This aspect enhances driver productivity and reduces training time, contributing to smoother delivery operations. 
• Reliable customer support: Onfleet provides reliable customer support, with dedicated teams ready to assist with any issues or queries. However, response times may vary.

Onfleet’s positive reviews

Onfleet’s weaknesses

While Onfleet offers several strengths, it’s important to highlight some of its weaknesses as well:

• Overestimated ETAs: Some users have reported that Onfleet can occasionally provide overestimated Estimated Time of Arrivals (ETAs), which can lead to customer dissatisfaction or confusion regarding delivery times.
• Limited custom fields and options: Onfleet’s limited custom fields and options for additional stop details can be a drawback for businesses that require more flexibility and detailed data management in their delivery operations.
• Occasional lags in route optimization: There are occasional lags when optimizing routes with many stops, which can impact operational efficiency and timely deliveries.
• Slow importing spreadsheets: Importing spreadsheets into Onfleet can sometimes take over 10 minutes, causing delays in updating and managing delivery data efficiently.
• Lacks live technical support: Onfleet’s lack of live technical support can be challenging when users encounter urgent issues or require immediate assistance. Relying solely on email support may result in slower response times and issue resolution.
• Missing essential features in base plan: Critical features like barcode scanning, age verification, and email notifications are omitted from Onfleet’s starting plan, requiring businesses to opt for pricier plans to access these functionalities.
• Additional charges for SMS notifications: Onfleet charges extra for SMS notifications, and there is no option for email notifications in the base plan. This can increase communication costs for businesses relying on SMS notifications for customer updates.
• Beta features and stability concerns: Some features, such as geo-fencing and zone configuration, are still in beta, indicating that they may not be 100% stable or reliable for consistent use.

Onfleet’s negative reviews

OptimoRoutes: Suitable for Smaller Fleets with Moderate Delivery Management Needs

OptimoRoute is a route and schedule optimization software designed to streamline delivery operations for businesses. 

It excels in quickly importing orders, optimizing multi-stop routes, and accommodating mid-day orders seamlessly. Users appreciate its live tracking, real-time order tracking, proof of delivery, and analytics tools for driver performance insights.

We found the software to be fairly user-friendly. There is a decent selection of help articles and tutorials to guide new users. Even complex features like weekly planning and coordinated orders seemed manageable after a learning curve.

A major shortcoming of OptimoRoute is its inability to factor in live traffic data when optimizing routes. Additionally, some features we found essential, like barcode scanning for proof-of-delivery, are only available in the more expensive plans. 

Even the per-driver pricing structure can also get expensive quickly, especially for businesses with a large fleet.

Overall, OptimoRoute offers considerable capabilities for planning routes but has room for improvement in certain areas like usability and feature variety. Businesses with complex delivery needs or those looking for real-time traffic integration might be better served by exploring other OptimoRoute alternatives.

OptimoRoute’s pricing plans

OptimoRoute offers a pricing plan structured around the number of drivers using the software and the level of features required. 

Lite Plan

• Price: $39 per driver per month (billed monthly).
• Features:
  • Mobile app for drivers
  • Route history
  • Export to Excel, Garmin & More
  • Plan up to 700 orders at once
  • Live Tracking
  • Web Service API
  • Live ETA & Breadcrumbs

Pro Plan

• Price: $49 per driver per month (billed monthly).
• Features (Includes all Lite Plan features plus):
  • Analytics
  • Weekly Planning
  • Real-time Order Tracking
  • Proof of Delivery
  • Customer Feedback
  • Upgrades included
  • Plan up to 1000 orders at once

Custom Plan

• Pricing: Contact for a personalized quote.
• Features (Includes all Pro Plan features plus):
  • Thousands of orders at once
  • Pickup and Delivery
  • Multi-day Long-haul Routes
  • Commercial Routing
  • Access to advanced features
  • Technical consulting
  • Expert support
  • API Integration

Free Trial

• A 30-day free trial for all plans; no credit card required.

Monthly vs. Annual

• Customers have the option to choose between monthly and annual subscriptions. Annual subscriptions offer a 10% discount.

Key strengths of OptimoRoutes

OptimoRoute offers a comprehensive solution for route optimization and delivery management. Here are some of the key strengths and features that set OptimoRoute apart:

• Efficient route optimization: OptimoRoute excels in optimizing routes quickly, taking into account various parameters such as time windows, vehicle specifications, and driver work hours. This feature greatly helps in maximizing the number of orders while reducing costs.
• Live tracking and ETA: The software provides real-time tracking of drivers’ locations and offers the estimated time of arrival (ETA) for each stop. However, the accuracy of live ETAs is questionable due to a lack of traffic data integration.
• Analytics and reporting: The platform offers detailed analytics and reports generated from route data. This helps businesses identify high-performing drivers, track delivery accuracy, and make informed decisions to improve efficiency.
• Proof of delivery (POD): OptimoRoute’s POD feature enables the mobile app to capture digital signatures, photos, and notes, streamlining claims resolution and enhancing delivery verification.
• Weekly planning: Businesses can plan routes for weeks or months in advance, assigning tasks to drivers based on fixed schedules. This feature ensures smooth operations and efficient resource allocation.
• Real-time route modification: OptimoRoute allows for last-minute changes in routes, such as adding new orders or adjusting stop sequences. Routes are automatically recalculated, maintaining operational continuity.

OptimoRoute’s positive reviews

OptimoRoute’s weaknesses

While OptimoRoute boasts impressive route planning features, there are some critical weaknesses to consider before you sign up.

• Interface and user experience: Some users have described OptimoRoute’s interface as slightly dated and less intuitive than that of newer route planning software.
• Limited live traffic data: A significant drawback is the lack of consistent integration with live traffic data. This means the software might not always account for real-time road conditions, leading to inaccurate ETAs (estimated arrival times). 
• Essential features locked behind paywalls: Basic functionalities crucial for modern deliveries, like barcode scanning for proof-of-delivery, are only available in the more expensive plans. This feels like a nickel-and-dime approach, forcing you to pay extra for features that should be standard.
• Pricey for large fleets: The per-driver pricing structure seems attractive on the surface, but it can quickly become expensive for businesses with a large fleet. The cost can snowball as more drivers are added, potentially outweighing the benefits of route optimization.
• Order limits can be restrictive: OptimoRoute imposes a limit on the number of orders you can plan at once. This can be a major hurdle for businesses with high daily volumes.  
• Outdated maps and rural address recognition issues: There have been reports of outdated maps within OptimoRoute, which could lead to inefficient routes due to inaccurate road structures. Additionally, the software might struggle to recognize addresses in rural areas, causing delays and frustration for drivers.
• Glitches and inefficiencies: Some users have reported glitches in the software, particularly during route planning and dispatching. Additionally, there have been concerns about the routing algorithm not always generating the most efficient routes, potentially adding unnecessary mileage and time to deliveries.

OptimoRoute’s negative reviews

Onfleet Vs OptimoRoute: Pricing Comparison

Here’s a thorough pricing analysis and comparison between Onfleet and OptimoRoute:

1. Pricing models

Onfleet follows a task/delivery-based pricing model, charging based on the number of delivery tasks per month.

OptimoRoute uses a per-driver pricing model, charging a fixed fee per driver per month.

2. Entry pricing

Onfleet’s Launch plan starts at $550/month for 2,000 delivery tasks. This is quite high for smaller businesses.

OptimoRoute’s Lite plan is $39/driver/month, making the entry pricing lower for small fleets.

3. For a 5-driver operation

On Onfleet’s $550 Launch plan, you get 2,000 tasks included.

On OptimoRoute’s Pro plan, at $49/driver/month, up to 1,000 orders would cost 5 x $49 = $245/month. So OptimoRoute is more cost-effective for lower volumes.

4. Scaling costs

As volumes increase, Onfleet’s task-based model can become more economical than OptimoRoute’s per-driver model.

For a 30-driver fleet, it would cost $1,470/month (30 x $49) on OptimoRoute Pro for just 1,000 orders.

Onfleet’s $1,265 Scale plan for 5,000 tasks could be more cost-effective at higher volumes.

5. Order/task limits

A major limitation of OptimoRoute Pro at $49/driver is the 1,000 order cap. Onfleet does not have such strict task limits on its Launch and Scale plans.

6. Billing

Both offer monthly billing as standard. However, OptimoRoute provides a 10% discount for annual billing.

Expert Insights on Pricing💡

• Onfleet’s pricing is structured around team size and task volume, making it suitable for service-based businesses with varying operational needs. However, the cost may increase significantly with higher task volumes and additional team members.
• OptimoRoute’s pricing, based on drivers and orders, is designed for logistics and delivery operations. It offers essential and advanced features at competitive rates. 
• OptimoRoute’s Lite Plan provides an affordable entry point, while the Pro Plan includes crucial features like analytics and real-time tracking. The Custom Plan offers flexibility and scalability for businesses with specific requirements.
• For small businesses with 3-5 users, Upper’s Growth plan, at $160/month, is significantly more affordable than Onfleet’s $550 Launch plan and OptimoRoute’s $245 pricing (5 drivers).
• For larger businesses with 30+ users, Upper offers custom enterprise pricing, which can provide better value than Onfleet’s higher task-based tiers and OptimoRoute’s exponentially expensive $1,470 (30 drivers) pricing.
• Upper avoids the order/task limits that Onfleet and OptimoRoute have, making it more scalable.

Onfleet vs. OptimoRoute: Feature Face-Off

Both Onfleet and OptimoRoute are strong contenders in the route planning and optimization software space, but they cater to slightly different needs.  

Here are some points of difference in their core features to help you decide which one is a better fit for your business:

1. Route optimization

Both Onfleet and OptimoRoute offer route optimization capabilities to help plan efficient multi-stop routes. 

Onfleet’s route optimization engine generally reduces delivery times and costs well. However, it occasionally generates inefficient routes, especially when traffic conditions change significantly.

OptimoRoute excels at quickly optimizing routes by considering factors like time windows, vehicle specs, and driver schedules. However, its major downside is its inability to incorporate live traffic data, which leads to less accurate ETAs.

2. Real-time tracking and ETAs

Onfleet provides accurate real-time updates on driver locations and delivery statuses. However, ETAs are often overestimated, leading to customer frustration.

OptimoRoute offers live tracking of driver locations and ETAs for each stop. However, the lack of live traffic integration affects ETA accuracy.

3. Proof of delivery

Onfleet allows drivers to capture signatures and photos through the app to collect digital proof of delivery.

OptimoRoute also enables capturing signatures, photos, and notes for proof of delivery.

4. Analytics and reporting

Onfleet offers customizable reporting tools to track metrics and KPIs. It provides valuable insights into delivery operations.

OptimoRoute also generates detailed analytics and reports from route data. It helps identify high performers and areas for improvement.

5. Additional features

Onfleet offers advanced features like barcode scanning, age verification, and task customization (in higher plans). It also integrates with various third-party platforms.

OptimoRoute provides capabilities like weekly planning, coordinated orders, and flexible start times. It also offers features like proof of delivery and customer feedback (in higher plans).

6. Pricing

Onfleet’s task/delivery-based pricing, starting at $550/month for 2,000 tasks, can get expensive for smaller businesses with lower volumes.

OptimoRoute’s per-driver pricing, starting at $39/driver/month (Lite plan), seems more cost-effective for small fleets but can get pricey for larger operations.

Expert Insight on Overall Functionality💡

• Both Onfleet and OptimoRoute offer robust route optimization and delivery management capabilities. 
• Onfleet seems to have an edge in real-time traffic integration, driver app experience, and advanced features (in higher plans). 
• OptimoRoute excels in rapid route optimization and weekly planning and potentially lowers costs for small fleets. 

If you are looking for route planning software with an extensive feature set, customization options, dedicated support, and scalability, Upper is a suitable choice for businesses of all sizes with varying delivery management needs.

Here’s what sets Upper apart:

1. Route optimization: Upper stands out with advanced algorithms that optimize routes based on time and distance preferences. This ensures highly accurate ETAs and efficient routing, a key advantage over Onfleet and OptimoRoute.

2. Customer experience: Upper offers customizable email and SMS notifications, allowing businesses to tailor the customer communication experience. This is a step ahead of Onfleet (SMS only) and OptimoRoute (SMS and email, but no customization mentioned).

3. Driver experience: Onfleet’s driver app receives praise, but Upper’s intuitive app with seamless dispatch and in-app navigation capabilities is likely to provide an equally smooth, if not better, driver experience.

4. Analytics and reporting: Upper offers comprehensive reporting options, including custom reports and route summaries. This level of detail and customization may give it an edge over Onfleet and OptimoRoute’s reporting capabilities.

5. Route planning: Upper streamlines the route planning process with bulk import options via Excel/CSV, the ability to set priority levels, time windows, service times, and vehicle load capacity constraints. This level of flexibility and automation can save significant time and effort compared to Onfleet and OptimoRoute.

6. Address management: A unique feature of Upper is its centralized address book and duplicate address detection capabilities. This can be particularly useful for businesses dealing with large volumes of addresses, ensuring data accuracy and efficiency.

7. Pricing Model: Upper’s per-user pricing model could be more cost-effective than Onfleet’s task-based pricing for businesses with lower delivery volumes. OptimoRoute’s per-driver pricing could be suitable for small fleets but may quickly become expensive as the fleet size grows.

In summary, Upper emerges as a strong contender in the route optimization and delivery management space. 

However, the choice between different software depends on your specific business requirements, delivery volumes, fleet size, and pricing considerations.